The BioDiagnostics Seed Testing Team

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

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

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)