BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Paul Ruen, DVM - President

As the AASV appointed member of the SHIC Board of Directors and president of the organization, Dr. Ruen anticipates growing his service to the industry.  

Joseph Dykhuis - Vice President

Dykhuis earned a degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University and has served on serval committees and task forces for Pork Board, NPPC, and SHIC. He represents NPPC on the SHIC Board of Directors and vice president of the organization. He and his wife, Heather, have four children at home.

Kent Bang - Treasurer

Bang has volunteered his time and expertise to NPPC and USMEF before joining the SHIC Board in June 2022 where he was elected secretary/treasurer.

Alayne Johnson

Alayne served as a National Pork Board director for three years, including one year as treasurer. She also served on the Policy and Elections Committee, Research and Project Management Committee, recently chaired the Strategic Planning Task Force, and continues to serve on the Human Nutrition Task Force. Alayne also spent time on the Indiana Pork Producers Board of Directors and serves on the promotions committee as well as serving as president of her county Farm Bureau, participating in many Indiana Farm Bureau activities. She and her husband, Mark, live just west of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and have three children. They believe strongly in working to protect the future of agriculture and hope that those efforts will give generations to come the opportunity to produce nutritious and sustainable food.

Seth Krantz, DVM

Dr. Krantz is a licensed veterinarian in select states and a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. He most recently graduated from a master’s program in veterinary science from the University of Illinois, a program designed for lifelong learning of business, critical thinking and scientific skills specific to food-producing animals.

Jay Miller, DVM​

Miller also graduated from the University of Illinois Executive Veterinary Program in Swine Health Management.

After graduating from KState, Miller worked in a multiple doctor, mixed animal practice. He then practiced in western Illinois as a swine consultant. In 2003 he started Timbercrest Veterinary Service, a full service veterinary hospital. While owning and operating his practice, he provided consulting services for The Maschhoffs and joined them as a full-time employee as the director of health and animal care in March 2018. He then advance to the role of vice president of health and operations and then was named president/CEO in October 2023.

Sarah Pillen

Prior to her current role, she was an attorney at Rembolt Ludtke LLP from 2006 to 2011. Sarah is deeply committed to her community and state, demonstrated by her extensive involvement in various organizations, including current board memberships with the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce (Executive Committee), Aksarben Foundation, Nebraska Philanthropic Trust, Columbus Catholic Schools (vice chair), and Columbus Community Hospital (chair). Her past contributions include service on the Commission of Industrial Relations, the Nebraska Make-a-Wish Foundation, and numerous other civic and agricultural committees.

Jeremy Pittman, DVM

He is a graduate of the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Board Certified in Swine Medicine, earned a master’s degree in Veterinary Preventative Medicine from Iowa State University, and completed the Executive Veterinary Program at the University of Illinois.

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Megan Niederwerder, DVM, PhD

Executive Director

785-452-8270 | [email protected]

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Lisa Becton, DVM, MS, DACVPM

Associate Director

515-724-9491 | [email protected]

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Rhea Schirm

Grant and Contract Administrator

515-729-2244 | [email protected]

WORKING GROUPS

Monitoring and Analysis Working Group

This group is charged with assessing domestic and foreign production disease risk using information from a variety of sources. The outcome of this assessment is the on-going prioritization of the Swine Disease Matrix. It is also responsible for monitoring and advising the Swine Health Monitoring Project and the use of information technologies to reach the Swine Health Monitoring Project goals. In addition, it is responsible for development and advice for on-going projects to monitor domestic diseases affecting swine health and the data analysis projects that will support on-farm, prospective producer decision making.
Practitioners
Allied Industry
Pork Producers
Universities
USDA
Packers/Processors
SAHO
Industry Associations

Preparedness and Response Working Group

This group is charged with oversight of the Swine Disease Matrix and other preparedness or response research. It reviews the analysis of the Matrix capabilities and is responsible for funding research to fulfill the Matrix objectives.

It is also responsible for advising and oversight of SHIC’s role in the emerging swine diseases response plan. That includes the roles and responsibilities of Rapid Response Team deployment in response to an emerging swine health disease and for the information and analysis necessary to support the appropriate pork producer and pork industry response to emerging swine diseases. 

Practitioners
Pork Producers
Universities
USDA
Industry Associations
SAHO
Allied Industry

SHIC 2025 Plan of Work

SHIC 2024 Progress Report

SHIC Program Review
Return on Producer Investment 2015-2021

SHIC Program Review Summary