Overview
Dairy Forum, presented by the International Dairy Foods Association, is back in 2022 in sunny Palm Desert, California with the premier annual event for dairy foods executives. Connect with peers and industry leaders. Advance your knowledge and thinking. And get inspired. Dairy leaders from around the world convene each year at Dairy Forum to see what’s New, Now and Next.
Speakers
Christina Adams
Partner, McKinsey & Company
Christina Adams
Christina Adams is a leader in McKinsey & Company’s consumer goods practice, with deep experience across commercial optimization, growth strategy, and optimizing portfolio and network complexity. She regularly looks at topics relating to how food and beverage consumer goods companies can adapt and grow in the changing consumer and retail landscape.
Christina started her career at Procter & Gamble working in brand management in Cincinnati, Ohio. Christina earned both her B.A. and M.B.A. from Harvard University. She is a native Oklahoman.
David Ahlem
Immediate Past Chair / CEO & President | Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.
David Ahlem
David Ahlem is the Chief Executive Officer and President for Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. He came to the Company in 2004. Since then, Ahlem has served in several leadership roles, which have deepened his passion for the dairy business and expanded his experience. His expertise includes dairy policy, strategic management, and customer relations.
A proactive member of the dairy industry, Ahlem participates with leadership peers in a variety of associations. He currently serves as Immediate Past Chair of the International Dairy Foods Association Executive Council, and as a board member of the Innovation Center for US Dairy and the Dairy Institute of California. Ahlem also actively participates in several other industry-related groups.
Ahlem was born and raised in California’s Central Valley where his involvement in the dairy industry began on his family’s dairy farm in Hilmar, California. He attended Westmont College, earning a B.A. in Philosophy and later earned an M.B.A from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
David and his wife, Cari, have four children and reside in Turlock, California.
Marin Bozic, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in Dairy Foods Marketing Economics | Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota
Marin Bozic, Ph.D.
Marin Bozic is Assistant Professor in Dairy Foods Marketing Economics in the Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota.
This faculty position was created in 2011 as a collaboration between the University of Minnesota and the Midwest Dairy Association, with the mission to develop a research program that includes a wide range of topics on dairy processing and demand issues. Before joining the University of Minnesota, Marin worked as researcher at the Institute of Economics – Zagreb. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Trento, Italy and doctorate in agricultural economics from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
His doctoral thesis focuses on price performance of agricultural futures and options markets, especially grains and dairy products. Marin’s research program encompasses four areas: (i) U.S. dairy policy analysis, (ii) dairy risk analysis, (iii) demand analysis and elicitation of consumers' willingness to pay for new dairy foods products and (iv) feasibility assessments of new dairy technologies, processing investments and new products. Since 2011, Marin published 6 scholarly articles, 13 working papers, won over ten grants by the Minnesota Milk Producers Association, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Midwest Dairy Association, and spoke at over three dozen research and outreach conferences.
Jon Brause
Director, WFP Washington Office, World Food Programme
Jon Brause
Jon Brause serves as Managing Director of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Washington Liaison Office. Based in Washington, D.C., Mr. Brause directs WFP’s interactions with its major partners in the U.S. Government, and represents WFP in dialogue with U.S.-based organizations interested in reducing hunger and poverty worldwide.
Mark Broadhurst
Vice President of Public Affairs, Chobani, Inc.
Mark Broadhurst
Mark Broadhurst has been toiling in public affairs and policy for all of his more than 25 years in government, politics, media and business. For nearly half of his career, he has honed his skills and expertise in the consumer product and food industries.
Now based in SoHo in Lower Manhattan and currently leading a team of public affairs professionals at founder led Chobani, the maker of America's No. 1–selling Greek Yogurt brand and the second largest yogurt manufacturer in the U.S., Mark is crafting public affairs strategies that help drive Chobani’s belief in serving as a catalyst for positive change – change to improve public health and policy, the environmental, economic and social wellness of Chobani’s supply chain and the communities where it thrives, and finally, importantly, change in the food industry which leads to better outcomes, better options and better food for more people.
Founded on the belief that people have great taste—they just need great options, under Mark’s leadership Chobani is becoming increasingly engaged in dairy and other agricultural policymaking, including standards of identity, child nutrition, opening new markets for yogurt, and immigration reform, to name a few. Driven by its values, Chobani is expanding its reputation as a food focused wellness company, building on its strong foundation of providing better, accessible food to more people all the while generously giving back to the communities Chobani calls home and the constituencies with whom Chobani partners to make a difference. As a member of the Chobani Demand team, Mark counsels and collaborates with Chobani business functions, and leads strategic public policy engagement, local, state and federal government relations, industry and trade matters, community relations, supply chain engagement, philanthropy and social impact.
Mark had a sweet run prior to Chobani where for more than a decade he served as a member of the global corporate affairs team at Mars, building a successful state government program and leading on issues in health and nutrition, sustainability, taxation, animal welfare and business development.
A Dickinson College philosophy major, Mark began his career in presidential politics, worked in the Pacific for a territorial governor and on the Hill for a Member of Congress. The father of five, Mark left public service for the corporate world at his wife’s urging shortly before their fourth child was born. He and his wife, though sometimes weary, are active in their community of Long Valley, NJ.
David Clark
Vice President, Sustainability, Amcor
David Clark
David leads Amcor’s global sustainability agenda. He works closely with the global packaging company’s innovation, procurement, operations and other functions to integrate more sustainable design and social responsibility into Amcor’s product development and operations. He is active in Amcor’s global sustainability partnerships with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, and others. He leads the company’s program to achieve its Global Commitment to develop all of its packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2025, to increase the use of recycled content, and collaborate to drive up rates of recycling around the world.
David is chair of the Plastic Recycling Corporation of California, serves on the board of The Recycling Partnership, and is an Aspen Institute First Movers Fellow.
David holds a B.S., Physics, from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Pepperdine University.
Carl Colizza
President and Chief Operating Officer (North America) | Saputo Inc.
Carl Colizza
Carl Colizza holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from McGill University. Since joining Saputo in 1998 as an engineer, he has held several senior management positions in the Dairy Division (Canada). In 2002, he was appointed to the position of Director, Engineering and in 2007, he became Vice President of Engineering and Environmental Affairs. In 2009, he was named Senior Vice President, Operations and, in 2014, Senior Vice President, Business Development. In 2015, he was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of the Dairy Division (Canada), and in 2018, he also led the Dairy Division (Argentina). In 2019, he was named President and Chief Operating Officer (North America). In addition to these responsibilities, he took on the leadership of the Dairy Foods Division (USA) on an interim basis in early 2020, and then the position of President and Chief Operating Officer for the unified Dairy Division (USA) from August 2020 to November 2021.
Émile Cordeau
Chief Executive Officer, Agropur Cooperative
Émile Cordeau
Since joining Agropur in 2013, Mr. Émile Cordeau has occupied a series of positions, including most recently Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, in which capacity he played a key role in the Cooperative’s development. He previously occupied the position of Vice-President for the Foodservice and Proximity Retail group and was formerly in charge of the Fine Cheese Business Unit.
Before joining Agropur, Émile Cordeau worked for seven years at Dollarama where he actively participated in its evolution from a privately held family-owned company to a major public company. Émile Cordeau also acquired a diversified experience in Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions with companies such as Transcontinental and RBC Capital Markets. He graduated from HEC Montréal with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce.
Patrick Criteser
President and CEO, Tillamook County Creamery Association
Patrick Criteser
Patrick Criteser currently serves the dairy families of Tillamook County as the president and CEO of the Tillamook County Creamery Association (“Tillamook”). Tillamook is a more than centuryold farmer-owned cooperative with a leading premium dairy brand and a commitment to providing real food that tastes great. During Criteser’s tenure at TCCA, the cooperative has increased revenue by over 50% while growing return to farmers and expanding its presence as one of the leading consumer food brands in the Western U.S.
Criteser is an experienced executive with a track record of leading growth and positive transformation at companies large and small. Before joining TCCA as president and CEO in 2012, he spent eight years as president and CEO at Coffee Bean International and one year as co-CEO of Farmer Brothers (Nasdaq: FARM). Prior to his role at Coffee Bean International, Criteser held management and strategic development roles at some of the world’s most respected brands, including Nike, The Walt Disney Company and Procter & Gamble. He also spent time as a principal at SmartForest Ventures, a Portland-based venture capital fund, where he led the firm’s investments in several successful technology companies.
Criteser is a native Oregonian and serves on the boards of The Oregon Food Bank, The Oregon Community Foundation, and The Oregon Business Council. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School.
Tim Doelman
Chief Executive Officer, Fairlife
Tim Doelman
Tim Doelman is an entrepreneur, scientist, and business leader. Founded upon a B.S. in Dairy Science from California Polytechnic (“Cal Poly”), Mr. Doelman brings thirty years of experience in the dairy industry.
In 2020, Tim became the Chief Executive Officer for fairlife. Tim leads the company’s efforts in bringing great-tasting, high nutrition consumer products to market. fairlife revenue has grown from $10MM in sales in 2014 to over $0.5B in under 6 years and the organization has grown from 5 people to over 500 people company wide. fairlife is a fully owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company.
In 2012, as Chief Operating Officer for fairlife, Tim led the company’s efforts to reinvent the dairy category with innovative products and processing capabilities. Tim was responsible for the development and building of a half billion $ infrastructure for executing fairlife’s differentiated, high-value portfolio. This work included both the development and positioning of the products, the building of the teams, and the design and build out of manufacturing capabilities, including the core technologies of filtration, thermal processing, and low acid aseptic processing.
In 2010, as Chief Executive Officer of Athletes HoneyMilk, Tim successfully launched a line of high protein nutritional drinks that was later rebranded Core Power. The drink leveraged the technologies developed and marketed by the Good Cow Company which Tim co-founded in 1999. This product served as a strong proof of concept for the dairy-based drinks that the membrane technology enabled.
In 1999, as Co-Founder of the Good Cow Company, Tim developed and marketed membrane-based proprietary dairy products. The work at Good Cow was fundamental to the technologies and innovations marketed by fairlife today.
Jim Donald
Chairman of Albertson’s & Former CEO of Starbucks, Pathmark Supermarkets and Extended Stay Hotels
Jim Donald
The former CEO of Starbucks, Pathmark Supermarkets, and Extended Stay Hotels, and currently the co-chairman of the board of Albertson’s, Jim Donald is a seasoned executive of large, multinational companies with a distinguished career in retail. He has been named one of the “Top 25 CEOs in the World” by The Best Practice Institute and one of Business Travel News’ “25 Most Influential Business Travel Executives” in 2013. Donald earned a reputation for turning around financially ailing companies early in his career. It was this reputation that prompted Extended Stay Hotels to seek him out after emerging from its bankruptcy proceedings in 2010. The hiring marked the rare choice of an outsider to lead a U.S. hotel company, and he led its successful $565 million IPO. He then joined Albertsons Companies in March 2018 as president and chief operating officer, before being named chief executive officer of the large chain in 2018.
Leading Through Uncertainty. Coined “the vagabond CEO” by the North Carolina Business Journal, Donald is known for his personal, hands-on approach to leadership and ability to effectively lead in different, often unfamiliar, business environments – and shares the leadership and management techniques that have earned him his stellar reputation. In talks he discusses his experience as a leader focused on innovation, communication, quality, service, strong relationships within the community, and risk-taking with the freedom to fail.
Business Strategies Good to the Last Drop. Jim Donald joined Starbucks in 2002 as president of its North American division, and he later served as president and CEO from 2005–2008, while the company saw some of its most rapid global expansion. During this period, Starbucks experienced record financial performance and growth, attributable largely to its success in North America, as customers continued to embrace the Starbucks Experience. Donald believes that the human connection between customers and baristas accounted for each Starbucks store becoming a neighborhood gathering place. He also continued Starbucks’ strong commitment to corporate social responsibility with efforts to develop ethical sourcing practices for products, fund water projects in developing countries, and reduce the company’s environmental footprint.
Supermarketing. In 2019, Donald transitioned from CEO of Albertson’s, the nation’s second largest supermarket operator, to co-chairman of the board. He has almost 50 years of experience in the supermarket industry. He began his career in 1971 as a trainee with Publix Super Markets. Joining Albertson’s in 1976, he quickly rose through its managerial ranks and was head of operations in Arizona. After 16 years at Albertson’s, Donald’s reputation in grocery operations spurred Walmart founder Sam Walton to personally recruit him to help the company’s then-struggling grocery business in 1991. Handpicked and with the goal to build a major presence in the supermarket business, Donald was a key executive in the company’s development and expansion of the Walmart Super Center, supervising all merchandising, distribution, store design, and real estate operations.
Donald later served as president and manager of Safeway’s 130-store Eastern division from 1994 to 1996. He was responsible for a $2.5 billion business, 10,000 employees comprised of 130 stores and two distribution centers. With a clear vision and inspiring front-line leadership, he reversed a four-year trend in declining same-store sales. Donald then joined Pathmark Stores in 1996 as chairman, president, and CEO. Donald served as CEO of Haggen Food & Pharmacy from 2009 until 2011.
In addition to serving as co-chairman of Albertson’s, Donald also currently serves on the board of directors of Nordstrom’s.
Bonnie Dowling
Expert Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company
Bonnie Dowling
Bonnie serves clients across sectors and industries, including financial-services firms, health systems, insurers, federal and state agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. Her work focuses primarily on organizational transformations as she has deep expertise in virtual and in-person hybrid-work operating models, employee engagement and retention, capability building, and leadership development. During the pandemic, Bonnie spent much of her time working with clients around the world to design and launch hybrid-virtual operating models. She is passionate about partnering with clients to create a future where work works for employers, employees, their customers, and society. Recent experience includes the following:
- leading the firm’s thought engagement on how employers and employees can reimagine working and engage with each other to decrease resignation,
- improve retention rates, and increase job attraction developing proprietary virtualization potential and assessment tools to provide data-driven insights and inform a hybrid-work roadmap for clients seeking to transform operating models during the pandemic and post-COVID-19 recovery
- supporting clients in the design and development of workforce-training programs to prepare for the “next normal” and increase operational efficiencies and organizational health overall
- leveraging expertise in adult learning and hybrid-work operating models by working closely with clients to design operating models to identify and build the capabilities critical to long-term success
Bonnie was a labor-and-delivery nurse prior to joining McKinsey and remains passionate about public health—maternal and pediatric care in particular. She’s the mom to an energetic kid and partner to a mountain-loving man. Together, they are trying to teach her how to ski.
Ron Dunford
President and CEO, Schreiber Foods
Ron Dunford
Ron Dunford was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Schreiber Foods in 2019. He is Schreiber’s eighth President and CEO. Ron spent more than 40 years in the dairy industry.
Ron joined Schreiber in 1996 at the Green Bay, Wisconsin, home office. He was named a Vice President in 2000, Senior Vice President in 2002, President & COO of Schreiber Chain Sales in 2003, President & COO Operations in 2006, and President Schreiber U.S. in 2014. Additionally, Ron was elected to the Schreiber Foods Board of Directors in 2003.
Ron serves as a Board Member for the Utah State University Center for Entrepreneurship, the International Dairy Foods Association, and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy where he serves as Food Safety Vice Chair. He also served a 2-year term as the Chairman of the National Cheese Institute. In the community, Ron is actively involved with non-profits and in serving the needs of others.
He earned a B.S. in Geology from Utah State University in Logan, Utah.
He and his wife Dana have two married sons and have been blessed with four grandchildren. Ron enjoys spending time in the mountains; skiing, hiking, and biking. He is also a life-long learner with a passion for helping others achieve their dreams.
Schreiber Foods strives to do good through food every day. Based in North America, we’re a customer-brand leader in cream cheese, natural cheese, process cheese, shelf-stable beverages and yogurt. Our more than 10,000 employees and presence on five continents enable us to be an essential ingredient in our customers’ success. With annual sales of more than $7 billion, we partner with the best retailers, restaurants, distributors and food manufacturers around the globe. We also recognize our responsibility to do good in the world and are driven to make a difference in everything we do.
