Voices of AcuFast™
As AcuFast™ marks its first anniversary, we reflect on a year of growth, challenges, and achievements. Our employees, who are the backbone of our success, share their experiences and insights from this inaugural year. These stories highlight the teamwork and dedication that have driven our progress. Here are the voices of AcuFast™, reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the future we're building together.
Clint Schwab
VP of Technology and Customer Success
Clint Schwab takes immense pride in the rapid growth he has witnessed among the AcuFast™ team members over the past year. "Amidst a significant amount of change, I've seen the team adapt and grow to a point where confidence and collaboration have reached a new level. We're a much faster evolving machine today," Clint shares, reflecting on the team's remarkable progress.
Drawing from AcuFast's 40+ year history, Clint acknowledges both the similarities and differences between the roots of Fast Genetics and Acuity. "Many of the roots at Fast and Acuity were very similar, but there were several elements that were different as well," he explains. "Across both macro and detailed levels, this enabled us to solidify the commonalities and leverage the joint perspective from the differences."
Clint believes that AcuFast's inaugural year has laid a solid foundation for future growth. "The first year in a merged structure has solidified a foundation to grow from that I don't think any of us envisioned," he says. "From improved gene pools to combined infrastructure and more focused innovation, we have clearly created a framework that means far better opportunities for the AcuFast team and our customers alike. A true example of 1 + 1 = 3."
Amanda Minton
Manager of Reproductive Solutions
Amanda Minton reflects on a significant milestone AcuFast™ achieved this year: successfully merging two companies and ensuring that every team member found their place within the new structure. "Combining two companies and ensuring the right people are in the right seat on the right team is challenging," she acknowledges. "But through collaboration and determination, we've navigated these changes together."
Amanda is particularly excited about the future, emphasizing the spirit that drives AcuFast™. "The spirit of innovation is at the core of our business," she says. "Bringing together two dynamic teams that embody this spirit is propelling us forward at an accelerated pace."
Being part of a team dedicated to creating a brighter future for the pork industry and providing healthy protein for the global population fills Amanda with optimism. "It's exciting to be part of this journey," she adds, confident that the combined strengths and collaborative efforts will lead to groundbreaking advancements.
Monty Thomson
Account Manager, Manitoba
For Monty Thomson, guiding customers to close up herds and confidently manage their replacements was a proud achievement this year. "Our AcuFast Vantage has proven to be a reliable choice, no matter what happens in the pig business," he says.
Monty sees AcuFast's inaugural year as a foundation for future growth. "Introducing Duroc boars to our high health nucleus is a significant step. These boars are robust and well-suited for North America and beyond," he explains.
He is particularly excited about the collaboration between swine teams and the larger STgenetics® team worldwide. "STgen™ has a lot to bring to the table, and I am excited for this collaboration to power us forward. It’s not just about solving problems, but about implementing solutions. I’m impressed with what ST has achieved and eager to share it with the world," he adds.
William Moncada
Sr. Manager of Genetic Production, USA
William Moncada reflects on the challenge of integrating the AcuFast™ team across different cultures and countries. "This has been the biggest challenge so far," he says. "But with the help of the leadership team, we have started creating one culture across borders."
Looking ahead, William is excited about the new technologies available under the STgenetics® umbrella. "Being part of the process to implement new technology at AcuFast is something I look forward to. It makes my job fun and entertaining every day," he says.
Morgan Huelsmann
Administrative Assistant
Morgan Huelsmann is proud of the significant improvements made to day-to-day processes at AcuFast™ over the past year. "We've automated processes, allowing me to get important documents to our customers in half the time," she explains. "We are always looking for ways to improve."
Morgan is particularly excited about the changes coming to the way data is collected and entered. "Our new data system will allow us to focus less on daily data collection and more on addressing issues that arise. This change will benefit the entire company," she says.
Francisco Bobadilla
EVP of AcuFast™
Francisco Bobadilla is most proud of the team's commitment and resilience during what has been a challenging time for the industry. "Our team's dedication to our strategic priorities, even in tough economic conditions, has been remarkable," he says.
He reflects on how AcuFast's history has guided the company this year. "We are built on the legacy of our founders and the entrepreneurial spirit of STgen™ culture. We aim to disrupt the status quo and make a significant impact on pig genetics."
