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March is a season of momentum. Across Kansas City, the crack of the bat signals the start of Spring Training as the Kansas City Royals prepare for a new season. In pastures across our region, calving season is underway which is a powerful reminder of renewal, growth, and the steady work that sustains our food system.

Spring has a way of reminding us that progress doesn’t always start loud. It starts with preparation. With resilience. With showing up.

In many ways, Kansas City, like the animal health industry, has long been viewed as an underdog. We aren’t the largest metro in the country. Animal health isn’t the largest sector in global life sciences. But when you show up with enthusiasm, grit, creativity, and a collaborative spirit, people notice. And you win.

This summer, Kansas City will step onto the world stage as one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While we are the smallest U.S. market selected to host matches, four international teams (Argentina, England, Netherlands and Algeria) chose Kansas City as the location for their base camps.

Why?

Because we prepared. Because we listened. Because we curated experiences that met each team’s specific needs.

They saw what we already know: Kansas City is a metro that offers high-caliber amenities, ease of access, strong infrastructure, and a community that rallies around those who choose to be here. In Kansas City, you’re never just another stop on the map; you are part of something connected, intentional, and supportive.

Those same dynamics play out every day in business, particularly in animal health. For animal health companies and innovators to succeed, they need more than lab space and capital. They need a community that understands the regulatory complexity, manufacturing realities, commercialization pathways, and scientific rigor required to bring solutions to market.

They need partners. They need talent. They need infrastructure. And that’s exactly why the Animal Health Corridor exists.

The Corridor was designed specifically to help companies start, scale, and thrive. We work alongside local, state, and educational partners to ensure the right academic programs are in place building talent pipelines from manufacturing and quality control to regulatory affairs and commercial leadership.

Globally, animal health may not command the same headlines as human biopharma. But its impact touches every person on the planet. Animal health safeguards the food supply. It strengthens biosecurity. It combats zoonotic diseases before they become global crises. It advances care for pets that enrich our lives.

The work done here in the Heartland ripples outward: protecting families, supporting farmers, and strengthening public health systems worldwide.

Much like Kansas City itself, animal health’s influence far exceeds its size. There’s something powerful about being underestimated. It can breed focus, fuel creativity and build resilience. Kansas City doesn’t try to out scale the largest metros; we out prepare them.

Animal health companies in this region operate the same way. They innovate with urgency because the stakes are high. They work across disciplines because success requires integration. They build long-term because the health of animals and people depends on it.

Spring reminds us that growth is both natural and intentional. It requires the right environment, partners, and conditions. Kansas City has built those conditions, and the Animal Health Corridor sustains them.

As we move into this new season, whether in sports, in agriculture, in global competition, or in business, we are reminded you don’t have to be the biggest to make the biggest difference.

Sometimes the smallest markets and the most focused industries create the greatest global impact.

Leadership in our industry is not conferred by title alone. It is earned through action. True leadership is about showing up, giving time and talent generously, and investing in the people and organizations that move our shared mission of improving animal health and wellbeing forward.

The Corridor is deeply grateful to the many leaders who contribute throughout the year to strengthen our industry across our strategic priorities of workforce, innovation, public policy, and industry engagement. Their collective commitment is what allows our ecosystem to thrive.

Our workforce committee members exemplify this spirit of leadership. In 2024 and 2025, their efforts helped shape a compelling industry brand and campaign designed to attract the next generation of talent. By investing in people today, they are building the foundation for our industry’s future.

Equally impactful are the leaders who serve on our Selection Committee, our Judging Panel, and as Coaches. These individuals stand at the forefront of innovation, supporting innovators and emerging companies as they bring new ideas, technologies, and solutions to life. Their guidance and insight help ensure that innovation remains a driving force within the animal health industry.

Behind the scenes, communications and public relations teams play a vital role by telling the important stories of brands, products, and impact. Their work ensures the world understands the significance of what we do and the role animal health plays in creating a globally safe food supply, preventing the next pandemic, and ensuring our pets live longer, healthier lives.

Our government relations and public policy leaders further extend this impact. Working across federal, state, and local jurisdictions, they help align policies that support healthier animals and a healthier planet. Their leadership ensures our industry’s voice is heard where it matters most.

The Corridor’s Advisory Board is at the tip of the spear in advancing our mission. Each member contributes countless hours of service, strategic guidance, and leadership each year. We are especially thankful for the leadership of our Chair and Vice Chair.

Shannon Kellner, our 2026 Chair, brings 25 years of experience in the animal health industry and currently serves as Vice President of Livestock for Merck Animal Health. His depth of knowledge and steady leadership continue to strengthen the Corridor’s impact.

Fiona Rey, our 2026 Vice Chair, brings more than 20 years of animal health experience and currently serves as Executive Director of U.S. Pet Health Marketing for Elanco Animal Health. Her perspective and leadership further enrich our board and our mission.