Michael Dykes
President & CEO
Michael Dykes
Michael Dykes, D.V.M., a long-time government affairs strategist, agricultural policy expert, and veterinarian, became president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association in January 2017. In this role, he represents members that make most of the milk, cultured products, cheese, ice cream and frozen desserts, and dairy-derived ingredients produced in the United States and marketed throughout the world. Since joining IDFA, Dykes has been a strong advocate for putting U.S. dairy at the center of health and wellness, innovation, sustainability, a vibrant U.S. economy, a stable and diverse workforce, and leading the world in global dairy exports. Prior to assuming his role at IDFA, Dykes served as vice president of government affairs for Monsanto, where he was responsible for developing and implementing a portfolio of U.S. government relations strategies and programs that included agricultural biotechnology policy. He led Monsanto's office in Washington, D.C., and served as the company's primary point of contact for elected officials, regulatory authorities, U.S. farm organizations, key industry participants, trade associations, international organizations and embassies. He directed the company's efforts in state and local government affairs, in addition to government affairs in Mexico and Canada. Dykes is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the National Academy of Practitioners. He is also a member of the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC), which provides U.S. trade policy advice to the current presidential administration.
Dykes grew up on a small dairy and tobacco farm in Kentucky. He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn University. He also attended the University of Kentucky where he received a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science.
Jeremy Everett
Executive Director, Baylor University’s Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty
Jeremy Everett
Elizabeth B. Fawell
Partner, Hogan Lovells
Elizabeth B. Fawell
Successfully navigating the detailed and often complex regulatory issues confronting the food industry, Elizabeth Fawell helps companies understand both the rules and various risks involved to make the most informed and strategic decisions.
Elizabeth has worked with every segment of the food industry, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, and food service operators, as well as their trade associations.
Her work on behalf of food industry clients with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) since its inception and her understanding of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems provides her with the experience and perspective needed to counsel clients on how to comply with new requirements under the law. Elizabeth is also a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) and has completed the FSPCA PCQI training.
Elizabeth understands how laws, regulations, and guidance documents are developed, interpreted, and enforced. Her extensive knowledge enables clients to prevent or respond to enforcement actions such as Warning Letters, Import Alerts, and agency investigations. She helps clients in determining whether an RFR report is necessary and whether a recall is warranted. If so, she helps manage the recall to minimize business impacts.
Elizabeth provides real-time advice during factory inspections, helps clients prepare 483 responses, and drafts inspection manuals. She assists clients in lawfully and creatively promoting their products; such as the development of labels, claims, and website and promotional campaigns. Elizabeth also supports clients in advertising disputes and with responses to FTC and Attorney General investigations.
Elizabeth helps clients stay informed of and ahead of public policy issues and develops strategies for effective advocacy before regulators. She also counsels clients on compliance with Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards, testing and certification requirements, and reporting obligations.
Elizabeth is also a member of the Food and Dietary Supplements Committee of the Food and Drug Law Institute.
Nick Geoghegan
Strategy Director, Eat Big Fish
Nick Geoghegan
After eight years at eatbigfish London, Nick can now be found in Santa Monica as he sets up a new expansion of the challenger brand experts in Southern California.
Joining eatbigfish from the world of advertising in 2010, Nick has worked with clients on five continents and in international waters. He has helped clients think differently about everything from soft drinks to software and most things in between. His passion for challenger brands lies in the fact that they can’t afford to be mediocre, something that can’t be said of many market leaders out there.
Having lived in South America through his childhood, Nick speaks Spanish and Portuguese, though he’s a little out of practice.
Kate George
Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company
Kate George
Alain Gerard
Vice-President, Quality & Innovation, Lactalis American Group, Inc.
Alain Gerard
Alain Gerard is the Vice President of Quality and Innovation at Lactalis American Group, Inc. He is responsible for Quality (food safety, product quality), Innovation (R&D, spearheading innovation with the various marketing services) and Sustainability efforts.
Alain has 38 years of experience in the dairy industry with expertise in areas that include research & development, plant management and quality for products ranging from Grade A (bottled milk, yogurt, cottage cheese); French-style soft ripened cheeses (various types of ripening); cream cheese; hard cheeses (cows and sheep milk); to pasta filata cheeses.
Pedro Goncalves
Vice President of Marketing, Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada | Tetra Pak Inc.
Pedro Goncalves
Henrik Hoejen Andersen
CEO | Arla Foods Ingredients
Henrik Hoejen Andersen
Since April 2010, Chief Executive Officer at Arla Foods Ingredients Group P/S, a fully owned subsidiary of Arla Foods amba.
Member of the Board in Arla Foods Ingredients S.A. in Argentina, Member/Chairman of the Board on a rotation basis in Biolac GmbH & Co. KG (Joint Venture in Germany), ArNoCo GmbH & Co. KG (Joint Venture in Germany), and MV Ingredients Limited (Joint Venture in the UK).
Joined Arla Foods amba in 1994 as Executive Director for the global milk protein business and in 1998, took on the role as Senior Vice President for Arla Foods Ingredients amba, Arla Foods’ global business unit for whey processing activities.
From 1986 to 1994 Management Consultant with McKinsey and Co in Copenhagen.
Master of Science degree in Engineering from Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, and Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from Stanford University, California, US
Tressie Liberman
Vice President of Digital Marketing and Off-Premise, Chipotle
Tressie Liberman
Tressie Lieberman, Vice President of Digital Marketing and Off-Premise for Chipotle, is responsible for driving digital engagement and growth of new ordering occasions. In this role, Lieberman oversees a team dedicated to building relationships with the brand’s community through social media, the Chipotle Rewards loyalty program, and CRM. Lieberman also drives the strategy and marketing of the delivery and catering business through strategic partnerships and promotions.
Under Lieberman’s leadership, Chipotle has evolved consumer engagement to include breakthrough marketing initiatives such as launching the Chipotle Rewards program utilizing Venmo as a social network, creating an influencer-inspired menu with influencer David Dobrik’s namesake burrito and building the brand’s leadership on TikTok.
With a passion for food and innovation, Lieberman also held leadership positions at Snap Kitchen and Taco Bell. At Snap Kitchen, Lieberman led a full menu, overhauling the innovation timeline to acheive an on-trend assortment. During her Taco Bell tenure, Lieberman created an incubator that focused on rapid prototyping, e-commerce, and delivery. Lieberman also designed and drove the social media and influencer strategy that positioned Taco Bell to win in youth culture.
Lieberman proudly supports her alma mater, The University of Texas, through guest lectures and student mentorship. Lieberman is a member of the board of directors of The Mobile Marketing Association and serves on the Adweek Innovators Council. She has achieved accolades such as being named on the Nation’s Restaurant News Power List and Advertising Age Women to Watch.
John Lucey
John Lucey, Ph.D., Professor of Food Science and Director of the Center for Dairy Research, University of Wisconsin
John Lucey
John has a Ph.D in Food Science and over 20 years of research experience. He previously worked in Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand. As CDR Director he provides leadership to CDR staff to help CDR move forward and live up to its reputation as a world-class research center focused on applications, outreach and education. He is also a professor in the Food Science department and conducts research on the functionality of dairy foods. He has published more than 130 peer-reviewed articles and 20 book chapters.
Ted Mason
Retail Technology Consultant, NGA Foundation Technical Assistance Center
Ted Mason
Ted Mason brings vast retail and technology experience starting with growing up in his father’s chain c-store business. Former positions within the grocery/supermarket industry include retail technologist for the nation’s largest wholesale grocer, director of emerging technology & electronic payments for the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), director of standards implementation for the National Association of Convenience Stores technology group (now known as Conexxus), and executive director of the Kentucky Grocers & Convenience Store Association. Mason also served as chairman of the committee that published the first ANSI national standards for today’s SNAP card-based electronic payments system and was an FMI representative to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AutoID Center where “Internet of Things” originated.
Prior to his current consulting work with the National Grocers Association Foundation Technical Assistance Center, Mason served as director of information technology for an independent supermarket chain located in Kentucky. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and now provides consulting services from his hometown of beautiful Lexington, KY.
Monica Massey
Executive Vice President, Chief of Staff and Chief Innovation Officer, DFA
Monica Massey
As DFA’s executive vice president, chief of staff and chief innovation officer, Monica is responsible for a wide range of duties related to the overall success of DFA. Monica entered the dairy industry nearly 30 years ago and joined DFA in 2006 as vice president of corporate communications and member relations. Today, Monica acts as an advisor to the president and CEO and provides guidance and support to top decision-makers within the organization. She also serves as the executive sponsor of DFA’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council. In addition, she serves on Global Dairy Platform’s marketing committee, the BioKansas board of directors, as chair of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy’s communications committee, on the board of directors for the Center for Food Integrity as well as MilkPEP, where she also leads its industry committee.
Mike McCloskey
Co-Founder and CEO, Select Milk Producers
Mike McCloskey
Mike McCloskey is Co-Founder and CEO of Select Milk Producers, the sixth largest milk cooperative in the country. He is also Chairman of the Board for Fair Oaks Farms, the nation’s largest agritourism attraction located in Northwest Indiana. Dr. McCloskey’s home dairy is Prairies Edge Dairy Farms, also in Northwest Indiana, which milks 15,000 cows living in free-stall barns and is recognized as being the leading dairy in the U.S. from many perspectives. Prairies Edge Dairy Farms harvest their cow manure and through digesters create electricity to power their farms as well as creating bio-based CNG to fuel 42 milk trucks and thus displacing 2 million gallons of diesel use annually.
Ludovic Meilhac
Partner, McKinsey & Company
Ludovic Meilhac
Ludovic Meilhac is a procurement and supply management expert partner at McKinsey & Company in the Stamford office. He co-leads the McKinsey Food Institute and is a core member of McKinsey’s Consumer Operations practice. Ludovic has over 25 years of experience in procurement and sourcing globally and helps both companies and national governments develop world sourcing strategies and design manufacturing solutions for milk and dairy ingredients. Among other work, Ludovic has helped shape the 2020 vision for French milk and fruit procurement, design solutions for oversupply of local fluid milk in China and optimize COGS on dairy and flavor for an ice cream manufacturer.
Prior to McKinsey, Ludovic spent 13 years at Danone sourcing all fluids and dairy ingredients for North America, while also serving as a board member on the Quebec Dairy Council. He also spent 5 years at Coca Cola/Glaceau in manufacturing and sourcing. Ludovic earned his Master’s in Automation from Ecole Nationale Superieure des Mines de Paris in France and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.
Sheryl Meshke
IDFA Cheese Board Vice Chair / President and CEO, Associated Milk Producers, Inc.
Sheryl Meshke
Sheryl Meshke is president and chief executive officer of Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI), the largest cheese cooperative based in the U.S. Appointed to the role in January 2023 following eight years as co-president and CEO, the position caps more than three decades with the company. She holds the distinction of being the first woman to be named CEO of a U.S. dairy cooperative. Personal Meshke currently serves on the boards of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, the National Milk Producers Federation, the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the Minnesota AgriGrowth Council.
She is past chairman of the Minnesota Dairy Research, Teaching and Consumer Education Authority, The Cooperative Foundation, Cooperative Communicators Association and the Minnesota FFA Foundation. Meshke holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from South Dakota State University and a master’s degree in business from the University of St. Thomas. She is a fifthgeneration farmer, operating a hog and sheep farm near Lake Crystal, Minn., with her husband Blake Meshke, son Brent and his wife Leslie. Another son Derek and his wife Tori live in Brookings, S.D.
Sheila Murty
Executive Vice President, People & Culture, Tillamook County Creamery Association
Sheila Murty
Sheila Murty serves as the executive vice president of people and culture at Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), leading the adoption of a culture framework, driving TCCA’s vision for a values-based organization, and managing all aspects of building a responsive and strategic HR function. TCCA is a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative and one of the fastest growing consumer food brands in the U.S., employing nearly 1,000 employees in varied roles, from manufacturing, retail, office-based business and administrative, and a remote workforce across the country.
Murty brings more than 15 years of experience in strategic human resources and operational leadership. Prior to joining TCCA, she served as vice president of operations at The Oregon Community Foundation where she led people & culture, technology, diversity and facilities administration for the $1.9B community foundation. Murty previously was a senior HR leader at Legacy Health, one of Oregon’s largest private employers, and was also appointed Legacy’s diversity officer.
Since joining TCCA in 2018, Murty established an Inclusion & Diversity Framework to guide the organization’s development of an inclusive culture, where all employees have the opportunity to contribute, feel valued and have a sense of belonging. Under this framework, TCCA has doubled the number of leaders of color and increased the percentage of women in director-level roles by 6% since 2018. The co-op’s inclusion & diversity journey and achievements were recognized in a 2020 Portland Business Journal article.
Murty also serves on the board of Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest and is a member of the Forbes Human Resources Council. In 2021, Sheila was named a Women of Influence Honoree by the Portland Business Journal for her positive impact at TCCA and the Oregon community. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Oregon Health Sciences University and a master’s in business administration from Portland State University.
Phil Plourd
President | Ever.Ag Insights
Phil Plourd
Phil Plourd is President of Blimling and Associates, Inc. and President of the services division of Dairy.com. He has been involved in dairy market analysis, research, forecasting and risk management activities for 20 years. Phil draws on that experience to lead an expert team of 16 who are committed to helping clients find better ways to do business. He is a popular speaker who engages audiences on a variety of topics.
Phil resides near Madison, Wisconsin with wife Rhonda and daughters Rebecca and Leah. He is currently President of the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County and his family is involved with Madison Library Foundation.
Yin Woon Rani
CEO, Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP)
Yin Woon Rani
Rani brings nearly 25 years of integrated marketing experience across CPG companies and marketing agencies to MilkPEP. As CEO, she is excited to address the challenges ahead with thoughtful, sustained solutions and looks forward to working with the entire industry to help ensure a positive impact.
Prior to joining MilkPEP, Rani was VP, Chief Customer Experience Officer for the Campbell Soup Company, where she was instrumental in modernizing the company’s marketing across content, media, design, martech and digital – as well as improving the business trajectory for important core brands and new launches. Before joining Campbell Soup, Rani was president, North America of Universal McCann, the largest operating unit within IPG’s Mediabrands group.
Rani earned a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a Master of Business Administration from the Stern School of Business, New York University. She is active and respected within the marketing industry, earning recognition from a range of industry awards, both as a marketer and as an advocate for diversity – including YWCA’s Women of Year, SheRunsIt “Working Mother of the Year,” Brand Innovators Top 50 Women in Marketing, Path to Purchase Institute “Who’s Who in Shopper Marketing,” among others.
Mel Robbins
Expert on Leadership & Defeating Doubt, Award-Winning CNN Commentator, and Best-Selling Author
Mel Robbins
Mel Robbins is a serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, internationally recognized social media influencer, and one of the most sought-after motivational speakers in the world.
Her digital platform inspires more than 20 million people a month with transformative videos, articles, positive psychology research, and inspiring content. Mel’s latest book, The 5 Second Rule, has been translated into 29 languages, was last year’s #1 audiobook in the world, and is one of the top five most read books on Amazon. Her TEDx talk about change has more than 14 million views. She’s the host of an original, new advice show on Audible, Kick Ass with Mel Robbins.
Mel’s media company, The Confidence Project, Inc., produces personal development programming and on-line courses for her global student body and corporate partners - taken by more than 50,000 people a year.
On stage, Mel is a riveting, fun, and unforgettable speaker - teaching audiences a wide range of science-backed strategies with life-changing impact. Mel has spoken to executives at some of the world’s leading brands, including Microsoft, JP Morgan Chase, Optum, Cisco, and AT&T. She was also an award-winning opinion columnist and legal analyst for CNN and a Dr. Oz Healthline Expert.
A graduate of Dartmouth College and Boston College Law School, Mel is married, mother of three and lives in the Boston area, but remains a Midwesterner at heart.
Steve L. Robbins, Ph.D.
Diversity, Inclusion & Cultural Competency Expert
Steve L. Robbins, Ph.D.
A powerful storyteller with a powerful story to tell, Dr. Steve L. Robbins has an uncanny ability to inspire people even in the midst of disrupting and challenging the way they think about the world. Born in Vietnam, Dr. Robbins immigrated with his mother to the United States where they faced many challenges during a time when there was much anti-war and anti-Vietnamese sentiment.
Working through and rising out of the challenges of poverty, discrimination and the tough streets of Los Angeles, Dr. Robbins now brings insightful perspectives on issues of inclusion & innovation, leadership, and the power of caring. Drawing upon a compelling life journey, his talks and workshops are filled with intriguing stories, laugh-out-loud humor and a keen understanding of human behavior.
