Whitney

Passion, Innovation, and Empathy

Hello and welcome! I'm Whitney—a dynamic blend of passion, innovation, and compassion. At the core of who I am lies an unwavering commitment to making a difference and leaving a positive impact wherever I go. 

I’m a blend of industriousness and altruism. I navigate through life with assertiveness and determination. As a scientist, I fearlessly tackle challenges and strive to be the light that illuminates pathways to progress while not forgetting to bring compassion and empathy into everything I do. 

I adhere to the principle of simplicity while navigating the complex landscapes of various teams and endeavors. My ubiquitous presence stems from my ability to bridge gaps and communicate with clarity, all while maintaining a lighthearted, goofball demeanor that brings warmth and compassion to every interaction. 

I'm a firm believer in the power of action. A do-it-yourselfer at heart, I thrive on solving problems and fixing whatever crosses my path. Like a mamma bear, I fiercely protect and nurture those around me, guided by a keen intellect and a sharp whit (pun intended). 

But above all, I'm a facilitator—a bridge between people and ideas. With a knack for bringing together diverse perspectives, I foster collaboration and inspire those around me to reach new heights. Whether it's in the role of a mom, a facilitator, or scientist, I embrace each opportunity with authenticity and creativity. 

Join me on this exhilarating journey, where every moment is infused with possibility and purpose. Together, let's embark on an adventure fueled by passion, innovation, and the the power of leading with empathy.

How It All Started

I grew up in a blue collar town supported by the snack food industry (Utz and Synder’s Pretzels). I spent the summers on my aunt’s farm where I developed a fierce connection to agriculture. I knew I wanted to pursue something with animals, and at the time, my knowledge was limited to becoming a veterinarian. 

But in undergraduate at the University of Maryland, that all changed. My WHY NOT led me to fall in love with cattle, and I realized I was really good at physiology and nutrition. I had an amazing mentor - Dr. Brian Bequette - who helped me understand that there are other professions to pursue. He put me in contact with Dr. Kevin Harvatine who took a huge chance on me. So off I went to graduate school at Penn State to study Dairy Nutrition (feeding dairy cattle). Boy I had NO idea what I was doing.

Three years and a fiancé later, I graduated with a Masters Degree in ruminant nutrition and physiology. I left Penn State with a profound appreciation for farming and a fiancé who eventually became my husband.

How It Grew

We moved to Virginia and yet again embraced the “why not”. I worked at Tractor Supply, the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and the Virginia Department of Conservation. I was able to meet new people and learns new ways of farming. I visited an old farmer and helped him mend his barbed wire fence. I rode around with the local extension agent as she went on farm calls. I was welcomed onto the Mennonite and German Baptist homesteads where I saw innovation in its basic form. This is where I got my first taste of regenerative agriculture (regen ag).

But my next chapter didn’t begin on or near a farm as I thought it would. It came in the form of a corporate research greenhouse facility where we worked with microbial biosolutions for regen agriculture. I thought, heck, I’ve never grown agronomic crops and definitely not in a greenhouse setting. Why not? Turns outs, plants are a lot like animals; they have physiological processes too (read sarcastically). Have I told you that I’m really good at physiology yet?

Where I am Today

During my time in the biotech company doing corporate research, I realized a lot about myself.

  1. I’m incredibly good at ideating and trying new things.

  2. I can transition between the business and science world quite easily. I often operate as a facilitator.

  3. I am one of the few scientists that have ever stepped foot on a farm.

So after 7 years and two children later, I decided to pursue something else that allowed me to be more involved in the business case and less in the details of a scientist. I was approached by a startup that also developed microbial products for Agriculture (Ag) and Animal Health and Nutrition (AHN). They hired me to help commercialize products for both of those business units.

I was able to leverage my first-hand farm experience and scientific know-how in developing farmer-first products for both Ag and AHN. What I loved about the startup culture was the need to just get shit done. I was able to formulate a scientific strategy while keeping the go-to-market strategy in mind. It was incredibly efficient and a true integration of R&D and business.

So here I am today and my few takeaways that I will bring into my next adventure:

  1. When developing products for farmers, you have to take a farmer-first approach.

  2. The sustainability movement will bring big business (F&B) companies closer to the farmer.

  3. WHY NOT is a great guiding philosophy and should be used just as often as WHY.