Keywords = seed testing
Management
Quentin Schultz
- Owner and President of BDI since founding in 1996
- B.S from SDSU 1972
- M.S. from SDSU 1976
- His career includes twenty years of seed management as Quality Assurance Manager with Pfizer Genetics, Jacques Seed Company, Agrigenetics, and Mycogen Seeds, as well as Assistant Professorship at SDSU
- Registered Seed Technologist (RST)
Craig Nelson
- Partner
- Manager of Electrophoresis Technologies and IEF Technologies
- Employed at BDI since 2002
- Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, Purdue University
- Masters of Science in Agronomy, University of Kentucky
- His career includes management positions within quality assurance and various agronomy positions at Agrigenetics and Mycogen Seeds
- Certified Crop Advisor (CCA)
Denise Thiede
- Partner
- Manager of Analytical Chemistry, ELISA, and Standard Seed Testing Labs
- Quality Management Representative
- Employed at BDI since 2002
- B.S. from St. Olaf College, M.S. from University of Illinois, and
- Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Evolutionary Plant Biology
- Her career includes positions at Michigan State University, University of California Davis, University of Pittsburgh, University of Illinois, and St. Olaf College
- Registered Genetic Technologist (RGT)
Michael Thompson
- Manager of DNA Technologies
- IT-Strategy Lead
- Employed at BDI since 2004
- B.A. in Chemistry/Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder
- Ph.D. in Botany, University of Minnesota
- Mike’s career includes seven years in Project Leadership positions at Monsanto Company, Postdoctoral research associate at The University of Arizona, Tucson; and laboratory technician positions at the National Cancer Institue in Bethesda, MD, University of Minnesota and the University of Colorado.
- Registered Genetic Technologist (RGT)
Julie Gore
- Manager - Sales & Marketing
- Sales & Marketing Communicatons Lead
- Employed at BDI since 2007
- Studied Elementary Education and Commercial Art at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
- Completed Sales Managemet Executive Program at Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
- Julie's career includes over 18 years of sales, marketing and branding as a Senior Account Executive assisting multiple divisions within 3M Corporation.
Full Time Employees
Nicole Ball
- Analyst I - DNA Technologies
- Employed at BDI since 2006
- B.S. in Broad Area Agriculture and a minor in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls
- Prior to joining BDI, Nicole was a sales associate and greenhouse assistantat Hermes Garden Center
Carol Betzel
- Supervisor - Electrophoresis Technologies
- Employed at BDI since 1996
- Her career includes the position of Electrophoresis Lab Supervisor at Jacques/Mycogen Seeds
- Majored in Chemistry and Mathematics, University of Wisconsin, River Falls
- Registered Genetic Technologist (RGT)
Chandra-Shekara AC
- Research Scientist- DNA Technologies
- Research and Development Lead
- Employed at BioDiagnostics since 2006
- B.S. in Agriculture, M.S. in Genetics and Plant Breeding, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India
- Ph.D. in Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Dehli, India
- Chandra's career includes three years of postdoctoral research at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Joyce Connolly
- Analyst I Electrophoresis
- Employed as Electrophoresis Lab Coordinator (2002), promoted to Lab Analyst since 2003
- B.S. in Animal Science, University of Wisconsin, River Falls
Anna Doornink
- Analyst I - DNA Technologies
- Employed at BioDiagnostics since 2004
- B.S. in Biotechnology with minors in Biology, Chemistry and Animal Science from University of Wisconsin, River Falls
- While attending college, Anna was a lab assistant in the Food Microbiology Department at the University of River Falls
Marcia Huppert
- Supervisor of Large Seed Lab in Standard Seed Testing
- Employed at BDI since 1997
- Her career includes more than 10 years of seed testing experience in Quality Assurance Department of Mycogen Seeds
Brenda Johnson
- Analytical Chemistry and ELISA Analyst
- Employed at BDI since 2003
- B.S. in Biology Education/Broad-field Science, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
- Her career includes chemistry and biology teaching positions and a lab position at the US Army Corps of Engineers
- Registered Genetic Technologist (RGT)
- Member of the Minnesota Chromatography Forum
Ryan Johnson
- Analyst II - DNA Technologies
- Employed at BDI since 2006
- M.S. in Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
- B.S. in Technical Systems Management, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
- Ryan’s career includes over five years with the Illinois Crop Improvement Association, technician positions with Monsanto Company and the University of Illinois.
- Registered Genetic Technologist (RGT)
Kevin Kadidlo
- Analyst II - DNA Technologies
- Employeed at BDI since 2005
- B.S. in Medical Technology, University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire
- Career includes 20 years experience in clinical laboratory science and molecular diagnostics
Jean Meyer
- Analyst I - Electrophoresis
- Employed at BDI since 1998
- Her career includes a position at Mycogen Seeds
- Majored in Food Microbiology, University of Wisconsin, Stout
Erin Murphy-Untz
- Analyst I - Electrophoresis
- Employed at BDI since 2002
- B.S. in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, River Falls
- Registered Genetic Technologist (RGT)
Jomarie Oberlin
- Analyst I - Isoelectric Focusing and Electrophoresis
- Employed at BDI since 2005
- B. S. in Elementary Education from Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT
Darcey Rodewald
- Administrative Assistant
- Employed at BDI since 2001
- B.S. in History, University of Wisconsin, River Falls
- Her career includes fifteen years of customer service.
Nicollette Rusch
- Analyst I - Standard Seed Testing
- Employed at BDI since 2003
- B.S. in Dairy Science with a minor in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls
- Registered Seed Technologist (RST)
Diandra Viner
- Analyst II - Standard Seed Testing
- Employed at BDI since 2002
- B.S. in Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, River Falls
- Internship at Mycogen Seeds in the sunflower breeding program
- Registered Seed Technologist (RST)
- Certified Genetic Technologist (CGT)
Joseph Zalusky
- Supervisor - Analytical Chemistry
- Employed at BDI since 2000
- B.S. in Biology and Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, River Falls
- Registered Genetic Technologist (RGT)
- Member of the Minnesota Chromatography Forum
Wendy Zillgitt
- Analyst II - Isoelectric Focusing and Electrophoresis
- Employed at BDI since 2001
- B.S. in Food Science, University of Wisconsin, River Falls
- Registered Genetic Technologist (RGT)
Seasonal Employees
- Jenna Bilskemper
- Della Borst
- Elizabeth Casey
- Kathy Deiss
- Kathleen Edwards
- Robbyn Engen
- Jean Farrow
- Trina Frank
- Laura Fraser
- Carla Frey
- Katie Fritz
- Carlene Hanson
- Liz Heywood
- Valerie Hofacker
- Laurie Hoikka
- Samantha Johnson
- Lynn Kubicek
- Marge Malueg
- Carol Merriman
- Mary Moldenhauer
- Denise Munkelwitz
- Melodi Nelson
- Teddee Nelson
- Mary Putzier
- Cindy Robey
- Nicolette Rusch
- Kim Sauerwein
- Marilyn Schultz
- Monica Schultz
- Kelly Schumacher
- Melissa Timmins
- Jane Wakefield
- Jenny Walsh
- Kim Wanner
- Emily Wegner
- Tina Westerberg
- Sunita Young
- Lan Yu
Student Employees
- Jillian Becker
- Robert Bialozynski
- Mark Blackstad
- Nicole Bonde
- Chelsea Huppert
- Alex Jones
- Sandra Kirchner
- Jillian Louis
- Crystal Mathisrud
- Victor Piazza
- Amy Robak
- Eric Schultz
- Ashley Sollman
- Amy Sonnentag
- Kelsey Walstad
