Karl-Heinz and Gisela Lüpkes
Head of the biology department and breeding employee
In the company: "since always".
"20 years of bigamy".
We have not only been married to each other. Since 2004, we also married with BioGenius GmbH. I have been a co-founder of BioGenius and Gisela joined us shortly afterwards.
I have been able to pursue many interesting activities: Breeding and efficacy testing, in-house technology, sales team, management of the GLP facility, authorized signatory, committee work ...
And as is the case when you're in charge of a company that started out small: when in doubt, you're also responsible for the toilet paper.
Gisela's work was more continuous: breeding. But here, too, there was always something intersting: new animal species, new breeding methods, changed conditions and much more.
The beginning was not always easy.
My answer to the question did everything go as planned?
“a third as planned, a third differently, a third not at all.”
We were familiar with the practical activities from decades of experience. The bureaucratic processes, which were new to us and necessary for our own company, were becoming established.
Our customer base grew, the range of animal species, test facilities and testing options expanded and the workload increased. This was only possible thanks to our customers. Many of them have been with us from the beginning, and many more have joined us.
And, of course, thanks to our colleagues, without whom none of this would have been possible. I am still fascinated of the variety of activities: Practical and desk-based activities; in the lab and in the field; alone and with colleagues and with customers, established and new tasks, and, and, and.
"Unique" things are particularly memorable. For example, the effectiveness studies on mosquito control in a wide-bodied aircraft at Frankfurt Airport. For the first time in Germany. With the participation of numerous representatives from various authorities.
Gisela and I survived "family conflicts" well: the test animals that one of us bred lovingly, intensively and for a long time were controlled by the other in (hopefully successful) studies for customers.
As we are leaving BioGenius after 20 years, our conclusion is:
yes, we would do it again (with a few small changes)!
We would like to expressly thank all our customers, colleagues, service providers and all other "busy hands"! For the many years of trusting, friendly and mostly successful cooperation.
These lines not only represent our anniversary contribution, but at the same time we are also saying goodbye to our well-deserved retirement.
We wish everyone all the best for the future!
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