Kansas City is the epicenter of the world’s largest assembly of animal health companies — over 300 in a region stretching from Columbia, Missouri, to Manhattan, Kansas. Promoting the industry, partnering with companies and inviting businesses large and small to establish roots in those two states is the KC Animal Health Corridor, an initiative of the Kansas City Area Development Council. The Corridor’s president, Kimberly Young, previously served as vice president of business recruitment for the Missouri Partnership, a public-private economic development organization, and before that, for the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition and the Kansas Department of Commerce.
1. You chose veterinary business as a career over veterinary medicine. Did you ever consider becoming a veterinarian?
No. I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, so I have grandparents who had businesses and a dad who had a business. I grew up in a house where building things, figuring it out, making pivots and creating enterprises was what was talked about and just kind of second nature. I was interested in the business side of health care. My internships and fellowship were in hospitals. When I did work in hospitals, I was drawn to the elderly and found it rewarding and fascinating. I loved hearing their stories and their lived experiences.
2. What attracted you to the animal health industry?
The animal health industry’s willingness to come together around shared priorities is so unique. It’s energizing. After working many years in the animal health industry, I can now see the impact that this industry has on the development of systems and the creation of platforms to drive the next generation of talent and the next generation of ideas and innovation.
3. You’re a key leader in the animal health space, especially in your role with the KC Animal Health Corridor. How would you describe your organization?
The Animal Health Corridor is an ecosystem that concentrates on the commercial industry. We have four pillars of focus: workforce, innovation, public policy and industry engagement — all focused on strengthening the industry globally. Geographically, if you put Kansas City in the middle and drive about two hours in every direction, what you have is the world’s largest concentration of animal health businesses and service providers. We have 300 companies that are in and around this area.
4. What companies are actively involved?
Global brands like Merck Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Elanco, Nestlé and Hill’s Pet Nutrition. These large global brands cover both the pharmaceutical and nutrition sides of the industry. For nutrition, it’s both pet nutrition and food animal nutrition. The industry is coming together, as we have individuals from senior leadership in these companies and the deans of the two veterinary colleges in our area: the University of Missouri and Kansas State University. They agree that by coming together, working together and speaking with one voice around shared priorities, not only is our region stronger, but the industry is also stronger. We also come together around workforce development. All the companies agree that the future talent we build, starting in middle school today, is critical and that people are their most valuable asset. Our initiatives also include innovation, the product pipeline, and helping entrepreneurs who are putting it all on the line to develop new therapeutics and new technologies, whether it’s in the clinic or on the farm. As an industry, we need to come together to support those entrepreneurs.
5. Can you explain the Corridor’s involvement in public policy?
We are not a lobbying group, but animal health is a highly regulated industry. So, we provide support if there are policy issues or questions that come up in the states of Kansas or Missouri. We also coordinate with the Animal Health Institute and the Pet Food Institute on federal policies. We help bring together talking points and the industry voice to make sure we’re all speaking from the same script.
6. Do companies need to move to Kansas or Missouri to be involved?
The short answer is no. In the last 20 years, we have developed a global brand. What that does is lend credibility to emerging businesses and innovators. If they locate here, they have instant access to the support we can provide them in the North American market, as we’ve created industrywide engagement opportunities for both businesses and individuals. We’ve established a robust support network for startups and innovators and developed a strong talent pipeline. We’ve increased awareness of the breadth and depth of career paths available to the next generation of animal health leaders.
7. What did you do early in your career?
I started in health care administration on the human side and worked for a company running assisted living and independent living facilities. I had the Western half of the U.S., and a chance meeting at a business event diverted my career into economic development. I went on to have senior leadership roles at the state of Kansas and the state of Missouri, and during that time, the Corridor was being formed. So, from a distance, I was involved and engaged with the Corridor.
8. Were mentors instrumental in helping you get to where you are now?
Yes. One who comes to mind is Steve Kelly, to whom I reported when I transitioned to economic development with the state of Kansas. He’s still a dear friend today and someone I look up to. More than anything, he helped by providing encouragement that my skills were transferable. David Kerr is another whom I worked with in Kansas. Interestingly enough, we both ended up working together for Governor Nixon in Missouri. David was a retired AT&T executive, so he, too, came from the private sector, different industry, and brought his business skills and business acumen into a different world. Since I’ve been working full time for 15 years with the Animal Health Corridor, everyone who has served on the Corridor board has been a huge part of my love for this industry and my growth and understanding of it. Dr. Kay Dowling, who was with Nestlé Purina, was the only female board member at one time. Now, when we look across the industry, our board is reflective of the shifts we’ve seen in the diversity of leaders. Some of my mentors have retired, but I still stay in contact with them.
9. Do you ever struggle with keeping up with the demands of your work and finding a healthy integration with your personal and professional lives?
Yes, and I love that you chose the word “integration” because that’s the word I use. I don’t like using “work-life balance” because you’ll never find it. I like to think about it as work-life integration. And yet, do I always get it right? No.
10. How do you make it all happen?
Work has always been a primary focus for me. However, in 2018, I adopted my son, and he was 11 years old at the time. Adopting him has been the greatest joy of my life. It also forced me to prioritize and think about work-life integration differently than I had before. I also got married for the first time in 2021, so I needed to adjust from being a person where work was a central theme. My son went to college this year, and I’m super happy for him and excited about that step. So, I’m adjusting again. For me, fulfillment came from a meaningful career and then, later in life, from a supportive partner and my son. Also, it came from learning to navigate life with flexibility, intention and mutual respect, trying to get it right more days than wrong. That’s still a work in progress.
