Program Directors

Dr. Thompson earned her DVM and swine medicine certification from the University of Minnesota Veterinary School in 2007. After graduation, she spent over a year as a swine production system veterinarian for a Minnesota based company. She joined the Board as a senior veterinarian in July 2008 and is currently the state veterinarian and executive director. Dr. Thompson’s list of program responsibilities includes traceability, swine, carcass disposal, markets and exhibitions, and data requests. She also has a JD from the William Mitchell College of Law.

Dr. Thompson is proud of her agricultural background; her brother and nephew are the fourth and fifth generation on the family farm.

Dr. Lauer graduated from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1981 and spent six years in a mixed animal practice in Minnesota where the primary focus was large animal medicine. He began his career with the Board of Animal Health in 1987 as supervisor of the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory (MPTL) in Willmar. In 2002 he was appointed to an assistant director position with the Board in charge of all poultry programs while continuing as director of the MPTL. Dr. Lauer’s responsibilities include implementation and direction of poultry disease programs for the Board.

Dr. Glaser graduated from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. She worked in a mixed animal practice for a time and then left private practice due to her interest in wildlife diseases. Dr. Glaser went on to work for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Wisconsin Division of Public Health and eventually the U.S. Department of Agriculture as an epidemiologist. Dr. Glaser joined the Minnesota Board of Animal Health in 2004 as a senior veterinarian. Her duties include farmed deer and elk, cattle programs, livestock concentration points, and oversight of the animal health database.

Dr. Voss received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 and her Master of Public Health degree in 2011. She spent five years in private practice before joining the Minnesota Board of Animal Health in 2012 as a senior veterinarian with the poultry division. She currently oversees the permitting process for Board programs, works with Minnesota producers to ensure Board and National Poultry Improvement Plan programs requirements are met, and is the primary contact for our authorized poultry testing agents. Dr. Voss also oversees Salmonella testing activities at the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory.

Dr. Schwabenlander graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Public Health in 2007. She spent a year working for the Minnesota Board of Animal Health overseeing the Johne’s disease program, emergency planning, and imports/exports for equine, swine and farmed cervids. Dr. Schwabenlander then moved to Wisconsin and spent two years at a progressive small animal practice in Green Bay. She returned to the Board in 2010 and is currently overseeing the import/export division, cattle health programs, animal disease traceability, and the scrapie program. She also directs the biologics program, ear tag distribution, and is the contact for regulated animal inquiries.

Greg has lived in Southern Minnesota his entire life; born in Red Wing, grew up in Austin, and for the last 25 years has lived in North Mankato with his wife Sarah.  He has two children; Elizabeth, a lawyer, and Alex, a psychologist.  He graduated from Saint Olaf College in Northfield with a B.A. in Biology in 1980 and then earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984.  He began his career in a general practice in Madelia for a little more than five years before joining the Board as a district veterinarian in 1989.  He’s currently a senior veterinarian in charge of Emergency Planning.  He’s interested in the areas of pathology, poultry medicine and production.

Dr. Wheeler graduated from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. She served as an officer in the United States Army Veterinary Corps for three years then resigned her commission to move back to Minnesota. She then worked as a Veterinary Medical Officer with USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services for two years before accepting a position with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health in 2017 as a senior veterinarian. Dr. Wheeler’s current program responsibilities include commercial dog and cat breeders, kennels, rabies, and garbage and exempt feeding.

Dr. Hoefs graduated from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls with an undergraduate degree in Animal Science, Equine and Food Animal emphases in 1993. He earned his DVM from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1998. Dr. Hoefs has worked in a variety of veterinary positions including equine, mixed animal, and small animal practices as well as academia. Additionally, he has served as an Animal Humane Officer and Biosecurity Specialist for a broiler company. Dr. Hoefs joined the Minnesota Board of Animal Health in 2019. His roles include oversight of swine, equine, and livestock concentration point programs.

Michael is the Communications Director at the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. He joined the agency in December 2015. Prior to this role, he worked in communications at the Department of Agriculture. His career began in television news with various roles in the studio and out in the field, including a story with a two-nosed cow named Lucy. He oversees the Board’s communications campaigns, media relations, program outreach, and manages internal and external communication channels. Contact Michael to request information or publications from the Board. michael.crusan@state.mn.us, 651-201-6815.

Kara is the Business Manager at the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. She joined the agency in May 2018 and has worked on a variety of programs including companion animal, swine, cattle, farmed Cervidae, and traceability before landing in her current role. Kara graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Superior in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and a certificate in Ethical Leadership. Prior to joining the Board, Kara could be found managing a team of scrappy baristas in one of the busiest coffee shops in Minnesota. In her role as the Business Manager, she is responsible for managing Human Resources in addition to the Budget and Finance area. Kara may be contacted by email, kara.l.schmidt@state.mn.us or phone, 651-201-6822.