For this Women Wednesday, we're featuring Etalon Inc's COO, Erica Lundquist!
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Hello, my name is Erica W. Lundquist, and I’ve been working in the biotech industry for over 30 years, and it’s been a blast. I started my career following a summer internship at NASA Ames Research Center after graduating from UC Davis. My degree is in Biology with a focus on Microbiology as I am fascinated by science. My years at NASA allowed me to experience working with teams from all over the world as we prepared for a Shuttle Launch, STS-90 Neurolab focusing on brain research. I found that while I love science, I also really enjoy program management and organization! My position allowed me to learn the ins and outs of a huge program, all while learning about researchers from around the world, and the topic of neuroscience. And working for NASA was awesome!
From there I worked for several companies in the bay area such as Cisco Systems and Jasmine Networks where I was able to use my program management skills in the realm of computer science and engineering, another new and exciting field for me. I was given the opportunity to travel all over the world meeting with clients alongside an amazing group of engineers who taught me about computer networking, specifically multicasting.
All these experiences led me to join my friend and business partner at Etalon Equine Genetics where I am currently the Chief Operating Officer (formerly the accountant, human resources, and logistics coordinator!). At Etalon we are focused on improving health and providing for a better life for all animals with a focus on horses through genetic testing. We test for health, performance, color and ancestry and are making new discoveries all the time. We started from a team of about 5 people and a brilliant idea to a company of 30 employees and a successful business. We built a huge genetic equine database and are excited to forge ahead in areas of DNA research to provide all animals with a better life.
I’ve been blessed with a very exciting career but my favorite position, is being a mom and wife – we have three kids; two in college and one about to enter high school. I’ve loved every minute being their mom and watching them grow into young adults. Naturally, I’ve made sure their interests are piqued in areas of science and engineering. I truly believe that all children, especially women, deserve to explore careers in these areas as there are so many opportunities and it’s so much fun.
Things about me:
- I love to read (almost obsessively!) – currently my favorite genre is historical fiction. I’ve been in a book club for over 15 years and enjoy discussing other’s opinions on the books that we have read.
- I’ve never been one to sit still, so you’ll often find me working on a craft project if I’m not reading. I love to crochet, knit and scrapbook.
- We have three cats, two of which are Maine Coons! I love training them to do tricks!
- I love Jesus, my family and friends!
loving these tips of the week!!! THANK YOU RUSS.