Overview
Dairy Forum returns in 2023 to sunny Orlando, Florida, with the premier annual event for dairy foods leaders.
Presented by the International Dairy Foods Association, Dairy Forum convenes more than 1,000 dairy leaders each year for collaboration, innovation, and inspiration.
Spread across four days, Dairy Forum includes main sessions, deep dive sessions, panel discussions, special presentations by conference partners, and numerous opportunities to connect with leaders in the dairy industry.
The dairy industry has seen unprecedented disruption. Dairy Forum will INSPIRE today’s top and emerging dairy leaders to meet the challenges of tomorrow and position our industry for continued success.
Inspiring Content: Leadership, People, Policy, Sustainability, Innovation
Dairy Forum 2023 will bring together the entire dairy supply chain for four days of unity, collaboration, and inspiration as we chart the U.S. dairy industry’s path to becoming the world’s leading supplier of nutritious, affordable and sustainable dairy products.
With innovative content and sessions focused on attracting a diverse and inclusive workforce, advancing growth and sales through technology and innovation, delivering health and nutrition benefits to consumers, and leading the sustainability movement for food and beverage, Dairy Forum 2023 offers an unrivaled experience for leaders.
Come prepared to advance your knowledge and leave inspired.
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.
Emma Aer
CEO & President, Franklin Foods Inc.
Emma Aer
Shawn Athay
Senior Vice President of Human Resources, California Dairies, Inc.
Shawn Athay
Shawn Athay is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at California Dairies, Inc. (CDI), based in Visalia, California. He has over 30 years of Human Resources experience … 20 of which have been in the Dairy Industry. Prior to joining CDI in October of 2020, Shawn was the Vice President of Human Resources for Agropur’s US Operations, from 2015-2020, and Glanbia’s Vice President of Human Resources for its US Cheese & Ingredients Operations, from 2005-2016. In addition, he spent his first two dairy industry years in the J.R. Simplot Company’s Idaho-based Dairy Division from 1995-1997. Each of these businesses operates with 1,000–2,500 employees in the manufacturing/processing space. Mr. Athay has worked throughout his career to streamline processes and ensure efficient operations of the company’s human resources departments and processes, while being accountable and responsible for talent strategy, total rewards programs, payroll, training and career development, performance management programs, employee & labor relations, and managing all human resources personnel. Additionally, Mr. Athay takes a leadership role in developing a culture that enables employees to grow and succeed within the organization via a Leadership Pipeline strategy.
Shawn currently resides in Visalia, CA, and represents CDI on the Boards of Directors of Affinity and BevCap, its workers compensation and health insurance captive benefit platforms. He and his wife love to travel and spend as much time as possible visiting their three children and 9 grandchildren in Idaho and New York. Mr. Athay is a graduate of Boise State University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations Management, and he holds both the SPHR and SCP Human Resource professional credentials.
Janette Barnard
Merck Animal Health Ventures & Founder, Prime FutureRuminants Lead, Merck Animal Health Ventures & Founder, Prime Future
Janette Barnard
Janette Barnard is with the Merck Animal Health Ventures team, that identifies and invests in early stage technology companies that are solving problems for livestock producers. She writes Prime Future, a weekly newsletter for innovators in livestock, meat & dairy. Her career spans across Cargill, McDonald’s Global Supply Chain, Elanco, and multiple AgTech startups.
Bernie Baskin
Director, ESG, Walmart Inc.
Bernie Baskin
Cynthia Bauman
Senior Vice President, Human Resources, TC Packaging Sector, TC Transcontinental Packaging, a division of TC Transcontinental Inc.
Cynthia Bauman
Mike Brown
Chief Economist
Mike Brown
Mike Brown was named Chief Economist for IDFA on Jan. 17, 2023. In that role, Brown leads economic and policy analysis and strategy development related to dairy policy and pricing.
He is a recognized expert on milk pricing policy and has worked for both farmer-owned cooperatives and proprietary businesses, all of which are current IDFA members. Before joining IDFA, Brown led the milk and dairy procurement team for The Kroger Co. as director of dairy supply chain. Prior to Kroger, Brown served as a dairy economist for well-known dairy brands and organizations including Glanbia, Darigold and National All-Jersey, Inc.
As director of dairy economics and policy for Glanbia, he was responsible for market and farm cost analysis, supported Glanbia’s producer risk management programs and company efforts on U.S. dairy and trade policy, along with other industry initiatives. Prior to Glanbia, he was director of membership services for Northwest Dairy Association. From 1993-2001, Brown was general manager of National All-Jersey, Inc, a dairy producer trade association, where he led efforts to expand multiple component pricing through private plant incentives and through federal milk marketing order reform. Brown was raised on small dairy farm in Western, N.Y. and earned his bachelor’s degree in dairy science from Virginia Tech.
Katie Burgess
Director, Risk Management | Ever.Ag
Katie Burgess
Katie Burgess grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm and joined the Ever.Ag team in 2012. She serves as a Dairy Market Advising Director and works with clients across the dairy supply chain – including producers, cooperatives, processors, and end-users. As a trained economist and commodity broker, she keeps customers updated on dairy supply and demand fundamentals and helps them manage price volatility via hedging programs. She holds degrees in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin.
Linda Clemons
Nonverbal Communications and Body Language Expert
Linda Clemons
Linda is an award-winning, record-setting sales producer as well as one of the top sales trainers in the world in the resort/timeshare industry where clients have generated over two billion in sales. A Body Language Expert trained and certified in Analytic Interviewing and Statement Analysis ™ a process used to detect deception. Her clients and audiences include Southwest Airlines, National Urban League, Nestle, MGM, Major League Baseball, Wells Fargo, Nielsen, Sodexo, Leo Burnett Worldwide, US Customs, FBI, Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham and Starwood. Her client list includes celebrities, executives, politicians and entrepreneurs.
Dave Coble
Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Schreiber Foods Inc.
Dave Coble
Dave Coble is Senior Vice President of Human Resource Systems and Strategy. Dave earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ohio University and his MBA in Labor Relations and Human Resource Management from Ohio State University. He also served in the Air National Guard.
He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management. In the community, Dave is involved with CASA of Brown County, serving as a member of the corporate board and advisory council. Dave and his wife, Chris, live in the Green Bay area in Wisconsin. They have three children. Away from work, Dave enjoys biking, running, skiing (downhill and cross country), golfing, and reading military books and biographies.
Aaron De Smet
Senior Partner | McKinsey & Company
Aaron De Smet
Aaron De Smet is Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. De Smet counsels leadership teams as they transform their organizations to improve performance, organizational health, speed, and agility. He is also an expert on organizational design, corporate culture, leadership development, team effectiveness, capability building, and transformational change.
Much of Aaron’s work focuses on helping large distributed organizations to achieve growth, innovation, productivity, and organizational agility. He serves clients across several industries, including agriculture, biotechnology, chemicals, energy, financial services, and healthcare.
Sara Dorland
Managing Partner, Ceres Dairy Risk Management
Sara Dorland
Sara Dorland, managing partner in the Ceres, specializes in providing risk management and financial consulting services to agriculture and food-based businesses with a particular focus on the dairy industry. Ms. Dorland has represented dairy producers, cooperatives, manufacturers and consumer products companies in risk management dealings nationwide. Ms. Dorland has also handled input cost management for dairy farmers and processors including hedging of natural gas, corn, alfalfa, soy oil and work with fuel and resin contracts.
Additionally, Ms. Dorland has worked with several firms providing agricultural accounting and financial analysis services. Projects include feasibility studies, milk shed evaluation and site selection process for several dairy processing facilities in the United States.
Ms. Dorland, through Ceres, is a member of American Dairy Products Institute, U.S. Dairy Export Council and National Milk Producers Federation.
Curtis Dubay
Chief Economist, U.S Chamber of Commerce
Curtis Dubay
Curtis Dubay is the Chief Economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Prior to that he was Senior Economist at the American Bankers Association and Research Fellow in Tax and Economic policy at The Heritage Foundation. He has also worked at the accounting firm PwC and the Tax Foundation. Dubay has researched and published frequently on a wide range of tax and economic issues. He is frequently quoted by the press and has appeared regularly in the media, including on CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, MSNBC, CNN and C-SPAN. He has testified before Congress several times and was cited in newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and Politico. Dubay received his master's degree in economics from the University of Connecticut and his bachelor's degree from the University of Richmond. He resides in Washington, DC with his wife and three sons.
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.
Honorable Dan Glickman
Senior Fellow, Bipartisan Policy Center & Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Former United States Representative
Honorable Dan Glickman
Dan Glickman is a BPC senior fellow and co-chairs its Commission on Political Reform, Democracy Project, Prevention Initiative, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Task Force. He served as the secretary of agriculture from March 1995 until January 2001. Under his leadership, the Department of Agriculture administered farm and conservation programs, modernized food-safety regulations, forged international trade agreements to expand U.S. markets, and improved its commitment to fairness and equality in civil rights.
Glickman is currently the executive director of the Aspen Institute Congressional Program, a nongovernmental, nonpartisan educational program for members of the United States Congress. Previously, he was chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA), which serves as the voice and advocate of the U.S. motion picture, home video, and television industries. Prior to joining the MPAA, Glickman was the director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He also served as a partner and senior advisor to the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Washington, D.C.
Prior to becoming the secretary of agriculture, Glickman represented the 4th Congressional District of Kansas for 18 years in the House of Representatives. During that time, he was a member of the House Agriculture Committee, including six years as chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over federal farm policy issues. He was also an active member of the House Judiciary Committee, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and was a leading congressional expert on general aviation policy.
Stephanie Goodwin
Director of Nutrition Policy | Danone North America
Stephanie Goodwin
Stephanie Goodwin joined the Public and Government Affairs team at Danone North America in 2019. She has been with Danone for 8 years, first on the science team for the division of medical foods, and then on the regulatory affairs team. Prior to joining Danone, Stephanie worked within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the 2015 Dietary Guidelines.
Stephanie is a Registered Dietitian and earned a Master of Public Health in Health Education, as well as her Doctorate in Human Nutrition and Public Policy from Virginia Tech. She completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship in metabolic science at the National Institutes of Health with the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disease. Stephanie is also a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences.
Stephanie is an outdoor enthusiast and spends most of her free time with her family, including her husband and two little boys playing outside.
Scott Graham
Chief Operating Officer, Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.
Scott Graham
Graham leads Hilmar's end-to-end supply chain operations and supporting functions as Chief Operating Officer. He has 18 years of experience in dairy across a range of functions and geographies, starting with Fonterra Cooperative (NZ), Dean Foods (US) and now Hilmar Cheese Co. Before joining the dairy industry, Graham worked in management consultancy for McKinsey & Co, and business development in the international utility sector with Severn Trent PLC.
Graham has been involved in a variety of opportunities at the intersection of technology and business, including leading an internet enabled performance improvement business, sales & operations planning lead on the design team for Global Dairy Trade platform, and executive sponsor for the deployment of advanced planning/business analytics capability with a Sales & Operations Planning team. Graham served on the Dairy.com board on behalf of Dean Foods from 2017-2019.
Justin Greis
Partner, McKinsey & Company
Justin Greis
Justin Greis is a partner in the McKinsey & Company’s Chicago office. He is a leader of McKinsey Digital and the Risk & Resilience Practices, with a focus on cybersecurity, cloud, technology strategy, and digital transformation. Justin designs, builds, and activates secure and trusted digital transformations to help organizations accelerate their mission and protect their purpose. Justin brings a wealth of experience across a wide variety of industries.
