Mike has over 25 years of experience in the Animal Health and vaccine Industry and currently serves at the Chief Technology Officer for the State of Iowa Bioscience initiative. This position is focused on technology transfer and commercialization in the Vaccine and Immunotherapeutic area. He has past work experience with NOBL Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Arko laboratories. He has participated in mergers, acquisitions, and integration of Fort Dodge Laboratories and Merial. During his tenure with Boehringer Ingelheim he served as Global Head of Vaccine R&D with leadership positions in locally (Ames/Iowa), Regionally (Iowa/Missouri), and Globally (Hannover Germany/Shanghai China). He has over 25 patents with USPTO and co-authored over 45 papers. He has contributed to USDA and globally licensed vaccines include SC-54 (S. choleraesuis), Enterisol (L. intracellularis), CircoFLEX (Porcine Circovirus), MycoFLEX (M. hyopneumoniae), Ingelvac and ReproCYC PRRS vaccines, Provenza (Swine Influenza), Bovela (BVD), and USDA licensure of companion animal vaccines. He has also participated in the USDA approval of Production Platform and Prescription Platform vaccines. He has a strong partnership with the Iowa State University Research Park, Iowa State University, University of Iowa, National Animal Disease Center, Ames Economic Development Commission, Iowa Economic Development Authority and local business partners which support commercialization efforts and job creation. Mike earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at Iowa State University and lives in Ames with his wife, Jill. They have two adult children.