Dr. Robbins uniquely knows how to simultaneously challenge and motivate people with a dynamic use of storytelling, humor and extensive knowledge of pertinent issues and concepts. The inclusive power of his message are why organizations like Coca-Cola, Disney, Ford Motor Company, Walmart, Lululemon, Pixar, NASA, The NBA, Michelin, Bank of America, Mercedes-Benz, and numerous others call on Dr. Robbins to inspire, educate and prepare their people for the exciting challenges of dynamic and diverse environments.
A thought leader and innovator, Dr. Robbins' unique, science-based approach to inclusion and diversity has captured wide acclaim from numerous audiences and organizations across the world. His approach does NOT blame or point fingers. It uses neuroscience and the science of human behavior to encourage individuals and organizations to be more open-minded, mindful and intentional about inclusion and valuing people for their unique gifts, abilities and experiences.
Dr. Robbins earned an undergraduate degree in Communication from Calvin College, and his masters and doctorate in Communication Science from Michigan State University. His background in communication, social-psychology and cognitive neuroscience drives his work with individuals and organizations – the core of the work is about understanding human behavior and leveraging human differences in an ever-changing, fast-paced 21st world.
Navyn Salem
Founder and CEO, Edesia Nutrition
Navyn Salem
In 2009 Navyn set out to help end the crisis of global malnutrition by founding Edesia, a U.S. non-profit, social enterprise, with a mission to treat and prevent malnutrition in developing countries worldwide. Her factory in Rhode Island produces a range of fortified, peanut-based products like Plumpy'Nut for humanitarian agencies like UNICEF, World Food Programme, USAID and other NGOs working in emergency and conflict zones. Since 2010, Edesia has reached over 15 million children in 60+ countries, including Somalia, Venezuela, Yemen and Syria.
In 2020, she expanded her mission to include addressing hunger in the United States and works with the USDA in providing food for their COVID-19 emergency response efforts for both school lunch programs and food banks. In 2021, she partnered with Chobani to launch Chobani Ends Hunger, a new line of super peanut blends in retailers nationwide. 100% of profits are donated to Edesia to help further the mission.
Navyn was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year/New England in 2018, New Englander of the Year by the New England Council in 2017 and New England Business Woman of the Year by Bryant University. She was awarded honorary degrees by her alma mater, Boston College (2012) as well as Bryant University (2014), Providence College (2017), Curry College (2018), and University of RI (2021). She is a Trustee of Boston College. She is a 2014 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Navyn’s father is from Tanzania and she has four daughters, all of whom were the inspiration for the creation of Edesia.
Philomena Satre
Director of Diversity Equity & Inclusion and External Strategic Partnerships, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Philomena Satre
Philomena serves as Director of Diversity & Inclusion and External Strategic Partnerships. She joined Land O’Lakes June 2017, bringing more than 30 years of human resource experience in diversity and inclusion, community relations, work life and wellbeing. Before joining Land O’Lakes, she worked at Wells Fargo & Company. Her previous roles included VP of Organizational Effectiveness Development, Diversity and Inclusion; Community Outreach Consultant; and Senior HR Consultant.
Philomena has extensive experience in developing and implementing diversity strategies, including internal initiatives and community-focused pipelines. Previously, Philomena participated in a Middle East Fellows project, in partnership with Hamline University and the U.S. State Department and traveled to the Middle East as a part of the peace and economic development project.
Philomena joined the Board of Directors for the Cookie Cart organization and leads the Governance Committee. She co- leads the Leadership Advisory Board for SHIFT and formerly served on the Board of SHIFT (nonprofit focused on people in midlife) for 8 years. Philomena serves on the Agriculture D and I Consortium (Together We Grow), the Dairy Diversity Coalition Minnesota Business Racial Equity Coalition(MBCRE) and co-chairs the Twin Cities D&I Roundtable. Philomena served on the Minnesota Workforce Citizen Commission on Aging, Minneapolis Workforce Council, the Executive Leadership Council for Honoring Women Worldwide, the Goodwill Easter Seals, Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES), Lifeworks, HIRED and Resource Inc. Advisory Boards. She also co led the 2020 Women on Boards initiative for Minnesota.
Philomena has received numerous awards, including AARP/Pollen 50 over 50, the Minneapolis Business Journal’s Woman Change Maker and Minority Advocate, Minnesota Business The (Real) Power 50 Award and the University of Phoenix Diversity Leadership Award. Philomena has an MA in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University and a BA in Public Administration and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse. Philomena is an Adjunct Professor at the University of St Catherine in the Master of Organizational Leadership Graduate Program.
Keith Schroeder
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer | High Road Craft Ice Cream
Keith Schroeder
Keith Schroeder is the founder and CEO of High Road Craft Ice Cream, the nation’s largest and fastest growing craft ice cream manufacturer, with products distributed nationwide. His company has been recognized on the Inc 5000 for five consecutive years, along with numerous press accolades and awards for entrepreneurial excellence. Keith is also an accomplished chef and cookbook author, having won a James Beard Award for his recent cookbook, Mad Delicious, The Science of Making Healthy Food Taste Amazing.
High Road was born in 2010, on the heels an Executive MBA business plan project at Kennesaw State University, and Schroeder has emerged as a passionate mentor to emerging and early stage entrepreneurs.
Schroeder is a voice for authenticity, craftsmanship, and celebration of global cultures and cuisines, and integrates this passion into High Road every day. He enjoys playing guitar with the amp cranked up, and challenging the status quo.
He is a father of two: a son Jackson, who studies opera at Boston Conservatory, and a daughter Madison, who is a fellow entrepreneur and graduate of Georgia State University. Schroeder’s wife, Nicki, is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of High Road.
Gene Seroka
Eugene D. Seroka, Executive Director, Port of Los Angeles
Gene Seroka
Gene Seroka is the Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest container port in North America. Nominated by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on May 27, 2014 and confirmed by the Los Angeles City Council on June 11, 2014, the Port of Los Angeles has experienced historic, record-breaking performances since his appointment.
As Executive Director, Seroka interacts with a wide range of stakeholders, including Port customers around the globe, industry partners, elected and appointed officials at all levels, business leaders and local residents. A respected global trade expert, Seroka has advocated for rules-based trade agreements that benefit American exporters and manufacturers.
Since the pandemic-induced buying surge generated by American consumers in the second half of 2020, the Port of Los Angeles has eclipsed nine monthly records and had its two highest-performing quarters and top four individual months in its 114-year history. The Port set two new milestones for the Western Hemisphere in June 2021 as the first port to process 10 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in a 12-month period and the first port to process 1 million TEUs in a single month.
Seroka has distinguished himself as a leader throughout his 33-year career in shipping, global logistics and executive management. The Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII) named Seroka the 2021 recipient of the Connie Award, one the most coveted honors in the maritime industry. Also in 2021, Lloyd’s List named him as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Shipping and the Inland Empire Economic Partnership honored Seroka with its Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing decades of leadership and accomplishments in the supply chain, logistics and maritime industry. In 2020, Supply Chain Dive named Seroka Executive of the Year for his leadership throughout the pandemic. Seroka has been named one of the most influential people in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal and featured on the LA500 list for the six past years.
As chief of America’s top port, he is responsible for managing a more than $1.7 billion budget, advancing major capital projects, growing trade volumes and promoting innovative, sustainable practices that strengthen the region’s economy. Under his Bio/Seroka Page 2
direction, the Port has taken a leadership role in adopting cutting-edge technologies to improve the reliability, predictability and efficiency of the flow of cargo across global seaborne trade, including the launch of the digital information portal Port Optimizer™ and companion data tools Signal, Return Signal, Control Tower and Horizon
Throughout the pandemic, Seroka—who lived in China during the 2002-2004 SARS epidemic—has led the Port’s response to the global health crisis, keeping cargo flowing as an essential service to the nation. In March 2020, Mayor Garcetti named Seroka the Chief Logistics Officer for the City of Los Angeles, while concurrently serving as the Port’s Executive Director. Seroka also leads Logistics Victory Los Angeles (LoVLA), which has distributed more than 10.2 million units of personal protective equipment (PPE) to nearly 250 organizations since its inception.
While serving as Executive Director, Seroka has been appointed to serve on four federal committees to enhance the speed and efficiency of cargo movement and supply chain optimization, including the U.S. Department of Commerce Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness, U.S. Maritime Administration Marine Transportation System National Advisory Committee, Federal Maritime Commission Supply Chain Innovation Team and U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation’s former Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group. The past president of the California Association of Port Authorities, he currently serves on its Board of Directors. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Port Authorities and Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority.
Seroka’s footing in the maritime industry was established as a sales support representative at American President Lines (APL) Limited’s Cincinnati office in 1988. After several key overseas positions in China, Indonesia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, he returned to the U.S. in 2010 to become President – Americas for the shipping line in Phoenix where he managed APL’s Liner Shipping business, including 1,000 employees, and was responsible for all commercial, port terminal, intermodal, land transportation and labor activities throughout the region.
Seroka holds an MBA and Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of New Orleans.
Brad Simms
CEO & President, GALE
Brad Simms
Brad thrives on partnering with clients to bring creative ideas, innovative approaches, and new business models to reality. He has spent the last 20 years working at top agencies and consultancies – this has led to his unique balance of data, technology, and marketing expertise. While at SapientNitro, Brad served as SVP and Managing Director for Canada, the American Midwest and West, leading a team of over 600 in North America, and over 1100 in India. He was responsible for leading Sapient’s largest eCommerce/digital marketing program to date – bringing a commerce and marketing system in house for a top-five retailer. Brad founded GALE in 2014 with a focus on mentoring, growing, and inspiring great people. GALE’s clients include: BMW, Allstate, T-Mobile, MGM, and Bain Capital Ventures.
A.B. Stoddard
Associate Editor and Columnist | RealClearPolitics
A.B. Stoddard
A.B. Stoddard is an associate editor and columnist with political news site and polling data aggregator RealClearPolitics, and a contributor and guest host for SiriusXM’s POTUS Channel. She appears regularly on Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, CNN, and MSNBC for her expertise as a political commentator. She is a former associate editor and columnist for The Hill newspaper. Her column with The Hill won first place Dateline Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Washington, D.C. chapter in 2010 and 2011.
Nonpartisan, Stoddard addresses elections and the political landscape of the day. Frequently meeting with sources and politicians of all stripes, Stoddard has her finger on the pulse of Washington, DC as she offers detailed and smart political and electoral analyses. Her talks cover the five biggest stories in the news, the most up-to-date happenings between Congress and the White House, ongoing budget battles, and the electoral prospects for the two parties.
Journalism Journey. Stoddard had always wanted to be a reporter, and she caught the political bug watching Justice Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court nomination hearings. She began her journalism career as a reporter for the Potomac News in northern Virginia, and she has covered the U.S. Congress since 1994 as a reporter at The Hill and a Senate producer for ABC News. She returned to The Hill as a commentator and columnist in 2006.
Patricia Stroup
Chair / Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, Nestle S.A. and Chief Executive Officer, Nestrade S.A.
Patricia Stroup
Patty Stroup is senior vice president and chief procurement officer at Nestlé and chief executive officer of Nestrade S.A. She has a long history in the dairy industry, with previous experience heading both North American and global dairy procurement for Nestle, as well as prior leadership roles at Hilmar Cheese Company in California and Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers in Virginia. Her career started as co-owner and manager of dairy farms in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
She holds a bachelors degree in communications with a cognate in Dairy Science from Virginia Tech, an MBA focused on Food and Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, and a leadership certificate from the London Business School.
Erika Thiem
Chief Supply Chain Officer, Feeding America
Erika Thiem
Erika Thiem recently joined Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, as Chief Supply Chain Officer. She leads a team that enables Feeding America and its network of 200-member food banks to source and distribute nutritious food for people facing hunger in America. Her team works to innovate and build donor partnerships with food manufacturers, retailers, foodservice operators, and agricultural food producers to meet today's demand for healthy food and work to create a hunger-free tomorrow.
Erika began her career with General Mills, where she spent 27 years in a broad range of roles within the supply chain and quality functions across a diverse set of business units.
Most recently, Erika was the Supply Chain Director of the North America Dairy Operating Unit for General Mills. Previous roles include International Supply Chain Director for Häagen-Dazs ice cream and Plant Manager for the Big G Division. Erika’s early career was focused in the areas of food quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance.
Erika served as a board member for six years with The Food Group, a food banking organization based in Minnesota. As a board member and volunteer, she helped grow The Food Group’s reach with mobile foodbanks, the integration of Big River Farms, and the expansion of temperature-controlled warehouse storage capacity.
Known for her inclusive leadership approach and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, Erika served on the Supply Chain Global Inclusion Council at General Mills and co-led the Women in Supply Chain Network for 5 years. She also sits on the board of the Anti-Racism Commitment Coalition (www.joinARCC.org).
Erika earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.
Roberto Uchoa
Senior Partner | McKinsey & Company
Roberto Uchoa
Roberto Uchoa is a senior partner at McKinsey & Company in the Chicago office. Roberto leads McKinsey’s Agriculture Practice globally and our consumer operations work in North America. As an advisor to agricultural and food and nutrition companies, Roberto brings on-the-ground experience in the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, and Western Europe to help global agricultural, consumer, and retail companies as they pursue growth, integrate acquisitions, and drive improvements in organizational performance and health.
Since joining McKinsey in 1997, Roberto has built extensive expertise designing growth strategies and delivering performance improvements across commercial and supply-chain operations. Working with companies across the globe, he has led efforts to assess value-chain vulnerabilities and growth opportunities in the dairy, protein, row-crops, oilseeds, and starch and sweeteners sectors. Roberto also supports complex post-merger situations, defining integration approaches and ramping up value-capture teams.
Roberto earned his B.S. in Electronic Engineering from Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica in Brazil and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Larine Urbina
Vice President of Communications, Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada
Larine Urbina
Larine Urbina is the Vice President of Communications for Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada. She leads a dynamic team focused on bringing the company’s values and purpose to life and has responsibility for all aspects of corporate communications, including social media, public relations, sustainability communications, brand marketing, events and employee communications.
Prior to joining Tetra Pak in 2014, Larine held a range of communications roles with GameStop and Rexel Holdings USA. With over 15 years of communication and brand management experience across several industries, Larine brings a broad view to brand storytelling that centers on authenticity and always puts the audience first.
Always curious and a relentless knowledge-seeker, Larine spends her free time travelling, experimenting with new foods and drinks, and going down the online research rabbit hole.
Jason Weller
President, Truterra, LLC
Jason Weller
Kelvin Wickham
CEO AMENA | Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited
Kelvin Wickham
With over 30 years at Fonterra and in the global dairy industry, Kelvin Wickham is driven by his belief in dairy as a high-quality source of nutrition for the world.
In his current role as the CEO of AMENA, he is responsible for Fonterra’s activities across consumer, foodservice and ingredients in Africa, Middle East, Europe, North Asia and the Americas.
He also overseas Fonterra’s Active Living nutrition unit, which is focused on developing solutions that cater to very specific consumer needs, including patient wellness, physical wellness, inner wellness and mental wellness.
Over his career, Kelvin has played a key role in building Fonterra’s ingredient’s brand, NZMP, across the world, developing Fonterra’s business in expanding markets, and establishing key customer relationships and partnerships.
He’s also led during pivotal moments in the history of Fonterra and the dairy industry. This includes when he oversaw the launch of Global Dairy Trade, a first for the industry, which in addition to making global online dairy sales possible, offered transparent price discovery to support the development of dairy price risk management tools.
Kelvin holds a Chemical and Materials Engineering Degree, a Master of Management and a Diploma of Dairy Science and Technology. He lives in Amsterdam, Europe with his wife and is a keen swimmer and cyclist.