Prior to joining McKinsey, he served as the global and the Americas cybersecurity transformation leader for EY, where he helped clients assess, improve, and operate world-class cybersecurity programs. Justin was also a consultant for Protiviti in France and before that led the technology organization of the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, a not-for-profit consulting group. Justin began his career as an entrepreneur, founding BrainOrbit, a digital consulting company that designed, built, and implemented dynamic websites, collaboration portals, and interactive digital solutions.
In addition to his work with McKinsey, Justin serves as a professor at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, where he teaches IT governance, risk, and controls in the MSIS and MBA programs. He has won numerous awards for his real-world curriculum and innovative teaching methods.
Strong believers in the power of education, Justin and his wife created a scholarship focused on providing higher education opportunities to students. He is a frequent speaker at industry forums such as ISACA, Information Security Forum (ISF), the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), and various other executive and board councils. He is a published thought leader on the topics of technology strategy, cybersecurity, IT risk management, and digital transformation.
Justin holds a bachelor of Science and a master of business administration in accounting and information systems from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, and holds the following professional certifications: CDPSE, CGEIT, CIPP/US, CISA, CISM, CISSP, CRISC, GIAC/GSEC, ITIL, PMP, and TOGAF.
Justin enjoys playing drums, harmonica, ukulele, photography, snorkeling, fishing, geology, and rock collecting. An avid learner, Justin frequently writes on his blog, progressology.com, where he explores a variety of topics focused on the central theme of “progress.” Justin lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife and two children.
Matt Herrick
Executive Vice President, Chief Impact Officer
Matt Herrick
With more than 20 years of experience navigating reputation, regulatory and legislative issues in food, agriculture and nutrition, Matt serves as IDFA's Executive Vice President and Chief Impact Officer responsible for coordinating efforts across the association to drive policy, advocacy, communications, and social impact outcomes for IDFA members and the dairy industry. Matt brings a results-based approach to organizational positioning, strategic communications, and public affairs strategy and reporting. He prioritizes mixing traditional and digital engagement and advocacy with audience targeting to deliver impact to members, policymakers, and consumers, including expanding and preserving markets for dairy food companies and achieving federal and state policies that support growth. Herrick most recently served as IDFA's Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications. He also is the Executive Director of the IDFA Foundation, the association's 501(c)3 charity that he helped to found.
Matt has led external affairs, advocacy and marketing for several global organizations in the private and non-profit spaces. He 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. 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.
Daniel Janichek
Director R&D, Dairy, Amcor Flexibles North America
Daniel Janichek
Nick Kosturos
Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company
Nick Kosturos
Nick Kosturos is an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company based in New York City. As a leader in McKinsey’s Cybersecurity Practice, Nick has built and scaled the Firm’s capabilities as a recognized industry leader in Global Cybersecurity Consulting. Nick serves global cross-sector clients to transform their cybersecurity and technology-related risks into competitive advantages. Nick is passionate about helping clients address complex challenges related to cybersecurity strategy and transformation; security operations; cyber crisis readiness/response; and cyber risk culture.
Before joining McKinsey, Nick served as a Cybersecurity Consultant at Ernst & Young (EY), where he focused on helping drive operational improvements in security operations for Fortune 100 clients using emerging technologies. Nick has also held multiple positions for various federal law enforcement and defense agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as well as think tanks such as the Brookings Institution – focusing on topics ranging from cybersecurity policy to violent crime investigations.
Nick was a Fulbright Fellow to Belarus, where he taught English at Polotsk State University and conducted research on American translations of Belarusian texts as the first American to obtain a residence permit in Polotsk. Nick is proficient in Russian and studied Russian culture as the focus of his Critical Language Scholarship awarded by the United States Department of State.
Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in International Relations and a Minor in Applied Computer Security from the University of Southern California (USC).
In his free time, Nick enjoys international travel and exploring all that New York City has to offer. He also serves on the Board of CancerFit at the Columbia University Medical Center to help cancer patients regain physical strength to live full and happy lives post-recovery.
Mary Ledman
Global Sector Strategist – Dairy, Rabo AgriFinance, Global
Mary Ledman
Mary is a thought leader who has extensive knowledge of domestic and international dairy markets and policy and over thirty years of experience in production agriculture, food processing, government service, agricultural policy, dairy risk management, market information and dissemination, and milk and dairy product price forecasting.
Prior to Rabobank, Mary held positions at the USDA, Kraft Foods, and Stella. She later founded Keough Ledman Associates, an economic consulting firm serving the dairy industry since 1995.
Mary holds a Bachelor of Science in agricultural journalism and a Master of Science degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University. Early in her career, she was awarded a Fulbright-Hayes Scholarship to conduct comparative research on US and European dairy policies.
Charlie Lewis
Partner, McKinsey & Company
Charlie Lewis
Charlie Lewis is an Expert Associate Partner with McKinsey & Company in Stamford. He specializes in support consumer and retail companies reduce cyber and technology risk to their business, customers, and on-going digital transformations by supporting organizational and operating model design, talent strategies, and broad cyber strategy development.
Prior to joining McKinsey, Charlie served over 13 years in the U.S. Army. While in the Army, his experiences ranged from service with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq to teaching as an Assistant Professor of American Politics at the United States Military Academy. Before leaving Active Duty for the Army Reserves, he developed the Army’s cyber leadership education programs and was the second in charge of the Army’s IT and Cyber training organization.
Retired General Stephen Lyons
Former Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, Port and Supply Chain Envoy for the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force
Retired General Stephen Lyons
General Stephen R. Lyons took command August 24, 2018, becoming the 13th commander of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), one of 11 Combatant Commands in the Department of Defense. USTRANSCOM’s mission is to project and sustain military power globally in order to assure our friends and allies, deter potential adversaries, and if necessary respond to win decisively.
Lyons’ experience spans 36 years of military service in positions of progressive leadership responsibility. He began his career in Germany during the Cold War and subsequently held a wide range of assignments to include command at every level, multiple operational deployments, and over 6 years of experience in joint assignments. As a battalion commander in 2003, he participated in 3d Infantry Division’s major combat operations to invade Iraq. Since 2003, he has spent over 40 months deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). He also served as the 14th USTRANSCOM deputy commander from 2015- 2017.
A native of Rensselaer, New York, Lyons graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the US Army in 1983. He holds two master’s degrees, one from the Naval Postgraduate School in logistics management (1993); and a second from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in national resource strategy (2005).
His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Master Parachutist Badge.
Lyons is married to Maureen Lyons and they have two children, Kara, and Dylan.
DeeAnne Marlow
Senior Human Resources Executive, Hilmar Cheese Company
DeeAnne Marlow
DeeAnne Marlow is the Vice President of Human Resources for Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. DeeAnne joined the Company in 2020. Her passion for people and extensive human resources expertise helps Hilmar cultivate a dynamic company culture that fosters teamwork, integrity, collaboration and trust.
Marlow is a progressive, strategic leader with a superior track record of building, optimizing and overseeing top-performing human resources business units, departments and teams. Her expertise includes human resource business strategies, talent engagement and retention. Her previous roles include Chief Human Resource Officer for multi-national companies. She has transformed businesses in the chemical industry, industrial packaging, engine manufacturing, tool manufacturing and more.
Marlow serves on the International Dairy Foods Association HR Leaders in Dairy Committee.
Marlow is a Senior Professional in Human Resources® with a Masters in Business Administration from University of South Dakota and Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College.
DeeAnne and her husband have two grown children and reside in Turlock, California.
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.
Mia Mulrennan
Chief People Officer
Mia Mulrennan
Dr. Mia Mulrennan has worked as an organizational psychologist and talent/HR executive and consultant in a variety of roles and settings, including a high-profile list of Fortune 500 companies.
At the start of her career, she worked in executive outplacement consulting in her hometown of New York City, Dr. Mulrennan moved to the Twin Cities where she began her career in HR directly, working for Marriott Corporation and in the luxury hotel industry.
She then took a leave of absence to complete her doctorate in applied business psychology, and after completing her degree, worked as a corporate consultant with PDI/Korn Ferry and Right Management for many years - helping organizations optimize their brand, company culture, and executive-level strategies. She worked ongoingly with several of IDFA’s members including Cargill, Kemps, Schwan’s, General Mills, Land O’Lakes, 3M, and Dairy Queen.
She began her executive career in 2013 as Chief HR Officer for Sun Country Airlines and then was CHRO for Star Restaurant Group before coming to IDFA.
Elizabeth Mygatt
Partner | McKinsey & Company
Elizabeth Mygatt
Liz is one of the leaders of Organizing for the Future, a McKinsey initiative offering integrated, bold approaches to designing operating models, defining organizational identity, and meeting the challenges of growth. Since joining the firm in 2011, she has advised companies across sectors, focused on what it takes for organizations to thrive.
The rapid pace of change puts pressure on companies to operate with speed and simplicity. In support of stronger performance, Liz partners with executives to keep up with demand and scale their organizations flexibly. This support often includes reshaping governance and decision-making models and establishing new approaches to managing talent.
In many cases, Liz supports broad-based organizational and performance transformations across entire companies, setting new agile operating models, and shifting culture in fundamental ways.
Examples of her recent client work include the following:
- supporting a post-merger performance transformation, including defining a new company-wide culture; in just eight months organizational health scores improved dramatically
- establishing an agile operating model for an industrial company to successfully meet soaring demand
- streamlining the operating model and top-team design for a healthcare organization, improving the quality of governance and speed of decision making
- building an enterprise-wide human capital strategy for a health insurance provider to support a bold growth strategy, including fostering a more performance-based culture
- helping a national healthcare provider transform performance by improving strategic talent development, investing in organizational health and building new capabilities
- architecting a new leadership model and operating approach for a technology company, enabling rapid growth and better decision making
Interested in helping leaders anticipate and stay ahead of trends, Liz publishes frequently on how work is changing and what successful organizations can do to prepare for the future.
Taylor Newman
PhD, RDN, Director of Nutrition, The Kroger Co.
Taylor Newman
Taylor Newman, PhD, RDN, LD strives towards a world where everyone has access to adequate, nutritious foods. Taylor’s doctoral research at the University of Georgia focused on produce prescription programs across the U.S. She now helps people nationwide live healthier lives as a Nutrition Program Development Manager with the Kroger Co., where she serves as a subject matter expert for Kroger’s Food as Medicine strategy.
Rob Nolan
Expert Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company
Rob Nolan
Rob Nolan is an Expert Associate Partner in the Houston office and a member of McKinsey’s Digital & Analytics (DnA), and Cybersecurity Practice with over 20 years of experience in technology and cybersecurity.
Rob is a co-leader of the Securing Digital service line, which is a global effort to embed cyber within digital transformations including new business builds, product development (DevSecOps, Threat Modeling, etc.), and Agile ways of working for cybersecurity organizations. He also co-led the development of McKinsey’s cyber crisis response service line.
Prior to McKinsey, Rob spent 8 years as Chief Information Security Officer, then Chief Information Security Officer for a global energy company focused on national critical infrastructure security. Prior to that, he spent 15 years leading application security and cybersecurity incident response with a global risk and insurance company.
Rob holds several cybersecurity certifications and an MSc. from Boston University.
