About

Steven is the Director and Principal Consultant for ACER Consulting, and has a vision for improving animal health through applied research and creative communication. ACER is driven by his passion and interdisciplinary skill set, which blends epidemiological research, agricultural extension, and health promotion. His mission is to develop and deliver evidence-based solutions to motivate on-farm change, and improve animal health and welfare.

Steven earned his PhD in epidemiology from the Department of Population Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College. His research explored novel approaches to improve the adoption of on-farm management practices to control Johne’s disease in the Ontario dairy industry. He also holds a MSc in epidemiology and BSc in zoology from the University of Guelph.

Through his formal training and applied research experience, Steven is a well-rounded researcher equipped with the skill set, drive, and collaborative spirit to help his clients understand, inform, and influence.

Carlee brings her scientific training and enthusiasm for engagement and artistic design to lead the development of ACER’s creative outputs. 

Carlee completed her graduate studies and worked for several years in community-based research and project management at both the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College and University of Alberta School of Public Health. During this time she continued to build skills in interdisciplinary and collaborative science working with research partners in Canada and across the globe. 

Having always had an affinity for the visual arts, she sought a way to blend together her interests and experience in research and design in order to improve scientific communication – and this is what you’ll find her doing at ACER!  We’re excited to have Carlee use her skillset to enhance the ways we interact with our clients and share research.

Dave is passionate about working in the agricultural field to help producers, organizations, and individuals overcome challenges related to animal health, food safety, and antimicrobial use and resistance. He strives to generate innovative ideas to solve these challenges through his training in epidemiology and veterinary medicine. His unique skill set combines a background in advanced quantitative statistical analysis and in conducting large-scale observational and experimental study designs. 

In addition to his veterinary consulting role at ACER, Dave is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Medicine at the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College, where his research program focuses predominantly on the health and welfare of calves. He continues to serve on several other animal health and welfare committees and is excited to create knowledge-based solutions to challenges faced in the agricultural industry.

Julia is a Consultant with ACER Consulting, bringing a strong background in agriculture and mixed methods research from her graduate training. She has a particular interest in improving animal welfare through education and extension. 

Julia has a passion for improving the health and welfare of animals, the people who care for them, and the environment we all share. Her training in epidemiology, quantitative statistical analysis, and qualitative thematic analysis provides her with a unique and diverse skill set that she is proud to bring to the ACER team.

Erin is a Research Associate with ACER Consulting, bringing a passion for pursuing understanding and putting understanding into action. She has a particular interest in the health and welfare of livestock and qualitative research methods. 

Erin earned her PhD in veterinary epidemiology from the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine at the University of Minnesota. Her research explored developing multistakeholder teams to improve dairy cattle lameness management. She also holds a MSc and BSc from the University of Guelph. 

Erin conducted postdoctoral research in capacity development and public health at the University of Southampton and Cardiff University, respectively. Erin brings a diverse skill set in epidemiology, qualitative methods, and stakeholder engagement to the ACER team.

Laura is a Research Associate with ACER, bringing a particular interest in improving animal health and welfare through education and extension. She is passionate about connecting with people to make a difference in the health of communities, environments, and the animals within them.

Laura holds both a MSc and BSc Agr from the University of Guelph. Her training in epidemiology, qualitive methods and analysis, and quantitative analysis provides her with a wide range of skills she is excited to put to use at ACER.

Daphne is an Administration Assistant with ACER Consulting, bringing her experience in veterinary office management, a passion for animal welfare, and knowledge translation and transfer. Her five years of clinical experience and veterinary technician training have given her a solid basis in animal health, and an understanding of the importance of One Health.

Daphne looks forward to putting her accumulated experience to use to support the ACER team and continue to participate in finding new ways to help people and the environment.

Rachel has a keen interest in both companion and food animal veterinary medicine. As a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), she has a passion for animal health and advocates for the continual education of producers and veterinary professionals and for broadening the scope of practice of future RVTs. Through her work in a dairy-focused mixed animal practice in southwestern Ontario she has had the opportunity to mentor many future RVTs, and she continues to serve as a Program Advisory Committee Member for the Seneca College Veterinary Technology Program.

Rachel brings her experiences, skillset, and compassion to ACER to support the team and continue to advance the fields of food animal medicine and research.

Penny is the lead auditor and trainer at Professional Livestock Auditing Inc., where she brings a
wealth of experience to the table, serving as an Adjunct Professor at the Ontario Veterinary College,
University of Guelph and boasting a distinguished career with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,
Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

Penny’s extensive background spans over three decades in animal welfare training and quality
assurance programs across diverse commodity groups and countries. She has been a driving force
in the evolution of animal welfare practices in Canada, witnessing remarkable shifts over the years.
From her early days as the secretary of the Canadian Expert Committee on Animal Welfare to her
current role, Penny has seen the landscape transform significantly, from times when codes of
practice were voluntary and lacked on-farm presence, to today’s environment marked by the
National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and robust Codes of Practice.

Today, she engages positively with producers who welcome audits as a means to enhance their
operations and elevate animal welfare standards. Penny often reflects on the mantra of Dr. Temple
Grandin: “you manage what you measure”, underscoring her dedication to implementing effective
measurement tools for advancing animal care on farms nationwide.

Rianna Genore is a freelance editor with a focus on stylistic editing and copyediting for training materials, educational resources, and scholarly publications. She has previously worked in literary rights and contracts, as a managing editor for a digital-only micropress, and currently works for a major Canadian education publisher in content development for both K12 and post-secondary products. Rianna has a passion for collaborating with clients on perfecting their written materials for clarity and concision.

Rianna has been a preferred partner for ACER since 2018, applying her editorial skillset to strengthen the quality and clarity of ACER’s published resources.