Veterinary enterprises and organizations play a crucial role in maintaining pets’ well-being, combining medical expertise, compassionate care, and efficient management. Strong leadership in this field elevates the standard of pet care and fosters professional growth among teams. Industry leaders also create an environment that encourages innovation while keeping pace with the latest advancements in veterinary medicine.
Recently, several veterinary businesses and organizations announced notable promotions and appointments. Here are five individuals making significant career advancements:
Linda Rhodes, VMD, PhD, Joins Akston Biosciences’ Board of Directors
Akston Biosciences, a company known for developing and manufacturing protein therapeutics for veterinary use, has appointed Linda Rhodes to its board of directors. With three decades of experience, Rhodes has founded multiple organizations, including AlcheraBio, Feather in Her Cap, and Aratana Therapeutics. She has developed and secured FDA approval for three drugs in five years and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Michelson Prize and Grants, focusing on discovering a single injection treatment for permanent sterilization of cats and dogs. Rhodes has been recognized with the Iron Paw Award for her lifetime achievement in animal health.
“Akston is dedicated to accelerating innovation in animal health, building on our ultra-long-acting dog and cat insulins licensed to Dechra Pharmaceuticals,” said Todd Zion, PhD, president and CEO of Akston Biosciences. “Linda’s experience in accelerating high-quality drug development in small companies will be invaluable as we develop new candidates.”
Rhodes expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “I enjoy working with early-stage companies that have innovative solutions for unmet animal health needs. Akston combines a track record of pioneering new therapies with the capabilities critical to successful development and commercial manufacturing. I look forward to helping Akston leverage cutting-edge science to bring its products rapidly to market.”
Yvonne Hsu, MBA, Appointed President and General Manager at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, US
Yvonne Hsu assumed her role as president and general manager of Hill’s Pet Nutrition US division, a company focused on science-led nutrition for dogs and cats, in May 2024. With 25 years at Hill’s parent company and an MBA from the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, Hsu is recognized as a strategic business leader with a record of achieving substantial portfolio growth for various brands.
Previously, Hsu served as the executive vice president of global innovation and growth at Hill’s, where she led the strategy for the company’s brands, innovation, digital transformation, and analytics. She played a key role in forming Hill’s 2025 strategic plan and implementing the Brand Promise Framework, comprehensive three-year innovation grids, expanding the digital ecosystem, and building Hill’s data foundation. These initiatives have driven growth for Hill’s and positively impacted its parent company, Colgate-Palmolive.
Douglas Gladue, PhD, Joins Seek Labs as Vice President of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development
Seek Labs, a healthcare innovation firm specializing in advanced point-of-care molecular diagnostic systems and CRISPR-based pharmaceutical technology, has appointed Douglas Gladue as vice president of veterinary pharmaceutical development. A globally renowned virologist and specialist in African Swine Fever (ASF) research, Gladue will lead Seek Labs’ efforts in advancing CRISPR-based veterinary pharmaceutical projects.
“I am excited to join Seek Labs and lead veterinary pharmaceutical development,” Gladue said. “Seek Labs is pioneering new solutions for complex viral diseases like ASF with their CRISPR technology approach. Their unique method shows great promise for developing targeted and effective solutions for ASF and other agricultural diseases.”
Before joining Seek Labs, Gladue led the development and commercialization of vaccines for foreign animal diseases at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center within the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. He played a pivotal role in launching the first and second live-attenuated vaccines for ASF and was awarded the Arthur S. Flemming award for his contributions.
Robin Bennett, CPDT-KA, Joins Blue-9 Pet Products
Blue-9 Pet Products, a developer of dog training products, has announced the addition of Robin Bennett, a certified professional dog trainer and educator, to its team. Bennett will focus on strategic planning, creating informative content, devising innovative marketing campaigns, expanding customer outreach, and providing practical training advice.
“I am delighted to join Blue-9 Pet Products and support their mission of providing reliable and effective training resources,” said Bennett. “I look forward to sharing my passion for dog training and helping pet owners achieve their training goals.”
“We are thrilled to have Robin on board,” said David Blake, CEO of Blue-9 Pet Products. “Her expertise aligns perfectly with our commitment to promoting the well-being of dogs and enhancing the bond between pets and their owners.”
Janis Shinkawa, DVM, CPA (HI), Elected Chair of NAWBO Board of Directors
The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) has elected Janis Shinkawa as chair of the 2024-2025 board of directors. NAWBO represents 13 million women business owners across the United States, encompassing various business sizes, stages of development, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, geographic locations, political perspectives, and sectors.
Shinkawa is the medical director and founding partner of Ohana Pet Hospital and the founder of the Lokahi Foundation, which focuses on training and wellness education for veterinarians. She also owns VETLevelUP, a startup providing a digital development tool for the veterinary industry.
“NAWBO stays strong through our commitment to advocacy, leadership, and education,” Shinkawa said. “As an organization, we know that when women do well, economies do well, and it takes a community dedicated to ensuring a vibrant ecosystem for women business owners.”
Shinkawa emphasized the focus on microbusiness owners, stating, “More than 90% of NAWBO’s women-owned businesses are micro-businesses. By providing these businesses with resources to grow, we can increase wealth in our most underserved populations.”
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