Meet the Speakers
Speakers Biographies for Alltech's North American Lecture Tour
T. Pearse Lyons, President, Alltech
Dr. Pearse Lyons is founder and president of Alltech, a company that employs over 1,800 people in 91 countries. Dr. Lyons received his B.S. and M.S. from University College Dublin, Ireland. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Birmingham in the UK, he worked in the alcohol industry in Ireland, the UK and the USA. He founded Alltech in 1980, and today the company is a leading animal health company with group sales approaching $400 million.
Karl Dawson, Director of Worldwide Research, Alltech
Dr. Karl Dawson has a B.S. degree in Bacteriology from Utah State University, an M.S. degree in Microbiology from the University of Wyoming, and a Ph.D. in Bacteriology from Iowa State University. His research has focused on strategies for improving animal performance and health by altering microbial activities in the gastrointestinal tract. Dr. Dawson is currently serving as the Director of Worldwide Research for Alltech and directs research activities at the company’s Biosciences centers.
Kate Jacques, Director of Nutrition, Alltech
Dr. Kate Jacques received an M.S. in Range Management and a Ph.D. in Animal Science from Kansas State University. She joined Alltech in 1986. She is currently Alltech's director of nutrition and serves as part of the research group located at Alltech's North American Bioscience Center. Jacques' research focus is on trace mineral form and function in diets for all species, from food animals to horses and humans.
James Pierce, Alltech
James Pierce earned his Master of Science degree in Animal Nutrition from the University of Kentucky in 1996. He continued his studies at the University of Kentucky to earn his Ph.D. in 1999, where he examined the bioavailability of phosphorous in low phytic acid corn for pigs and poultry. Dr. Pierce joined Alltech as a research scientist in 1999. In 2007, he was appointed adjunct professor in the department of animal and food sciences at the University of Kentucky.
Steve Elliott, Alltech
Steve Elliott received his undergraduate degree in Animal Science and his graduate degree in Nutrition from the University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. He is an Accredited Professional Scientist (ARPAS) and current member of many other discipline associations. Steve’s mission for the last couple of years has been focusing on the impact of trace minerals and in particular selenium and their potential for improving the health of regional cultures through animal production and human nutritional intervention. He is the Global Director for the Sel-Plex® Product Division of Alltech.
Juan Gomez, Alltech
Dr. Juan Gomez received his B.Sc. and B. Eng. degrees from Universidad Federico Villareal in Lima, Peru. He also earned a M.Sc. degree in Food Science from Leeds University, England, and a Ph.D. in Food Science from Cornell University. In 1996 Dr. Gomez joined Alltech as a territory sales manager and then was promoted to Regional Manager for the Northeast area. In 2001, he was promoted to Director of Alltech's Global Foods Division. He is currently North American Product Champion for NuPro®.
Paulo José Rigolin, Alltech
Paulo received his veterinary degree in 1998 and specialized in Marketing in 2000 before completing his MBA in 2006.
He joined Alltech in 2001 as a Sales Manager in Brazil.
Paulo’s current position in Alltech is Alltech SSF® Global Product Champion, covering Latin America, Asia, the United States and Europe.
Paul Groenewegen, Alltech
Paul Groenewegen attended the University of Guelph were he obtained a Bachelor's of Science in Agriculture degree, majoring in Animal and Poultry Science, then completed a Master of Science degree in Nutritional Physiology.
He has been employed by Alltech Canada for the past three years as Canadian Technical Manager, and provides sales support, research and registration responsibilities in Canada. Paul is also the Global NuPro® Manager for Alltech.
Kevin McBride, Alltech
Dr. Kevin McBride graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in 1998, and then obtained a Master of Science from West Texas A&M in 2000. In 2002, Kevin received his doctorate from Texas Tech University with an emphasis on animal nutrition. He is currently the Regional Sales Manager for Alltech Southeast.
