Some of Meyer Hatchery’s Leading Women
Karen Meyer founded Meyer Hatchery in 1985, and as the business has grown and expanded, we are proud to claim the designation of being female-owned and led. While many men play a pivotal role within the organization, more than half of the company is owned and led by some amazing women. Today we are highlighting the female leadership team of trailblazers who work every day to push Meyer Hatchery to the very top of our industry.
Karen Meyer – Owner of Meyer Hatchery
Karen’s chicken-keeping started as a hobby, as she also worked alongside her husband on their dairy farm while raising four children. As chicken math usually happens, the hobby turned into a small business. Over 35 years later, the hobby is a thriving business that employs over 80-100 team members during the busy season. Karen is very involved in the day-to-day operations of the hatchery and works hard with the management team to ensure healthy birds are provided to each customer while also offering industry-leading education.
Meghan – Website, Customer Service, Marketing, Communications, and Project Development Manager
In just a few short years since joining the company in 2016, Meghan has transformed Meyer Hatchery’s website, marketing, and customer service departments, and undertaken numerous projects that have propelled us to the very top of our industry. Meghan is inspired by the holacracy-management style, which has made it possible for her team not to have rigidly-assigned roles and instead have the flexibility to take on various tasks based on their interests and talents. When Meghan is not busy selling chickens, she’s spending time in the great outdoors with her boys and rescue dogs.
Cheryl – Store Manager
A lifetime of knowledge and a passion for the wisdom of the past fuel Cheryl as she manages the retail store of Meyer Hatchery. Growing up around all types of animals has given Cheryl the hands-on experience to continue the farm-to-table tradition with her own family. For over 11 years, Cheryl has been the first welcome to many customers as they visit the store and get their introduction to chicken keeping. The supplies, ideal set-up, different breeds, and feed for those new to chickens can be overwhelming. Cheryl has both the encouragement and fantastic knowledge to give customers the confidence for success. Keeping chickens should be fun, and Cheryl loves to help customers find “more than one way into a castle,” so to speak, meaning there is more than one right way to do things. Cheryl works hard to source new and quality products to offer Meyer Hatchery customers and is proud to be a woman working in agriculture!
Barb – Shipping Manager
Running a family excavating company from home as she raised her children has given Barb the multitasking skills to manage the fast pace of the Meyer Hatchery shipping department. Besides the busy hatch days that start in the very early morning, Barb also manages all aspects of shipping supplies, started pullets, and hatching eggs. Shipping live animals has many detailed elements, but Barb and the shipping team always have one goal in mind: happy, healthy birds delivered to our customers. Barb’s favorite part of working at Meyer Hatchery for over 11 years is that each day brings something new and different and that her job is very hands-on.
Tama – Wholesale & Accounts Receivable Manager
Tama’s title has changed a few times since starting with Meyer Hatchery in 2011, but her dedication to superior customer service and education has not wavered. Even though Tama had no personal chicken experience when she began working with us, as they do, chickens soon found their place in Tama’s heart and backyard. During Tama’s time as the Customer Service Manager, she created and curated the first Meyer Hatchery customer service handbook. This handbook set the tone for our team members to provide the very best customer service in the business. Relationships that have been forged with customers throughout the years are truly priceless to Tama, and opportunities to meet new and old customers at events such as Mother Earth News Fair and the Ohio National poultry show are cherished memories.
Amanda – Customer Service Team Lead
Amanda was born and raised in southern California but now calls Ohio her home. As a homesteading mother of three, she keeps busy with various homestead and 4-H projects. With over 20 years of hands-on poultry experience, she can use her knowledge to assist others in diving into the poultry world. Amanda was hired on as a remote customer service representative almost five years ago, assisting customers via the customer chat option on the website and answering emails. Meyer Hatchery has allowed her to grow professionally and utilize her talents. Amanda now fills the role of Remote Customer Service Team Lead and helps support, train, and equip the customer service team with the tools and knowledge they need to provide each customer the customer service experience they deserve. Amanda is not camera shy and loves helping create video content across all of our platforms, and was the first in the industry to do “Coop Tours”.
Sarah – Marketing Lead
Meyer Hatchery’s marketing has been taken to new heights since Sarah started at Meyer Hatchery in 2017. Sarah began in a customer service position but soon excelled in managing social media, graphic design, and newsletter creation. The creativity needed to keep marketing content fresh and exciting for our customers is one of Sarah’s most vital assets. Sarah recently sold her farm in Ohio and now calls the Florida Keys home, where she has fostered a love for manatees and preserving the beauty of the ocean. While she doesn’t have a flock of her own anymore, she enjoys the free-range chickens that can be found throughout the Keys area, as well as spending time hiking and exploring state and national parks.
Jess – YouTube Lead & Senior Video/Audio Editor
Jess has grown leaps and bounds in her four short years with Meyer Hatchery. She started on the customer service team but quickly found a passion for video, and she quickly became the driving force behind Meyer’s Youtube channel. Even though Jess has extensive knowledge of editing and Youtube videos. She always works to include the entire Meyer Hatchery team so our customers are treated to a wide variety of exciting and educational content. Jess has a talent for visually connecting with and educating customers, which has led the Youtube channel to be an invaluable resource for customers. While Jess is full of big and creative ideas, her flock of chickens comprises bantam chickens. Jess enjoys photography, crafting, and creating with her 3D printer when not tending to her small farm or the Youtube channel.
Marie – Blog Manager
Marie has been with Meyer Hatchery since 2017, beginning in customer service, helping folks put together their perfect flock or troubleshooting questions with raising their chicks. Over the years, Marie has expanded her roles to include Blog Manager: where she writes and edits content for the Meyer Hatchery blog, the digital Help Desk articles, and many other projects that benefit from her wordsmithing skills. Marie lives near central Ohio on her 16-acre farm, where her family raises chickens for eggs and meat and grows various vegetables to sell at her town’s farmers market.
Jen – Retail Store Assistant
Jen has been with Meyer Hatchery for just over one year, but she has become an integral part of the retail team in that short amount of time. When Jen first started working for the hatchery, she had plenty of poultry experience of her own, but daily interactions with customers have stretched her knowledge. Getting started with new poultry is an adventure and Jen shares that excitement with customers-learning together!
Bethany – Administrative Assistant
Love of animals and helping others have aided Bethany daily since she started with Meyer Hatchery in 2013. Many different tasks for different departments fall under the administrative umbrella, and Bethany thrives as she learns quickly and enjoys being helpful to others. The people, both customers, and coworkers, are the highlight of Bethany’s job. Three kids and seven cats keep Bethany busy, and in her spare time, she enjoys baking, cooking, crocheting, and being a marching band mom.
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Outstanding team!
Thank you Renee!