Team
Craig Coon PhD
Co-Owner & CEO
Dr. Coon spent his early years at Texas A&M University, earning his B.S. in animal science, M.S. in plant physiology and biochemistry, and Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics. Dr. Coon has been a faculty member involved in research, teaching, and extension at the University of Maryland, Washington State University, University of Minnesota, and now the University of Arkansas. Dr. Coon is a world-renowned poultry nutritionist and is now applying his extensive knowledge to canine nutrition. Dr. Coon developed Four Rivers Kennel as part of a mission to provide independent nutrition research for the companion animal and pet food industries.
Mary Ann Boggess
Co-Owner & CFO
If you’ve visited the kennel, you’ve probably met Mary Ann Boggess. Mary Ann is Craig’s partner and co-founder of Four Rivers Kennel. Originally from West Texas, Mary Ann graduated from Texas Tech University and went on to own & manage a cattle ranch in Belize. After building the kennel and facilities, Mary Ann moved to the kennel full-time, in 2012. Mary Ann is the co-owner and chief financial officer of Four Rivers Kennel.
Jason Fowler
Vice President of Operations
Jason Fowler serves as VP of Operations and Published Scientist at Four Rivers Kennel, bringing over a decade of direct, hands-on experience across every facet of companion animal health and nutrition research. Having built his expertise from the ground up since joining FRK in 2013, Jason has played a central role in the facility’s growth—leading daily kennel operations, ensuring USDA compliance, and personally helping build and launch FRK’s cell culture and analytical chemistry laboratories.
A co-author on over 14 peer-reviewed publications and abstracts, Jason leads major research initiatives in large-breed canine nutrition and aging while securing vital grant funding for the team. Grounded in a practical, team-first approach, he is passionate about turning real-world research into practical scientific innovation. Outside of FRK, Jason has served on local community boards, including ACCESS Family Care board of directors and the Nevada Community Council on the Performing Arts, and is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Business Administration.
Claire Timlin, PhD
Director of Research and Development
Claire Timlin, PhD, is the Director of Research & Development at Four Rivers Kennel and has extensive experience in animal science and reproduction. Prior to her time at FRK, Claire spent several years working to improve reproductive efficiency of beef cattle using assisted reproductive technologies. Claire earned her PhD in Bovine Reproductive Physiology from Virginia Tech, and her BS in Animal Sciences from the University of Illinois- Urbana-Champaign. In her free time, Claire enjoys volunteering for the National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs (NAIGC) and playing with her two dogs
Sarah Dickerson, PhD
Grants & Scientific Publication Specialist
Dr. Sarah Dickerson brings extensive research expertise and a proven scientific track record to her role as Grant Writer and Scientific Publication Specialist at Four Rivers Kennel. A former FRK Senior Research Scientist, Sarah rejoined the organization to drive strategic research grant initiatives and elevate the team's publication output through hands-on mentorship and collaborative writing.
She earned her BS in Biology from Sam Houston State University and her PhD in Pharmacology & Toxicology from the University of Texas at Austin, following early career experience as an analytical chemist at Texas A&M University. Beyond her research, Sarah is a dedicated member of the Association for Women in Science and an active advocate for community STEM outreach.
Stacy Moppert, PhD
Research Scientist
Stacy joins the team as a Research Scientist. She earned her BS in Psychology from Canisius University and her PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University at Buffalo. Stacy’s research has focused on neural plasticity, learning, and neuroimaging analyses. Outside of research, Stacy enjoys reading and spending time with her furry and scaly family members.
Makenzie Melby, MS
Research Assistant
Stephen Fulbright, MS
Lead Research Assistant
Stephen Fulbright brings a strong foundation in genetics, molecular biology, and translational biomedical research to his role as Senior Research Scientist. He holds an M.S. in Biomedical Science from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences—where his thesis on muscular dystrophy gene therapy was defended with honors—and a B.S. from Missouri State University.
Stephen's research background spans molecular genetics, electrophysiology, and disease modeling across roles at UW–Madison, Exact Sciences, and the University of Kansas Medical Center. An award-winning scientist, he earned the MIT Great Poster Award in Genetics at ARVO 2023 for his published work on nonsense mutation readthrough strategies. His expertise in PCR, RNA sequencing, cell culture models, and advanced quantitative assays drives rigorous experimental design and scientific innovation.
Patrick Skaggs
Lead Laboratory Technician
Patrick Skaggs is the lead Laboratory Technician at Four Rivers Kennel. Born and raised in St. Louis, Patrick brings with him nearly ten years of quality experience of chemical processing in the aerospace industry, including testing and analysis. In his downtime, Patrick enjoys playing the ukulele and skateboarding.
Animal Care Research Technicians
(From left to right: Scheyenne Scharschell, Bre Hicks, Haley Beamer, Machelle Kimzey, Jessie Hada, Claire Timlin, Makenzie Melby, Dylan Nicholas, & Paxton Selby)
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