ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Four women leaders in the animal health industry have been recognized with a Feather In Her Cap award for their achievements and significant contributions to the industry and for mentoring and developing future women leaders. At a gala dinner and award presentation held February 5th at the Orlando Museum of Art in Florida, at the same time as the Veterinary Meeting and Expo (previously known as the North American Veterinary Conference), Kimberly Allen, Dr. Catherine Knupp, Dr. Marie-Paul Lachaud and Joyce Lee were presented with the inaugural Feather In Her Cap awards.
The award was established in 2017 by a group of women leaders in animal health, including Dr. Linda Rhodes, Dr. Susan Longhofer, Dr. Diane Larsen, Dr. Lesley Rausch-Derra, Dr. Kristen Khanna and Julia Stephanus who formed the non-profit Feather In Her Cap Association, Inc. to honor women who have made outstanding contributions in animal health through scientific, industrial or commercial excellence and by demonstrating commitment to mentoring women in the animal health industry. The four awardees were selected from dozens of nominations representing a strong group of candidates with diverse backgrounds, including women from the US, France and Australia and 13 different companies, representing a broad range of expertise and accomplishments. Instead of the usual plaque for the wall, each awardee received a gold feather brooch, and a feathered hat, to heartfelt applause from the crowd of more than 200 industry leaders assembled for the award ceremony.
Kimberly Allen, President of Commercial Operations for Henry Schein Animal Health, has been instrumental in paving the way for many women taking leadership roles in the animal health industry. Ms. Allen has served in various leadership positions in the veterinary distribution industry for 36 years and is an accomplished equestrian and horse breeder. She was the first woman to serve on and the first to chair the American Veterinary Distributors Association Board, and she served several terms as President of the organization. In her current role, Ms. Allen is responsible for sales, business development, special projects and strategic accounts. Throughout her career Kim has received high praise as a mentor for many women in the animal health industry, particularly in sales leadership.
Dr. Catherine Knupp, Executive Vice President and President, Research and Development for Zoetis Inc., has made significant accomplishments in advancing innovation in the animal health industry. After more than 18 years in roles of increasing leadership in human health R&D, Dr. Knupp has spent more than a decade leading research and development programs within animal health at Pfizer Animal Health, and Zoetis. She has implemented initiatives to support project team leaders within Zoetis’ Research and Development organization, where she has led the development of many of the animal health industry’s most innovative medicines and vaccines. She has encouraged women scientists to pursue project team leadership opportunities. Today, nearly half of project team leaders at Zoetis are women. Dr. Knupp has championed the Zoetis Midwest Women’s Mentoring Network, providing not only continuous support for the Network, but also serving as a speaker at quarterly educational events and as a popular mentor in the Network’s mentoring program since it began in 2010. The program’s benefits to mentees include developing skills, knowledge, self-awareness, and business acumen. For mentors, the Network provides a way to share knowledge, grow counseling and leadership skills and help develop a next line of leaders. The program has been recognized for helping to bring a female perspective to business decisions and contributing to an ever-more diverse workplace.
For more than 30 years, Dr. Marie-Paul Lachaud has impacted almost every aspect of the animal health industry with experience as a practitioner; founding and leading the first animal health clinical research organization in Europe; expertise in promotion and marketing, as well as market research analysis. After more than 10 years operating a successful business, Dr. Lachaud seized the opportunity and merged her business with one of the largest, global clinical research organizations, and served as their director of animal health in Europe. For the last ten years she has served as an independent consultant to nearly all of the leading pharmaceutical companies in veterinary medicine. Business experience aside, Dr. Lachaud also has been a valued mentor to those surrounding her, generously sharing her knowledge to help women advance in their careers and in the industry.
Joyce Lee, President of North America for Bayer Animal Health, has developed and led high performing teams encompassing a range of commercial and global functional responsibilities, including general management, strategy, sales, marketing, R&D, engineering, manufacturing, and information technology. Over the course of her nearly two decade career in animal health, Joyce Lee has been recognized for her ability to develop innovative strategies for addressing complex business challenges in both direct and matrixed environments, and then driving necessary alignment across groups to focus on execution with a highly collaborative approach. She is also known for championing other women by utilizing mentorship as a development tool and her ability to serve as a connector among women in the industry.
“The quality and breadth of the work represented by all of the nominees is exceptional and inspiring. Our inaugural winners have each made unique and significant contributions to animal health, while serving as strong role models, mentors and connectors with other women in the industry,” said Dr. Linda Rhodes, president of Feather In Her Cap℠ Association. “The enthusiastic response to this new award from the nominees, the many individuals who took the time to propose such worthy nominees, and the many organizations who make up the animal health industry has been overwhelming and really validates the need to recognize our women leaders who have contributed much to the success of the industry, their respective organizations and to the development of their colleagues.”
Sponsors of the event included: Animal Clinical Investigation, Boehringer Ingelheim AH, Ceva, Kindred Bio, Merck Animal Health, MWI Animal Health, Turnstone Animal Health and Zoetis.
The selection committee for the 2018 award was composed of the founding directors of the Feather In Her Cap℠ Association. Serving on the selection committee precludes nomination for the award.
Feather In Her Cap℠ Association, Inc. was formed in 2017 to recognize the leadership and contributions of women to the animal health industry. The group is a New York-based, 501(c)(3) corporation.
For information on Feather In Her Cap℠ Association, Inc. contact Dr. Linda Rhodes at Featherinhercap@gmail.com.
