The Team
Meet the T.K. Exports, Inc. Professionals
President and General Manager - C. Gordon Thornhill, Jr. has over 40 years of experience in procurement, assembly, health preparation, transportation,
documentation, and exportation.
Mr. Thornhill has a B.S. degree in Animal Science from Virginia Tech. He has developed livestock markets throughout the world and has managed shipments to more than 45 countries. Mr. Thornhill is also a former president of the U.S. Livestock Exporter's Association (LEA) and has received their award of Merit for his service to the U.S. livestock export industry. Mr. Thornhill has participated in many national and international forums to promote the export of livestock genetics and was honored as Exporter of the Year by the Virginia Agri-Business Council.
Sales Managers
Murat Safak
Murat is our exclusive sales manager and partner for sales in Turkey. He
can offer animals from the USA, Canada and Uruguay for potential clients in
Turkey. Murat has the support of our TEAM to assist our clients with not
only sales but management, genetics and other services that TKE provides
for all its customers! You can contact Murat at:
2435 Ebergassing, Schönfeldgasse 16, Austria
Tel & Fax. 0043 2234 74855
Cell Tel 0043 664 141 3437
Email: mimofinanztr@gmail.com
Veterinarians
Health Management
Dr. Larry Samples
Dr. Samples is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He serves on many committees including the Ruminant Protocol Committee for the Livestock Exporters Association. As the chairman of this committee, he is responsible for advising the USDA-APHIS on health protocols for the export of live animals. Dr. Samples has been responsible for conducting health exams for more than 250,000 animals exported from Pennsylvania in the last 30 years. He has traveled to several countries and helped importers develop health management systems for American cattle. Dr. Samples understands the importance of selecting healthy animals and then properly preparing them for exportation.
Dr. Karl Magura
Dr. Magura is a veterinarian from Rixeyville, Virginia. He graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. He practiced as a large animal veterinarian in north-central Virginia for 25 years. Dr. Magura has been a part of our international efforts for over 20 years, providing health testing and documentation for our farm (Thorn-Ridge Farm, Inc.). He has provided veterinary service in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. He has conducted training programs at the American University-Beiruttts farm in Lebanon. He has also conducted training exercises for veterinarians here in the U.S as a part of our exchange program. His international experience gives T.K. Exports, Inc. the ability to transfer knowledge to our clients that will ensure the best use of our breeding stock.
Dr. Gerardo Quaassdorff, DVM
Dr. Gerardo E. Quaassdorff is a Dairy Advisor with more than 20 years of domestic and international experience in the dairy industry.
He has been responsible for the U.S. Holstein Associationtts International Marketing Programs since 1989. Using a a amarketing-by-educatingingi strategy, he developed market opportunities for U.S. dairy genetics. He shaped practical programs overseas which were designed to improve the competitiveness of U.S. dairy genetics, as well as the profitability of dairy producers in the U.S. and other countries.
He is an international consultant who has been a speaker at international conferences, meetings, and on-farm workshops. He is a former Executive Director for the U.S. Holstein Association, and a consultant for the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. (USLGE), in partnership with USDAtts Foreign Agricultural Service.
Dr. Quaassdorff has traveled worldwide working with dairies, allied industries, and government organizations in most of Latin America, Europe, Asia, as well as, Australia, Northern Africa and the United States. He is fluent in English and Spanish, and has conversational knowledge of German, Portuguese and Italian. He has been a member of several industry organizations including the American Dairy Science Association, National Mastitis Council, the U.S. Animal Health Association (Foreign Diseases and Import-Export Committees), and the U.S. Livestock Exporters Association. Dr. Quaassdorff was also the Chairman of the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc.
Dr. Quaassdorff grew up on a dairy farm in Chile assisting with the management of herds as large as 500 head. He graduated from the Universidad Austral de Chile (Austral University) in Veterinary Medicine and completed graduate school work in the dairy science department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with emphasis on dairy herd management and international marketing. Dr. Quaassdorff also worked with a private company that offered milk control tests, animal feed analyses, and milk quality test services in Wisconsin.
Dr. Gonzalo Iglesias
Dr. Gonzalo Iglesias is a veterinarian from Florida, Uruguay. He graduated from the Universidad de La Republica in Montevideo and has a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and Technology. He is also a recognized specialist on ultra sound pregnancy detection.
Dr. Iglesias is a practicing veterinarian in his home town of Florida. He owns a dairy cattle operation that produces around 300 calves a year for both the internal and export markets. In addition to his private practice and farm, he is a dairy and beef cattle consultant for customers throughout Uruguay.
Over the last 10 years, Dr. Iglesias has been the veterinarian an ain chargerger for cattle shipments to Australia, Mexico, Iran, Turkey, Venezuela, Tunisia and Peru. While abroad, Dr. Iglesias has contributed to the successful development of dairy farms through education and hands oningi instruction. He teaches local veterinarians proper care which allows animals to produce their maximum potential.
Dr. Stephen Levan
Dr. Le Van is a veterinarian practicing in Oley, Pennsylvania. He is a third generation graduate from the University of Pennsylvania - School of Veterinary Medicine and holds licenses in Pennsylvania, New York, Iowa and Vermont. After his residency he returned to his familytts fourth generation practice. He has provided veterinary services for more than 20 ships and specializes in international livestock export, testing and certification, shipboard veterinarian, and on farm placement.
Domestic Logistics and Management
Amal Ratnavibhushana
Customer Relations Manager - Originally from Sri Lanka, Amal graduated from the Sri Lanka School of Agriculture 1979 with a diploma in Agriculture. He spent 12 years in sales, marketing, and management for several leading agricultural machinery manufacturers in Sri Lanka. Upon moving to the United States, he spent 4 years in various management positions and decided to open his own retail business. After 7 years on his own he joined T.K. Exports, Inc. in 2007 to assist with the coordination of visiting clients and field operations staff.
Frank Graves
Frank Graves grew up in agriculture. Throughout his childhood, he spent many hours working with livestock and participated in many 4-H livestock events. His 4-H experience culminated with his team winning the International Livestock Judging Contest in Chicago, Illinois. After his formal high school education, he attended Virginia Tech earning a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. During his college experience, he gained an appreciation for livestock by being part of the intercollegiate judging teams. Frank participated in the 4-H IFYE (International Farm Youth Exchange) Program where USA youths are sent to foreign locations to learn about the local agriculture. Frank spent time in both Venezuela and Costa Rica.
Upon graduation, Frank worked for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Program, serving as a County Agent. After his tenure with the Virginia Extension Service, he began his career in livestock marketing by accepting a position as a Market Specialist for the Virginia Department of Agriculture. Frank worked with all species of livestock helping producers organize sales and find buyers for their animals. Frank spent 33 years in the Virginia Department of Agriculture, retiring in 2013 as the Director of Livestock Marketing. During his tenure he helped develop many new systems of marketing including tele-auctions and internet sales. He also worked to develop markets for Virginia livestock in Canada, China, Russia, Turkey and the Czech Republic. Frank was awarded Service Awards for his efforts in marketing by the Virginia Cattlementts Association and the Virginia Feeder Pig Association. He served as the past President of US Livestock Grading and Marketing Association and continues to travel and advise our clients about livestock marketing.
Frank has gained a great deal of knowledge over the years that can help clients establish their beef herds and get their beef production on a successful path. His knowledge about marketing allows him to offer help in establishing market exchanges to market clientts production at home.