Ron Osborne
Head of Technology, Agriculture, Amazon Web Services
Ron Osborne
Ron Osborne is the Head of Technology for Agriculture at AWS WWSO division and has over 20 years of experience building technology and business solutions within agribusiness and financial services. Mr. Osborne has an extensive background and interest in agribusiness including telematics systems, IoT, edge processing, farm and field level risk management, remote sensing, and cloud native modernization. Prior to his role at AWS, Mr. Osborne was the Chief Technology Officer at Farmers Edge and helped that business develop scalable solutions for farms, OEM, seed and chemical manufacturers, ag-retail, and financial services in the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Russia, and Ukraine. Mr. Osborne has a Master of Science in Software Development from Maryville University of St. Louis, an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nebraska.
Terry Patcheak
VP, R&D, Sustainability & PM Excellence, Amcor Rigid Packaging
Terry Patcheak
Terry is responsible for the leadership and development of ARP’s R&D and advanced engineering teams as well as leading sustainability and innovation initiatives while advancing capabilities in material science, manufacturing machinery and process, computer-aided design, finite element analysis, product lifecycle management, and rapid tooling functionalities. Terry is a dynamic leader with a Research and Development career that spans nearly 20 years. He has a unique skillset capable of balancing business objectives, customer needs and company capabilities to deliver long term sustainable solutions. Under his leadership, his teams have qualified hundreds of products into the marketplace. Terry continues to lead ARP’s industry leading light weighting strategy and product development road map that helped generate breakthrough technologies in light weighting that demonstrate the packaging innovations and advancements ARP customers demand. Terry has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Honorable Collin Peterson
Former United States Representative and Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture
Honorable Collin Peterson
Collin Clark Peterson is an American accountant and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Minnesota's 7th congressional district from 1991 to 2021. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) he was chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture from 2019 to 2021 and previously holding the office from 2007 to 2011; he had been ranking member from 2011 to 2019 and 2005 to 2007. Peterson was the most senior U.S. Representative from Minnesota and the dean of Minnesota's congressional delegation.
Todd Phillips
Processing Manager, Tetra Pak
Todd Phillips
David Portalatin
Senior Vice President, Industry Advisor, Food and Foodservice | The NPD Group
David Portalatin
David Portalatin is The NPD Group’s industry advisor for the food and foodservice industries and author of NPD’s annual “Eating Patterns in America,” which is a compilation of the food and foodservice research the company conducts over the year. In his role as senior vice president, industry advisor, David provides information, insights, and analysis on how U.S. consumers eat and drink, their attitudes and motivations, diet and nutrition, snacking, personal characteristics, and their usage of restaurants and other foodservice outlets. He works closely with food manufacturers and retailers and foodservice distributors, manufacturers, and operators in providing strategic business insights into current and future eating patterns in America and the state of the U.S. foodservice industry.
His diverse background and experience give him an in-depth understanding of consumer behavior and foodservice industry dynamics. Prior to his current role, he was NPD’s industry analyst in the convenience retailing industries, automotive aftermarket, and motor fuels. Portalatin held various positions in foodservice wholesale distribution and convenience retailing before joining NPD in 1999.
He is a frequent featured speaker at food and foodservice industry events, corporate conferences, and executive meetings. Portalatin also serves as a media source and his comments have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and other nationally recognized media outlets.
Danielle Quist
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Counsel
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.
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.
Becky Rasdall Vargas
Senior Vice President, Trade and Workforce Policy
Becky Rasdall Vargas
Becky Rasdall Vargas joined the International Dairy Foods Association in July 2020 as Vice President, Trade Policy and International Affairs where she is responsible for advocacy strategy on international trade and supply chain policy issues impacting the global competitiveness of U.S. dairy products. Becky also currently leads IDFA’s Women in Dairy initiative.
Before she joined IDFA, Becky served as a Senior Advisor with the Foreign Agricultural Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a Deputy Director for Agricultural Affairs in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Throughout her government career, she obtained extensive experience in negotiating technical resolutions to trade barriers for U.S. dairy exports, as well as representing the United States in trade agreement negotiations, including the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), China Phase One Agreement, and other negotiations with the European Commission and India.
Prior to joining the U.S. government, Becky managed regulatory compliance for ConAgra Foods’ export business and also worked for the International Food Information Council and former Congressman Dave Camp (MI-04). Becky holds a Master of the Arts in International Relations from the University of Warwick in England, and a Bachelor of the Arts in International Political Science from Hope College in Michigan, and speaks German and Spanish.
Michael Rinaldi
Vice President, Sustainable Business Development, Rabobank
Michael Rinaldi
Dennis Rodenbaugh
President and CEO, Dairy Farmers of America
Dennis Rodenbaugh
Dennis Rodenbaugh is the president and CEO of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a $24 billion global food and beverage manufacturing company. DFA is the second-largest dairy foods company in the world, with 19,000 employees and over 80 U.S.-based manufacturing plants. Rodenbaugh has been with DFA since 2007 and became CEO in 2022. He advocates for the 10,000 dairy farm families represented by DFA. He also serves in various industry roles, including vice chair of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and on the executive board of directors for the National Milk Producers Federation.
Charlotte Rutherford
Global Head of Sustainability, Fonterra Co-operative Group
Charlotte Rutherford
Charlotte Rutherford is a global expert in sustainable pastoral dairy farming. She has spent 20 years with Fonterra supporting and driving how the Co-operative tackles sustainability opportunities and challenges. Her time at Fonterra has seen her leading Fonterra’s 10,000 dairy farming families to be world leading in their sustainability practices, reporting and ambitions through unique change management initiatives including the Co-operative Difference. Charlotte has led the teams responsible for water, climate, research and development, animal welfare and food safety for New Zealand’s largest dairy processor.
Charlotte is looked to for advice and input on numerous New Zealand Government advisory panels including the recent Governance Board of the world first initiative to price and reduce on-farm biological emissions.
Charlotte and her family are based in the Waikato which is widely regarded as the heart of New Zealand dairy farming.
Mathew Rutz
Contract Manufacturing Manager, Tetra Pak
Mathew Rutz
Paul Ryan
Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (2015-2019)
Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan was the 54th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. In office from October 2015 to January 2019, he was the youngest speaker in nearly 150 years. During his tenure, Ryan spearheaded efforts to reform our nation’s tax code for the first time in a generation, rebuild our national defense, expand domestic energy production, combat the opioid epidemic, reform our criminal justice system, and promote economic opportunity.
Prior to becoming Speaker, he was chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. As chairman Ryan worked to protect health care choices, advance free trade, and strengthen the economy. Before that, he served as chairman of the House Budget Committee, where he outlined revolutionary blueprints to balance the federal budget and pay off the national debt. In 2012, Ryan was selected to serve as Governor Mitt Romney’s Vice-Presidential nominee. First elected to Congress in 1998 at age 28, Ryan represented the people of Wisconsin’s First Congressional District for two decades.
In 2019, Ryan launched the American Idea Foundation, a non-partisan, not for profit organization that expands economic opportunity by partnering with local organizations and academics to advance evidence-based public policies. In 2020, Ryan was named as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Executive Network Partnering Corporation and in 2021, he was named as a partner at Solamere Capital.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Fox Corporation, of SHINE Medical Technologies, LLC, and of UniversalCIS. Ryan also serves on the Advisory Board of Robert Bosch GmbH and is a senior advisor with Teneo. He is also the author of the book The Way Forward: Renewing the American Idea.
Ryan is a Professor of the Practice at the University of Notre Dame and a visiting fellow in the practice of public policy at the American Enterprise Institute. Ryan serves on the Board of Trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute and on the Board of Directors for the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Ryan and his wife Janna have three children: Liza, Charlie, and Sam. He holds a degree in economics and political science from Miami University in Ohio and was also awarded an honorary doctorate by the University.
Ryan Schaap
Chief Information Officer | Wells Enterprises
Ryan Schaap
Ryan Schaap joined Wells Enterprises in March 2015 as the Chief Information Officer, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in technology, cybersecurity, and merger and acquisition integrations.
Ryan is a member of the executive leadership team at Wells and heads all of the technology organization including infrastructure, applications and cybersecurity. He also directs the Wells Shared Services team which includes many of the financial processing functions and the Robotic Process Automation group. Ryan also serves as a business leader that helps drive the company’s efforts related to eCommerce and acquisition integrations.
Prior to Wells, Ryan spent the majority of his career working in the energy industry. He worked for MidAmerican Energy and Berkshire Hathaway Energy for more than 18 years and served as their VP-IT.
Ryan currently serves on several community boards, including membership on the Board of Directors for the Technology Association of Iowa where he is a past Board Chair. Ryan is also the Deputy member representative for Wells Enterprises on the Iowa Business Council and serves on advisory boards for several other technology services organizations. Ryan received his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Management Information Systems from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Scott Sexton
CEO, Dairy.com by Ever.Ag
Scott Sexton
Scott Sexton is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dairy.com, the dairy industry's leading Software-as-a-Service provider of supply chain solutions. Sexton has served in this capacity since the company was founded. He is responsible for setting the strategic direction of Dairy.com and the company’s industry-specific solutions. Sexton directs the Dairy.com executive management team, chairs the Dairy.com board, and serves on various dairy industry boards and committees.
Sexton’s experience in the food industry spans 25 years. He co-founded INC2inc—a food and beverage industry e-market and supply chain solution—which he merged with Dairy.com in December 2000. Prior to the formation of INC2inc, Sexton owned and operated Bakery Associates, a supplier of ingredients and packaging to major food manufacturers.\
Sexton is a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO). In 2018, The Dallas Business Journal named Sexton as one of the top technology leaders in the city. He and Meridith, his wife of eighteen years, live in Dallas with their three daughters.
Sexton holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baylor University, where he played Division I basketball.
Robin Sharma
Leadership Expert & Best-Selling Author
Robin Sharma
Robin Sharma is the globally celebrated author of 16 international bestselling books on leadership including The Leader Who Had No Title, the phenomenal #1 blockbuster that is inspiring a movement around the idea that “Now, anyone - in any organization - can show Leadership." And “The organization that grows leaders at every level of the firm faster than their industry peers becomes undefeatable.”
Sharma’s work has been published in over 75 countries and in nearly 90 languages, making him one of the most widely read authors in the world. He shot to fame with The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, which has topped international bestseller lists and sold over 5,000,000 copies.
Robin is the founder of Sharma Leadership International Inc., a widely respected training firm with only one focus: helping people in organizations Lead Without a Title. Clients include many of the FORTUNE 500 including Microsoft, GE, NIKE, FedEx, HP, PwC and IBM. Organizations such as NASA, IMD Business School, Yale University and The Young President's Organization are also SLI clients. Robin is a former litigation lawyer who holds two law degrees including a Masters of Law (Dalhousie Law School).
Success Data on Robin Sharma
- In an independent survey of over 22,000 business people, Robin was ranked in The Top 5 of the world's leadership experts along with Jack Welch, Jim Collins and John Maxwell. (Source: leadershipgurus.net)
- Robin's books on Leadership and elite performance in business have sold over 10,000,000 copies in 75+ Countries.
- Ranked #5 on Global Gurus’ World’s Top 30 Leadership Professionals for 2016 (source: globalgurus.org)
- Speaking.com voted Robin one of The Top 5 Leadership Speakers in the world.
- Robin's runaway bestseller The Leader Who Had No Title was the #1 Business book on amazon.com Robin's fans + endorsers include Nobel Prize winner Desmond Tutu, rock star Jon Bon Jovi, a member of The British Royal family and heads of state from around the world.
