About Us

Mission Statement: Building demand and optimizing the business climate for beef through research and dissemination programs that serve as the foundation for sustaining beef industry success.

R&KM Overview
The Center for Research and Knowledge Management at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is comprised of four research program areas: Beef Safety, Human Nutrition, Product Enhancement and Market Research. The research conducted in these areas each year provides the knowledge foundation for the industry’s checkoff-funded marketing, promotion, education and information programs.

Research is the cornerstone of nearly every decision that impacts the beef industry. From ensuring that consumers have the safest beef supply possible, to providing new beef products and packaging, to ensuring that all of our relevant audiences know the nutritional benefits of beef, to knowing what consumers think of our product, research is paramount.

We are proud of the role the Beef Checkoff Program has played in the acquisition, implementation and dissemination of knowledge. The success of the research program can be attributed to countless individuals working together to benefit the industry as a whole.

Research & Knowledge Management Overview Document

Staff
J.O. ‘Bo’ Reagan, Ph.D., Vice President, Research & Knowledge Management: Author/co-author of over 125 scientific papers in the areas of read meat quality and safety. Lead staff for the Blue Ribbon Task Force on safety and currently chairs the Beef Industry Food Safety Council (BIFSCo). Lead staff person for the Research & Knowledge Management (R&KM) group; major responsibilities include oversight of R&KM research programs, budget management and team leadership for the Beef Safety Strategy. Graduate of Texas A&M University.

Bucky Gwartney, Ph.D., Executive Director, Product Enhancement Research: Focuses on Product Enhancement research. Responsibilities include staffing the Product Enhancement research committee and participating in several other NCBA strategy and initiative teams, including the Product Strategy Team. Graduate of Oklahoma State University and the University of Nebraska.

Mandy Carr, Ph.D., Executive Director, Beef Safety Research. New addition to the Beef Safety Team and Beef Industry Food Safety Council. Responsibilities include staffing the Joint Industry Beef Safety Committee and leading the NCBA Safety Strategy team. Graduate of Texas Tech University.

John Lundeen, MBA, Executive Director, Market Research: Directs, assists in planning, and undertakes and communicates research in support of the strategy teams Focuses on unearthing the consumer and influencer insights that lead to optimal progress in positioning and promoting beef. Graduate of the University of Minnesota, Duluth and University of Colorado.

Shalene McNeill, Ph.D., R.D., Executive Director, Nutrition Research: Directs the nutrition research program that provides the scientific foundation for beef industry nutrition initiatives. Staffs the Human Nutrition Research Committee. Registered Dietitian and Graduate of Texas A&M University.

Michelle Rossman, M.S., Director, Beef Safety Research: Manages the development of industry research initiatives and communication programs to enhance the beef safety chain from farm to fork. Staffs the Beef Industry Food Safety Council. Graduate of Penn State and Colorado State University.

Bridget Baird, M.S., Associate Director, Product Enhancement: Lead staff person for the Beef Production Research Committee. Major responsibilities include project management and research dissemination; member of multiple organizational strategy teams. Graduate of Texas A&M University.

Betty Anne Redson, Director, Research Information: Manages and coordinates the dissemination of research information to all beef industry audiences.

Michele Melody, Grants Administrator: Manages current research grants. Responsible for the contract development, administration and implementation of approved research projects. Develops and maintains current and historical portfolio of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s research programs. Works closely with project managers in all phases of research project administration for the grants program.

Deborah Cole, Administrative Coordinator: Manages the day-to-day activities in the center.