LJWorld.com

Companies that collectively dominate the global market for animal-health research and products are counting on Kansas University to help a growing roster of employees gain valuable post-graduate educations.

All without a veterinary school.

KU is expanding its animal health-oriented Master of Business Administration program to accommodate needs of another four major employers in the area who are considered major players in animal-health products and sciences.

In addition to Bayer Animal Health, which was first to take advantage of the program and already has one student enrolled, KU is working with Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., Ceva Biomune, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. and Fort Dodge Animal Health to educate rising executives.

The goal: Help attract top talent to the companies, and improve the area's chances of bringing even more companies and their multimillion-dollar investments to what has become known as a global Animal Health Corridor.

"Because our industry is growing rapidly, we need to identify the next generation of business leaders who can take companies like ours to the next level," said Joerg Ohle, president and general manager of Bayer Animal Health, which has its North American headquarters in Shawnee. "This program is key to filling the pipeline with tomorrow's industry leaders. In addition, this program is tangible evidence that the corridor is bringing value to the industries and to the companies who locate here."

Bayer officials joined Bill Fuerst, dean of KU's School of Business, in formally announcing the program's expansion during a reception for some 200 veterinarians and others Monday during the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Fla.

"This program is designed to help develop management talent in the Animal Health Corridor, which will be good for both companies already in the region as well as those relocating to the region," Fuerst said, in a statement.

Officials expect to have anywhere from 12 to 14 students enrolled each semester in the two-year MBA program. Bayer already has one student hired and studying on campus, taking MBA classes between scheduled stints rotating through Bayer's own departments: marketing, sales, new business development, accounting, finance and others.

The Bayer employees in the program, all veterinarians or research scientists, will be hired on three-year contracts. Once they've received their MBAs, they will meet with company leaders to see where their talents, experiences and ideas might best fit within Bayer Animal Health.

"We have some very strong aspirations for this program," said Bob Walker, a spokesman for Bayer Animal Health, in Orlando for the conference. "One of the biggest challenges that Bayer faces - and other animal health companies in the area face - is attracting top scientific talent, especially from each of the coasts. This is an additional draw, and additional incentive that we can use to reach out to people we've targeted to work in Kansas City."

Kansas City-area companies - including Bayer in Shawnee, Hill's in Topeka and even Identigen North America Inc. in Lawrence - account for nearly 32 percent of total sales in the $15.2 billion global animal health market, according to the Kansas City Area Development Council.