Chris Chase, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Chase leads the company's scientific and business development, strategic planning, and extensively interacts with the animal health industry for identifying and meeting client needs. He integrates his animal disease research knowledge with the practical aspects of clinical medicine to provide direction in protocol development.

Steve Pohl, Ph.D.
Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Pohl works with the President and Board of Directors to develop RTI's strategic plans, operational plans, and annual budget. He assures that all projects are adequately funded and is involved with the day-to-day finances.

His financial experience include project management, budgeting, contract design, and sales and marketing.

Chris Mateo, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Mateo oversees the day-to-day operations of the company, including project management, sales and marketing, research and development, and serves as the primary point of contact with clients. He also manages grant applications and oversees the organizations human resource functions.

Alicia Zimmerman, D.V.M.
Clinical Research Manager
Dr. Zimmerman collaborates efforts to achieve superior health care and expense control including preliminary examination, vaccination, surgery, diagnostic methods, laboratory testing, trial studies, meeting daily animal care needs, treatment, observation, sample collection, and animal necropsy.

Robin Buterbaugh, M.S.
Laboratory Manager
Robin Buterbaugh obtained her M.S. degree in Microbiology in 2005 from South Dakota State University. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the company's in-house laboratory. She is also responsible for reviewing laboratory protocols and timetables for clinical studies, and managing the bacterial and viral contract research studies.

Kysa Gilkerson, M.S.
Senior Biologist
Kysa Gilkerson works with the Laboratory Manager to optimize laboratory protocols, manage immunology projects, order supplies, and maintain equipment. Kysa's primary expertise is cell culture and she is also the main contact person for monoclonal antibody inquiries.

Melanie Fischer, B.S., RPH
Quality Assurance Manager
Melanie Fischer is responsible for ensuring that all studies, facilities, equipment and records are in compliance with various regulatory agencies. She objectively and regularly evaluates each study to ensure that it is performed according to protocol, and the data are collected, documented and reported in compliance with all FDA, USDA and other applicable regulatory requirements.

Vicki Bierschbach
Office Manager
Vicki Bierschbach is responsible for the organizations human resource functions, accounting, as well as, assisting the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer in composing financial reports.

Angela Klein, R.V.T.
Registered Veterinary Technician
Angela Klein supports the staff veterinarian in providing animal health care, treating animals, completing observations, assisting in sample collection and necropsy, and maintaining equipment and facilities. In addition, she coordinates RTI's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee to ensure that all federal and state regulations/laws are met.

Jennifer Chase
Laboratory Technician
Jennifer Chase is responsible for maintaining various cell lines and hybridomas used for research at RTI. She also assists with virology, bacteriology, and immunology projects. In addition, she is responsible for sample preparation, reagent preparation, record keeping, quality control procedures, and general lab maintenance.

Devan Schomp, R.V.T.
Registered Veterinary Technician
Devan Schomp supports the staff veterinarian in providing animal health care, treating animals, completing observations, assisting in sample collection and necropsy, and maintaining equipment and facilities. In addition, she maintains inventory and oversees student employees.

Lauren Gilsrud
Laboratory Technician
Lauren Gilsrud is the lead technician for immunology projects and is responsible for study preparation, organization, and assay completion. Lauren also assists with virology and bacteriology projects, data maintenance, organization, and reporting, and general lab maintenance and quality control procedures.

Amanda Moe, B.S.
Laboratory Technician
Amanda Moe assists with immunology, bacteriology, and virology projects and is the primary technician for research involving prions. In addition, she is responsible for sample preparation, reagent and standard preparation, equipment handling, analysis, record keeping, and general lab maintenance.

Lucinda Bloker, B.S.
Laboratory Technician
Lucinda Bloker is the lead technician for bacteriology projects and is responsible for sample preparation, data maintenance, organization, and reporting. Lucinda assists with virology projects and is also responsible for general lab maintenance and quality control procedures.

Sean O'Dell
Laboratory Technician
Sean O'Dell works as a lead technician on bacteriology projects and is responsible for sample preparation, data maintenance, organization, and reporting. He assists with virology projects and is also responsible for general lab maintenance and quality control procedures.