Robin's Mission Statement
“To help people and organizations around the world Lead Without a Title.”
Patti Smith
CEO, DairyAmerica
Patti Smith
Patti Smith is a business leader with 30 years of progressive leadership experience in the food ingredient and dairy industries. In June 2020, she became the CEO of DairyAmerica. Prior to DairyAmerica, she was CEO of Valley Milk, LLC, as well as, having held several executive level positions within global organizations including Fonterra and Roquette America.
As a business leader, she is active in industry and national organizations. In addition to industry organizations, Patti is an active member in local organizations within California’s Central Valley. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Food Technology from Iowa State University. Patti has been married for 33 years, has one daughter, and two grandchildren. She loves spending time outdoors and most of all, spending time with the grandkids.
Paul Snyder
Executive Vice President of Stewardship, Tillamook County Creamery Association
Paul Snyder
Patricia Stroup
Former Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, Nestle S.A. and Chief Executive Officer, Nestrade S.A.
Patricia Stroup
Patty Stroup is the former 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.
Kate Toews
Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company
Kate Toews
Kate has 20 years of food-industry experience, including almost ten as an executive in global companies and venture-backed start-ups. She is a leader in McKinsey’s alternative protein and fermentation work globally, serving clients on innovative food ingredients and consumer products.
Prior to McKinsey, Kate was the president of beverages at a global food-ingredients company, as well as the CEO and head of operations at two different venture-backed food start-ups. Throughout her executive tenure, she led company-building activities driven by technology innovation, new commercial models, and operational improvement.
Since joining McKinsey, she has led strategy development in R&D and innovation and helped clients scale-up through long-term partnerships by bringing new products to market. She is passionate about the intersection of sustainability, nutrition, and taste.
Lauren Twigge
Founder, Lauren Twigge Nutrition LLC
Lauren Twigge
Lauren Twigge is a Dallas based registered and licensed Dietitian with a masters degree in Clinical Nutrition and a bachelors degree in Animal Science. Now, Lauren works as social media educator, speaker, recipe developer, blogger, and brand ambassador. Lauren was raised on a dairy in central California where her family continues to farm today which gives her a unique perspective on where our food comes from. She is an outspoken supporter of the agricultural industry and her passion is to work at the crux of agriculture and human nutrition to fight misinformation and give consumers back their food confidence. You can find her on instagram under the handle @nutrition.at.its.roots where she educates on a variety of health topics including the truth about the agricultural industry, where our food comes, and the role that various agricultural products, like milk, can play in a healthy diet!
Dan Zagzebski
President & CEO | Great Lakes Cheese
Dan Zagzebski
Dan Zagzebski is the President and CEO of Great Lakes Cheese, a natural and processed cheese manufacturer and packager. Dan has been with Great Lakes Cheese for 15 years, serving as President and CEO since 2015. He is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience. His focus on infrastructure and innovation has enabled the company to be a leader in cheese packaging and manufacturing in the United States.
Prior to his current role as President and CEO, Dan held various positions of increasing responsibility, including Chief Operations Officer and Vice President of Sales and Product Development. Dan joined the company when Great Lakes Cheese purchased Lemke Cheese and Packaging in Wausau, Wisconsin, where he was co-owner and CEO.
He earned an MBA from University of Notre Dame and a BS in Business Administration from University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. Dan enjoys traveling, sports, and spending time in nature. He and his wife, Dana, have three children and two beloved grandchildren.
Agenda
| January 22, 2023 | Event | Speaker | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:45am |
Morning Golf Tournament
Sponsored By:
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The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club | |
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| 9:00am |
5K Fun Run
|
Valencia Terrace | |
| 1:00pm |
Afternoon Golf Tournament
|
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club | |
| 2:00pm - 4:00pm |
IDFA Executive Council Meeting (invitation only)
|
Mediterranean Ballroom 1 & 2 | |
| 5:00pm - 5:45pm |
Chairman's Reception (invitation only)
Sponsored By:
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Citrus Garden | |
| 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
Chairman’s Lecture: Conversation with Paul Ryan – Policy Insights Gleaned from Two Decades in Congress
Sponsored By:
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Coquina Ballroom | |
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Speaker Ryan will get into the weeds on big policy ideas and how Congress works, sharing his experiences as a Congressional leader during one of the most turbulent times in our political history. As a leader more interested in substance than sniping, Speaker Ryan addresses the convergence of policy and politics today, and how it has a real impact in people’s lives. The conversation will also touch upon what’s happening on Capitol Hill and where our country is headed, as well as how our relationships with allies and adversaries may evolve.
Speaker: Paul Ryan, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (2015-2019)
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| 7:00pm - 8:30pm |
Welcome Reception
Sponsored By:
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Valencia Terrace | |
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| January 23, 2023 | Event | Speaker | Location |
| 7:30am - 8:30am |
Trade Meet-N-Greet Coffee with Embassy Representatives (invitation only)
|
Mediterranean Ballroom 6 | |
| 8:30am - 9:30am |
President’s Breakfast: Inspiring a New Vision for Dairy
Sponsored By:
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Coquina Ballroom | |
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How do we work together to inspire a new vision for dairy—to seize opportunities, navigate challenges, and redefine the future of a transformed dairy industry? IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes assesses the dairy foods and consumer landscape over the next decade and lays out a plan of advocacy, education, and network-building that will help us shape the dairy industry and set a new standard within food and business.
The dairy industry, from producer to processor, is not unlike other evolving industries, and has experienced significant phases of consolidation and realignment due to market, consumer, and external forces. Recent bankruptcies and acquisitions, as well as the dairy supply chain disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, are indicative of the tenuous nature of the industry’s existing infrastructure. What will the next phase of evolution in the dairy industry look like and what do we need to do now to inspire a new vision for dairy. Speaker: Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO, International Dairy Foods Association
|
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| 9:30am - 9:45am |
Networking Break
Sponsored By:
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| 9:45am - 10:45am |
Deep Dive Session - Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Policy Outlook
Sponsored By:
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Mediterranean Ballroom 4 | |
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The current Farm Bill is set to expire in September 2023. As the new Congress and the Biden Administration debate what policies and programs should be included in the next Farm Bill, our expert panelists will provide insider perspectives on how food, agriculture and nutrition policy issues are likely to be addressed in a challenging political environment, and what this means for the dairy industry.
Moderator: J. David Carlin, Senior Vice President, Legislative Affairs and Economic Policy, International Dairy Foods Association
Speakers: Honorable Dan Glickman, Senior Fellow, Bipartisan Policy Center & Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Former United States Representative
Honorable Collin Peterson, Former United States Representative and Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture
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| 9:45am - 10:45am |
Deep Dive Session – Inspiring the Next Normal for the World of Work
Sponsored By:
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Mediterranean Ballroom 5 | |
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What does the new normal look like in dairy industry organizations? Join us for an interactive and thought-provoking discussion sharing best practices and pitfalls from both inside and outside the dairy industry. Industry leaders will share how they are moving dairy forward towards an inspired new normal.
Moderator: Mia Mulrennan, Chief of People Officer, International Dairy Foods Association
Speakers: Shawn Athay, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, California Dairies, Inc.
Cindy Bauman, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, TC Packaging Sector, TC Transcontinental Packaging, a division of TC Transcontinental Inc.
Dave Coble, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Schreiber Foods, Inc.
DeeAnne Marlow, Vice President, Human Resources, Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.
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| 10:45am - 11:00am |
Networking Break
Sponsored By:
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| 11:00am - 12:00pm |
Deep Dive Session – Dairy + Tech: What’s Working Today, What’s Not and What Will Work Tomorrow
Sponsored By:
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Mediterranean Ballroom 4 | |
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As technology continues to grow and evolve, our dairy industry is faced with the decision to adapt & adopt – or risk missing out on potential opportunity. However, not all technology is created equal and evaluating these technologies can be costly and time consuming. Our panel will highlight some new innovations in dairy & agriculture, and lend insight into what they see as the future could look like for dairy and your business.
Moderator: Scott Sexton, CEO, Dairy.com by Ever.Ag
Speakers: Janette Barnard, Ruminants Lead, Merck Animal Health Ventures & Founder, Prime Future
Scott Graham, Chief Operating Officer, Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.
Ron Osborne, Head of Technology, Agriculture, Amazon Web Services
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| 11:00am - 12:00pm |
Deep Dive – Dairy Market Outlook
Sponsored By:
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Mediterranean Ballroom 5 | |
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Join some of the dairy industry’s leading market experts to hear their expectations for the dairy markets in 2023. Will price volatility continue? How will global milk supply respond to market conditions? How will climate change policies influence milk supply around the world? The panelists will provide their perspectives on the expected market dynamics for 2023 which will help dairy business leaders better position their businesses to meet the ever-changing demands of the global marketplace. Moderator: Mike Brown, Director of Dairy Supply Chain, The Kroger Co.Speakers: Katie Burgess, Director, Risk Management, Ever.Ag
Sara Dorland, Managing Partner, Ceres Dairy Risk Management Mary Ledman, Global Strategist – Dairy, Rabobank, Rabo Research Food & Agribusiness/br>
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| 12:15pm - 2:00pm |
Lunch Session: Everyday Leadership to Prosper in a New World
Sponsored By:
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Coquina Ballroom | |
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Leadership pathblazer Robin Sharma shares his powerful insights and actionable methods to help leaders rise above the ordinary while innovating at excellence in these times of deep change. You will discover: how the best performers in the world accelerate peak productivity in the face of digital distraction; daily habits and tactics to use change to increase creativity and mastery at work; methods that the most successful leaders in the world deploy to stay positive and focused amid growing uncertainty; and original insights and proven strategies to express the greatest promise and potential of your people. Speaker: Robin Sharma, Leadership Expert & Best-Selling Author
|
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| 2:00pm - 3:00pm |
General Session: Consumer Consumption Trends and Why it Matters to Dairy
Sponsored By:
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Coquina Ballroom | |
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Understanding consumer trends and behaviors, both within and outside the category, is imperative in generating consumer demand for dairy. Eating Patterns in America: an annual report from the NPD Group has long been the definitive source for information on eating and drinking habits in the United States. Now in its 36th year, the work provides in-depth insights into actual consumption behavior – and importantly, how that behavior is changing over time. This session will feature David Portalatin, NPD’s national analyst on all aspects of food and beverage consumption. As the United States emerges from pandemic-related restrictions, David will share is valuable perspective on the long term arc of consumption patterns: trends prior to COVID-19’s onset, how eating habits have been disrupted, where it is all headed and what we can take-away as the dairy industry.