Michael Wironen, PhD
Senior Scientist, Agriculture & Food Systems, The Nature Conservancy
Michael Wironen, PhD
Michael Wironen is a Senior Scientist in TNC's Center for Sustainability Science, where he supports corporate and other collaborations to achieve sustainability outcomes at scale. His particular focus is on transforming agriculture and food systems to reduce environmental impacts while improving social and economic outcomes. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Vermont's Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, where he was a Graduate Fellow of the Gund Institute for Environment and a member of the Economics for the Anthropocene project, an international collaboration between UVM, McGill University, and York University. Michael's doctoral research explored how ecological economics can inform decision-making and governance in a context of competing objectives, uncertainty, and multi-level governance. This research centered on a study of how phosphorus flows in Vermont's agricultural system changed over 90+ years, impacting legacy phosphorus accumulation, resource efficiency, and water quality. This was paired with policy research that looked at how nutrient management planning could adapt to reflect challenges related to the intensification and spatial concentration of animal agriculture. Prior to his Ph.D., Michael worked as a senior sustainability specialist at an international environmental consulting firm. He helped private and public sector clients integrate sustainability and resiliency best practices into business and government operations, development projects, and large-scale planning initiatives in the United States and abroad. His projects included developing a regional sustainability plan for the Hudson Valley of New York, helping flood-stricken communities in New York and Colorado plan for recovery and flood resiliency, and leading the sustainable design integration process for a new technical university and master planned city in Morocco. He has also worked as a researcher focusing on biogeochemical cycling in forest and wetland ecosystems. He holds a Masters in Sustainability Science from Lund University in Lund, Sweden and a Bachelors in Physical Geography from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
Agenda
| January 23, 2022 | Event | Speaker | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00am - 1:00pm |
Morning Golf Tournament
|
Desert Springs Golf Club – Palms Course | |
| 1:00pm - 4:00pm |
Afternoon Golf Tournament
|
Desert Springs Golf Club – Palms Course | |
| 2:00pm - 4:00pm |
IDFA Executive Council Meeting (invitation only)
|
Santa Rosa Ballroom | |
| 5:00pm - 5:45pm |
Chairman's Reception (invitation only)
Sponsored By:
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Springs Ballroom Terrace | |
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| 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
Chairman’s Lecture: Mel Robbins and The 5 Second Rule – Achieve Breakthrough Performance for Your Team and for Your Life
Sponsored By:
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Sinatra Ballroom 7-14 | |
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Imagine if you had a secret weapon that instantly turned you into your most powerful and productive self. What if you could spot opportunity in every moment and have the courage and the discipline to trust your instincts, take action without hesitation, close the sale and share your ideas with conviction. You’d be unstoppable. In one of the most popular TEDx Talks in the world, Mel Robbins introduced “The 5 Second Rule” to over seven million people in 75 countries and struck a nerve so fundamental, more than 100,000 people watch it every month. Since that talk, Mel has conducted an extensive research project on the brain, habits and fear. Her findings are remarkable: You can change your life in 5 seconds. This is a life-altering speech filled with groundbreaking insights and a tool for action that is critical for selling, leadership development, innovation and success. Mel will present the secret to HOW we change behavior, HOW to take smart risks, HOW you bring out the best in your team and HOW to create the results that we covet at work and in life.
Speaker: Mel Robbins, Expert on Leadership & Defeating Doubt, Award-Winning CNN Commentator, and Best-Selling Author |
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| 7:00pm - 8:30pm |
Welcome Reception
Sponsored By:
|
Grove | |
| January 24, 2022 | Event | Speaker | Location |
| 8:30am - 9:30am |
President’s Breakfast: What is New, Now, and Next for Dairy?
Sponsored By:
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Sinatra Ballroom 7-14 | |
| 9:30am - 9:45am |
Networking Break
Sponsored By:
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| 9:45am - 10:45am |
Deep Dive – Breaking the Mold: Why Standards Modernization is Essential
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Springs Ballroom G | |
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Scientific and technology breakthroughs hold the potential for dairy companies to bring a plethora of nutritious and added-value dairy products to consumers. Unfortunately, a number of the U. S. Food and Drug Administration’s outdated dairy standards of identity stand in the way. In this session, leading authorities in dairy food science and FDA regulations will explain how and why these standards need to be modernized to permit the industry to continue to innovate and provide products that consumers want, while protecting the essential characteristics that consumer expect.
Moderator: John Allan, M.S., Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and International Standards, International Dairy Foods Association Panelists: John Lucey, Ph.D., Professor of Food Science and Director of the Center for Dairy Research, University of Wisconsin Elizabeth Fawell, Partner, Hogan Lovells US LLP Alain Gerard, Vice-President, Quality & Innovation, Lactalis American Group, Inc. |
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| 9:45am - 10:45am |
Deep Dive – Aligning Federal Spending with Federal Nutrition & Health Policy: Dairy’s Role in SNAP via Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives
Sponsored By:
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Springs Ballroom F | |
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Americans Healthy Eating Index averages 59 out of 100, and despite dairy being considered a “nutrient-dense” food, dairy products are under-consumed, according to the DGAs, by 90% of Americans. SNAP has grown into a $74 billion nutrition assistance program that empowers participants to make their own food, nutrition and budget choices on a monthly basis. It is 76% of the Farm Bill. Meanwhile, IDFA worked with Congress to establish Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive Projects in the 2018 Farm Bill and since secured funding for grants to test milk-incentives for SNAP participants. This Deep-Dive will explore and build upon milk-incentive partnerships between dairy processors, non-profits, and retailers to increase SNAP participants nutrition through dairy purchases.Moderator: Robert Rosado, Senior Director, Legislative Affairs, International Dairy Foods Association
Panelists: Jeremy K. Everett, Executive Director, Baylor University’s Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty
Ted Mason, Retail Technology Consultant, NGA Foundation Technical Assistance Center
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| 10:45am - 11:00am |
Networking Break
Sponsored By:
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| 11:00am - 12:00pm |
Deep Dive - Building Organizations for the Future of the Dairy Industry
Sponsored By:
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Springs Ballroom F | |
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The future of the dairy industry and our ability to remain globally competitive depends on how we develop the workforce of the future, cultivate the next generation of leaders, and empower and support diversity in leadership roles. Hear from the leaders in this space how dairy companies are building inclusive cultures, empowering industry collaboration, and cultivating a workforce that looks like, and is reflective of, the communities and consumers we serve.
Moderator: Tracy Boyle, Chief of People Strategy, International Dairy Foods Association Panelists: Ron Dunford, President & CEO, Schreiber Foods, Inc. Monica Massey, EVP, Chief of Staff and Chief Innovation Officer, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. Sheila Murty, Executive Vice President, People & Culture, Tillamook County Creamery Association Philomena Morrissey Satre, Director, Diversity & Inclusion and Strategic External Relationships, Land O'Lakes Keith Schroeder, CEO, High Road Craft Ice Cream, Inc. |
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| 11:00am - 12:00pm |
Deep Dive – Dairy’s Role in Addressing Food Insecurity
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Springs Ballroom G | |
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At home and abroad, vulnerable and economically insecure people are dealing with rising rates of food insecurity due to health and economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, conflict, and more. Dairy is central to nutrition, especially for children and mothers. However, dairy is not a core component of global feeding programs despite its significant nutritional benefits and there have been challenges in the United States with getting more dairy to food banks and nutrition programs due to dairy’s perishability and other factors. With the incidence of food insecurity on the rise, how can U.S. dairy make a more meaningful contribution to feeding and nutrition efforts in the United States and around the world? In this session, hear from leaders in dairy processing and food security discuss opportunities for U.S. dairy to get more engaged in addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time—hunger. Moderator: Matt Herrick,, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications, International Dairy Foods Association & Executive Director, IDFA Foundation
Panelists: Jon Brause, Director, WFP Washington Office, World Food Programme
Navyn Salem, Founder and CEO, Edesia Nutrition Mark Broadhurst, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Chobani
Erika Thiem, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Feeding America
Additional speakers will be added once confirmed; please check back.
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| 12:15pm - 1:45pm |
Lunch Session: Leading Beyond the Walls of the Workplace – What They Don’t Teach You in Business School
Sponsored By:
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Sinatra Ballroom 7-14 | |
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In this talk, Jim discusses how best to operate in uncertain business environments, especially as the modern era of work continues to introduce new ways for teams to collaborate both in person and virtually. He will share the structure that he is using to consult with CEO’s globally, along with best practices for: leadership team meetings, leading your company at every level, the language you speak, what your associates need to know, and celebrating every little success.Speaker: Jim Donald, Chairman of Albertson’s & Former CEO of Starbucks, Pathmark Supermarkets and Extended Stay Hotels
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| 1:45pm - 2:45pm |
General Session: Supply Chain Resiliency with Gene Seroka
Sponsored By:
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Sinatra Ballroom 7-14 | |
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The supply chain disruptions are presenting major challenges for the dairy industry exporting and importing products through ports as well as moving across land to those ports. Gene Seroka, the executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, will share his perspectives on these challenges and his insights on needed solutions as someone on the front lines of this issue.Speaker: Eugene D. Seroka, Executive Director, Port of Los Angeles
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| 3:00pm - 3:45pm |
Conference Partner Session – Rethinking the Future: New Approaches to Innovating in Dairy
Sponsored By:
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Springs Ballroom F | |
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Join us for a panel discussion with industry experts as we discuss how key drivers – ESG, supply chain constraints, cost pressures, and ever-changing consumer lifestyles – will shape the future of dairy. In this session, we’ll review the immense changes that have happened in the liquid dairy space in just the past ten years. Then, we’ll look into the future and explore how we can innovate to be more sustainable, weather supply chain volatility, improve costs, and tap into new channels and products to attract new consumers. Moderator: Larine Urbina, VP of Communications, U.S. and Canada at Tetra Pak
Panelists: Pedro Goncalves, VP of Marketing, U.S. and Canada at Tetra Pak Mike Konkle, Chief Executive Officer, Dairy MAX Inc.
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| 3:00pm - 3:45pm |
Conference Partner Session – Global Trends in Packaging Sustainability: What They Mean for Dairy Products
Sponsored By:
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Springs Ballroom G | |
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Speaker: David Clark,Vice President, Sustainability, Amcor Ltd.
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| 3:00pm - 4:00pm |
PAC Steering Committee Meeting (invitation only)
|
San Jacinto Ballroom | |
| 3:00pm - 4:00pm |
International Trade Committee Meeting (invitation only)
|
Springs Ballroom J-L | |
| 4:00pm - 4:30pm |
Press Briefing
|
Santa Rosa Ballroom | |
| 4:00pm - 5:00pm |
Women in Dairy Reception (invitation only)
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The Pointe | |
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| 4:15pm - 5:15pm |
State Association Executive Meeting (invitation only)
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San Jacinto Ballroom | |
| 5:30pm - 6:30pm |
PAC Reception (invitation only)
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The Edge | |
| January 25, 2022 | Event | Speaker | Location |
| 8:15am - 9:30am |
Breakfast Session: The Power of Inclusion and Mindful Engagement in the Workplace
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Sinatra Ballroom 7-14 | |
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Without understanding culture, we will have a difficult time understanding open- and closed-mindedness. Dr. Robbins talks about the power of inclusion and mindful engagement in the workplace and how culture plays a key role in how humans behave in a world full of differences. Culture also ties into the pursuit of inclusion & innovation, and it has everything to do with teamwork and leadership.
Speaker: Steve Robbins, Diversity, Inclusion & Cultural Competency Expert
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| 9:30am - 9:45am |
Networking Break
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| 9:45am - 10:45am |
Deep Dive – 2021 Women in the Workplace Study by McKinsey and LeanIn.Org
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Springs Ballroom F | |
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The 2021 Women in the Workplace study conducted by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org is the 7th consecutive year of their annual research effort to provide organizations with benchmarks on talent pipeline, HR practices, and employees’ experiences related to career advancement, work-life issues, and diversity. We are pleased to have an expert from McKinsey and Company join us at the Dairy Forum to share the results and insights from the study. The 2021 findings focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion on the experiences of women and the state of work more broadly. As evidenced by the findings in the study, our industry efforts focused on elevating and empowering diversity in leadership roles is more important than ever. Speaker: Kate Lloyd George, , Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company
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| 9:45am - 10:45am |
Deep Dive - Winning the Marketplace: IDFA Study on Milk Pricing Modernization
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Springs Ballroom G | |
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In February 2021, IDFA commissioned a study to explore areas in which the current U.S. milk pricing system is creating challenges for US dairy stakeholders across the supply chain. The study included a survey of the performance of pricing systems in other major milk-producing countries with the goal of identifying how our pricing system could be changed to encourage innovation and enhance U.S. dairy’s ability compete in the global marketplace. The principal authors of the IDFA study will provide an overview of their findings and recommendations to the industry. Moderator: J. David Carlin, Senior Vice President, Legislative Affairs and Economic Policy, International Dairy Foods Association
Panelists: Marin Bozic, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota
Phil Plourd, President, Blimling and Associates
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| 10:45am - 11:00am |
Networking Break
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| 11:00am - 12:00pm |
Deep Dive – ‘Great Attrition’ or ‘Great Attraction’? The Choice is Yours
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Springs Ballroom F | |
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A record number of employees are quitting or thinking about doing so. Organizations that take the time to learn why—and act thoughtfully—will have an edge in attracting and retaining talent.
Speaker: Bonnie Dowling , Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company
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| 11:00am - 12:00pm |
Deep Dive – The Race to Decarbonize Dairy
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Springs Ballroom G | |
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Over the past 75 years, U.S. dairy production has made significant reductions in water and land use while drastically reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—but consumers and investors want us to do much more. Recently, U.S. dairy producers and processors united in their commitment to reach Net Zero GHG emissions by 2050. Meanwhile, food companies are setting their own rigorous sustainability metrics for suppliers while the proliferation of private carbon markets gives farmers real income potential from carbon reduction strategies. With ambitious commitments in hand, new innovative tools like carbon markets, and funding assistance from the private sector and federal government, will dairy reach Net Zero by 2050? Dairy Forum is pleased to welcome a panel of industry professionals, sustainability experts, and NGO scientists to discuss the path to net zero. Moderator: Danielle Quist, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Counsel, IDFA
Speakers: Mike McCloskey, Co-Founder and CEO, Select Milk Producers
Michael Wironen, PhD, Senior Scientist, Agriculture & Food Systems, The Nature Conservancy
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| 12:15pm - 1:45pm |
Lunch Session: Political Outlook
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Sinatra Ballroom 7-14 | |
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A.B. Stoddard offers a non-partisan perspective of the political landscape of the day and our nation’s upcoming elections. Frequently meeting with sources and politicians of all stripes, Stoddard has her finger on the pulse of Washington DC, as she offers detailed and smart political and electoral analysis. In a talk as up-to-date as the headlines, she covers the five biggest stories in the news, the most up-to-date happenings between Congress and the White House, ongoing budget battles, and the electoral prospects for the two parties.Speaker: A.B. Stoddard, Associate Editor and Columnist, RealClearPolitics
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| 1:45pm - 2:00pm |
General Session: C-Suite Talks from the Top
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Sinatra Ballroom 7-14 | |
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Taking a page from the popularity of TED talks, Dairy Forum will feature a dairy company CEO who will give concise and colorful talks about leading in today’s uncertain and challenging market.
Speaker: Keith Schroeder, CEO, High Road Craft Ice Cream, Inc.
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| 2:00pm - 2:50pm |
General Session: Global Dairy Perspective
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Sinatra Ballroom 7-14 | |
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Join a group of international industry leaders to hear their insights on what’s New.Now.Next. for dairy in the current domestic and global economic environment. Learn how these extraordinary leaders have grown their business for the future dairy industry and how they are positioning their companies for prosperity by developing the people, processes and products that will meet the demands of tomorrow’s global marketplace. Moderator: Patricia D. Stroup, Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, Nestle S.A. & Chief Executive Officer, Nestrade S.A. (In-person) Panelists: Henrik Hoejen Andersen, CEO, Arla Foods Ingredients (Virtual) Carl Colizza, President and Chief Operating Officer, Saputo Inc. (Virtual) Émile Cordeau, Chief Executive Officer, Agropur Cooperative (Virtual) Kelvin Wickham, Chief Executive Officer, Africa, Middle East, Europe, North Asia, Americas (AMENA), Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited (In-person)
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| 3:00pm - 3:45pm |
Conference Partner Session - What Does it Take to Be a Modern Food Brand?
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Springs Ballroom F | |
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At last year’s IDFA Dairy Forum, MilkPEP surfaced why it is so important to understand the modern consumer and their demands. This year we are building on that platform and outlining what it takes to be a modern food brand. Through our diverse and experienced panel we will bring this session to life, highlighting key themes such as health & wellness, innovation, personalization in food and more. Speakers: Nick Geoghegan, Strategy Director, Eat Big Fish
Tressie Lieberman, Vice President, Digital Marketing and Off-Premise, Chipotle Mexican Grill Brad Simms, President and CEO, GALE Yin Woon Rani, CEO, Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP)
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| 3:00pm - 4:30pm |
NextGEN Leadership Roundtable (invitation only)
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Springs Ballroom J-L | |
| 3:30pm - 4:30pm |
Economic Policy Committee Meeting (invitation only)
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Santa Rosa Ballroom | |
| 5:30pm - 7:00pm |
Closing Reception
Sponsored By:
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Springs Retreat Pool | |
| January 26, 2022 | Event | Speaker | Location |
| 8:30am - 9:30am |
Breakfast Session: What’s Next for Dairy? Perspectives from McKinsey & Company
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Sinatra Ballroom 7-14 | |
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McKinsey & Company has spent significant time understanding the impact of the pandemic on consumer brands, agriculture, and overall sustainability. Remarks will focus on ways that dairy companies can learn from these trends and prepare for the future.