Managing change amidst market conditions was a significant challenge for AcuFast™ this year. However, Francisco sees this as a stepping stone for the future. "In one of the most challenging times for the industry in the last 20 years, we put several marks out there. Just imagine what we can achieve going forward!"
Francisco believes that staying true to core values is crucial. "We always reflect on our decisions and ensure they align with our values," he says.
The future excites Francisco, particularly the opportunity to make breakthroughs with sexed semen and grow the business. "We have tremendous potential for growth and innovation," he asserts.
Shannon Meyers
VP of Operations and Customer Success
Shannon Meyers takes pride in the resilience shown by AcuFast's partners, customers, and employees over the past year. "The last year or two have been tough for the industry," he says. "But our people have worked through it with determination."
Shannon credits AcuFast's 40-year history for guiding the company through these challenging times. "The principles of science-based and health-driven approaches have been our foundation," he explains.
One of the most significant challenges AcuFast™ tackled this year was navigating a challenging market. Despite this, the company remained committed to investing in genetics and R&D. "During a difficult year, we maintained our commitments to our customers and team, staying true to our core values of excellence, innovation, respect, and integrity," Shannon emphasizes.
Looking ahead, Shannon is excited about the role of technology in differentiating AcuFast™ in the industry. "Our technology will continue to set us apart, driving our success in the future."
Daune (Dawn) Dewhurst
Manager of GeneLink Saskatchewan
Daune Dewhurst is proud of the immense increase in knowledge and expertise at AcuFast™ over the past year. "Our genetic improvement and the quality of our hogs have seen significant advancements," she notes, attributing this success to the company's 40-year history."The merger of two large and popular genetic companies was a welcome challenge," Daune says. "However, it has set the stage for rapid growth and increased customer satisfaction."
Looking forward, Daune believes that AcuFast™ is poised for rapid growth. "With the past year's growth happening so fast, the next few years will see AcuFast becoming a world-renowned leader," she predicts.
Daune highlights the company's dedication to its core values: "With two companies teaching and building each other, we are poised to excel. Online courses and new improvements in every area ensure that we are always moving forward."
She is particularly excited about the future research and expansion of AcuFast™, eager to see the company continue to innovate and expand.
Mark Anthony Bamba
Manager TriNorth Barn
Mark Anthony Bamba highlights the integration of new technologies and advanced measurement systems as a key achievement this year. "We understand that it takes more than just genetics to succeed in today's competitive marketplace," he says. "The challenge has been implementing these technologies efficiently and maintaining consistency."
Mark is excited about the potential for growth over the next 5 to 10 years. "With the advancements in technology and the passion of our team members, we are well-positioned to transform the pork industry and support our partners and customers," he says. "I'm proud to be part of predicting the future of AcuFast by creating it ourselves."
Dawn Friesen
Sr. Manager of Genetic Production, Canada
For Dawn Friesen, the most significant achievement of the past year has been the establishment of an AcuFast Duroc herd in Canada. The process was demanding, but seeing the beautiful Durocs thriving in Manitou has made all the hard work worthwhile. Dawn reflects on the past year with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
"The change in direction at H&M, converting from a GN farm to a boar stud, was one of the most difficult challenges I faced," Dawn shares. "The H&M nucleus unit was where Dr. Fast started the company, and all our lines originated from this barn. It was also where I began my journey, so it holds many good memories."
Dawn is excited about the future. "We have had the unique opportunity to combine the strategies of two successful genetics companies. I'm excited to see the results of this collaboration at our farms and our customers' farms."
She emphasizes the company's core values, noting, "Even with all the extra projects, we've continued to push for top-notch performance, demonstrating excellence and innovation. We are working together to create an even stronger program"
Looking ahead, Dawn is eager to contribute to the further development of AcuFast's maternal and terminal lines, confident that the best is yet to come.
Dale Hentges
Sr. Manager of Information Systems
Dale Hentges takes pride in the progress made in uniting two regions into one cohesive team. "We have made tremendous strides in combining two into one," he says. "We focus on how to get things done rather
than saying we can't do something."
Dale believes AcuFast's inaugural year has set the stage for future success. "We have a 'small enough to know you, large enough to serve you’ mentality. We take pride in our work and maintain high standards," he emphasizes.
Looking forward, Dale is excited about the potential to replicate STgenetics® success in pigs through technological integration. "No other genetic company has access to the technologies we have, and our success depends on our ability to implement them," he says.