JOHN L HOLAHAN III,
PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER
OF SIMPLYTHICK, LLC

Hi!  I'm John.  I'm naturally curious, which led me to a career as an inventor. 

Here's a little more about me and why I created this website. 

I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelors in Paper Science and Engineering in 1992.  After graduation I worked for Kelco – a thickener company owned by Merck and eventually sold to Monsanto – where I became an expert in several industrial thickeners.  

After a layoff, I decided to go back for my MBA at Washington University in St. Louis, MO.  While attending the Executive MBA program, I had a class project that required me to develop a business plan.

My background in food thickeners, led me to suggest a food and beverage thickener that would solve many of the problems currently faced with starch thickeners on the market.  After research trials with hospitals, speech therapists, and dietitians, I was convinced this product was needed to help better the lives of those living with dysphagia. 

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Upon graduation in 2001, I founded SimplyThick, LLC and our proprietary thickener - SimplyThick. 

We have now sold over 750 million servings. 

Over the years, I have presented to various long term care trade organizations on the topics of IDDSI, dysphagia, thickeners, and rheology. 

All of these elements brought me to create the Simply Holahan website.  

I invite you to explore my site, opinions, learn about my passions, and share your thoughts as well.