When Ceva launched its U.S. Swine Business unit, director Gary Robertson said they were creating a “lean, mean, SWAT team” committed to providing what swine veterinarians need. Over the past 12 months he has built a talented team of industry professionals who are in Des Moines this week at the Iowa Pork Congress.

Most recently, Matt Kocher joined Ceva Animal Health as director, marketing, for poultry and swine. Kocher joins Ceva from Elanco Animal Health, where he was brand manager for U.S. swine marketing, and he previously worked for two of the nation’s most prominent swine producers-The Maschhoffs and Premium Standard Farms.

Ceva chose carefully when it came to the sales team for the swine business. “Producers and veterinarians are looking for partners who don’t simply sell products, but offer solutions,” said Robertson, who brought on respected industry sales veteran Wes Johnson as strategic account manager with a focus on the custom vaccine business. As part of his sales management responsibilities for custom vaccines, Johnson works with the Ceva Technical Services team to assist swine producers in diagnosing and implementing custom vaccines to address herd-specific disease problems.

Julie Schwalbe also joined Ceva swine last year as strategic account manager, bringing with her more than 25 years of sales management experience in the swine industry and agriculture. “Not only are we expanding our portfolio of effective products and solutions available to our customers, we are building a team with the right people who can add value to their businesses,” Robertson says.

Look for these friendly faces, as well as technical service manager Andrew Holtcamp, DVM, during the pork congress today and tomorrow.