11. How has a supportive life partner contributed to your personal and professional successes?
My husband, Craig Wallace, is in the industry, too. He ran Ceva Animal Health for about nine or 10 years. He was also with Fort Dodge and had a very successful career in his own right. We have a relationship of mutual respect, where we honor our ambitions and support one another. So, that adds a richness to life that you don’t have as a single person.
12. What else would you like to say about your son?
Jonah is so cool. I just look at him and think, “Gosh, you’re everything everybody would want to be.” It’s amazing how he has navigated difficult times in his life to be where he is. He’s majoring in architecture. It’s a pretty competitive program to get into, and he was accepted. He wanted to go to the University of Kansas, and that was the only program he applied to. It was risky, but it worked out for him. Jonah is really gifted. He is an amazing artist and can draw, paint, make clothes, cross-stitch, crochet. He loves music and playing guitar. He’s a well-rounded kid, curious, and he has such an open heart.
13. When were you introduced to Jonah?
I had guardianship of him from the time he was ages 8 to 11, and then I adopted him at 11. So, I’ve packed a lot into 10 years, shifting from single working to single parent and then married. Now, his being away at school presents another adjustment in our schedule and routine. But he’s loving it and is happy, so it’s easy to be happy for him.
14. Did you have animals growing up, and do you have animals now?
Yes, I am a cat person. We had cats growing up, and I’ve had cats my whole adult life. Jonah picked out the cat we have now. Her name is Diamond, and she is fun and funky.
15. What would you tell your younger self?
I would just say, “Define success on your own terms, and build a life grounded in what truly matters to you. Keep at the center your values and your purpose, and the love you have for your family.”
16. Are you following your advice?
Yes. Everybody’s path is different. Some people want a career, some want a family, and some want a combination. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong choice. People just have to build a life that is fulfilling to them. If you get married and have a partner, it’s important that you’re both really supportive and honest with each other. I feel blessed that I have a husband who has been so successful in his own right. His mark and reputation in the industry are larger than mine will ever be. We’ve ended up in the same industry, but he’s still my biggest cheerleader, even when his aura is much larger than mine.
17. What do you do for self-care?
A daily walk. I have to get outside, get the fresh air and move. I have a route I take, and I enjoy going on solo walks because they provide me with time for clarity and creativity. Sometimes, in the shower in the morning, a spark of ideas comes, but I think it’s because you’re by yourself and free of the weight of things coming at you. I find on my walks that it’s time for me to process a good day, process a hard day, and think about what I have coming up. I’m a big list person, so I’m always going through things and checking things off. I mentally do that, so my walks are where I find my creativity to spark and grow. I get cranky if I don’t get that walk in. It’s like my family knows I’ve got to go.
18. In your personal and professional spaces, relationships are?
Relationships are the foundation for a meaningful life and a successful career.
19. What’s your hope for the animal health profession?
We launched a new workforce campaign with the tagline, “You’re Our Kind of Animal.” The campaign reimagines what animal health is for the next generation. They may be interested in science, math, sales, marketing or AI. “It Takes All Kinds” is another tagline for this campaign because we need individuals with varying degrees, backgrounds, education, skills and experience. We know that youth is driven by purpose and impact. They will not find any industry that has a greater purpose or greater impact than animal health. So, through this campaign, we want the next generation to reimagine what animal health means and what they see when they think of animal health, because you have to see it to be it. I envision a future where kids can articulate interests in the various opportunities within animal health. It’s all on exploreahcareers.com.
20. Where is the industry headed in 2026, and you personally?
Biomanufacturing in Kansas City is growing. Merck announced an $895 million investment earlier in 2025. And we have a robust pipeline of additional large global companies looking here. We’ll need to make sure those companies are integrated and successful in their launch, and to ensure our ecosystem continues to be vibrant and thriving. Again, we need to make sure we’re building the biomanufacturing talent to help supply the demand. Personally, I hope my son continues to be happy and successful. He’s been at school — this is his third week now — and he is loving it. He’s keeping up, but it’s a pretty demanding field and program. So, I want to continue to support him and help him prepare for his summer shadowships. His happiness is at the center of what I want.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE CORRIDOR
Below are the KC Animal Health Corridor’s 2024-2027 strategic priorities, posted at bit.ly/4ndnyyT.
- Engagement of animal health industry with the Corridor: The Animal Health Corridor will be a conduit for interaction within the animal health industry. The Corridor’s assets, initiatives and successes will be shared to allow the region to be known worldwide as the center of the animal health industry.
- Public policy development efforts: The Corridor will support federal and state legislation and policies that advance and promote Corridor assets. The Corridor will build coalitions and support stakeholders who advance education, innovation, research and full operational funding for the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility.
- Workforce development: Develop workforce strategies to attract and retain a diverse workforce skilled in key competencies, meeting the needs of Corridor companies. To raise awareness of career opportunities in animal health with the next generation of talent.
- Advancing innovation: The Corridor will be a conduit for advancing innovation within the animal health industry.
LEADING LIGHTS
Among those serving on the KC Animal Health Corridor’s advisory board are Norbrook’s Brian Hopkins, Merck Animal Health’s Shannon Kellner, MWI Animal Health’s Julia Loew, Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s Carrick Massey, Nestlé Purina’s Robert Miller, Elanco’s Fiona Rey, Boehringer Ingelheim’s Dr. Fatou Sow and Dechra’s Dr. Jill Stohs.
STORY ARCHIVE
Check out these previously published 20 Questions profiles:
- Former Idexx CEO Jon Ayers: go.navc.com/Ayers
- Veterinarian and thought leader Dr. Kemba L. Marshall: go.navc.com/Marshall
- Practice management consultant Monica Dixon Perry: go.navc.com/Dixon-Perry
- Former NAVTA President Jamie Rauscher: go.navc.com/Rauscher