Kiersten Hafer is Vice President of Business Intelligence and Innovation for the National Pork Board and provides strategy, insights and guidance to the pork industry and supply chain on where to play and how to win with pork.

She has leveraged her 30 years of experience with Fortune 500 companies and high-growth organizations to uncover and unlock potential, facilitate change and measure expansion. As a lifelong connector and change agent, she has strategized business growth with retailers, marketing agencies, food brokers, food-service operators, market research firms, and consumer goods manufacturers.

Before her role with the National Pork Board, she served as vice president of marketing for Clemens Food Group where she was responsible for marketing, innovation and business insights across its retail and food-service businesses.

Hafer is a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University with a Master of Science degree in food marketing from the Haub School of Business. She resides in the Greater Philadelphia region with her husband, two children and two golden retrievers.

Ben Blair was raised in Sparta, Illinois, where he grew up helping on his family’s corn, soy, wheat, and farrow-to-finish farm. He always enjoyed the numbers behind how things worked, which led him to study engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. After finishing his engineering degree, he felt the pull back toward animal health and entered the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

Following a short time in clinical practice, he returned to Illinois to complete a PhD with Dr. Jim Lowe. His work focused on the cull sow marketing network and strengthened his interest in advanced analytics, machine learning, and applying AI to livestock systems. He then spent two years at the University of Minnesota as a researcher while also running a consulting business centered on data and AI projects in agriculture.

In 2023 Blair returned to the University of Illinois, where he now serves as an assistant professor in Livestock Health. His research combines infectious disease modeling with practical applications of AI in veterinary medicine and modern farming.

He lives in Villa Grove, Illinois, with his wife Cathy and their three children, Charlie, Liz, and Lincoln.

After earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 1984, Dr. Jeff Okones spent nearly two decades in food animal practice in Eastern Iowa honing his expertise in swine health and production. His problem solving and communication skills led him from private practice to industry, first as a phone consultant for Pfizer Animal Health, and later as a Professional Service Veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. where he supported the Swine Sales and Marketing team.

When he’s not working with pork producers and veterinarians, you’ll find him golfing, visiting small towns looking for the best pork tenderloin, following Iowa State athletics or spending time with his five grand kids.

These Pharmgate products were discussed as part of SRD management strategies and responsible treatment approaches:

Originally from Brazil, Lucas received his DVM and Master’s degrees from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG, Brazil) and completed his doctoral degree at the Prairie Swine Centre and the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. Lucas joined Zinpro Corporation in 2022 as a discovery researcher for swine. His current role includes product development and support, directing and coordinating research studies and providing training for internal employees and external customers.

Twyla Stevens is an accomplished HR executive with broad experience leading people strategies across national and international teams. As Chief Human Resources Officer at Professional Swine Management, she oversees talent acquisition, organizational development, compensation and benefits, and compliance initiatives. With expertise in workforce planning, leadership development, and change management, Twyla aligns HR strategy with business goals to drive organizational success. She holds a degree in Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University, is a certified HR professional, and serves on the HR Advisory Board and the Sandburg Agriculture Advisory.

Courtney Gray has been the executive director of the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council since 2022, where she represents Pennsylvania’s 2,500 pig farmers. Prior to that, she was on the producer education and engagement team at Pennsylvania Beef Council and was a loan officer at Farm Credit. She is a graduate of Penn State University with a degree in agricultural science. She and her husband, Brian, operate a commercial cattle operation in Central Pennsylvania alongside their two kids, Porter and Hattie.

Ton Kramer holds both master’s and doctorate degrees in Animal Science focused on Swine Locomotion and Health from Federal University of Paraná in Brazil. He has MBAs in Business Management and Project Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas and a postgraduate degree in Marketing from Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing. Ton has also held leadership roles in the Brazilian Association of Veterinary Specialists in Swine. Currently, he serves as the South American Business Manager at Zinpro.

Brian Martin is a 5th generation farmer from Northwest Indiana, a husband and father of 3. He has 40 years of experience in Pork industry around the US, and he is Co-Owner and Manager of a 14,000 sow pork production operation.

Kyle Schulte, originally from Norway, Iowa, has built a career rooted in agricultural excellence and innovation. He earned a B.S. in Agricultural Studies (2007) and an M.S. in Animal Science (2010) from Iowa State University, where his master’s thesis, “An Evaluation of Equipment and Procedures for the Prediction of Intramuscular Fat in Live Swine,” advanced knowledge in swine science. While at Iowa State, Kyle was actively involved in Alpha Gamma Rho Agricultural and Professional Fraternity, the Livestock Judging Team, and the Block and Bridle Club.

Kyle’s career began at Biotronics, Inc., providing technical service and sales support for swine ultrasound technology, where he focused on live animal and carcass measurement of body composition traits and loin intramuscular fat. He then joined The Maschhoffs, taking on multiple leadership roles including production research technician, genetic research farm manager, gilt multiplication production manager, and wean-to-finish production manager. Later, at Ralco Agriculture, he supported swine and poultry diet formulation, coordinated swine research farms, and authored technical research reports.

Today, Kyle is a Production Partner (contract grower) with The Maschhoffs and the owner of Riverside Agriculture LLC, a swine production management and agricultural construction company employing 25 team members. In addition, he operates a show pig business, raising 30 crossbred and purebred Spot sows.

Kyle lives in Oakford, Illinois, with his wife, Rachel Schulte, DVM, and their four daughters—Reagan, Kendra, Madeline, and Corinn.

John Carroll is a managing partner of Carroll Family Farms, a multi-generational farming operation with roots in the U.S. and expansion into Brazil. Known for his strategic vision, John has built a globally integrated operation focused on long-term value, operational excellence, and leadership. His work reflects a deep respect for the land, and a dedication to building a legacy through innovation and hard work.