Speaker: David Portalatin, Senior Vice President, Industry Advisor, Food and Foodservice, The NPD Group
|
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| 3:00pm - 4:00pm |
International Trade Committee Meeting (invitation only)
|
Mediterranean Ballroom 1 & 2 | |
| 3:00pm - 4:00pm |
People and Purpose in Dairy – Meaningfulness in Work as Inspiration (invitation only)
|
Mediterranean Ballroom 6 | |
| 3:15pm - 4:00pm |
Conference Partner Session – Design & Innovation for the Next Generation of Dairy Packaging
Sponsored By:
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Mediterranean Ballroom 4 | |
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Amcor innovates. Technical teams across the flexible and rigid businesses provide relevant innovation to enhance sustainability and packaging design that connects and engages customers and consumers. We understand the role of packaging is to protect, preserve, and promote, and to keep up with the rapidly changing Dairy landscape a multi-faceted approach to innovation is critical to your success. Technology advancements are opening new paths for brands beyond the traditional grocery channels, including e-commerce and convenience stores, and retailers, foodservice purveyors, and consumers are demanding fresh packaging that is more sustainable, smarter, and designed with the full product life cycle in mind. Join the Amcor teams to learn more about our approach to innovation, with key focus on sustainability, and packaging design.Speakers: Daniel Janichek, Director R&D, Dairy, Amcor Flexibles North America Terry Patcheak, VP, R&D, Sustainability & PM Excellence, Amcor Rigid Packaging
|
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| 3:15pm - 4:00pm |
Conference Partner Session – Rethinking Shelf-Stable: New Approaches to Innovating in Dairy
Sponsored By:
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Mediterranean Ballroom 5 | |
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Amid supply chain uncertainty, rising costs and new demands for sustainability, aseptic milk production has never been more relevant in the U.S. than it is today. But what does it really take to transition from traditional pasteurization to UHT? What are the new use cases for shelf-stable dairy—and will consumers accept them? Join us for an interactive session where we’ll break down the basics of aseptic production, look at recent advances in aseptic technology, delve into the operational benefits of UHT processing, and debunk some myths about shelf-stable dairy. Speakers: Todd Phillips, Processing Manager, Tetra Pak Mathew Rutz, Contract Manufacturing Manager, Tetra Pak
|
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| 4:00pm - 4:30pm |
Press Briefing
|
Mediterranean Ballroom 8 | |
| 4:00pm - 5:00pm |
Women in Dairy Reception (invitation only)
Sponsored By:
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Citrus Garden | |
|
.
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| 4:15pm - 5:15pm |
State Association Executive Meeting (invitation only)
|
Mediterranean Ballroom 7 | |
| 5:30pm - 6:30pm |
PAC Reception (invitation only)
|
PRIMO Terrace | |
| January 24, 2023 | Event | Speaker | Location |
| 8:30am - 9:30am |
Breakfast with U.S. Chamber of Commerce Chief Economist
Sponsored By:
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Coquina Ballroom | |
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Hear from U.S. Chamber of Commerce Chief Economist what might lie ahead for the economy and how businesses can stay on the path to recovery. Curtis Dubay, chief economist in the Economic Policy Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, tracks the condition of the economy, analyzes the impact of public policy on economic growth, and runs the Chamber’s Chief Economists Committee. Speaker: Curtis Dubay, Chief Economist, U.S Chamber of Commerce
|
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| 9:30am - 9:45am |
Networking Break
Sponsored By:
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| 9:45am - 10:45am |
Deep Dive – Food as Medicine: Dairy Rx
Sponsored By:
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Mediterranean Ballroom 4 | |
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Dietitians, retailers and health practitioners are already moving forward with “food as medicine”, not for specific diseases but as an initiative to use nutritious food as a “treatment” for improved general health and wellness. What types of foods and health conditions are part of these “prescriptions”? What can the dairy industry do to ensure that dairy products are included?
Moderator: Yin Woon Rani, CEO, Milk Processor Education Program Speakers: Stephanie K. Goodwin, PhD, MPH, RD, Senior Manager, Government & Industry Affairs, Danone North America Taylor Newman, PhD, RDN, Director of Nutrition, The Kroger Co. Lauren Twigge, Founder, Lauren Twigge Nutrition LLC
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| 9:45am - 10:45am |
Deep Dive Session – What’s the Plan? A Cybersecurity Event Simulation
Sponsored By:
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Mediterranean Ballroom 5 | |
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Join us for a real-time, video-based cyber crisis war game that allows participants to engage in responding to a realistic cyber incident that impacts both information technology and operational (OT) technology assets. This session, led by one of McKinsey’s Cyber Practice leaders, brings together the theory behind crisis response with a real-life scenario representative of the type of technology used by IDFA members. Participants will play various roles and discuss a set of questions and response options as part of this “water through the pipes” exercise. At the completion of the exercise, participants will have a better understanding of the dynamic nature of cyber crises and what actions their organization could take if impacted.
Speakers: Justin Greis, Partner, McKinsey and Company Charlie Lewis, Partner, McKinsey and Company Ryan Schaap, hief Information Officer, Wells Enterprises Nick Kosturos, Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company Rob Nolan, Expert Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company
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| 10:45am - 11:00am |
Networking Break
Sponsored By:
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| 11:00am - 12:00pm |
Deep Dive Session – Deliberate Calm: How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World
|
Mediterranean Ballroom 4 | |
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As the speed of change in our increasingly complex world accelerates daily, leaders are tasked with performing outside of their familiar zones both in their personal and professional lives. This requires us to adapt. Yet, the same conditions that make adapting so important can also trigger fear, leading us to resist change and default to reactive behavior. With Deliberate Calm, anyone can lead and learn with awareness and choice to realize their full potential, even in times of uncertainty, complexity, and change.
Speakers: Aaron De Smet, Senior Partner, McKinsey and Company
Elizabeth Mygatt, Partner, McKinsey and Company
|
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| 11:00am - 12:00pm |
Deep Dive – How Global ESG Trends Impact Leadership Decisions
Sponsored By:
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Mediterranean Ballroom 5 | |
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Among the food and beverage industry, U.S. dairy is carving out a position as a trailblazer thanks to the stewardship of clear-eyed leaders who have set bold targets. But shifting ESG policies and demands are making it harder to be bold. What does it take to lead on ESG in a global economy governed by shifting rules? How does ESG impact global competitiveness? In this session, hear directly from global leaders as they compare notes on how to lead amid a patchwork of ESG standards, policies, and commitments. Moderator: Danielle Quist, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Counsel, International Dairy Foods Association Speakers: Bernie Baskin, Director for ESG Strategy and Engagement, Walmart Inc. Michael Rinaldi, Vice President, Sustainable Business Development, RabobankCharlotte Rutherford, Global Head of Sustainability, Fonterra Co-operative GroupPaul Snyder, Executive Vice President of Stewardship, Tillamook County Creamery Association
|
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| 12:15pm - 2:00pm |
Lunch Session: The Silent Language of Leaders
Sponsored By:
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Coquina Ballroom | |
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Approximately 80 percent of communication is expressed nonverbally. Learning to know how to unlock and tap the secrets of people's nonverbal cues will always have an advantage in any situation. Armed with this powerful information, solution providers at any stage of their career will be able to sit in a business meeting and know what others—colleagues, peers, senior leaders and bosses—are really thinking and feeling. In this session, attendees will gain an understanding of the art and science behind the silent language of leaders so they will know the perfect time to close a deal or negotiation. Attendees will also gain an understanding of how their body language is influencing others and how it may impact their successes, accomplishments, and results. Mastering the silent language of leaders will result in power, presence and persuasion for any solution provider.
Speaker: Linda Clemons, Nonverbal Communications Expert
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| 2:00pm - 3:00pm |
General Session: Supply Chain Policy Outlook with White House Port Envoy General Lyons
Sponsored By:
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Coquina Ballroom | |
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In response to the rise of pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, in mid-2021, the White House formed a Supply Chain Task Force, currently led by Port and Supply Chain Envoy General Stephen Lyons. General Lyons’ role at the epicenter of the Administration’s thinking on supply chain concerns and solutions, combined with his background as commander of U.S. Transportation Command in the U.S. Department of Defense, brings a unique perspective to the supply chain policy outlook that will inspire today’s dairy leaders towards a more resilient supply chain for the future. Moderator: Becky Rasdall, Vice President, Trade Policy and International Affairs, International Dairy Foods Association Speaker: Retired General Stephen Lyons, Former Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, Port and Supply Chain Envoy for the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force
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| 3:15pm - 4:45pm |
NextGen Leadership Roundtable (invitation only)
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Mediterranean Ballroom 6 | |
| 3:30pm - 4:30pm |
Economic Policy Committee Meeting (invitation only)
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Mediterranean Ballroom 1 & 2 | |
| 5:30pm - 7:00pm |
Cocktails and Conversation
Sponsored By:
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Mediterranean Porte Cochere | |
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| January 25, 2023 | Event | Speaker | Location |
| 8:30am - 9:30am |
Breakfast Session: Where Is Your Company on the ESG Spectrum?
Sponsored By:
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Coquina Ballroom | |
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IDFA in partnership with McKinsey and Company surveyed more than 100 IDFA members about their ESG journey. Survey says: 7 in 10 IDFA members rate sustainability as one of their company’s top 3 business objectives. Join us as McKinsey and Company share highlights from the IDFA ESG Survey, offer their perspective on U.S. dairy’s planning and progress, and discuss the opportunities and challenges ahead for our industry. Moderator: Matt Herrick, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Communications, International Dairy Foods Association Speakers: Christina Adams, Partner, McKinsey & Company Ludovic Meilhac, Partner, McKinsey & Company Kate Toews, Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company
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| 9:30am - 10:30am |
Closing Session: Dairy Dialogues
Sponsored By:
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Coquina Ballroom | |
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A distinguished panel of dairy leaders will provide their insights and perspectives on what they see as the most pressing challenges and most exciting opportunities for the dairy industry. Following several sessions that will encourage leaders to upend the status quo and the evolution of dairy, this panel will provide an inspired new vision for the future of dairy. Moderator: Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO, International Dairy Foods Association Speakers: Emma Aer, CEO & President, Franklin Foods Inc. Dennis J. Rodenbaugh, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. Patti Smith, CEO, DairyAmerica, Inc. Patricia D. Stroup, Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, Nestle S.A./Chief Executive Officer, Nestrade S.A., Nestle S.A. Dan Zagzebski, President & CEO, Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc.
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Morning Golf Tournament
Chairman’s Lecture: Conversation with Paul Ryan – Policy Insights Gleaned from Two Decades in Congress
Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan was the 54th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. In office from October 2015 to January 2019, he was the youngest speaker in nearly 150 years. During his tenure, Ryan spearheaded efforts to reform our nation’s tax code for the first time in a generation, rebuild our national defense, expand domestic energy production, combat the opioid epidemic, reform our criminal justice system, and promote economic opportunity.
Prior to becoming Speaker, he was chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. As chairman Ryan worked to protect health care choices, advance free trade, and strengthen the economy. Before that, he served as chairman of the House Budget Committee, where he outlined revolutionary blueprints to balance the federal budget and pay off the national debt. In 2012, Ryan was selected to serve as Governor Mitt Romney’s Vice-Presidential nominee. First elected to Congress in 1998 at age 28, Ryan represented the people of Wisconsin’s First Congressional District for two decades.
In 2019, Ryan launched the American Idea Foundation, a non-partisan, not for profit organization that expands economic opportunity by partnering with local organizations and academics to advance evidence-based public policies. In 2020, Ryan was named as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Executive Network Partnering Corporation and in 2021, he was named as a partner at Solamere Capital.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Fox Corporation, of SHINE Medical Technologies, LLC, and of UniversalCIS. Ryan also serves on the Advisory Board of Robert Bosch GmbH and is a senior advisor with Teneo. He is also the author of the book The Way Forward: Renewing the American Idea.
Ryan is a Professor of the Practice at the University of Notre Dame and a visiting fellow in the practice of public policy at the American Enterprise Institute. Ryan serves on the Board of Trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute and on the Board of Directors for the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Ryan and his wife Janna have three children: Liza, Charlie, and Sam. He holds a degree in economics and political science from Miami University in Ohio and was also awarded an honorary doctorate by the University.
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.
Welcome Reception
President’s Breakfast: Inspiring a New Vision for Dairy
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.