Speakers: Christina Adams, Partner, McKinsey & Company
Ludovic Meilhac, Partner, McKinsey & Company
Roberto Uchoa, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
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| 9:30am - 10:30am |
Closing Session: Dairy Dialogues
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Sinatra Ballroom 7-14 | |
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A distinguished panel of dairy leaders will provide their insights and perspectives on what is New.Now.Next. for dairy. The panelists will share how they are positioning their companies for prosperity by developing the people, processes and products that will meet the demands of tomorrow’s global marketplace.
Moderator: Michael Dykes, D.V.M., , President and CEO, International Dairy Foods Association Panelists: David Ahlem, CEO and President, Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.
Patrick Criteser, President and CEO, Tillamook County Creamery Association
Tim Doelman , CEO, fairlife, LLC
Sheryl Meshke , Co-President and CEO, Associated Milk Producers, Inc.br>
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Chairman's Reception (invitation only)
Chairman’s Lecture: Mel Robbins and The 5 Second Rule – Achieve Breakthrough Performance for Your Team and for Your Life
Speaker: Mel Robbins, Expert on Leadership & Defeating Doubt, Award-Winning CNN Commentator, and Best-Selling Author
Mel Robbins
Mel Robbins is a serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, internationally recognized social media influencer, and one of the most sought-after motivational speakers in the world.
Her digital platform inspires more than 20 million people a month with transformative videos, articles, positive psychology research, and inspiring content. Mel’s latest book, The 5 Second Rule, has been translated into 29 languages, was last year’s #1 audiobook in the world, and is one of the top five most read books on Amazon. Her TEDx talk about change has more than 14 million views. She’s the host of an original, new advice show on Audible, Kick Ass with Mel Robbins.
Mel’s media company, The Confidence Project, Inc., produces personal development programming and on-line courses for her global student body and corporate partners - taken by more than 50,000 people a year.
On stage, Mel is a riveting, fun, and unforgettable speaker - teaching audiences a wide range of science-backed strategies with life-changing impact. Mel has spoken to executives at some of the world’s leading brands, including Microsoft, JP Morgan Chase, Optum, Cisco, and AT&T. She was also an award-winning opinion columnist and legal analyst for CNN and a Dr. Oz Healthline Expert.
A graduate of Dartmouth College and Boston College Law School, Mel is married, mother of three and lives in the Boston area, but remains a Midwesterner at heart.
Michael Dykes, D.V.M.
Michael Dykes, D.V.M., a long-time government affairs strategist, agricultural policy expert, and veterinarian, became president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association in January 2017. In this role, he represents members that make more than 85 percent of the milk, cultured products, cheese, ice cream and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States. Since joining IDFA, Dykes has been a strong advocate for the importance of global competitiveness to the future of the U.S. dairy industry. He has made preserving trade partnerships with Mexico and improving Canadian market access for U.S. dairy exports in all future trade agreements a priority for IDFA. Prior to assuming his role at IDFA, Dykes served as vice president of government affairs for Monsanto, where he was responsible for developing and implementing a portfolio of U.S. government relations strategies and programs that included agricultural biotechnology policy. He led Monsanto's office in Washington, D.C., and served as the company's primary point of contact for elected officials, regulatory authorities, U.S. farm organizations, key industry participants, trade associations, international organizations and embassies. He directed the company's efforts in state and local government affairs, in addition to government affairs in Mexico and Canada. Dykes is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the National Academy of Practitioners. He has served on the Farmhouse Fraternity board for 3+ years. He is also a member of the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) and has served on the USDA Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21).
Dykes grew up on a small dairy and tobacco farm in Kentucky. He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn University. He also attended the University of Kentucky where he received a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science.
Networking Break
Deep Dive – Breaking the Mold: Why Standards Modernization is Essential
Moderator: John Allan, M.S., Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and International Standards, International Dairy Foods Association
Panelists: John Lucey, Ph.D., Professor of Food Science and Director of the Center for Dairy Research, University of Wisconsin
Elizabeth Fawell, Partner, Hogan Lovells US LLP
Alain Gerard, Vice-President, Quality & Innovation, Lactalis American Group, Inc.
John Allan
John Allan helps lead all dairy food safety efforts for IDFA and has responsibilities in federal, state and international regulatory, technical and scientific affairs. He engages on behalf of IDFA members with 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., and the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS). Allan also helps represent IDFA’s international interests through engagement with the International Dairy Federation and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Prior to joining IDFA, Allan worked for the American Frozen Food Institute and National Yogurt Association; the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization within the Codex Alimentarius Commission Secretariat; and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He graduated from the Univ. of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in microbiology and a Master of Science in food science and technology. See LinkedIn profile.
John Lucey
John has a Ph.D in Food Science and over 20 years of research experience. He previously worked in Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand. As CDR Director he provides leadership to CDR staff to help CDR move forward and live up to its reputation as a world-class research center focused on applications, outreach and education. He is also a professor in the Food Science department and conducts research on the functionality of dairy foods. He has published more than 130 peer-reviewed articles and 20 book chapters.
Elizabeth B. Fawell
Successfully navigating the detailed and often complex regulatory issues confronting the food industry, Elizabeth Fawell helps companies understand both the rules and various risks involved to make the most informed and strategic decisions.
Elizabeth has worked with every segment of the food industry, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, and food service operators, as well as their trade associations.
Her work on behalf of food industry clients with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) since its inception and her understanding of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems provides her with the experience and perspective needed to counsel clients on how to comply with new requirements under the law. Elizabeth is also a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) and has completed the FSPCA PCQI training.
Elizabeth understands how laws, regulations, and guidance documents are developed, interpreted, and enforced. Her extensive knowledge enables clients to prevent or respond to enforcement actions such as Warning Letters, Import Alerts, and agency investigations. She helps clients in determining whether an RFR report is necessary and whether a recall is warranted. If so, she helps manage the recall to minimize business impacts.
Elizabeth provides real-time advice during factory inspections, helps clients prepare 483 responses, and drafts inspection manuals. She assists clients in lawfully and creatively promoting their products; such as the development of labels, claims, and website and promotional campaigns. Elizabeth also supports clients in advertising disputes and with responses to FTC and Attorney General investigations.
Elizabeth helps clients stay informed of and ahead of public policy issues and develops strategies for effective advocacy before regulators. She also counsels clients on compliance with Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards, testing and certification requirements, and reporting obligations.
Elizabeth is also a member of the Food and Dietary Supplements Committee of the Food and Drug Law Institute.
Alain Gerard
Alain Gerard is the Vice President of Quality and Innovation at Lactalis American Group, Inc. He is responsible for Quality (food safety, product quality), Innovation (R&D, spearheading innovation with the various marketing services) and Sustainability efforts.
Alain has 38 years of experience in the dairy industry with expertise in areas that include research & development, plant management and quality for products ranging from Grade A (bottled milk, yogurt, cottage cheese); French-style soft ripened cheeses (various types of ripening); cream cheese; hard cheeses (cows and sheep milk); to pasta filata cheeses.
Deep Dive – Aligning Federal Spending with Federal Nutrition & Health Policy: Dairy’s Role in SNAP via Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives
Jeremy Everett
Ted Mason
Ted Mason brings vast retail and technology experience starting with growing up in his father’s chain c-store business. Former positions within the grocery/supermarket industry include retail technologist for the nation’s largest wholesale grocer, director of emerging technology & electronic payments for the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), director of standards implementation for the National Association of Convenience Stores technology group (now known as Conexxus), and executive director of the Kentucky Grocers & Convenience Store Association. Mason also served as chairman of the committee that published the first ANSI national standards for today’s SNAP card-based electronic payments system and was an FMI representative to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AutoID Center where “Internet of Things” originated.
Prior to his current consulting work with the National Grocers Association Foundation Technical Assistance Center, Mason served as director of information technology for an independent supermarket chain located in Kentucky. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and now provides consulting services from his hometown of beautiful Lexington, KY.
Robert Rosado
Robert Rosado joined the IDFA team in January 2021. He works with members on policy development and legislative strategy while advocating for dairy foods companies and the dairy industry before the Congress and the Administration. Before joining IDFA, Rosado served the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry as senior professional staff for nutrition and specialty crops policy. There, he drafted, managed, and led successful final bipartisan negotiations on the nutrition and specialty crops provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill and led the U.S. Senate COVID-19 policy response efforts impacting food assistance, nutrition, retail/foodservice supply-chain, and specialty crop agriculture.
Rosado has extensive experience in advocacy on behalf of food trade associations in the nation’s capital, having worked in the policy shops at the Food Marketing Institute, Biotechnology Industry Association, and American Meat Institute. He also served in the Foreign Agricultural Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Bush administration.
Rosado holds an M.A. in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University in Arlington, Va., and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics from Drew University in Madison, N.J.
Deep Dive - Building Organizations for the Future of the Dairy Industry
Moderator: Tracy Boyle, Chief of People Strategy, International Dairy Foods Association
Panelists: Ron Dunford, President & CEO, Schreiber Foods, Inc.
Monica Massey, EVP, Chief of Staff and Chief Innovation Officer, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
Sheila Murty, Executive Vice President, People & Culture, Tillamook County Creamery Association
Philomena Morrissey Satre, Director, Diversity & Inclusion and Strategic External Relationships, Land O'Lakes
Keith Schroeder, CEO, High Road Craft Ice Cream, Inc.
Ron Dunford
Ron Dunford was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Schreiber Foods in 2019. He is Schreiber’s eighth President and CEO. Ron spent more than 40 years in the dairy industry.
Ron joined Schreiber in 1996 at the Green Bay, Wisconsin, home office. He was named a Vice President in 2000, Senior Vice President in 2002, President & COO of Schreiber Chain Sales in 2003, President & COO Operations in 2006, and President Schreiber U.S. in 2014. Additionally, Ron was elected to the Schreiber Foods Board of Directors in 2003.
Ron serves as a Board Member for the Utah State University Center for Entrepreneurship, the International Dairy Foods Association, and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy where he serves as Food Safety Vice Chair. He also served a 2-year term as the Chairman of the National Cheese Institute. In the community, Ron is actively involved with non-profits and in serving the needs of others.
He earned a B.S. in Geology from Utah State University in Logan, Utah.
He and his wife Dana have two married sons and have been blessed with four grandchildren. Ron enjoys spending time in the mountains; skiing, hiking, and biking. He is also a life-long learner with a passion for helping others achieve their dreams.
Schreiber Foods strives to do good through food every day. Based in North America, we’re a customer-brand leader in cream cheese, natural cheese, process cheese, shelf-stable beverages and yogurt. Our more than 10,000 employees and presence on five continents enable us to be an essential ingredient in our customers’ success. With annual sales of more than $7 billion, we partner with the best retailers, restaurants, distributors and food manufacturers around the globe. We also recognize our responsibility to do good in the world and are driven to make a difference in everything we do.
Monica Massey
As DFA’s executive vice president, chief of staff and chief innovation officer, Monica is responsible for a wide range of duties related to the overall success of DFA. Monica entered the dairy industry nearly 30 years ago and joined DFA in 2006 as vice president of corporate communications and member relations. Today, Monica acts as an advisor to the president and CEO and provides guidance and support to top decision-makers within the organization. She also serves as the executive sponsor of DFA’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council. In addition, she serves on Global Dairy Platform’s marketing committee, the BioKansas board of directors, as chair of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy’s communications committee, on the board of directors for the Center for Food Integrity as well as MilkPEP, where she also leads its industry committee.
Sheila Murty
Sheila Murty serves as the executive vice president of people and culture at Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), leading the adoption of a culture framework, driving TCCA’s vision for a values-based organization, and managing all aspects of building a responsive and strategic HR function. TCCA is a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative and one of the fastest growing consumer food brands in the U.S., employing nearly 1,000 employees in varied roles, from manufacturing, retail, office-based business and administrative, and a remote workforce across the country.
Murty brings more than 15 years of experience in strategic human resources and operational leadership. Prior to joining TCCA, she served as vice president of operations at The Oregon Community Foundation where she led people & culture, technology, diversity and facilities administration for the $1.9B community foundation. Murty previously was a senior HR leader at Legacy Health, one of Oregon’s largest private employers, and was also appointed Legacy’s diversity officer.
Since joining TCCA in 2018, Murty established an Inclusion & Diversity Framework to guide the organization’s development of an inclusive culture, where all employees have the opportunity to contribute, feel valued and have a sense of belonging. Under this framework, TCCA has doubled the number of leaders of color and increased the percentage of women in director-level roles by 6% since 2018. The co-op’s inclusion & diversity journey and achievements were recognized in a 2020 Portland Business Journal article.
Murty also serves on the board of Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest and is a member of the Forbes Human Resources Council. In 2021, Sheila was named a Women of Influence Honoree by the Portland Business Journal for her positive impact at TCCA and the Oregon community. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Oregon Health Sciences University and a master’s in business administration from Portland State University.
Philomena Satre
Philomena serves as Director of Diversity & Inclusion and External Strategic Partnerships. She joined Land O’Lakes June 2017, bringing more than 30 years of human resource experience in diversity and inclusion, community relations, work life and wellbeing. Before joining Land O’Lakes, she worked at Wells Fargo & Company. Her previous roles included VP of Organizational Effectiveness Development, Diversity and Inclusion; Community Outreach Consultant; and Senior HR Consultant.
Philomena has extensive experience in developing and implementing diversity strategies, including internal initiatives and community-focused pipelines. Previously, Philomena participated in a Middle East Fellows project, in partnership with Hamline University and the U.S. State Department and traveled to the Middle East as a part of the peace and economic development project.
Philomena joined the Board of Directors for the Cookie Cart organization and leads the Governance Committee. She co- leads the Leadership Advisory Board for SHIFT and formerly served on the Board of SHIFT (nonprofit focused on people in midlife) for 8 years. Philomena serves on the Agriculture D and I Consortium (Together We Grow), the Dairy Diversity Coalition Minnesota Business Racial Equity Coalition(MBCRE) and co-chairs the Twin Cities D&I Roundtable. Philomena served on the Minnesota Workforce Citizen Commission on Aging, Minneapolis Workforce Council, the Executive Leadership Council for Honoring Women Worldwide, the Goodwill Easter Seals, Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES), Lifeworks, HIRED and Resource Inc. Advisory Boards. She also co led the 2020 Women on Boards initiative for Minnesota.
Philomena has received numerous awards, including AARP/Pollen 50 over 50, the Minneapolis Business Journal’s Woman Change Maker and Minority Advocate, Minnesota Business The (Real) Power 50 Award and the University of Phoenix Diversity Leadership Award. Philomena has an MA in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University and a BA in Public Administration and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse. Philomena is an Adjunct Professor at the University of St Catherine in the Master of Organizational Leadership Graduate Program.
Keith Schroeder
Keith Schroeder is the founder and CEO of High Road Craft Ice Cream, the nation’s largest and fastest growing craft ice cream manufacturer, with products distributed nationwide. His company has been recognized on the Inc 5000 for five consecutive years, along with numerous press accolades and awards for entrepreneurial excellence. Keith is also an accomplished chef and cookbook author, having won a James Beard Award for his recent cookbook, Mad Delicious, The Science of Making Healthy Food Taste Amazing.
High Road was born in 2010, on the heels an Executive MBA business plan project at Kennesaw State University, and Schroeder has emerged as a passionate mentor to emerging and early stage entrepreneurs.
Schroeder is a voice for authenticity, craftsmanship, and celebration of global cultures and cuisines, and integrates this passion into High Road every day. He enjoys playing guitar with the amp cranked up, and challenging the status quo.
He is a father of two: a son Jackson, who studies opera at Boston Conservatory, and a daughter Madison, who is a fellow entrepreneur and graduate of Georgia State University. Schroeder’s wife, Nicki, is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of High Road.
