LAHAINA, Hawaii — The Pacific Egg & Poultry Association has honored Dr. Rocio Crespo as the Scientist of the Year and John DeGroot as Industry Person of the Year.
Rocio is currently the branch chief at the Avian Health and Food Safety Lab in Puyallup, Wash. She earned her veterinary degree at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain. Her master of science degree and doctorate in avian pathology were earned at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. She is Board Certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians.
After her formal education, Rocio did a tour of duty through the California Animal Health & Food Safety Lab at the Fresno Branch from 2005-2009. She was then hired by the lab in Puyallup.
Rocio is prolific at research and writing papers as she reviews cases from the diagnostic lab. She has written 45 papers in peer reviewed journals. Her latest paper is on Avian Hepatitis E Infection in Organic Layers. She has served the poultry industry for over 12 years as a poultry diagnostician.
PEPA Past President Steven Gemperle presented DeGroot with the PEPA Industry Person of the Year Award, while recalling John’s history in the industry.
His first commercial job was with Babcock as a salesman beginning in 1978. Since 1986 John has worked for Hy-Line International and will soon retire in Montana with his wife Michele.
PEPA noted that West Coast egg farmers are extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with John for the past 39 years. He was a salesman that became a friend to all that he met in the industry.
