Kathryn Thomas
About Kathryn Thomas
Kathryn Thomas is a QA Supervisor with extensive experience in quality assurance and animal care. She has worked at various institutions, including Plainville Farms, where she develops compliance programs and manages QA operations.
Current Role at Plainville Farms
Kathryn Thomas serves as the QA Supervisor at Plainville Farms, a position she has held since 2020. In this role, she ensures compliance with Safe Quality Food (SQF) standards and oversees quality assurance procedural maintenance. Her responsibilities include daily reviews of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP), and Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) paperwork. Additionally, she manages lab inventory and orders supplies to maintain the operational efficiency of the QA department.
Previous Experience at Thomas D. Morris Incorporated
Kathryn Thomas worked at Thomas D. Morris Incorporated (TDMI) in various capacities from 2012 to 2021. She began as an Intern/Veterinary Technician from 2012 to 2014, followed by roles as Research Associate from 2017 to 2021, and Assistant Facility Manager from 2018 to 2021. During her tenure, she developed and implemented programs to ensure compliance with customer and regulatory specifications, and she was responsible for checking fat analysis and equipment calibration for ground turkey.
Experience in Laboratory Animal Care
Kathryn Thomas has experience in laboratory animal care, having worked as a Laboratory Animal Technician at the University of Maryland, Baltimore from 2015 to 2017, and as an Animal Care Technician at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center for five months in 2015. Additionally, she served as an Equine Parasite Extension Technician at Penn State Extension for two months in 2015. These roles contributed to her expertise in animal care and compliance within research settings.
Educational Background in Animal Science
Kathryn Thomas earned her Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science with a Minor in Equine Science from Penn State University, studying from 2010 to 2014. This educational background provided her with foundational knowledge in animal care and management, which she has applied throughout her professional career in various roles related to quality assurance and animal care.
Management and Leadership Skills
In her role as QA Supervisor, Kathryn Thomas directly supervises a team of 3-10 QA Technicians. She is responsible for scheduling and assigning work activities, interviewing, hiring, training, and conducting performance appraisals. Additionally, she facilitates team meetings and ensures that safety regulations and documentation are maintained, contributing to a structured and compliant work environment.