Tracy Boyle
Boyle oversees the management of the IDFA People Strategy portfolio of work, including coordinating Women in Dairy, HR Leaders in Dairy, the Dairy Diversity Coalition, and support in advancing the NextGen Leadership Program. She also oversees IDFA human resources and office administration, including recruiting, orientation, benefits, training, and office operations.
Boyle joined the staff in 1987 as an accounting assistant. When the Milk Industry Foundation, the International Ice Cream Association and the National Cheese Institute joined together to form IDFA in 1990, Boyle moved to the marketing department. In 1993, she became executive assistant to the president and chief executive officer, charged with managing the associations' four boards of directors.
Deep Dive – Dairy’s Role in Addressing Food Insecurity
Matt Herrick
With more than 20 years of experience navigating consumer, regulatory and legislative issues surrounding food, beverages, agriculture and nutrition, Matt leads IDFA’s public affairs and communications activities, with a particular focus on advancing IDFA’s advocacy priorities and coordinating organizational strategy. Matt brings a results-based approach to organizational positioning, strategic communications, and public affairs strategy and reporting. He has strong relationships with influencers in the philanthropy, food, beverage, agriculture, and global development spaces. For IDFA, Matt is also helping to develop and execute the organization's first social impact strategy. IDFA social impact work will increase awareness about positive nutrition outcomes related to dairy foods and beverages, support the dairy industry’s efforts to address environmental sustainability, and offer research and educational tools to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce within the food and beverage sector.
Matt most recently served as Director of Communications for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Biden Administration under Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack; prior to USDA, Herrick served as Senior Vice President of Executive and Strategic Communications for IDFA from April 2019 until January 2021. Previously, Matt served as Managing Director, Communications for The Rockefeller Foundation, one of the world’s most renowned institutions with a legacy in public health, global food security and climate resilience. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President with Story Partners public affairs in Washington, D.C., where he founded and managed the agency’s food, nutrition, and trade practice, working with trade associations, food companies, and foundations. He served in the Obama Administration, first as Press Director and spokesperson for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and then as Director of Communications for USDA under Secretary Vilsack. Matt also led communications and media relations for Oxfam America, served as speechwriter and spokesperson for USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, and worked as a newspaper and magazine reporter. He holds a BA from the College of the Holy Cross and an MA from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Jon Brause
Jon Brause serves as Managing Director of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Washington Liaison Office. Based in Washington, D.C., Mr. Brause directs WFP’s interactions with its major partners in the U.S. Government, and represents WFP in dialogue with U.S.-based organizations interested in reducing hunger and poverty worldwide.
Navyn Salem
In 2009 Navyn set out to help end the crisis of global malnutrition by founding Edesia, a U.S. non-profit, social enterprise, with a mission to treat and prevent malnutrition in developing countries worldwide. Her factory in Rhode Island produces a range of fortified, peanut-based products like Plumpy'Nut for humanitarian agencies like UNICEF, World Food Programme, USAID and other NGOs working in emergency and conflict zones. Since 2010, Edesia has reached over 15 million children in 60+ countries, including Somalia, Venezuela, Yemen and Syria.
In 2020, she expanded her mission to include addressing hunger in the United States and works with the USDA in providing food for their COVID-19 emergency response efforts for both school lunch programs and food banks. In 2021, she partnered with Chobani to launch Chobani Ends Hunger, a new line of super peanut blends in retailers nationwide. 100% of profits are donated to Edesia to help further the mission.
Navyn was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year/New England in 2018, New Englander of the Year by the New England Council in 2017 and New England Business Woman of the Year by Bryant University. She was awarded honorary degrees by her alma mater, Boston College (2012) as well as Bryant University (2014), Providence College (2017), Curry College (2018), and University of RI (2021). She is a Trustee of Boston College. She is a 2014 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Navyn’s father is from Tanzania and she has four daughters, all of whom were the inspiration for the creation of Edesia.
Erika Thiem
Erika Thiem recently joined Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, as Chief Supply Chain Officer. She leads a team that enables Feeding America and its network of 200-member food banks to source and distribute nutritious food for people facing hunger in America. Her team works to innovate and build donor partnerships with food manufacturers, retailers, foodservice operators, and agricultural food producers to meet today's demand for healthy food and work to create a hunger-free tomorrow.
Erika began her career with General Mills, where she spent 27 years in a broad range of roles within the supply chain and quality functions across a diverse set of business units.
Most recently, Erika was the Supply Chain Director of the North America Dairy Operating Unit for General Mills. Previous roles include International Supply Chain Director for Häagen-Dazs ice cream and Plant Manager for the Big G Division. Erika’s early career was focused in the areas of food quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance.
Erika served as a board member for six years with The Food Group, a food banking organization based in Minnesota. As a board member and volunteer, she helped grow The Food Group’s reach with mobile foodbanks, the integration of Big River Farms, and the expansion of temperature-controlled warehouse storage capacity.
Known for her inclusive leadership approach and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, Erika served on the Supply Chain Global Inclusion Council at General Mills and co-led the Women in Supply Chain Network for 5 years. She also sits on the board of the Anti-Racism Commitment Coalition (www.joinARCC.org).
Erika earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.
Mark Broadhurst
Mark Broadhurst has been toiling in public affairs and policy for all of his more than 25 years in government, politics, media and business. For nearly half of his career, he has honed his skills and expertise in the consumer product and food industries.
Now based in SoHo in Lower Manhattan and currently leading a team of public affairs professionals at founder led Chobani, the maker of America's No. 1–selling Greek Yogurt brand and the second largest yogurt manufacturer in the U.S., Mark is crafting public affairs strategies that help drive Chobani’s belief in serving as a catalyst for positive change – change to improve public health and policy, the environmental, economic and social wellness of Chobani’s supply chain and the communities where it thrives, and finally, importantly, change in the food industry which leads to better outcomes, better options and better food for more people.
Founded on the belief that people have great taste—they just need great options, under Mark’s leadership Chobani is becoming increasingly engaged in dairy and other agricultural policymaking, including standards of identity, child nutrition, opening new markets for yogurt, and immigration reform, to name a few. Driven by its values, Chobani is expanding its reputation as a food focused wellness company, building on its strong foundation of providing better, accessible food to more people all the while generously giving back to the communities Chobani calls home and the constituencies with whom Chobani partners to make a difference. As a member of the Chobani Demand team, Mark counsels and collaborates with Chobani business functions, and leads strategic public policy engagement, local, state and federal government relations, industry and trade matters, community relations, supply chain engagement, philanthropy and social impact.
Mark had a sweet run prior to Chobani where for more than a decade he served as a member of the global corporate affairs team at Mars, building a successful state government program and leading on issues in health and nutrition, sustainability, taxation, animal welfare and business development.
A Dickinson College philosophy major, Mark began his career in presidential politics, worked in the Pacific for a territorial governor and on the Hill for a Member of Congress. The father of five, Mark left public service for the corporate world at his wife’s urging shortly before their fourth child was born. He and his wife, though sometimes weary, are active in their community of Long Valley, NJ.
Lunch Session: Leading Beyond the Walls of the Workplace – What They Don’t Teach You in Business School
Jim Donald
The former CEO of Starbucks, Pathmark Supermarkets, and Extended Stay Hotels, and currently the co-chairman of the board of Albertson’s, Jim Donald is a seasoned executive of large, multinational companies with a distinguished career in retail. He has been named one of the “Top 25 CEOs in the World” by The Best Practice Institute and one of Business Travel News’ “25 Most Influential Business Travel Executives” in 2013. Donald earned a reputation for turning around financially ailing companies early in his career. It was this reputation that prompted Extended Stay Hotels to seek him out after emerging from its bankruptcy proceedings in 2010. The hiring marked the rare choice of an outsider to lead a U.S. hotel company, and he led its successful $565 million IPO. He then joined Albertsons Companies in March 2018 as president and chief operating officer, before being named chief executive officer of the large chain in 2018.
Leading Through Uncertainty. Coined “the vagabond CEO” by the North Carolina Business Journal, Donald is known for his personal, hands-on approach to leadership and ability to effectively lead in different, often unfamiliar, business environments – and shares the leadership and management techniques that have earned him his stellar reputation. In talks he discusses his experience as a leader focused on innovation, communication, quality, service, strong relationships within the community, and risk-taking with the freedom to fail.
Business Strategies Good to the Last Drop. Jim Donald joined Starbucks in 2002 as president of its North American division, and he later served as president and CEO from 2005–2008, while the company saw some of its most rapid global expansion. During this period, Starbucks experienced record financial performance and growth, attributable largely to its success in North America, as customers continued to embrace the Starbucks Experience. Donald believes that the human connection between customers and baristas accounted for each Starbucks store becoming a neighborhood gathering place. He also continued Starbucks’ strong commitment to corporate social responsibility with efforts to develop ethical sourcing practices for products, fund water projects in developing countries, and reduce the company’s environmental footprint.
Supermarketing. In 2019, Donald transitioned from CEO of Albertson’s, the nation’s second largest supermarket operator, to co-chairman of the board. He has almost 50 years of experience in the supermarket industry. He began his career in 1971 as a trainee with Publix Super Markets. Joining Albertson’s in 1976, he quickly rose through its managerial ranks and was head of operations in Arizona. After 16 years at Albertson’s, Donald’s reputation in grocery operations spurred Walmart founder Sam Walton to personally recruit him to help the company’s then-struggling grocery business in 1991. Handpicked and with the goal to build a major presence in the supermarket business, Donald was a key executive in the company’s development and expansion of the Walmart Super Center, supervising all merchandising, distribution, store design, and real estate operations.
Donald later served as president and manager of Safeway’s 130-store Eastern division from 1994 to 1996. He was responsible for a $2.5 billion business, 10,000 employees comprised of 130 stores and two distribution centers. With a clear vision and inspiring front-line leadership, he reversed a four-year trend in declining same-store sales. Donald then joined Pathmark Stores in 1996 as chairman, president, and CEO. Donald served as CEO of Haggen Food & Pharmacy from 2009 until 2011.
In addition to serving as co-chairman of Albertson’s, Donald also currently serves on the board of directors of Nordstrom’s.
General Session: Supply Chain Resiliency with Gene Seroka
Gene Seroka
Gene Seroka is the Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest container port in North America. Nominated by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on May 27, 2014 and confirmed by the Los Angeles City Council on June 11, 2014, the Port of Los Angeles has experienced historic, record-breaking performances since his appointment.
As Executive Director, Seroka interacts with a wide range of stakeholders, including Port customers around the globe, industry partners, elected and appointed officials at all levels, business leaders and local residents. A respected global trade expert, Seroka has advocated for rules-based trade agreements that benefit American exporters and manufacturers.
Since the pandemic-induced buying surge generated by American consumers in the second half of 2020, the Port of Los Angeles has eclipsed nine monthly records and had its two highest-performing quarters and top four individual months in its 114-year history. The Port set two new milestones for the Western Hemisphere in June 2021 as the first port to process 10 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in a 12-month period and the first port to process 1 million TEUs in a single month.
Seroka has distinguished himself as a leader throughout his 33-year career in shipping, global logistics and executive management. The Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII) named Seroka the 2021 recipient of the Connie Award, one the most coveted honors in the maritime industry. Also in 2021, Lloyd’s List named him as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Shipping and the Inland Empire Economic Partnership honored Seroka with its Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing decades of leadership and accomplishments in the supply chain, logistics and maritime industry. In 2020, Supply Chain Dive named Seroka Executive of the Year for his leadership throughout the pandemic. Seroka has been named one of the most influential people in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal and featured on the LA500 list for the six past years.
As chief of America’s top port, he is responsible for managing a more than $1.7 billion budget, advancing major capital projects, growing trade volumes and promoting innovative, sustainable practices that strengthen the region’s economy. Under his Bio/Seroka Page 2
direction, the Port has taken a leadership role in adopting cutting-edge technologies to improve the reliability, predictability and efficiency of the flow of cargo across global seaborne trade, including the launch of the digital information portal Port Optimizer™ and companion data tools Signal, Return Signal, Control Tower and Horizon
Throughout the pandemic, Seroka—who lived in China during the 2002-2004 SARS epidemic—has led the Port’s response to the global health crisis, keeping cargo flowing as an essential service to the nation. In March 2020, Mayor Garcetti named Seroka the Chief Logistics Officer for the City of Los Angeles, while concurrently serving as the Port’s Executive Director. Seroka also leads Logistics Victory Los Angeles (LoVLA), which has distributed more than 10.2 million units of personal protective equipment (PPE) to nearly 250 organizations since its inception.
While serving as Executive Director, Seroka has been appointed to serve on four federal committees to enhance the speed and efficiency of cargo movement and supply chain optimization, including the U.S. Department of Commerce Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness, U.S. Maritime Administration Marine Transportation System National Advisory Committee, Federal Maritime Commission Supply Chain Innovation Team and U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation’s former Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group. The past president of the California Association of Port Authorities, he currently serves on its Board of Directors. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Port Authorities and Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority.
Seroka’s footing in the maritime industry was established as a sales support representative at American President Lines (APL) Limited’s Cincinnati office in 1988. After several key overseas positions in China, Indonesia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, he returned to the U.S. in 2010 to become President – Americas for the shipping line in Phoenix where he managed APL’s Liner Shipping business, including 1,000 employees, and was responsible for all commercial, port terminal, intermodal, land transportation and labor activities throughout the region.
Seroka holds an MBA and Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of New Orleans.
Conference Partner Session – Rethinking the Future: New Approaches to Innovating in Dairy
Larine Urbina
Larine Urbina is the Vice President of Communications for Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada. She leads a dynamic team focused on bringing the company’s values and purpose to life and has responsibility for all aspects of corporate communications, including social media, public relations, sustainability communications, brand marketing, events and employee communications.
Prior to joining Tetra Pak in 2014, Larine held a range of communications roles with GameStop and Rexel Holdings USA. With over 15 years of communication and brand management experience across several industries, Larine brings a broad view to brand storytelling that centers on authenticity and always puts the audience first.
Always curious and a relentless knowledge-seeker, Larine spends her free time travelling, experimenting with new foods and drinks, and going down the online research rabbit hole.
Pedro Goncalves
Conference Partner Session – Global Trends in Packaging Sustainability: What They Mean for Dairy Products
David Clark
David leads Amcor’s global sustainability agenda. He works closely with the global packaging company’s innovation, procurement, operations and other functions to integrate more sustainable design and social responsibility into Amcor’s product development and operations. He is active in Amcor’s global sustainability partnerships with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, and others. He leads the company’s program to achieve its Global Commitment to develop all of its packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2025, to increase the use of recycled content, and collaborate to drive up rates of recycling around the world.
David is chair of the Plastic Recycling Corporation of California, serves on the board of The Recycling Partnership, and is an Aspen Institute First Movers Fellow.
David holds a B.S., Physics, from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Pepperdine University.
Women in Dairy Reception (invitation only)
Breakfast Session: The Power of Inclusion and Mindful Engagement in the Workplace
Steve L. Robbins, Ph.D.
A powerful storyteller with a powerful story to tell, Dr. Steve L. Robbins has an uncanny ability to inspire people even in the midst of disrupting and challenging the way they think about the world. Born in Vietnam, Dr. Robbins immigrated with his mother to the United States where they faced many challenges during a time when there was much anti-war and anti-Vietnamese sentiment.
Working through and rising out of the challenges of poverty, discrimination and the tough streets of Los Angeles, Dr. Robbins now brings insightful perspectives on issues of inclusion & innovation, leadership, and the power of caring. Drawing upon a compelling life journey, his talks and workshops are filled with intriguing stories, laugh-out-loud humor and a keen understanding of human behavior.
Dr. Robbins uniquely knows how to simultaneously challenge and motivate people with a dynamic use of storytelling, humor and extensive knowledge of pertinent issues and concepts. The inclusive power of his message are why organizations like Coca-Cola, Disney, Ford Motor Company, Walmart, Lululemon, Pixar, NASA, The NBA, Michelin, Bank of America, Mercedes-Benz, and numerous others call on Dr. Robbins to inspire, educate and prepare their people for the exciting challenges of dynamic and diverse environments.
A thought leader and innovator, Dr. Robbins' unique, science-based approach to inclusion and diversity has captured wide acclaim from numerous audiences and organizations across the world. His approach does NOT blame or point fingers. It uses neuroscience and the science of human behavior to encourage individuals and organizations to be more open-minded, mindful and intentional about inclusion and valuing people for their unique gifts, abilities and experiences.
