CAT (Center for Aquaculture Technologies) is expanding its client support services to further strengthen the company’s commitment to high-quality service and operational excellence.
The Ecuadorian shrimp Industry has experienced tremendous growth over the last 5 years. With much of Ecuador’s success as a global shrimp leader been driven by continuous genetic improvement programs. CAT supports these programs through high-quality genotyping services and close breeding partnerships; providing advanced genetic tools, CAT enables producers and breeders to achieve measurable gains in growth, feed conversion efficiency, and disease resistance across shrimp populations. CAT is the trusted partner in Ecuador and remains committed to investing in its clients and supporting the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the industry.
Diana Lagos, recently attending Aqua Expo in Santa Elena
As part of its ongoing growth initiative, CAT strengthened its presence in Ecuador with Diana Lagos joining as the company’s on-the-ground representative. Drawing on her extensive laboratory and shrimp operations experience, Diana advises Ecuadorian clients on best practices for sample collection and shipping, which are critical to preserving sample integrity and ensuring reliable, actionable genetic data. She also plays a key role in coordinating with CAT’s global laboratory operations team to streamline project execution.
Maria Hernandez, Client Success Associate
Enhancing its clients’ experience and support, CAT now also welcomes Maria Hernandez to the Client Success team. Maria serves as a primary point of contact for any clients needing assistance with sample logistics. Maria connects all, supporting onboarding, providing technical guidance, and managing day-to-day client interactions to ensure a smooth and responsive experience. Both Maria and Diana are native Spanish speakers, which ensures CAT delivers professional and personalized support to its Ecuadorian and Spanish-speaking clients.
“Maria’s and Diana’s expertise and dedication to sustainability make them ideal advocates for our clients,” said Klara Verbyla, VP of Genetic Improvement. “Their roles reflect our ongoing commitment to not only provide cutting-edge genetic solutions but also to be a trusted partner in our clients’ long-term success.”
These investments in people and platforms are part of CAT’s broader strategy to be more than a genetic services provider. By combining infrastructure, insights, and personalized support, CAT empowers aquaculture producers to drive sustainable genetic progress.