MEET THE TEAM

Karen Meyer

Owner and Founder 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.

Favorite Breed: Mottled Cochin Bantams, the long flowing feathers of our flock are stunning, they look like they are wearing ball gowns.
Favorite Product: Baby Bulk Chick Feeder as well as our Meyer Hatchery Insulated Tumblers, engraved by a local vendor. 

Ben Brushaber

Principal and Director of Technology

Ben truly grew up at Meyer Hatchery as Meyer’s first employee in 2000. He started his Meyer journey in high school and moved up through almost every position at the hatchery with dedication and lots of hard work. From customer service to shipping and our breeder barns, all the way to his position as Director of Technology, Ben is a true Meyer Hatchery expert. Family is a huge priority to Ben, so when he isn’t creating innovative new technological resources for the hatchery, you can find Ben and his family spending time outside with their dogs in the gardens or vacationing to their favorite escape – The Sunshine State!

Favorite Breed: Wyandotte
Favorite Product: Wise Mountable 20-Pound Feeder, for the convenience of size and style for my larger flock. 

Meghan Howard

e-Commerce Sales and 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 hiking, camping, and floating.

Favorite Breed: Lisa Steele’s Cookies and Cream, as I worked with Lisa to design this chicken
Favorite Product: Plastic Coated 7-Dozen Egg Basket, I use this daily to gather eggs and garden veggies!

Cheryl Filak

Retail Store Manager and Purchaser

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. Since 2011, 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!

Favorite Breed: Buff Brahma
Favorite Product: Blenheim Chicken 13.3-Pound Feeder with Grill

TAMA TABAR

Wholesale and 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.

Favorite Breed: Wyandottes, fond memories of my mother and grandmother
Favorite Product: Chick Starter Kit, a must have for the beginner!

Katrina Shrader

Breeder Facility Manager

Katrina joined the Meyer team in 2020 and was promoted to Breeder Facility Team Lead in August of 2022, making her the “mother hen” to our breeding flock. She turned her personal hobby of backyard chicken keeping into a career that has changed the way she thinks about poultry, especially how fascinating chicken genetics are! When she isn’t managing team members in the barns, Katrina is assessing the care and well-being of Meyer Hatchery’s breeder flock. Nature is a big part of Katrina’s life and she loves hiking and kayaking to enjoy the outdoors!

Favorite Breed: Mottled Ancona
Favorite Product: Farmer’s Helder Cackleberry Nugget Treats

Jess Nestor

Marketing Lead

Jess has grown leaps and bounds in her time with Meyer Hatchery. She started on the customer service team fall of 2017 but quickly found a passion for video and she became the driving force behind Meyer’s Youtube channel. Jess has extensive knowledge of editing and Youtube videos which has led the Youtube channel to be an invaluable resource for customers. Her talent for visually connecting with and educating customers got her promoted to Marketing Lead. While Jess is full of big and creative ideas, her flock of chickens comprises of mostly bantam chickens, ducks and Coturnix quail. Jess enjoys photography, crafting, and creating with her 3D printer when not tending to her small farm or the Youtube channel.

Favorite Breed: Silkies
Favorite Product: Lisa Steele’s Brewer’s Yeast