Dr. Robbins earned an undergraduate degree in Communication from Calvin College, and his masters and doctorate in Communication Science from Michigan State University. His background in communication, social-psychology and cognitive neuroscience drives his work with individuals and organizations – the core of the work is about understanding human behavior and leveraging human differences in an ever-changing, fast-paced 21st world.
Networking Break
Deep Dive – 2021 Women in the Workplace Study by McKinsey and LeanIn.Org
Kate George
Deep Dive - Winning the Marketplace: IDFA Study on Milk Pricing Modernization
J. David Carlin
J. David Carlin leads the association's legislative, political and economic policy activities. He was a partner with the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP until joining IDFA and has extensive experience in food and agriculture policy. Carlin has represented numerous food and agricultural companies, cooperatives and trade associations before the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Carlin joined Akin Gump in 1988. In 1995, President Bill Clinton appointed him to serve as Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations under Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman at USDA. As head of the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations, Carlin served as the primary USDA liaison with Congress and the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. He returned to Akin Gump in 1998 to focus his practice on public law and policy matters. His interest in agricultural and public policy began on the family dairy farm founded by his grandfather in 1940.
Marin Bozic, Ph.D.
Marin Bozic is Assistant Professor in Dairy Foods Marketing Economics in the Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota.
This faculty position was created in 2011 as a collaboration between the University of Minnesota and the Midwest Dairy Association, with the mission to develop a research program that includes a wide range of topics on dairy processing and demand issues. Before joining the University of Minnesota, Marin worked as researcher at the Institute of Economics – Zagreb. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Trento, Italy and doctorate in agricultural economics from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
His doctoral thesis focuses on price performance of agricultural futures and options markets, especially grains and dairy products. Marin’s research program encompasses four areas: (i) U.S. dairy policy analysis, (ii) dairy risk analysis, (iii) demand analysis and elicitation of consumers' willingness to pay for new dairy foods products and (iv) feasibility assessments of new dairy technologies, processing investments and new products. Since 2011, Marin published 6 scholarly articles, 13 working papers, won over ten grants by the Minnesota Milk Producers Association, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Midwest Dairy Association, and spoke at over three dozen research and outreach conferences.
Phil Plourd
Phil Plourd is President of Blimling and Associates, Inc. and President of the services division of Dairy.com. He has been involved in dairy market analysis, research, forecasting and risk management activities for 20 years. Phil draws on that experience to lead an expert team of 16 who are committed to helping clients find better ways to do business. He is a popular speaker who engages audiences on a variety of topics.
Phil resides near Madison, Wisconsin with wife Rhonda and daughters Rebecca and Leah. He is currently President of the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County and his family is involved with Madison Library Foundation.
Networking Break
Deep Dive – ‘Great Attrition’ or ‘Great Attraction’? The Choice is Yours
Bonnie Dowling
Bonnie serves clients across sectors and industries, including financial-services firms, health systems, insurers, federal and state agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. Her work focuses primarily on organizational transformations as she has deep expertise in virtual and in-person hybrid-work operating models, employee engagement and retention, capability building, and leadership development. During the pandemic, Bonnie spent much of her time working with clients around the world to design and launch hybrid-virtual operating models. She is passionate about partnering with clients to create a future where work works for employers, employees, their customers, and society. Recent experience includes the following:
- leading the firm’s thought engagement on how employers and employees can reimagine working and engage with each other to decrease resignation,
- improve retention rates, and increase job attraction developing proprietary virtualization potential and assessment tools to provide data-driven insights and inform a hybrid-work roadmap for clients seeking to transform operating models during the pandemic and post-COVID-19 recovery
- supporting clients in the design and development of workforce-training programs to prepare for the “next normal” and increase operational efficiencies and organizational health overall
- leveraging expertise in adult learning and hybrid-work operating models by working closely with clients to design operating models to identify and build the capabilities critical to long-term success
Bonnie was a labor-and-delivery nurse prior to joining McKinsey and remains passionate about public health—maternal and pediatric care in particular. She’s the mom to an energetic kid and partner to a mountain-loving man. Together, they are trying to teach her how to ski.
Deep Dive – The Race to Decarbonize Dairy
Danielle Quist
Danielle Quist leads IDFA’s work on environment, sustainability, packaging, worker safety, financial regulation, and environmental compliance, where she advocates industry positions and monitors regulatory issues impacting dairy processors. She has more than 20 years of legal experience and serves as IDFA’s legal counsel.
Before coming to IDFA, Quist worked as senior counsel for public policy at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), where she co-led AFBF’s legal advocacy program, advised lobbyists on policy matters, and lobbied federal agencies on behalf of farmers and ranchers for almost 14 years. Before that, Quist worked on Capitol Hill as a counsel on the House Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs for former Congressman Doug Ose (CA). Previously, she was an associate at Howrey Simon Arnold & White, LLP, and served as a law clerk to Judge Eugene Sullivan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
Quist earned her Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School and her Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science from Columbia College of Columbia University in New York City. She is a member of the D.C. and New York Bars. Originally from southern California and New Mexico, she speaks Spanish.
Mike McCloskey
Mike McCloskey is Co-Founder and CEO of Select Milk Producers, the sixth largest milk cooperative in the country. He is also Chairman of the Board for Fair Oaks Farms, the nation’s largest agritourism attraction located in Northwest Indiana. Dr. McCloskey’s home dairy is Prairies Edge Dairy Farms, also in Northwest Indiana, which milks 15,000 cows living in free-stall barns and is recognized as being the leading dairy in the U.S. from many perspectives. Prairies Edge Dairy Farms harvest their cow manure and through digesters create electricity to power their farms as well as creating bio-based CNG to fuel 42 milk trucks and thus displacing 2 million gallons of diesel use annually.
Michael Wironen, PhD
Michael Wironen is a Senior Scientist in TNC's Center for Sustainability Science, where he supports corporate and other collaborations to achieve sustainability outcomes at scale. His particular focus is on transforming agriculture and food systems to reduce environmental impacts while improving social and economic outcomes. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Vermont's Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, where he was a Graduate Fellow of the Gund Institute for Environment and a member of the Economics for the Anthropocene project, an international collaboration between UVM, McGill University, and York University. Michael's doctoral research explored how ecological economics can inform decision-making and governance in a context of competing objectives, uncertainty, and multi-level governance. This research centered on a study of how phosphorus flows in Vermont's agricultural system changed over 90+ years, impacting legacy phosphorus accumulation, resource efficiency, and water quality. This was paired with policy research that looked at how nutrient management planning could adapt to reflect challenges related to the intensification and spatial concentration of animal agriculture. Prior to his Ph.D., Michael worked as a senior sustainability specialist at an international environmental consulting firm. He helped private and public sector clients integrate sustainability and resiliency best practices into business and government operations, development projects, and large-scale planning initiatives in the United States and abroad. His projects included developing a regional sustainability plan for the Hudson Valley of New York, helping flood-stricken communities in New York and Colorado plan for recovery and flood resiliency, and leading the sustainable design integration process for a new technical university and master planned city in Morocco. He has also worked as a researcher focusing on biogeochemical cycling in forest and wetland ecosystems. He holds a Masters in Sustainability Science from Lund University in Lund, Sweden and a Bachelors in Physical Geography from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
Jason Weller
Lunch Session: Political Outlook
A.B. Stoddard
A.B. Stoddard is an associate editor and columnist with political news site and polling data aggregator RealClearPolitics, and a contributor and guest host for SiriusXM’s POTUS Channel. She appears regularly on Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, CNN, and MSNBC for her expertise as a political commentator. She is a former associate editor and columnist for The Hill newspaper. Her column with The Hill won first place Dateline Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Washington, D.C. chapter in 2010 and 2011.
Nonpartisan, Stoddard addresses elections and the political landscape of the day. Frequently meeting with sources and politicians of all stripes, Stoddard has her finger on the pulse of Washington, DC as she offers detailed and smart political and electoral analyses. Her talks cover the five biggest stories in the news, the most up-to-date happenings between Congress and the White House, ongoing budget battles, and the electoral prospects for the two parties.
Journalism Journey. Stoddard had always wanted to be a reporter, and she caught the political bug watching Justice Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court nomination hearings. She began her journalism career as a reporter for the Potomac News in northern Virginia, and she has covered the U.S. Congress since 1994 as a reporter at The Hill and a Senate producer for ABC News. She returned to The Hill as a commentator and columnist in 2006.
General Session: C-Suite Talks from the Top
Keith Schroeder
Keith Schroeder is the founder and CEO of High Road Craft Ice Cream, the nation’s largest and fastest growing craft ice cream manufacturer, with products distributed nationwide. His company has been recognized on the Inc 5000 for five consecutive years, along with numerous press accolades and awards for entrepreneurial excellence. Keith is also an accomplished chef and cookbook author, having won a James Beard Award for his recent cookbook, Mad Delicious, The Science of Making Healthy Food Taste Amazing.
High Road was born in 2010, on the heels an Executive MBA business plan project at Kennesaw State University, and Schroeder has emerged as a passionate mentor to emerging and early stage entrepreneurs.
Schroeder is a voice for authenticity, craftsmanship, and celebration of global cultures and cuisines, and integrates this passion into High Road every day. He enjoys playing guitar with the amp cranked up, and challenging the status quo.
He is a father of two: a son Jackson, who studies opera at Boston Conservatory, and a daughter Madison, who is a fellow entrepreneur and graduate of Georgia State University. Schroeder’s wife, Nicki, is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of High Road.
General Session: Global Dairy Perspective
Henrik Hoejen Andersen
Since April 2010, Chief Executive Officer at Arla Foods Ingredients Group P/S, a fully owned subsidiary of Arla Foods amba.
Member of the Board in Arla Foods Ingredients S.A. in Argentina, Member/Chairman of the Board on a rotation basis in Biolac GmbH & Co. KG (Joint Venture in Germany), ArNoCo GmbH & Co. KG (Joint Venture in Germany), and MV Ingredients Limited (Joint Venture in the UK).
Joined Arla Foods amba in 1994 as Executive Director for the global milk protein business and in 1998, took on the role as Senior Vice President for Arla Foods Ingredients amba, Arla Foods’ global business unit for whey processing activities.
From 1986 to 1994 Management Consultant with McKinsey and Co in Copenhagen.
Master of Science degree in Engineering from Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, and Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from Stanford University, California, US
Carl Colizza
Carl Colizza holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from McGill University. Since joining Saputo in 1998 as an engineer, he has held several senior management positions in the Dairy Division (Canada). In 2002, he was appointed to the position of Director, Engineering and in 2007, he became Vice President of Engineering and Environmental Affairs. In 2009, he was named Senior Vice President, Operations and, in 2014, Senior Vice President, Business Development. In 2015, he was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of the Dairy Division (Canada), and in 2018, he also led the Dairy Division (Argentina). In 2019, he was named President and Chief Operating Officer (North America). In addition to these responsibilities, he took on the leadership of the Dairy Foods Division (USA) on an interim basis in early 2020, and then the position of President and Chief Operating Officer for the unified Dairy Division (USA) from August 2020 to November 2021.
Émile Cordeau
Since joining Agropur in 2013, Mr. Émile Cordeau has occupied a series of positions, including most recently Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, in which capacity he played a key role in the Cooperative’s development. He previously occupied the position of Vice-President for the Foodservice and Proximity Retail group and was formerly in charge of the Fine Cheese Business Unit.
Before joining Agropur, Émile Cordeau worked for seven years at Dollarama where he actively participated in its evolution from a privately held family-owned company to a major public company. Émile Cordeau also acquired a diversified experience in Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions with companies such as Transcontinental and RBC Capital Markets. He graduated from HEC Montréal with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce.
Kelvin Wickham
With over 30 years at Fonterra and in the global dairy industry, Kelvin Wickham is driven by his belief in dairy as a high-quality source of nutrition for the world.
In his current role as the CEO of AMENA, he is responsible for Fonterra’s activities across consumer, foodservice and ingredients in Africa, Middle East, Europe, North Asia and the Americas.
He also overseas Fonterra’s Active Living nutrition unit, which is focused on developing solutions that cater to very specific consumer needs, including patient wellness, physical wellness, inner wellness and mental wellness.
Over his career, Kelvin has played a key role in building Fonterra’s ingredient’s brand, NZMP, across the world, developing Fonterra’s business in expanding markets, and establishing key customer relationships and partnerships.
He’s also led during pivotal moments in the history of Fonterra and the dairy industry. This includes when he oversaw the launch of Global Dairy Trade, a first for the industry, which in addition to making global online dairy sales possible, offered transparent price discovery to support the development of dairy price risk management tools.
Kelvin holds a Chemical and Materials Engineering Degree, a Master of Management and a Diploma of Dairy Science and Technology. He lives in Amsterdam, Europe with his wife and is a keen swimmer and cyclist.
Patricia Stroup
Patty Stroup is senior vice president and chief procurement officer at Nestlé and managing director of Nestrade S.A. She has a long history in the dairy industry, with previous experience heading both North American and global dairy procurement for Nestle, as well as prior leadership roles at Hilmar Cheese Company in California and Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers in Virginia. Her career started as co-owner and manager of dairy farms in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
She holds a bachelors degree in communications with a cognate in Dairy Science from Virginia Tech, an MBA focused on Food and Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, and a leadership certificate from the London Business School.
Conference Partner Session - What Does it Take to Be a Modern Food Brand?
Nick Geoghegan
After eight years at eatbigfish London, Nick can now be found in Santa Monica as he sets up a new expansion of the challenger brand experts in Southern California.
Joining eatbigfish from the world of advertising in 2010, Nick has worked with clients on five continents and in international waters. He has helped clients think differently about everything from soft drinks to software and most things in between. His passion for challenger brands lies in the fact that they can’t afford to be mediocre, something that can’t be said of many market leaders out there.
Having lived in South America through his childhood, Nick speaks Spanish and Portuguese, though he’s a little out of practice.
Yin Woon Rani
Rani brings nearly 25 years of integrated marketing experience across CPG companies and marketing agencies to MilkPEP. As CEO, she is excited to address the challenges ahead with thoughtful, sustained solutions and looks forward to working with the entire industry to help ensure a positive impact.
Prior to joining MilkPEP, Rani was VP, Chief Customer Experience Officer for the Campbell Soup Company, where she was instrumental in modernizing the company’s marketing across content, media, design, martech and digital – as well as improving the business trajectory for important core brands and new launches. Before joining Campbell Soup, Rani was president, North America of Universal McCann, the largest operating unit within IPG’s Mediabrands group.
Rani earned a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a Master of Business Administration from the Stern School of Business, New York University. She is active and respected within the marketing industry, earning recognition from a range of industry awards, both as a marketer and as an advocate for diversity – including YWCA’s Women of Year, SheRunsIt “Working Mother of the Year,” Brand Innovators Top 50 Women in Marketing, Path to Purchase Institute “Who’s Who in Shopper Marketing,” among others.
Brad Simms
Brad thrives on partnering with clients to bring creative ideas, innovative approaches, and new business models to reality. He has spent the last 20 years working at top agencies and consultancies – this has led to his unique balance of data, technology, and marketing expertise. While at SapientNitro, Brad served as SVP and Managing Director for Canada, the American Midwest and West, leading a team of over 600 in North America, and over 1100 in India. He was responsible for leading Sapient’s largest eCommerce/digital marketing program to date – bringing a commerce and marketing system in house for a top-five retailer. Brad founded GALE in 2014 with a focus on mentoring, growing, and inspiring great people. GALE’s clients include: BMW, Allstate, T-Mobile, MGM, and Bain Capital Ventures.
Tressie Liberman
Tressie Lieberman, Vice President of Digital Marketing and Off-Premise for Chipotle, is responsible for driving digital engagement and growth of new ordering occasions. In this role, Lieberman oversees a team dedicated to building relationships with the brand’s community through social media, the Chipotle Rewards loyalty program, and CRM. Lieberman also drives the strategy and marketing of the delivery and catering business through strategic partnerships and promotions.
Under Lieberman’s leadership, Chipotle has evolved consumer engagement to include breakthrough marketing initiatives such as launching the Chipotle Rewards program utilizing Venmo as a social network, creating an influencer-inspired menu with influencer David Dobrik’s namesake burrito and building the brand’s leadership on TikTok.
With a passion for food and innovation, Lieberman also held leadership positions at Snap Kitchen and Taco Bell. At Snap Kitchen, Lieberman led a full menu, overhauling the innovation timeline to acheive an on-trend assortment. During her Taco Bell tenure, Lieberman created an incubator that focused on rapid prototyping, e-commerce, and delivery. Lieberman also designed and drove the social media and influencer strategy that positioned Taco Bell to win in youth culture.