Deep Dive Session - Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Policy Outlook
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.
Honorable Dan Glickman
Dan Glickman is a BPC senior fellow and co-chairs its Commission on Political Reform, Democracy Project, Prevention Initiative, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Task Force. He served as the secretary of agriculture from March 1995 until January 2001. Under his leadership, the Department of Agriculture administered farm and conservation programs, modernized food-safety regulations, forged international trade agreements to expand U.S. markets, and improved its commitment to fairness and equality in civil rights.
Glickman is currently the executive director of the Aspen Institute Congressional Program, a nongovernmental, nonpartisan educational program for members of the United States Congress. Previously, he was chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA), which serves as the voice and advocate of the U.S. motion picture, home video, and television industries. Prior to joining the MPAA, Glickman was the director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He also served as a partner and senior advisor to the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Washington, D.C.
Prior to becoming the secretary of agriculture, Glickman represented the 4th Congressional District of Kansas for 18 years in the House of Representatives. During that time, he was a member of the House Agriculture Committee, including six years as chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over federal farm policy issues. He was also an active member of the House Judiciary Committee, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and was a leading congressional expert on general aviation policy.
Honorable Collin Peterson
Collin Clark Peterson is an American accountant and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Minnesota's 7th congressional district from 1991 to 2021. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) he was chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture from 2019 to 2021 and previously holding the office from 2007 to 2011; he had been ranking member from 2011 to 2019 and 2005 to 2007. Peterson was the most senior U.S. Representative from Minnesota and the dean of Minnesota's congressional delegation.
Deep Dive Session – Inspiring the Next Normal for the World of Work
Mia Mulrennan
Dr. Mia Mulrennan has worked as an organizational psychologist and talent/HR executive and consultant in a variety of roles and settings, including a high-profile list of Fortune 500 companies.
At the start of her career, she worked in executive outplacement consulting in her hometown of New York City, Dr. Mulrennan moved to the Twin Cities where she began her career in HR directly, working for Marriott Corporation and in the luxury hotel industry.
She then took a leave of absence to complete her doctorate in applied business psychology, and after completing her degree, worked as a corporate consultant with PDI/Korn Ferry and Right Management for many years - helping organizations optimize their brand, company culture, and executive-level strategies. She worked ongoingly with several of IDFA’s members including Cargill, Kemps, Schwan’s, General Mills, Land O’Lakes, 3M, and Dairy Queen.
She began her executive career in 2013 as Chief HR Officer for Sun Country Airlines and then was CHRO for Star Restaurant Group before coming to IDFA.
Shawn Athay
Shawn Athay is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at California Dairies, Inc. (CDI), based in Visalia, California. He has over 30 years of Human Resources experience … 20 of which have been in the Dairy Industry. Prior to joining CDI in October of 2020, Shawn was the Vice President of Human Resources for Agropur’s US Operations, from 2015-2020, and Glanbia’s Vice President of Human Resources for its US Cheese & Ingredients Operations, from 2005-2016. In addition, he spent his first two dairy industry years in the J.R. Simplot Company’s Idaho-based Dairy Division from 1995-1997. Each of these businesses operates with 1,000–2,500 employees in the manufacturing/processing space. Mr. Athay has worked throughout his career to streamline processes and ensure efficient operations of the company’s human resources departments and processes, while being accountable and responsible for talent strategy, total rewards programs, payroll, training and career development, performance management programs, employee & labor relations, and managing all human resources personnel. Additionally, Mr. Athay takes a leadership role in developing a culture that enables employees to grow and succeed within the organization via a Leadership Pipeline strategy.
Shawn currently resides in Visalia, CA, and represents CDI on the Boards of Directors of Affinity and BevCap, its workers compensation and health insurance captive benefit platforms. He and his wife love to travel and spend as much time as possible visiting their three children and 9 grandchildren in Idaho and New York. Mr. Athay is a graduate of Boise State University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations Management, and he holds both the SPHR and SCP Human Resource professional credentials.
Cynthia Bauman
Dave Coble
Dave Coble is Senior Vice President of Human Resource Systems and Strategy. Dave earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ohio University and his MBA in Labor Relations and Human Resource Management from Ohio State University. He also served in the Air National Guard.
He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management. In the community, Dave is involved with CASA of Brown County, serving as a member of the corporate board and advisory council. Dave and his wife, Chris, live in the Green Bay area in Wisconsin. They have three children. Away from work, Dave enjoys biking, running, skiing (downhill and cross country), golfing, and reading military books and biographies.
DeeAnne Marlow
DeeAnne Marlow is the Vice President of Human Resources for Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. DeeAnne joined the Company in 2020. Her passion for people and extensive human resources expertise helps Hilmar cultivate a dynamic company culture that fosters teamwork, integrity, collaboration and trust.
Marlow is a progressive, strategic leader with a superior track record of building, optimizing and overseeing top-performing human resources business units, departments and teams. Her expertise includes human resource business strategies, talent engagement and retention. Her previous roles include Chief Human Resource Officer for multi-national companies. She has transformed businesses in the chemical industry, industrial packaging, engine manufacturing, tool manufacturing and more.
Marlow serves on the International Dairy Foods Association HR Leaders in Dairy Committee.
Marlow is a Senior Professional in Human Resources® with a Masters in Business Administration from University of South Dakota and Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College.
DeeAnne and her husband have two grown children and reside in Turlock, California.
Networking Break
Deep Dive Session – Dairy + Tech: What’s Working Today, What’s Not and What Will Work Tomorrow
Scott Sexton
Scott Sexton is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dairy.com, the dairy industry's leading Software-as-a-Service provider of supply chain solutions. Sexton has served in this capacity since the company was founded. He is responsible for setting the strategic direction of Dairy.com and the company’s industry-specific solutions. Sexton directs the Dairy.com executive management team, chairs the Dairy.com board, and serves on various dairy industry boards and committees.
Sexton’s experience in the food industry spans 25 years. He co-founded INC2inc—a food and beverage industry e-market and supply chain solution—which he merged with Dairy.com in December 2000. Prior to the formation of INC2inc, Sexton owned and operated Bakery Associates, a supplier of ingredients and packaging to major food manufacturers.\
Sexton is a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO). In 2018, The Dallas Business Journal named Sexton as one of the top technology leaders in the city. He and Meridith, his wife of eighteen years, live in Dallas with their three daughters.
Sexton holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baylor University, where he played Division I basketball.
Janette Barnard
Janette Barnard is with the Merck Animal Health Ventures team, that identifies and invests in early stage technology companies that are solving problems for livestock producers. She writes Prime Future, a weekly newsletter for innovators in livestock, meat & dairy. Her career spans across Cargill, McDonald’s Global Supply Chain, Elanco, and multiple AgTech startups.
Scott Graham
Graham leads Hilmar's end-to-end supply chain operations and supporting functions as Chief Operating Officer. He has 18 years of experience in dairy across a range of functions and geographies, starting with Fonterra Cooperative (NZ), Dean Foods (US) and now Hilmar Cheese Co. Before joining the dairy industry, Graham worked in management consultancy for McKinsey & Co, and business development in the international utility sector with Severn Trent PLC.
Graham has been involved in a variety of opportunities at the intersection of technology and business, including leading an internet enabled performance improvement business, sales & operations planning lead on the design team for Global Dairy Trade platform, and executive sponsor for the deployment of advanced planning/business analytics capability with a Sales & Operations Planning team. Graham served on the Dairy.com board on behalf of Dean Foods from 2017-2019.
Ron Osborne
Ron Osborne is the Head of Technology for Agriculture at AWS WWSO division and has over 20 years of experience building technology and business solutions within agribusiness and financial services. Mr. Osborne has an extensive background and interest in agribusiness including telematics systems, IoT, edge processing, farm and field level risk management, remote sensing, and cloud native modernization. Prior to his role at AWS, Mr. Osborne was the Chief Technology Officer at Farmers Edge and helped that business develop scalable solutions for farms, OEM, seed and chemical manufacturers, ag-retail, and financial services in the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Russia, and Ukraine. Mr. Osborne has a Master of Science in Software Development from Maryville University of St. Louis, an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nebraska.
Deep Dive – Dairy Market Outlook
Mike Brown
Mike Brown was named Chief Economist for IDFA on Jan. 17, 2023. In that role, Brown leads economic and policy analysis and strategy development related to dairy policy and pricing.
He is a recognized expert on milk pricing policy and has worked for both farmer-owned cooperatives and proprietary businesses, all of which are current IDFA members. Before joining IDFA, Brown led the milk and dairy procurement team for The Kroger Co. as director of dairy supply chain. Prior to Kroger, Brown served as a dairy economist for well-known dairy brands and organizations including Glanbia, Darigold and National All-Jersey, Inc.
As director of dairy economics and policy for Glanbia, he was responsible for market and farm cost analysis, supported Glanbia’s producer risk management programs and company efforts on U.S. dairy and trade policy, along with other industry initiatives. Prior to Glanbia, he was director of membership services for Northwest Dairy Association. From 1993-2001, Brown was general manager of National All-Jersey, Inc, a dairy producer trade association, where he led efforts to expand multiple component pricing through private plant incentives and through federal milk marketing order reform. Brown was raised on small dairy farm in Western, N.Y. and earned his bachelor’s degree in dairy science from Virginia Tech.
Katie Burgess
Katie Burgess grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm and joined the Ever.Ag team in 2012. She serves as a Dairy Market Advising Director and works with clients across the dairy supply chain – including producers, cooperatives, processors, and end-users. As a trained economist and commodity broker, she keeps customers updated on dairy supply and demand fundamentals and helps them manage price volatility via hedging programs. She holds degrees in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin.
Sara Dorland
Sara Dorland, managing partner in the Ceres, specializes in providing risk management and financial consulting services to agriculture and food-based businesses with a particular focus on the dairy industry. Ms. Dorland has represented dairy producers, cooperatives, manufacturers and consumer products companies in risk management dealings nationwide. Ms. Dorland has also handled input cost management for dairy farmers and processors including hedging of natural gas, corn, alfalfa, soy oil and work with fuel and resin contracts.
Additionally, Ms. Dorland has worked with several firms providing agricultural accounting and financial analysis services. Projects include feasibility studies, milk shed evaluation and site selection process for several dairy processing facilities in the United States.
Ms. Dorland, through Ceres, is a member of American Dairy Products Institute, U.S. Dairy Export Council and National Milk Producers Federation.
Mary Ledman
Mary is a thought leader who has extensive knowledge of domestic and international dairy markets and policy and over thirty years of experience in production agriculture, food processing, government service, agricultural policy, dairy risk management, market information and dissemination, and milk and dairy product price forecasting.
Prior to Rabobank, Mary held positions at the USDA, Kraft Foods, and Stella. She later founded Keough Ledman Associates, an economic consulting firm serving the dairy industry since 1995.
Mary holds a Bachelor of Science in agricultural journalism and a Master of Science degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University. Early in her career, she was awarded a Fulbright-Hayes Scholarship to conduct comparative research on US and European dairy policies.
Lunch Session: Everyday Leadership to Prosper in a New World
Robin Sharma
Robin Sharma is the globally celebrated author of 16 international bestselling books on leadership including The Leader Who Had No Title, the phenomenal #1 blockbuster that is inspiring a movement around the idea that “Now, anyone - in any organization - can show Leadership." And “The organization that grows leaders at every level of the firm faster than their industry peers becomes undefeatable.”
