Meet the Team

Jim comes from a family farm background in Co Kildare. After leaving school, Jim went to UCD School of Agriculture and achieved a B Agr. Sc (Hons) in 1985. For 13 years Jim worked in a leading Agricultural Merchant as General Manager.

In 1998, Jim joined Forage Systems as Managing Director and continued to grow the business which later became Specialist Nutrition with the development of moist and liquids feeds market. Specialist Nutrition is now the leading supplier of high-quality feeds and supplements to progressive dairy and beef farmers in Ireland and the UK.

Jim is a member of the Agricultural Science Association, Irish Farmers Association and Irish Holsten and Friesian Association.

Justin comes from a family farm on the West of Ireland. After completing his undergraduate degree in Animal & Crop Production from University College Dublin, Justin completed his PhD in Forage & Animal Science through Queens University Belfast. Most recently, Justin was awarded a diploma in Ruminant Nutrition from Harper Adams University in England. Justin has experience across many agricultural industries including the US, UK, Germany, and New Zealand. Previous to Justin joining Specialist Nutrition US in 2021, Justin worked for a ruminant feed mill in an on farm nutrition role. Justin remains committed to offering innovative farming feed solutions and sustainable animal nutrition.

Samantha Shapess has joined our growing US team as Operations Manager based in Syracuse, NY. While Sam is new to the New York dairy scene, she isn’t new to the New York farm scene, growing up in Phoenix, NY working on her families produce farm. Sam holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration as well as a MBA in Finance, achieving both degrees from SUNY Oswego.