We are also grateful for Todd Zion, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Akston Biosciences Corporation, who is serving a three-year term in the Corridor’s entrepreneurial board seat. Recognizing the critical role startups and entrepreneurs play in shaping the future of animal health, the Corridor established the Entrepreneur-in-Residence board seat in 2017. This position ensures emerging and growth-stage companies have a meaningful voice alongside established industry leaders.

Designed to bring a complementary and forward-looking perspective to the Board, this seat reflects the Corridor’s commitment to innovation and industry leadership. With his educational background and experience in scaling companies, Todd brings invaluable insight and energy to an already strong Advisory Board.

To all who lead, serve, and contribute, thank you. Your leadership strengthens the Corridor, advances our industry, and helps ensure a healthier future for animals everywhere.

As we look toward 2026, the Animal Health Corridor stands at the intersection of global change and unprecedented opportunity. The forces reshaping our industry, such as private equity investment, innovation models, workforce dynamics, species-specific care, and global visibility, are converging in ways that demand leadership, collaboration, and clarity of purpose. The Corridor’s role has never been more important.

What follows are four focus areas that will define the year ahead and guide how we partner with companies, innovators, educators, and communities to advance animal health worldwide.

1. Navigating Industry Transformation Across Investment, Manufacturing, and Workforce Growth

The animal health industry continues to experience high levels of engagement from private equity and strategic investors. We are seeing robust investment activity alongside divestments of business units, portfolio realignments, and renewed attention to operational efficiency. At the same time, economic pressures from inflation to shifts in federal policy to supply chain volatility are accelerating the onshoring of manufacturing and R&D capabilities.

These shifts place workforce at the center of every growth decision. In 2026, access to skilled talent, particularly in biomanufacturing, will be the defining factor for where companies choose to invest and expand.

The Animal Health Corridor is uniquely positioned to serve as an instrumental partner during this transformation. Our region offers a dense concentration of global animal health companies, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and a collaborative ecosystem that reduces friction for companies scaling operations. Just as importantly, we are deeply focused on attracting and developing the next generation of talent.

A key priority moving forward is regional alignment across Kansas and Missouri to support companies growing their manufacturing footprint. We are working alongside educational partners, workforce organizations, and industry leaders to establish a common language around what biomanufacturing is and what careers in biomanufacturing look like. This includes clearly defined and accessible pathways, from short-term certifications and two-year programs to four-year degrees and advanced training.

By aligning curricula with industry needs and clearly articulating career opportunities, the Corridor will help build sustainable talent pipelines that benefit both employers and communities ensuring our region remains the premier destination for animal health manufacturing and investment.

2. Doubling Down on External Innovation and the Pioneers Who Drive It

Breakthroughs in animal health increasingly come from beyond the walls of any single organization. Startups, university spinouts, and entrepreneurial teams are bringing forward new diagnostics, digital tools, therapeutics, vaccines, and platforms that can reshape care delivery and outcomes.

Continued investment in external innovation is not optional, it is essential. In 2026, we must do more than celebrate innovation; we must actively support innovators as they navigate regulatory pathways, scale manufacturing, access capital, and reach global markets.

The Animal Health Corridor plays a critical convening role here. By connecting innovators with established companies, investors, contract partners, and mentors, we help reduce time to market and increase the likelihood of success. Our focus is on creating an environment where bold ideas are met with practical support and where collaboration accelerates impact for animals, veterinarians, producers, and pet owners alike.

3. Advancing Species-Specific Care with a Growing Focus on Feline Health

Animal health is not one-size-fits-all, and species-specific care is gaining well-deserved attention across the industry. While advances in livestock, poultry, canine, and equine health remain vital, we are seeing a particularly strong and overdue focus on feline healthcare.

Cats represent a rapidly growing segment of the companion animal population, yet historically have been underserved in diagnostics, therapeutics, preventive care, and owner engagement resources. In 2026, innovation in feline health will be a critical growth area, spanning stress-free diagnostics, targeted therapeutics, digital engagement solutions, and care models designed with the cat in mind.

The Corridor’s ecosystem is ideally suited to support this evolution. With deep expertise across R&D, clinical development, regulatory science, biomanufacturing, and commercialization, our region can help bring more species-specific solutions to market and improve outcomes across the full spectrum of animal care.

4. A Global Stage: Showcasing the Corridor Through the World Cup

Finally, 2026 offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase our region to the world. Hosting the World Cup is about more than sport; it is about global visibility, connection, and leadership.

As international attention turns to our region, we have the chance to highlight what makes the Animal Health Corridor extraordinary: a collaborative culture, world-class innovation, economic vitality, and a deep commitment to workforce development. This global moment allows us to attract talent, investment, and partnerships while reinforcing our identity as a hub where science, manufacturing, and community thrive together.

Looking Ahead

The year ahead will demand adaptability, partnership, and long-term thinking. The Animal Health Corridor remains committed to being a catalyst by bringing industry and education together, supporting innovators, developing talent, and ensuring our region continues to lead the world in animal health.