Sharma’s work has been published in over 75 countries and in nearly 90 languages, making him one of the most widely read authors in the world. He shot to fame with The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, which has topped international bestseller lists and sold over 5,000,000 copies.
Robin is the founder of Sharma Leadership International Inc., a widely respected training firm with only one focus: helping people in organizations Lead Without a Title. Clients include many of the FORTUNE 500 including Microsoft, GE, NIKE, FedEx, HP, PwC and IBM. Organizations such as NASA, IMD Business School, Yale University and The Young President's Organization are also SLI clients. Robin is a former litigation lawyer who holds two law degrees including a Masters of Law (Dalhousie Law School).
Success Data on Robin Sharma
- In an independent survey of over 22,000 business people, Robin was ranked in The Top 5 of the world's leadership experts along with Jack Welch, Jim Collins and John Maxwell. (Source: leadershipgurus.net)
- Robin's books on Leadership and elite performance in business have sold over 10,000,000 copies in 75+ Countries.
- Ranked #5 on Global Gurus’ World’s Top 30 Leadership Professionals for 2016 (source: globalgurus.org)
- Speaking.com voted Robin one of The Top 5 Leadership Speakers in the world.
- Robin's runaway bestseller The Leader Who Had No Title was the #1 Business book on amazon.com Robin's fans + endorsers include Nobel Prize winner Desmond Tutu, rock star Jon Bon Jovi, a member of The British Royal family and heads of state from around the world.
Robin's Mission Statement
“To help people and organizations around the world Lead Without a Title.”
General Session: Consumer Consumption Trends and Why it Matters to Dairy
David Portalatin
David Portalatin is The NPD Group’s industry advisor for the food and foodservice industries and author of NPD’s annual “Eating Patterns in America,” which is a compilation of the food and foodservice research the company conducts over the year. In his role as senior vice president, industry advisor, David provides information, insights, and analysis on how U.S. consumers eat and drink, their attitudes and motivations, diet and nutrition, snacking, personal characteristics, and their usage of restaurants and other foodservice outlets. He works closely with food manufacturers and retailers and foodservice distributors, manufacturers, and operators in providing strategic business insights into current and future eating patterns in America and the state of the U.S. foodservice industry.
His diverse background and experience give him an in-depth understanding of consumer behavior and foodservice industry dynamics. Prior to his current role, he was NPD’s industry analyst in the convenience retailing industries, automotive aftermarket, and motor fuels. Portalatin held various positions in foodservice wholesale distribution and convenience retailing before joining NPD in 1999.
He is a frequent featured speaker at food and foodservice industry events, corporate conferences, and executive meetings. Portalatin also serves as a media source and his comments have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and other nationally recognized media outlets.
Conference Partner Session – Design & Innovation for the Next Generation of Dairy Packaging
Daniel Janichek
Terry Patcheak
Terry is responsible for the leadership and development of ARP’s R&D and advanced engineering teams as well as leading sustainability and innovation initiatives while advancing capabilities in material science, manufacturing machinery and process, computer-aided design, finite element analysis, product lifecycle management, and rapid tooling functionalities. Terry is a dynamic leader with a Research and Development career that spans nearly 20 years. He has a unique skillset capable of balancing business objectives, customer needs and company capabilities to deliver long term sustainable solutions. Under his leadership, his teams have qualified hundreds of products into the marketplace. Terry continues to lead ARP’s industry leading light weighting strategy and product development road map that helped generate breakthrough technologies in light weighting that demonstrate the packaging innovations and advancements ARP customers demand. Terry has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Conference Partner Session – Rethinking Shelf-Stable: New Approaches to Innovating in Dairy
Todd Phillips
Mathew Rutz
Women in Dairy Reception (invitation only)
Breakfast with U.S. Chamber of Commerce Chief Economist
Curtis Dubay
Curtis Dubay is the Chief Economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Prior to that he was Senior Economist at the American Bankers Association and Research Fellow in Tax and Economic policy at The Heritage Foundation. He has also worked at the accounting firm PwC and the Tax Foundation. Dubay has researched and published frequently on a wide range of tax and economic issues. He is frequently quoted by the press and has appeared regularly in the media, including on CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, MSNBC, CNN and C-SPAN. He has testified before Congress several times and was cited in newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and Politico. Dubay received his master's degree in economics from the University of Connecticut and his bachelor's degree from the University of Richmond. He resides in Washington, DC with his wife and three sons.
Networking Break
Deep Dive – Food as Medicine: Dairy Rx
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.
Taylor Newman
Taylor Newman, PhD, RDN, LD strives towards a world where everyone has access to adequate, nutritious foods. Taylor’s doctoral research at the University of Georgia focused on produce prescription programs across the U.S. She now helps people nationwide live healthier lives as a Nutrition Program Development Manager with the Kroger Co., where she serves as a subject matter expert for Kroger’s Food as Medicine strategy.
Lauren Twigge
Lauren Twigge is a Dallas based registered and licensed Dietitian with a masters degree in Clinical Nutrition and a bachelors degree in Animal Science. Now, Lauren works as social media educator, speaker, recipe developer, blogger, and brand ambassador. Lauren was raised on a dairy in central California where her family continues to farm today which gives her a unique perspective on where our food comes from. She is an outspoken supporter of the agricultural industry and her passion is to work at the crux of agriculture and human nutrition to fight misinformation and give consumers back their food confidence. You can find her on instagram under the handle @nutrition.at.its.roots where she educates on a variety of health topics including the truth about the agricultural industry, where our food comes, and the role that various agricultural products, like milk, can play in a healthy diet!
Stephanie Goodwin
Stephanie Goodwin joined the Public and Government Affairs team at Danone North America in 2019. She has been with Danone for 8 years, first on the science team for the division of medical foods, and then on the regulatory affairs team. Prior to joining Danone, Stephanie worked within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the 2015 Dietary Guidelines.
Stephanie is a Registered Dietitian and earned a Master of Public Health in Health Education, as well as her Doctorate in Human Nutrition and Public Policy from Virginia Tech. She completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship in metabolic science at the National Institutes of Health with the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disease. Stephanie is also a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences.
Stephanie is an outdoor enthusiast and spends most of her free time with her family, including her husband and two little boys playing outside.
Deep Dive Session – What’s the Plan? A Cybersecurity Event Simulation
Justin Greis
Justin Greis is a partner in the McKinsey & Company’s Chicago office. He is a leader of McKinsey Digital and the Risk & Resilience Practices, with a focus on cybersecurity, cloud, technology strategy, and digital transformation. Justin designs, builds, and activates secure and trusted digital transformations to help organizations accelerate their mission and protect their purpose. Justin brings a wealth of experience across a wide variety of industries.
Prior to joining McKinsey, he served as the global and the Americas cybersecurity transformation leader for EY, where he helped clients assess, improve, and operate world-class cybersecurity programs. Justin was also a consultant for Protiviti in France and before that led the technology organization of the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, a not-for-profit consulting group. Justin began his career as an entrepreneur, founding BrainOrbit, a digital consulting company that designed, built, and implemented dynamic websites, collaboration portals, and interactive digital solutions.
In addition to his work with McKinsey, Justin serves as a professor at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, where he teaches IT governance, risk, and controls in the MSIS and MBA programs. He has won numerous awards for his real-world curriculum and innovative teaching methods.
Strong believers in the power of education, Justin and his wife created a scholarship focused on providing higher education opportunities to students. He is a frequent speaker at industry forums such as ISACA, Information Security Forum (ISF), the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), and various other executive and board councils. He is a published thought leader on the topics of technology strategy, cybersecurity, IT risk management, and digital transformation.
Justin holds a bachelor of Science and a master of business administration in accounting and information systems from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, and holds the following professional certifications: CDPSE, CGEIT, CIPP/US, CISA, CISM, CISSP, CRISC, GIAC/GSEC, ITIL, PMP, and TOGAF.
Justin enjoys playing drums, harmonica, ukulele, photography, snorkeling, fishing, geology, and rock collecting. An avid learner, Justin frequently writes on his blog, progressology.com, where he explores a variety of topics focused on the central theme of “progress.” Justin lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife and two children.
Charlie Lewis
Charlie Lewis is an Expert Associate Partner with McKinsey & Company in Stamford. He specializes in support consumer and retail companies reduce cyber and technology risk to their business, customers, and on-going digital transformations by supporting organizational and operating model design, talent strategies, and broad cyber strategy development.
Prior to joining McKinsey, Charlie served over 13 years in the U.S. Army. While in the Army, his experiences ranged from service with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq to teaching as an Assistant Professor of American Politics at the United States Military Academy. Before leaving Active Duty for the Army Reserves, he developed the Army’s cyber leadership education programs and was the second in charge of the Army’s IT and Cyber training organization.
Ryan Schaap
Ryan Schaap joined Wells Enterprises in March 2015 as the Chief Information Officer, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in technology, cybersecurity, and merger and acquisition integrations.
Ryan is a member of the executive leadership team at Wells and heads all of the technology organization including infrastructure, applications and cybersecurity. He also directs the Wells Shared Services team which includes many of the financial processing functions and the Robotic Process Automation group. Ryan also serves as a business leader that helps drive the company’s efforts related to eCommerce and acquisition integrations.
Prior to Wells, Ryan spent the majority of his career working in the energy industry. He worked for MidAmerican Energy and Berkshire Hathaway Energy for more than 18 years and served as their VP-IT.
Ryan currently serves on several community boards, including membership on the Board of Directors for the Technology Association of Iowa where he is a past Board Chair. Ryan is also the Deputy member representative for Wells Enterprises on the Iowa Business Council and serves on advisory boards for several other technology services organizations. Ryan received his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Management Information Systems from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Nick Kosturos
Nick Kosturos is an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company based in New York City. As a leader in McKinsey’s Cybersecurity Practice, Nick has built and scaled the Firm’s capabilities as a recognized industry leader in Global Cybersecurity Consulting. Nick serves global cross-sector clients to transform their cybersecurity and technology-related risks into competitive advantages. Nick is passionate about helping clients address complex challenges related to cybersecurity strategy and transformation; security operations; cyber crisis readiness/response; and cyber risk culture.
Before joining McKinsey, Nick served as a Cybersecurity Consultant at Ernst & Young (EY), where he focused on helping drive operational improvements in security operations for Fortune 100 clients using emerging technologies. Nick has also held multiple positions for various federal law enforcement and defense agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as well as think tanks such as the Brookings Institution – focusing on topics ranging from cybersecurity policy to violent crime investigations.
Nick was a Fulbright Fellow to Belarus, where he taught English at Polotsk State University and conducted research on American translations of Belarusian texts as the first American to obtain a residence permit in Polotsk. Nick is proficient in Russian and studied Russian culture as the focus of his Critical Language Scholarship awarded by the United States Department of State.
Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in International Relations and a Minor in Applied Computer Security from the University of Southern California (USC).
In his free time, Nick enjoys international travel and exploring all that New York City has to offer. He also serves on the Board of CancerFit at the Columbia University Medical Center to help cancer patients regain physical strength to live full and happy lives post-recovery.
Rob Nolan
Rob Nolan is an Expert Associate Partner in the Houston office and a member of McKinsey’s Digital & Analytics (DnA), and Cybersecurity Practice with over 20 years of experience in technology and cybersecurity.
