Media Contact
Marti Pupillo
(202) 220-3535
(Orlando, Fla. — January 12, 2009) The International Dairy Foods Association today presented the 2009 Soaring Eagle Awards to two outgoing officers: Brian Haugh, CEO of National Dairy Holdings, and Mike Reidy, senior vice president of procurement, logistics and business development of Leprino Foods Company. The awards were presented at a special ceremony during IDFA’s Dairy Forum 2009 at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort in Orlando, Fla.
The Soaring Eagle award recognizes the extraordinary service of leaders in the dairy industry and those who have provided exemplary leadership to IDFA, the International Ice Cream Association, the Milk Industry Foundation and the National Cheese Institute.
Brian Haugh — 2009 Soaring Eagle Award Winner
Haugh served as IDFA chairman from 2007 to 2008 and IDFA vice chairman from 2006-2007. He also has served as MIF chairman from 2006 to 2007, MIF vice chairman from 2005 to 2006 and MIF secretary from 2004 to 2005.
He started his career in the dairy industry at 19, when he began working for Mid West Farms in Texarkana, Texas. Haugh now heads one of the top dairy companies in the country with more than 5,000 employees.
Perhaps one of his most important contributions was delivering the associations’ messages on Capitol Hill and in Washington, D.C. He led IDFA through deliberations on the farm bill and met with administration officials to discuss the potential impact that allowing milk and milk products from cloned animals would have on consumers.
“Brian’s leadership over the last couple of years has really been invaluable,” said Connie Tipton, IDFA president and CEO. “He’s great at getting the pulse of people in the industry and keeping us on the right track to get through the big issues.”
Mike Reidy — 2009 Soaring Eagle Award Winner
Reidy served as IDFA chairman from 2006 to 2007, vice chairman from 2005 to 2006 and secretary/treasurer from 2004 to 2005. An NCI board member since 2000, Reidy has served two terms as chairman, most recently from 2007 to 2008, and one term as vice chairman, from 2002 to 2004, and one as treasurer, from 2000 to 2002.
He started his career at Price Waterhouse, where he stayed for 18 years and became a partner before joining Leprino Foods Company in 1994. In the dairy industry, Reidy has been instrumental in driving improvements to IDFA’s overall administrative processes, including compensation plans, financial management and strategic planning.
“Mike brought some really strong qualities to our financial management and has given strong oversight and good guidance on the issues,” said Tipton. “Mike’s legacy is a much stronger organization for the industry.”
In addition to dairy, Reidy focuses on a wide range of philanthropic projects to help disadvantaged children and teens and to promote quality education. He is currently chairman of the Board of Trustees of Regis Jesuit High School in Denver.
Previous recipients of the IDFA Soaring Eagle Award include Jim Green, Miriam Erickson Brown, Paul Kruse, Robert Allen, Tom Angott, Tom Badciong, Rick Beaman, C.O. "Tex" Beshears, George Cornell, Howard M. Dean, Jim Erickson, Miles Ezell, Lou Gentine, Betsy Holden, Larry Jensen, John Jeter, John Kinnett, Jr., Ed Kruse, Bill Oldenburg, Delton Parks, Arthur Pappathanasi, Tom Perry, Ronald Rice, David Rufenacht, Don Storhoff, Fay Wells and Gary Wells.
# # #
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, DC, represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of 530 companies representing a $110-billion a year industry. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), the National Cheese Institute (NCI) and the International Ice Cream Association (IICA). IDFA's 220 dairy processing members run more than 600 plant operations, and range from large multi-national organizations to single-plant companies. Together they represent more than 85% of the milk, cultured products, cheese and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States. IDFA can be found online at www.idfa.org