Together, we will navigate change, unlock opportunity, and build a stronger, more resilient future for animals and the people who care for them.

One of the questions we hear most often about our workforce priorities is: How do you measure the impact of talking to middle school and high school educators about career exploration in animal health? It’s a fair question and one we’ve reflected on deeply.

The truth is, it’s nearly impossible to draw a clean line from a single conversation with a teacher to a student ultimately stepping into a career in our industry. There’s no dashboard, no tidy funnel, no tracking mechanism that tells us which young minds were influenced by the resources, stories and insights we share.

But does that mean we stop? Absolutely not.

In a world where organizations rely on KPIs and measurable outcomes to justify their time, it’s easy to overlook the kind of work that shapes long-term possibility rather than short-term metrics. Inspiring future talent doesn’t fit neatly into a spreadsheet and that’s exactly why it requires leadership, commitment and collective effort.

In early December, we attended the National Association of Agricultural Educators Conference (NAAE) in Nashville. We spoke with more than 500 educators, from seasoned teachers to students preparing to enter the classroom for the first time. No matter what their level of experience, their reactions were strikingly consistent. Their first question was: “Are these resources free?” And when they learned that an entire industry rallied together to create, brand and share tools designed specifically to help them guide the next generation, they were amazed.

In that moment, the measurement became clear. Not in data points, but in human moments.

Not in metrics, but in momentum.

When educators feel supported, students feel possibility. When an industry shows up, a pathway appears.

We may never know exactly how many students choose animal health because of something they heard, saw or explored through the resources we have developed on exploreahcareers.com. But we do know one thing with absolute certainty: doing nothing guarantees we lose future talent to industries that consistently show up in classrooms.

If educators, students and parents only hear about careers in crop science and equipment, which are excellent careers, then we risk offering young people only a narrow snapshot of what agricultural innovation looks like. Our field has so much more to give. From science and technology to business, care, innovation and global impact, animal health holds a world of opportunity.

Building the next generation of talent isn’t the job of one company. It’s the responsibility and the opportunity of an entire industry.

By standing together, investing together and showing up together, we are shaping not only who enters animal health tomorrow, but how they see themselves today. And while we may not be able to measure that in numbers, we can measure it in purpose.

And purpose is what builds an industry’s future.

As we approach the end of another busy year, many leaders are taking stock and reflecting on accomplishments, recalibrating priorities, and thinking about how best to give back in the year ahead. For those who serve on our Industry Advisory Board or other collaborative committees, this is also a moment to appreciate the unique role you play in shaping the future of our industry.

Serving on an advisory board like the Animal Health Corridor is unlike any other leadership experience. Here, competitors sit side by side, united by a shared mission: advancing the industry as a whole. That’s not always easy. It requires trust, vision, and the willingness to look beyond individual company interests to focus on what benefits everyone. For us, it is our focus on innovation, workforce development, public policy, and promotion of the animal health industry through our communication strategies and events.

Balancing Competition and Shared Purpose

The executives around our table represent organizations that often compete in the marketplace yet when they collaborate through our not-for-profit, they help build the foundation for long-term industry strength. The issues we tackle together are shared priorities where progress benefits all players and where a collective voice carries more weight than any single company could alone.

As a board member, your role in this process is both strategic and symbolic. You model what it looks like when leaders set aside rivalry to pursue shared progress. You show that the health of the industry is a shared responsibility and that collaboration is a mark of strength, not concession.

How Great Advisory Leaders Lead

Leading or contributing to an industry advisory board is not about authority. It’s about influence. It’s about inspiring action and alignment among peers. The most effective board leaders and members:

• Keep the focus on shared priorities that serve the entire ecosystem.
• Listen generously and seek common ground across diverse perspectives.
• Champion collaboration both in and outside of meetings, reinforcing that the work we do together matters.
• Celebrate collective wins, reminding everyone that progress is possible and powerful when we speak as one.

Our Staff: Your Partners in Impact

Behind the scenes, the staff of the Corridor work tirelessly to keep these collaborations moving by organizing meetings, facilitating discussions, synthesizing insights, and helping ensure follow-through. We are the steady hands that keep competitors around the table and progress on track.

As you reflect on your involvement, I encourage you to view our team not just as coordinators, but as strategic partners. Our role is to help you and the industry succeed. By working closely with our team by offering feedback and supporting our efforts, you strengthen the collective work we do together.

Looking Ahead

As we look to the year ahead, I hope you will continue to see the value of your participation and perhaps even consider ways to deepen it. The time, insight, and leadership you invest in this board ripple far beyond our meetings. You are shaping the policies, standards, and innovations that will define our industry for years to come.

Thank you for the trust, energy, and vision you bring to this shared endeavor. The progress we’ve made this year is proof that when competitors collaborate, industries advance and everyone benefits.

Here’s to another year of working together to make a lasting impact.