Rob is a co-leader of the Securing Digital service line, which is a global effort to embed cyber within digital transformations including new business builds, product development (DevSecOps, Threat Modeling, etc.), and Agile ways of working for cybersecurity organizations. He also co-led the development of McKinsey’s cyber crisis response service line.
Prior to McKinsey, Rob spent 8 years as Chief Information Security Officer, then Chief Information Security Officer for a global energy company focused on national critical infrastructure security. Prior to that, he spent 15 years leading application security and cybersecurity incident response with a global risk and insurance company.
Rob holds several cybersecurity certifications and an MSc. from Boston University.
Networking Break
Deep Dive Session – Deliberate Calm: How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World
Aaron De Smet
Aaron De Smet is Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. De Smet counsels leadership teams as they transform their organizations to improve performance, organizational health, speed, and agility. He is also an expert on organizational design, corporate culture, leadership development, team effectiveness, capability building, and transformational change.
Much of Aaron’s work focuses on helping large distributed organizations to achieve growth, innovation, productivity, and organizational agility. He serves clients across several industries, including agriculture, biotechnology, chemicals, energy, financial services, and healthcare.
Elizabeth Mygatt
Liz is one of the leaders of Organizing for the Future, a McKinsey initiative offering integrated, bold approaches to designing operating models, defining organizational identity, and meeting the challenges of growth. Since joining the firm in 2011, she has advised companies across sectors, focused on what it takes for organizations to thrive.
The rapid pace of change puts pressure on companies to operate with speed and simplicity. In support of stronger performance, Liz partners with executives to keep up with demand and scale their organizations flexibly. This support often includes reshaping governance and decision-making models and establishing new approaches to managing talent.
In many cases, Liz supports broad-based organizational and performance transformations across entire companies, setting new agile operating models, and shifting culture in fundamental ways.
Examples of her recent client work include the following:
- supporting a post-merger performance transformation, including defining a new company-wide culture; in just eight months organizational health scores improved dramatically
- establishing an agile operating model for an industrial company to successfully meet soaring demand
- streamlining the operating model and top-team design for a healthcare organization, improving the quality of governance and speed of decision making
- building an enterprise-wide human capital strategy for a health insurance provider to support a bold growth strategy, including fostering a more performance-based culture
- helping a national healthcare provider transform performance by improving strategic talent development, investing in organizational health and building new capabilities
- architecting a new leadership model and operating approach for a technology company, enabling rapid growth and better decision making
Interested in helping leaders anticipate and stay ahead of trends, Liz publishes frequently on how work is changing and what successful organizations can do to prepare for the future.
Deep Dive – How Global ESG Trends Impact Leadership Decisions
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.
Bernie Baskin
Michael Rinaldi
Paul Snyder
Charlotte Rutherford
Charlotte Rutherford is a global expert in sustainable pastoral dairy farming. She has spent 20 years with Fonterra supporting and driving how the Co-operative tackles sustainability opportunities and challenges. Her time at Fonterra has seen her leading Fonterra’s 10,000 dairy farming families to be world leading in their sustainability practices, reporting and ambitions through unique change management initiatives including the Co-operative Difference. Charlotte has led the teams responsible for water, climate, research and development, animal welfare and food safety for New Zealand’s largest dairy processor.
Charlotte is looked to for advice and input on numerous New Zealand Government advisory panels including the recent Governance Board of the world first initiative to price and reduce on-farm biological emissions.
Charlotte and her family are based in the Waikato which is widely regarded as the heart of New Zealand dairy farming.
Lunch Session: The Silent Language of Leaders
Linda Clemons
Linda is an award-winning, record-setting sales producer as well as one of the top sales trainers in the world in the resort/timeshare industry where clients have generated over two billion in sales. A Body Language Expert trained and certified in Analytic Interviewing and Statement Analysis ™ a process used to detect deception. Her clients and audiences include Southwest Airlines, National Urban League, Nestle, MGM, Major League Baseball, Wells Fargo, Nielsen, Sodexo, Leo Burnett Worldwide, US Customs, FBI, Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham and Starwood. Her client list includes celebrities, executives, politicians and entrepreneurs.
General Session: Supply Chain Policy Outlook with White House Port Envoy General Lyons
Becky Rasdall Vargas
Becky Rasdall Vargas joined the International Dairy Foods Association in July 2020 as Vice President, Trade Policy and International Affairs where she is responsible for advocacy strategy on international trade and supply chain policy issues impacting the global competitiveness of U.S. dairy products. Becky also currently leads IDFA’s Women in Dairy initiative.
Before she joined IDFA, Becky served as a Senior Advisor with the Foreign Agricultural Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a Deputy Director for Agricultural Affairs in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Throughout her government career, she obtained extensive experience in negotiating technical resolutions to trade barriers for U.S. dairy exports, as well as representing the United States in trade agreement negotiations, including the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), China Phase One Agreement, and other negotiations with the European Commission and India.
Prior to joining the U.S. government, Becky managed regulatory compliance for ConAgra Foods’ export business and also worked for the International Food Information Council and former Congressman Dave Camp (MI-04). Becky holds a Master of the Arts in International Relations from the University of Warwick in England, and a Bachelor of the Arts in International Political Science from Hope College in Michigan, and speaks German and Spanish.
Retired General Stephen Lyons
General Stephen R. Lyons took command August 24, 2018, becoming the 13th commander of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), one of 11 Combatant Commands in the Department of Defense. USTRANSCOM’s mission is to project and sustain military power globally in order to assure our friends and allies, deter potential adversaries, and if necessary respond to win decisively.
Lyons’ experience spans 36 years of military service in positions of progressive leadership responsibility. He began his career in Germany during the Cold War and subsequently held a wide range of assignments to include command at every level, multiple operational deployments, and over 6 years of experience in joint assignments. As a battalion commander in 2003, he participated in 3d Infantry Division’s major combat operations to invade Iraq. Since 2003, he has spent over 40 months deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). He also served as the 14th USTRANSCOM deputy commander from 2015- 2017.
A native of Rensselaer, New York, Lyons graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the US Army in 1983. He holds two master’s degrees, one from the Naval Postgraduate School in logistics management (1993); and a second from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in national resource strategy (2005).
His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Master Parachutist Badge.
Lyons is married to Maureen Lyons and they have two children, Kara, and Dylan.
Cocktails and Conversation
Breakfast Session: Where Is Your Company on the ESG Spectrum?
Matt Herrick
With more than 20 years of experience navigating reputation, regulatory and legislative issues in food, agriculture and nutrition, Matt serves as IDFA's Executive Vice President and Chief Impact Officer responsible for coordinating efforts across the association to drive policy, advocacy, communications, and social impact outcomes for IDFA members and the dairy industry. Matt brings a results-based approach to organizational positioning, strategic communications, and public affairs strategy and reporting. He prioritizes mixing traditional and digital engagement and advocacy with audience targeting to deliver impact to members, policymakers, and consumers, including expanding and preserving markets for dairy food companies and achieving federal and state policies that support growth. Herrick most recently served as IDFA's Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications. He also is the Executive Director of the IDFA Foundation, the association's 501(c)3 charity that he helped to found.
Matt has led external affairs, advocacy and marketing for several global organizations in the private and non-profit spaces. He 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. 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.
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.
Kate Toews
Kate has 20 years of food-industry experience, including almost ten as an executive in global companies and venture-backed start-ups. She is a leader in McKinsey’s alternative protein and fermentation work globally, serving clients on innovative food ingredients and consumer products.
Prior to McKinsey, Kate was the president of beverages at a global food-ingredients company, as well as the CEO and head of operations at two different venture-backed food start-ups. Throughout her executive tenure, she led company-building activities driven by technology innovation, new commercial models, and operational improvement.
Since joining McKinsey, she has led strategy development in R&D and innovation and helped clients scale-up through long-term partnerships by bringing new products to market. She is passionate about the intersection of sustainability, nutrition, and taste.
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.
Emma Aer
Dennis Rodenbaugh
Dennis Rodenbaugh is the president and CEO of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a $24 billion global food and beverage manufacturing company. DFA is the second-largest dairy foods company in the world, with 19,000 employees and over 80 U.S.-based manufacturing plants. Rodenbaugh has been with DFA since 2007 and became CEO in 2022. He advocates for the 10,000 dairy farm families represented by DFA. He also serves in various industry roles, including vice chair of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and on the executive board of directors for the National Milk Producers Federation.
Patti Smith
Patti Smith is a business leader with 30 years of progressive leadership experience in the food ingredient and dairy industries. In June 2020, she became the CEO of DairyAmerica. Prior to DairyAmerica, she was CEO of Valley Milk, LLC, as well as, having held several executive level positions within global organizations including Fonterra and Roquette America.
As a business leader, she is active in industry and national organizations. In addition to industry organizations, Patti is an active member in local organizations within California’s Central Valley. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Food Technology from Iowa State University. Patti has been married for 33 years, has one daughter, and two grandchildren. She loves spending time outdoors and most of all, spending time with the grandkids.
Patricia Stroup
Patty Stroup is the former 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.
Dan Zagzebski
Dan Zagzebski is the President and CEO of Great Lakes Cheese, a natural and processed cheese manufacturer and packager. Dan has been with Great Lakes Cheese for 15 years, serving as President and CEO since 2015. He is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience. His focus on infrastructure and innovation has enabled the company to be a leader in cheese packaging and manufacturing in the United States.
Prior to his current role as President and CEO, Dan held various positions of increasing responsibility, including Chief Operations Officer and Vice President of Sales and Product Development. Dan joined the company when Great Lakes Cheese purchased Lemke Cheese and Packaging in Wausau, Wisconsin, where he was co-owner and CEO.
He earned an MBA from University of Notre Dame and a BS in Business Administration from University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. Dan enjoys traveling, sports, and spending time in nature. He and his wife, Dana, have three children and two beloved grandchildren.
All Times Eastern
JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
4040 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, Florida, USA, 32837
Dairy Forum will be held at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. A discounted room rate of $299 per night plus applicable taxes will be available to Dairy Forum attendees. The deadline to secure a room is Friday, December 30, 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 22, 2023 | Event | Speaker | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:45am - 1:00pm |
Morning Golf Tournament – Shotgun Start (Scramble)
|
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes | |
| 1:00pm - 4:00pm |
Afternoon Golf Tournament - Shotgun Start (Scramble)
|
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes |
Golf Tournament Registration Fee: $299
Registration includes greens fee, cart fee, practice facilities, forecaddie service, 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.
Sponsors:
5K Fun Run
Sunday, January 22 | 9:00am
All levels of runners and walkers are invited to participate in the the first ever Dairy Forum 5K Fun Run/Walk. This event is a great way to start your day with a little cardio alongside your colleagues. The 5K (3.1 miles) run will lead you through the Grande Lakes property.
Registration Fee: $30.
Registration fees for Dairy Forum are based on your company's IDFA membership status. For more information about membership, please email membership.idfa.org.
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 19, 2022 for a full refund, minus a $75 processing fee. Cancellations received after December 19, 2022, will be eligible for a 50 percent refund, less the processing fee. Your Dairy Forum registration fee is non-refundable after January 9, 2023. 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 19, 2022. No tournament refunds will be issued after December 19, 2022. All cancellations must be received in writing at registrar@idfa.org.
Q: 5K Fun Run Cancellation Policy
All 5K fun run cancellations will receive a full refund before December 19, 2022. No fun run refunds will be issued after December 19, 2022. 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 Orlando, Florida in January are 72°F high and 51°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.
Sponsor Information
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 seen and heard. 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.