Lieberman proudly supports her alma mater, The University of Texas, through guest lectures and student mentorship. Lieberman is a member of the board of directors of The Mobile Marketing Association and serves on the Adweek Innovators Council. She has achieved accolades such as being named on the Nation’s Restaurant News Power List and Advertising Age Women to Watch.
Breakfast Session: What’s Next for Dairy? Perspectives from McKinsey & Company
Christina Adams
Christina Adams is a leader in McKinsey & Company’s consumer goods practice, with deep experience across commercial optimization, growth strategy, and optimizing portfolio and network complexity. She regularly looks at topics relating to how food and beverage consumer goods companies can adapt and grow in the changing consumer and retail landscape.
Christina started her career at Procter & Gamble working in brand management in Cincinnati, Ohio. Christina earned both her B.A. and M.B.A. from Harvard University. She is a native Oklahoman.
Ludovic Meilhac
Ludovic Meilhac is a procurement and supply management expert partner at McKinsey & Company in the Stamford office. He co-leads the McKinsey Food Institute and is a core member of McKinsey’s Consumer Operations practice. Ludovic has over 25 years of experience in procurement and sourcing globally and helps both companies and national governments develop world sourcing strategies and design manufacturing solutions for milk and dairy ingredients. Among other work, Ludovic has helped shape the 2020 vision for French milk and fruit procurement, design solutions for oversupply of local fluid milk in China and optimize COGS on dairy and flavor for an ice cream manufacturer.
Prior to McKinsey, Ludovic spent 13 years at Danone sourcing all fluids and dairy ingredients for North America, while also serving as a board member on the Quebec Dairy Council. He also spent 5 years at Coca Cola/Glaceau in manufacturing and sourcing. Ludovic earned his Master’s in Automation from Ecole Nationale Superieure des Mines de Paris in France and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.
Roberto Uchoa
Roberto Uchoa is a senior partner at McKinsey & Company in the Chicago office. Roberto leads McKinsey’s Agriculture Practice globally and our consumer operations work in North America. As an advisor to agricultural and food and nutrition companies, Roberto brings on-the-ground experience in the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, and Western Europe to help global agricultural, consumer, and retail companies as they pursue growth, integrate acquisitions, and drive improvements in organizational performance and health.
Since joining McKinsey in 1997, Roberto has built extensive expertise designing growth strategies and delivering performance improvements across commercial and supply-chain operations. Working with companies across the globe, he has led efforts to assess value-chain vulnerabilities and growth opportunities in the dairy, protein, row-crops, oilseeds, and starch and sweeteners sectors. Roberto also supports complex post-merger situations, defining integration approaches and ramping up value-capture teams.
Roberto earned his B.S. in Electronic Engineering from Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica in Brazil and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Closing Session: Dairy Dialogues
Michael Dykes
Michael Dykes, D.V.M., a long-time government affairs strategist, agricultural policy expert, and veterinarian, became president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association in January 2017. In this role, he represents members that make most of the milk, cultured products, cheese, ice cream and frozen desserts, and dairy-derived ingredients produced in the United States and marketed throughout the world. Since joining IDFA, Dykes has been a strong advocate for putting U.S. dairy at the center of health and wellness, innovation, sustainability, a vibrant U.S. economy, a stable and diverse workforce, and leading the world in global dairy exports. Prior to assuming his role at IDFA, Dykes served as vice president of government affairs for Monsanto, where he was responsible for developing and implementing a portfolio of U.S. government relations strategies and programs that included agricultural biotechnology policy. He led Monsanto's office in Washington, D.C., and served as the company's primary point of contact for elected officials, regulatory authorities, U.S. farm organizations, key industry participants, trade associations, international organizations and embassies. He directed the company's efforts in state and local government affairs, in addition to government affairs in Mexico and Canada. Dykes is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the National Academy of Practitioners. He is also a member of the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC), which provides U.S. trade policy advice to the current presidential administration.
Dykes grew up on a small dairy and tobacco farm in Kentucky. He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn University. He also attended the University of Kentucky where he received a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science.
David Ahlem
David Ahlem is the Chief Executive Officer and President for Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. He came to the Company in 2004. Since then, Ahlem has served in several leadership roles, which have deepened his passion for the dairy business and expanded his experience. His expertise includes dairy policy, strategic management, and customer relations.
A proactive member of the dairy industry, Ahlem participates with leadership peers in a variety of associations. He currently serves as Immediate Past Chair of the International Dairy Foods Association Executive Council, and as a board member of the Innovation Center for US Dairy and the Dairy Institute of California. Ahlem also actively participates in several other industry-related groups.
Ahlem was born and raised in California’s Central Valley where his involvement in the dairy industry began on his family’s dairy farm in Hilmar, California. He attended Westmont College, earning a B.A. in Philosophy and later earned an M.B.A from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
David and his wife, Cari, have four children and reside in Turlock, California.
Patrick Criteser
Patrick Criteser currently serves the dairy families of Tillamook County as the president and CEO of the Tillamook County Creamery Association (“Tillamook”). Tillamook is a more than centuryold farmer-owned cooperative with a leading premium dairy brand and a commitment to providing real food that tastes great. During Criteser’s tenure at TCCA, the cooperative has increased revenue by over 50% while growing return to farmers and expanding its presence as one of the leading consumer food brands in the Western U.S.
Criteser is an experienced executive with a track record of leading growth and positive transformation at companies large and small. Before joining TCCA as president and CEO in 2012, he spent eight years as president and CEO at Coffee Bean International and one year as co-CEO of Farmer Brothers (Nasdaq: FARM). Prior to his role at Coffee Bean International, Criteser held management and strategic development roles at some of the world’s most respected brands, including Nike, The Walt Disney Company and Procter & Gamble. He also spent time as a principal at SmartForest Ventures, a Portland-based venture capital fund, where he led the firm’s investments in several successful technology companies.
Criteser is a native Oregonian and serves on the boards of The Oregon Food Bank, The Oregon Community Foundation, and The Oregon Business Council. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School.
Tim Doelman
Tim Doelman is an entrepreneur, scientist, and business leader. Founded upon a B.S. in Dairy Science from California Polytechnic (“Cal Poly”), Mr. Doelman brings thirty years of experience in the dairy industry.
In 2020, Tim became the Chief Executive Officer for fairlife. Tim leads the company’s efforts in bringing great-tasting, high nutrition consumer products to market. fairlife revenue has grown from $10MM in sales in 2014 to over $0.5B in under 6 years and the organization has grown from 5 people to over 500 people company wide. fairlife is a fully owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company.
In 2012, as Chief Operating Officer for fairlife, Tim led the company’s efforts to reinvent the dairy category with innovative products and processing capabilities. Tim was responsible for the development and building of a half billion $ infrastructure for executing fairlife’s differentiated, high-value portfolio. This work included both the development and positioning of the products, the building of the teams, and the design and build out of manufacturing capabilities, including the core technologies of filtration, thermal processing, and low acid aseptic processing.
In 2010, as Chief Executive Officer of Athletes HoneyMilk, Tim successfully launched a line of high protein nutritional drinks that was later rebranded Core Power. The drink leveraged the technologies developed and marketed by the Good Cow Company which Tim co-founded in 1999. This product served as a strong proof of concept for the dairy-based drinks that the membrane technology enabled.
In 1999, as Co-Founder of the Good Cow Company, Tim developed and marketed membrane-based proprietary dairy products. The work at Good Cow was fundamental to the technologies and innovations marketed by fairlife today.
Sheryl Meshke
Sheryl Meshke is president and chief executive officer of Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI), the largest cheese cooperative based in the U.S. Appointed to the role in January 2023 following eight years as co-president and CEO, the position caps more than three decades with the company. She holds the distinction of being the first woman to be named CEO of a U.S. dairy cooperative. Personal Meshke currently serves on the boards of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, the National Milk Producers Federation, the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the Minnesota AgriGrowth Council.
She is past chairman of the Minnesota Dairy Research, Teaching and Consumer Education Authority, The Cooperative Foundation, Cooperative Communicators Association and the Minnesota FFA Foundation. Meshke holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from South Dakota State University and a master’s degree in business from the University of St. Thomas. She is a fifthgeneration farmer, operating a hog and sheep farm near Lake Crystal, Minn., with her husband Blake Meshke, son Brent and his wife Leslie. Another son Derek and his wife Tori live in Brookings, S.D.
All Times Pacific
Hotel
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
Dairy Forum will be held at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, California. A discounted room rate of $279 per night plus applicable taxes will be available to Dairy Forum attendees. The deadline to secure a room is Friday, January 7, 2022 or until rooms sell out. We have reserved a large block of rooms, but once all the rooms have been booked, we cannot guarantee that additional space will be available.Hotel Reservation Policy: You must register for the Dairy Forum to be eligible for the conference discounted room rate. All registrants will receive a registration confirmation email that will include instructions on how to confirm your hotel reservation. Only one reservation is permitted per registrant. If a hotel guest is not registered for Dairy Forum, IDFA reserves the right to remove the guest room reservation from the conference room block without notice.
Agenda
| January 23, 2022 | Event | Speaker | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00am - 1:00pm |
Morning Golf Tournament - Shotgun Start (Scramble)
|
Palms Course | |
| 1:00pm - 4:00pm |
Afternoon Golf Tournament - Shotgun Start (Scramble)
|
Palms Course |
Golf Tournament Registration Fee: $255
Registration includes greens fees, cart fees, practice balls, light breakfast (morning) or boxed lunch (afternoon), beverages and service fees.
How to play a golf scramble?
In a scramble, each golfer in the foursome takes a shot from the tee. From that point, the team decides who has the best drive, and all players advance forward to that spot to take their second shots. This process continues, with the best shot being taken each time, until a member of the team is able to hole out. The team’s score for that particular hole is recorded as the number of team “strokes” it took to get the ball in the cup.
Registration fees for Dairy Forum are based on your company's IDFA membership status. For more information about membership, please email membership@idfa.org. Please familiarize yourself with the latest safety protocols for Dairy Forum 2022 by selecting the "Safety Protocols" tab above.
FAQs
Q: Registration Payment by Check
The fastest and easiest way to register is online. If a paper form is required to submit a check payment, please download the registration form.
Q: Registration Substitutions
Registration is non-transferable from one company to another; however, substitutions within companies are welcome at any time. Please email registrar@idfa.org if you would like to make a registration substitution.
Q: Registration Cancellation Policy
Registration cancellations received in writing will be accepted prior to December 20, 2021 for a full refund, minus a $75 processing fee. Cancellations received after December 20, 2021, will be eligible for a 50 percent refund, less the processing fee. Your Dairy Forum registration fee is non-refundable after January 10, 2022. Substitutions may be made without penalty. All cancellations and substitutions must be received in writing at registrar@idfa.org.
Q: Golf Tournament Cancellation Policy
All golf tournament cancellations will receive a full refund before December 20, 2021. No tournament refunds will be issued after December 20, 2021. All cancellations must be received in writing at registrar@idfa.org.
Q: News Media
Credentialed members of the news media are welcome to register at a special rate by contacting mherrick@idfa.org. News media must present credentials to qualify.
Q: Attire
Attire is business casual although we encourage attendees to dress comfortable for evening receptions which may be held outdoors. The average temperatures in Palm Desert, California in January are 70°F high and 42°F low.
Q: Affiliate Events
Affiliate events are defined as non-IDFA sponsored events that take place before, during or after Dairy Forum. These include, but are not limited to, business meetings, receptions, dinners, group activities, and other social functions. If you are interested in reserving space at the conference hotel for an affiliate meeting or event, please contact mlembke@idfa.org. Space is limited, and requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Questions: If you have questions or need assistance with the registration process, please contact IDFA at (202) 737-4332 or registrar@idfa.org.
Dairy Forum is the premier conference for leaders in the dairy industry. It is where more than 1,000 executives and decision makers connect each year, advance their knowledge, and discover new perspectives on issues that are important to our industry.
For those interested in sponsorship, Dairy Forum is the place to be heard and seen. Sponsorship is one of the best ways to brand your organization as a thought-leader and to highlight your commitment to advancing the dairy industry. IDFA offers various levels of sponsorship opportunities.
Please contact mlembke@idfa.org for more information.
Highlight Your Dairy Products at Dairy Forum
Dairy Forum will feature a Dairy Bar showcasing some of the most popular and innovative products produced by our members. The Dairy Bar will feature a broad selection of dairy products including milk, yogurt, cheese, snack packs, ice cream, novelties, as well as other products and beverages. All products will be displayed for attendees to enjoy throughout the conference.
We hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity and consider donating a selection of your single serve products. To participate, please contact mlembke@idfa.org.
We are looking forward to seeing you in person at Dairy Forum 2022. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in making this a successful and safe gathering. Ensuring the safety of all attendees, speakers, sponsors, and staff on-site is our top priority. Please be mindful that IDFA is required to follow applicable state and federal public health guidelines related to COVID-19.
To this end, we want to make you aware of an important update from the state of California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Effective January 15, 2022, the state of California has new requirements for indoor events with more than 500 individuals, which covers Dairy Forum 2022.
Therefore, all registered Dairy Forum attendees must present either proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken 24 to 48 hours in advance to secure a badge to attend Dairy Forum. Additionally, pursuant to local guidelines, attendees must always wear an appropriate face mask when attending Dairy Forum. Please note that no exemptions are available, per the state of California.
To ensure your Dairy Forum experience is a rewarding and enjoyable experience, we urge you to please plan accordingly.
In light of the new requirements issued by the state of California, IDFA has contracted with a third-party service provider to ensure all on-site registrations are handled respectfully and expeditiously.
Registration
Attendees must bring their vaccination record (hard copy, photo, or via app) or proof of negative test with a photo identification to registration during the hours below. A third-party service provider will verify documents prior to issuing your Dairy Forum name badge. As is customary, your name badge will be required to access the sessions and networking events held throughout Dairy Forum.
- Sunday, January 23:1:30pm-7:30pm
- Monday, January 24:7:30am-3:00pm
- Tuesday, January 25:7:30am-3:00pm
Pre-Travel Testing
Testing must be conducted within one day for an antigen test and within two days for a PCR test prior to entry into an event. You are welcome to have your test administered through any provider. If you need assistance locating a provider, IDFA has partnered with COVID Clinic to provide testing options for attendees at their locations across the country. Please visit https://www.covidclinic.org/testing-sites/ to find a location near you. Local pharmacies including CVS Pharmacy, Rite Aid Pharmacy, and Walgreens also offer COVID-19 testing by appointment.
On-Site Testing
IDFA has partnered with COVID Clinic to provide COVID-19 testing at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort for attendees who are not able to arrange a COVID-19 test in advance. On-site testing will be available during the hours below – with results available in approximately 20 minutes, in compliance with the CA regulations. The on-site testing cost is $49 per test. All major credit cards will be accepted as payment on-site.
- Sunday, January 23:1:30pm-7:30pm
- Monday, January 24:7:30am-1:30pm
---
The state of California has clearly laid out details regarding permissible proof of vaccination and test results, and we encourage all Dairy Forum attendees to read the material in advance:
Requirements by State of California
Explanation of “fully vaccinated”
- Explanation from CDPH: Two shots of Pfizer or Moderna or one shot of J&J; WHO approved vaccines also qualify
Explanation of what is permissible proof of vaccination
- Explanation from CDPH: Hard copy vaccination record, photo of vaccination record, vaccination app, etc.
Explanation of pre-entry testing
- Definition from CDPH: Testing must be conducted within one day for an antigen test and within two days for a PCR test prior to entry into an event. Results of the test must be available prior to entry into the facility or venue.
Explanation of permissible tests
- Definition from CDPH: CDPH recommends a point of care test (antigen or molecular).
Face masks
- IDFA will have face masks on site for those who need one
No exemptions
- Please note that no exemptions (religious, etc.) are available for events, per the state of California
We will continue to update attendees if this guidance should change.
IDFA wishes to provide you with a safe and productive environment to conduct business, connect, and gain knowledge to drive our industry forward. Thank you once again for your cooperation and support, and we look forward to seeing you at Dairy Forum 2022.
The resources on this tab are for Dairy Forum 2022 registrants only. If you are registered for the event and can not see the resources below, please log out and log back in to IDFA.org via the red circle in the top right corner of your screen.