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You can rest assured that behind every phone call, aquarium product, and live species we sell, there is a team of aquatic specialists and experts whose first concern is the good health of your aquarium and the life within it. Offering helpful information on animal care is -- and always will be -- a priority for Dr. Foster and Dr. Smith. To help provide the best advice for your pet or hobby, our family includes a full range of veterinarians, pharmacists, aquatic specialists, and technical support agents.
Veterinary Services
Dr. Race Foster
Dr. Foster received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University where he earned the 1983 Medicine & Surgery Award for academic achievements in veterinary science.
A member of the Michigan and Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Associations, Dr. Foster is the co-author of four books on pet health, and is a strong advocate for aquatic health awareness in veterinary academic curriculums nationwide.
Dr. Marty Smith
Dr. Marty Smith received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Iowa State University and is a member of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association.
In addition to co-authoring four books with Dr. Foster, Dr. Smith has written hundreds of articles on pet health, care, and behavior, and is an avid hobbyist of Discus, African Cichlid, and planted freshwater community aquariums.
Aquatic Services
Our Aquatic Services staff receives continuing education in virtually all aspects of aquarium setup, equipment, maintenance, and care to help ensure your aquarium questions receive proper consideration, no matter how technical or species specific.
Kevin Kohen, BS
LiveAquaria.com Director Kevin Kohen has extensive experience in the tropical fish industry. Starting his career and working for eight years in a retail fish store, Kevin then moved on to oversee the operations of one of the largest tropical fish wholesale and import/export businesses in the midwest for over eight years. From there, Kevin ventured on to launch the LiveAquaria.com web site. Kevin has bred and reared nearly 100 species of fresh and saltwater fish and was one of the early pioneers in the U.S. to maintain live corals in captivity back in the early 80's. For over 20 years, he has been a leading advocate for specialized shipping techniques that ensure the health of aquatic life during transit.
Professionally, Kevin has helped pioneer important research studies in water chemistry management, filtration technologies, fish diseases, and acclimation techniques to safeguard the health of a wide range of aquatic species. Kevin designed the Drs. Foster & Smith Aquaculture Coral Facility, and oversaw the installation of this state-of-the-art facility. Kevin oversees the operations of the facility and is actively involved in the husbandry and propagation of all of the aquatic life in this new facility.
As a hobbyist/enthusiast, Kevin had his first aquarium when he was only six years old, which grew to over 21 freshwater and marine aquariums by the age of 16. Kevin has received the Saltwater Aquarium of the Year and Reef Aquarium of the Year awards from the Greater Dayton Aquarium Society. With membership in both the American Cichlid Association (ACA) and Marine Aquarium Societies of North America (MASNA), Kevin has a special interest in SPS coral propagation, performing research on advanced filtration techniques, and writing articles to help fish and coral owners build successful aquariums. Kevin earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Wright State University.
Steve Krogh
LiveAquaria.com Assistant Director Steve Krogh has an extensive background in aquarium keeping as a retailer, professional technician, and member of both the Greater Minnesota Reef Society/Duluth and the Twin Cities Marine Aquarium Society. Steve has kept freshwater aquariums since the age of 12, from goldfish and planted communities to discus and South American cichlid biotopes. He has also maintained FOWLR and marine reef aquariums for over 13 years, having propagated many types of corals, including soft, LPS, and SPS. Steve oversees marketing and analysis for the LiveAquaria.com web site, helps supervise operations at the Aquaculture Coral Facility, and facilitates the continuing education of customer service representatives and the technical support team.
Chris Mueller
Inventory Analyst and reef hobbyist Chris Mueller holds a degree in Accounting from Nicolet College. She has been a vital member of the LiveAquaria.com staff for over 5 years, beginning as an aquarium expert for Drs. Foster & Smith's call center, assisting customers with technical questions and order fullfilment. Along with her many other duties, Chris currently oversees inventory of both livestock and all the supplies needed to maintain LiveAquaria.com's
SigNature® Shipping System.
Kelvin Fujikawa, BA, MSE
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Aquatic Specialist and Lead Educational Staff writer Kelvin Fujikawa has a lifetime of experience in tropical reef ecology and water gardening. Having maintained numerous aquarium setups at Drs. Foster & Smith - including FOWLR, Reef, African Cichlid, and Freshwater Planted systems - Kelvin has assisted customers both as a technical support agent and through the numerous articles he writes for the Foster and Smith Aquatics and Pond catalogs. He holds degrees in English and Anthropology from Ripon College and a Masters of Science & Engineering in technical writing and translation from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Monica Smith, ESMT II
Internet Content Specialist Monica Smith has an extensive background in veterinary science, many facets of aquarium care, and equine genetics. Currently maintaining a variety of aquariums both at home and around the Drs. Foster & Smith building, she is an avid hobbyist of freshwater planted, community, carnivore, and brackish aquariums systems. Monica updates and maintains website content for LiveAquaria.com, as well as the Fish, Pond, and Horse categories on DrsFosterSmith.com.
Technical Specialists
From product recommendations based on your specific system, to set-up and maintenance advice, our team of knowledgeable specialists are here to support you, whether you're new to the hobby or a seasoned enthusiast. With extensive training and years of experience helping customers find answers and solutions to a wide array of questions and problems, our friendly team of Technical Specialists is one of many reasons aquarium owners choose Drs. Foster & Smith for their fish and aquarium supplies.
Pharmacy Services
Drs. Foster & Smith's team of licensed pharmacists assist our Aquaculture Coral Facility Staff during the isolation and observation phase of quarantined arrivals. Our Pharmacy Services Staff is licensed to compound FDA-Approved antibiotics, antifungals, and preventives in custom dosages as prescribed by your veterinarian.
Brian Schafer
RPh |
Dave
Sorenson
RPh |
Kathy Dugger
Pharm D |
Debbie Kitch
Pharm D |
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Cheryl Hull
BS, CPhT |
Renee Metz
BS, CPhT |
Kristy Raith
CVT, CPhT |
Karen Stoltman
CPhT |
Ellen Werner
CPhT |
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