Our Story
A diverse team with shared passion.
The Mazen team brings together biotechnology expertise, vaccine experience, business acumen and entrepreneurial passion. We are championed and advised by an experienced and diverse board from universities, protein production and business.
Meet The Team
Site Manager
-
Over 15 years of people leadership experience and seed processing management in foundation and production systems
-
Swine confinement management experience
-
Christensen Family Farms, Monsanto, Gro Alliance
Nick Allen
Field Production Site Manager
-
Over 40 years of experience in agriculture extending across a diverse mix of crops and growing environments.
-
Strong background in overseeing regulated research and seed production, as well as agronomic management.
-
Viridos, Beck’s Hybrids, & BASF Plant Science
Blaise Boyle
Senior Research Scientist, Breeding
-
20+ years of research experience, 10+ years of experience in the seed industry.
-
Strong background in plant breeding, molecular biology, and genetics​
-
Co-inventor of maize products feeding advancing stages of hybrid testing pipeline; represented by 27 hybrids and two inbred patents.
-
Corteva, Pioneer Hi-Bred
Candida Cabral, PhD
Senior Research Scientist, Plant Transformation
-
Over 35 years of experience in plant tissue culture and transformation with over 21 publications​
-
Pioneer of novel transformation techniques resulting in one of the first soybean cyst nematode resistant traits.
-
BASF, Bayer Crop Science and Athenix Corporation
Jun Cao, PhD
Production & Processing Lead
-
Comprehensive seed industry acumen
-
People Leadership
-
Production System: Safety, Quality, Continuous Improvement
-
Bayer, Monsanto
Chris Davis
Director, Clinical Studies
-
15+ years of experience in industry leading clinical studies in swine, poultry, and other animal species
-
Expert in nutrition, production, immunology, husbandry of swine and poultry.
-
Product research and development in nutrition, pharmaceutical, and vaccine areas.
Jeffery Escobar, PhD
Founder, CEO
-
Entrepreneur focused on commercialization of new technologies
-
Founder & President of New Perspectives, Inc.
-
Nektar, Nobex, Hoechst
Jenny Filbey, PhD
Quality Lead
-
Over 30 years of experience in quality control testing, product release, and process improvement
-
VICH Expert Working Group – testing master seeds and cells
-
Boehringer Ingelheim, Elanco
Lori Lensing
Head of Finance
-
Finance & corporate development
-
Public & private companies
-
Healthcare, SaaS software/eCommerce, Professional Services & Logistics industries
David Morrison, MBA
Business Administration Lead
-
Subject matter expert in ERP production execution & quality with over 21 years of seed production experience
-
Data analysis, HR, & continuous improvement
-
Bayer, Monsanto
Danielle Nowotny
VP of Research and Development
-
Ag biotechnology expert with vast experience within start-up and growth stage companies
-
Led multiple R&D programs & highly effective teams
-
Paradigm Genetics, Athenix Corp., AgBiome
Tracy Raines, PhD
Research Scientist,
Molecular Biology
-
8 years of laboratory experience in academia and industry
-
R&D projects involving advanced biology techniques including CRISPR/Cas, genetic engineering, qPCR and RT-qPCR, vector construction and transgene expression.
-
Most recent work at Locus Biosciences testing antimicrobial payloads delivered through engineered bacteriophage.
Tautvydas Shuipys, PhD
Strategy & Technical Lead
-
Veterinary product development & commercialization
-
Merck Food Animal BU executive leadership
-
Technical Service leadership for food animal
Rick Sibbel, DVM
HR Consultant
-
Over 20 years of HR experience across multiple disciplines including compensation, data management and analytics
-
Strategic HR business partnership and global strategic leadership
-
Corteva, Pioneer Hi-Bred
Angela Stewart
Director of Finance
-
Ten years’ experience in financial, operational, and pipeline management
-
Industry Experience: Entertainment, health care, and professional services
-
Education: MSA, accounting, finance, operations, digital arts, and media
Haley Weinrich
Senior Principal Scientist,​ Biochemistry Lead
-
15+ years of experience in leading teams to plan and execute R&D projects.
-
Vast experience in optimizing expression of challenging proteins and commercial level functional improvements.
-
BASF, Bayer Crop Science and Athenix
Jelena Zaitseva, PhD
Regulatory Affairs
-
Senior leadership positions in veterinary biologics Regulatory Affairs, Manufacturing, Development & Quality Operations
-
Fort Dodge, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Elanco, Edge
Mark Zylstra
Board of Directors
Terry Coffey, PhD
Parkway Advisors, LLC.
-
Chief Science & Technology Officer, Smithfield, 9/91-07/20.
Kevin Fields
Kent Corporation
-
President & Chief Administration Officer Kent Corporation
-
30 years of success and diversified experience across the manufacturing industry
Jenny Filbey, PhD
Founder, CEO Board Chair
-
Entrepreneur focused on commercialization of new technologies
-
Founder & President of New Perspectives, Inc.
-
Nektar, Nobex, Hoechst
Eric O'Brien
Fall Line Capital
-
Co-Founder and Managing Director of Fall Line Capital
-
Over 18 years of professional investment, financial services, and operations experience
-
Managing Director, Lightspeed Venture Partners responsible for investments