SwineTech is an agtech company transforming pork production through its PigFlow platform, an AI-powered operating system designed to coordinate people, protocols, and priorities at the point of care. Rather than focusing solely on data collection and reporting, PigFlow drives real-time execution by embedding standard operating procedures directly into daily workflows, ensuring consistency, compliance, and performance across every stage of production.

At the center of the platform is Charlotte, SwineTech’s AI-powered digital assistant, which enables users to interact with operational data and institutional knowledge through natural language. By making information more accessible and actionable, Charlotte helps teams make faster, better decisions while reducing administrative burden. Together, PigFlow and Charlotte represent a shift toward execution-driven technology in agriculture, connecting data, people, and processes to improve outcomes across modern production systems.

Dr. Ramirez is a scientific advisor for Clipper Distributing Company, LLC. Dr. Ramirez developed the first accelerated peroxide (AHP®) formulations which asides from Intervention disinfectant, also include hospital and dental disinfectants, a reuse medical sterilant, an antimicrobial hand wash, and a dairy teat dip. He holds more than 20 issued or pending patents ranging from cleaning & disinfection, to water treatment and chemical process sensors & controls. His first patent was filed in 1999 – the first AHP® formulation.

Dr. Ramirez has more than 25 years of experience in disinfectant formulation development as applied to infection prevention and biosecurity in a variety of markets. He has started two companies based on his inventions and has won several business pitch competitions, including technologies for wastewater processing and wastewater control. He has been featured and interviewed several times in the press.

Dr. Ramirez holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering, and MS and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

José Santiago is a sow production supervisor leading teams with Tosh Pork, LLC based in Henry, Tennessee.  José has had extensive experience throughout many segments of the pork industry which has positioned him to excel in production management and José’s teams routinely lead the industry in sow productivity, pig quality, and pig care.

Although José’s strengths in pig production are evident, his true passions are rooted in the people who care for those pigs.  José believes in the value that all members of a team can contribute and encourage and develop his people to be as successful as possible. On his free time José is the Youth director for Holy Cross Catholic Church as well as the baseball coach for the Henry County Middle School team.  José currently resides in Paris, Tennessee with his lovely wife, Jaryssel and their two outstanding children, José (20 years old) and Angelica (18 years old).

Joseph Galasso Jr. is a seasoned C-suite executive with over 40 years in food protein sales, operations, business development, and biosecurity technologies tailored for livestock and swine operations. As Chief Operating Officer at WT Associates and WT BIO-TECH, he leads commercialization of mortality management systems—including EPA-compliant incinerators, anaerobic digestion like KLEENPAS BioGestor, and aqueous ozone/nanobubble solutions—for large-scale beef and pork processing facilities in Iowa. His expertise spans pioneering green chemistry biosecurity for clients like Walt Disney and Wynn Resorts, full P&L management of 12M+ lb protein lines, and regulatory navigation (USDA FSIS, EPA, DNR), making him a key contributor to the protein industry.

Kit Thomas Laramore was born in 1953 in Gillette, Wyoming, and grew up attending school first at a family ranch and later in Gillette. He pursued higher education initially in vocal performance and then in Agricultural Business, graduating from the University of Wyoming in 1978. After college, he worked in trades and construction before focusing on ranching and cattle operations, eventually moving into the beef meat business. Laramore attended a one-room schoolhouse taught by his mother, completed his primary and secondary education in Gillette, and studied vocal performance and agricultural business at universities in Utah and Wyoming. During college, he worked as an electrician earning substantial wages and post-graduation chose to build houses during a coal mining boom, becoming a general contractor for over 130 structures in six years.

Daniel Linhares, DVM, MBA, PhD –  Professor & Director of Graduate Education at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Worked for 8 years as a practicing veterinarian, technical services, and health assurance; now he is dedicated to training MSc and PhD students as part of the ISU fieldepi team, working with swine producers and health professionals in the US and abroad.

Edison Magalhães, DVM, MBA, MSc, PhD  – Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University. Dr. Edison Magalhaes previously worked for four years in the Brazilian swine industry as a swine veterinarian practitioner. He then pursued his Master’s and PhD in Swine Epidemiology at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Currently, Dr. Magalhaes leads the SwinalytIQ Lab, a multidisciplinary team composed of undergraduate and graduate students from veterinary medicine, animal science, data science, and computer engineering. His program focuses on research and extension that supports the U.S. and global swine industries by developing data-driven approaches to improve health, productivity, and decision-making, helping producers better utilize their production data.

Dr. Bill Christianson is the former Chief Operating Officer of PIC. He has a background in agriculture and biotechnology, with broad industry knowledge and extensive commercial and global experience. He earned his DVM and PhD in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Christianson joined PIC in 1993 and held a range of operational roles across Europe, South America, and the United States before becoming General Manager of PIC North America in 2007. He later led the combined ABS and PIC businesses across the Americas starting in 2010 and became COO of Genus PIC in 2012.

Edwina and her husband run Blantyre Farms, a 2,200 sow pig farm and a mixed farm of sheep, cattle and crops, near Young, NSW, Australia.

In operation for more than a decade, a methane digestion system captures methane gas from pig manure and converts it into electricity. Blantyre also utilizes food waste products for pig feed and saves 13,500 of tonnes of landfill each year. The NSW EPA has awarded Blantyre with a Green Globe Award for Resource Efficiency.

What began as a spontaneous job application became a lifelong commitment to protecting animals across New South Wales and supporting some of the state’s most underserved and marginalized communities.

Throughout his career, Steve has developed a deep understanding of human behavior and an exceptional ability to inspire people to take meaningful action. His experience across animal welfare, government relations and the justice system has shaped his insight into what drives individuals, organizations and communities.

As CEO, Steve leads the largest animal welfare organization in Australia with authenticity, integrity and a clear strategic vision — creating the conditions for lasting, impactful change.

Dr. Dustin Oedekoven is the chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board, based in Des Moines, Iowa. In this role, Dr. Oedekoven leads a team of veterinarians and swine production experts in Pork Checkoff-funded work for pork producers, including foreign animal disease (FAD) preparedness, protecting the U.S. herd from African swine fever and developing a national swine health strategy.

Dr. Oedekoven has over 20 years of experience in the agriculture sector. Prior to joining the National Pork Board in 2022, he served as state veterinarian and executive secretary for the South Dakota Animal Industry Board, where he provided strategic leadership and direction for the state’s animal health agency – a seven-member, governor-appointed board of livestock producers with responsibility for all animal health programs and disease control efforts in the state.

Dr. Oedekoven received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University and bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science from South Dakota State University. He resides in Pierre, South Dakota, with his wife and kids.

Nat Stas is a Technical Services Director for PIC and has been in the commercial swine industry for 15 years, 8 of which have been with PIC. He holds a master’s degree from University of Illinois under Dr. Mike Ellis focusing on swine genetics and reproduction.

In addition to Nat’s commitment to the commercial swine industry, he currently stays involved in the American Society of Animal Science and many livestock youth development programs and swine research programs. Nat resides in Latrobe, Pennsylvania with his wife and twin daughters.