Overview
Dairy Forum heads to San Antonio, Texas, in 2025 with the premier annual event for dairy industry leaders.
Presented by the International Dairy Foods Association, Dairy Forum convenes more than 1,000 leaders from across the dairy supply chain to push the limits of innovation, collaboration, and excellence, and to chart a course towards LIMITLESS success for the industry.
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.
Unleash Dairy's Limitless Potential. Unleash Your Limitless Potential.
Limits are self-imposed. Dairy Forum 2025 will present sessions that expand the boundaries of dairy leaders’ visions for their businesses. How can dairy companies expand their labor and talent pools? How can dairy exceed record domestic consumption and export figures in recent years? What non-traditional partnerships can dairy executives leverage to expand their technological capabilities, or their brand awareness? Gain insights and inspiration from leading thinkers and experts in business leadership, technology, nutrition, sustainability and more.
Come prepared to advance your knowledge and unite with leaders from across the supply chain—from farmers to cooperatives, processors, suppliers, retailers, foodservice and government. Dairy Forum is the only event where leaders from across the dairy supply chain meet to exchange ideas, foster innovation, and cultivate meaningful connections. Join us this year in San Antonio!
Agenda
*All Times Central Print Agenda
January 26, 2025 | Event | Speaker | Location |
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7:30am |
Morning Golf Tournament
Sponsored By:
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The Oaks at TPC | |
9:00am |
5K Fun Run
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Sunset Lawn | |
1:00pm |
Afternoon Golf Tournament
Sponsored By:
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The Oaks at TPC | |
2:00pm - 4:00pm |
IDFA Executive Council Meeting (invitation only)
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Grand Salon NOP | |
5:00pm - 5:45pm |
Chairman's Reception (invitation only)
Sponsored By:
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6:00pm - 7:00pm |
Chairman’s Lecture: Kevin McCarthy
|
Grand Oaks Salon GHIJ | |
Join us for an insightful session with Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy as we delve into the key priorities of the new Administration and the 119th Congress. With his unparalleled experience working closely with leadership from both parties, Former Speaker McCarthy offers a unique perspective on the future landscape of Washington. Discover what the recent elections signify for the dairy industry and gain valuable insights into the potential implications. Explore the key players shaping this environment, anticipate the policies and legislation that will take center stage in the first year, and contemplate the broader effects of shifting power dynamics for both the U.S. and the global stage. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the evolving political landscape and its impact on various sectors, guided by the expertise of Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. |
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7:00pm - 8:30pm |
Welcome Reception
Sponsored By:
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River Bend Pavilion | |
January 27, 2025 | Event | Speaker | Location |
8:30am - 9:30am | President's Breakfast | Grand Oaks Salon GHIJ | |
Join us for the 2025 President’s Breakfast where Michael Dykes will deliver the Annual State of Dairy Address. He will review the past year's developments in the dairy industry and provide insights into the future. His presentation will highlight the LIMITLESS possibilities that emerge when our industry unites to prioritize and tackle our key opportunities and challenges. This is a must-attend event for anyone invested in the future of dairy. |
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9:30am - 9:45am | Networking Break | Grand Foyer | |
9:45am - 10:45am | Deep Dive Session - The Future of Dairy Procurement | ||
Join us for an enlightening session on the future of dairy procurement, where we will explore the evolving landscape of sourcing and purchasing dairy products in a rapidly changing industry. As global challenges and technological advancements reshape the dairy sector, it becomes critical to stay ahead with innovative procurement strategies. This session will bring together industry procurement leaders to discuss emerging trends, best practices, and the latest tools to optimize dairy procurement operations.
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9:45am - 10:45am |
Deep Dive Session - Beyond Carbon: Business & Natural Capital
Sponsored By:
|
||
Some have called the 2020s the decade of climate action. In parallel, there is momentum behind corporate stewardship, standards, reporting, and investment in natural capital and biodiversity. While near-term carbon outcomes are of vital importance, this panel will explore the long-run importance of also considering how full ecosystems are connected to our business operations. |
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10:45am - 11:00am | Networking Break | Grand Foyer | |
11:00am - 12:00pm |
Deep Dive Session: State of Women in Dairy - A Progress Report
Sponsored By:
|
||
In 2024, IDFA presented the first ever State of Women in Dairy survey readout, complete with key findings and recommendations for greater gender equality across the dairy sector. Join a follow up discussion to learn about progress made, see new benchmarking data, what partnerships have formed, and where we go from here. |
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11:00am - 12:00pm |
Deep Dive Session: Got Security? Protecting Dairy Processing in the Digital Age
|
||
Cybersecurity threats in the dairy food and agriculture sectors pose unique challenges that require targeted solutions. This panel session brings together experts to discuss the evolving landscape of cybersecurity in these industries, share insights into current vulnerabilities, and explore effective strategies to safeguard critical infrastructure and data. |
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12:15pm - 2:00pm | Lunch Session: Carla Harris | Grand Oaks Salon GHIJ | |
2:00pm - 3:00pm |
General Session: Leveraging Dairy's Health Halo to Attract Young and Non-Traditional Consumers
|
Grand Oaks Salon GHIJ | |
Dairy products play a critical role in the healthy diets of Americans, yet not all Americans believe dairy is essential to their diet. How can the dairy industry leverage current population trends, new product innovation and government initiatives to solidify dairy’s healthy halo among all Americans? This panel will identify opportunities for dairy companies to better appeal to younger demographics and to change the perceptions of those who believe dairy does not fit within their diet. |
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3:00pm - 3:30pm |
Media Meet and Greet (invitation only)
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3:00pm - 4:00pm |
International Trade Committee Meeting (invitation only)
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3:00pm - 4:00pm |
Legal Community Meeting (invitation only)
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3:15pm - 4:00pm |
Unlocking Growth: Harnessing the Power of REAL Dairy and Health & Wellness to Give Consumers What They Really Want
Sponsored By:
|
||
Dairy Management, Inc. has discovered that more than 50% of consumers are dissatisfied with how current food, beverage and supplement offerings meet their health and wellness needs. Join us for an exclusive session tailored for industry leaders, where we’ll dive deep into the findings from a comprehensive study involving over 12,000 U.S. consumers to reveal what consumers really want for their health and wellness needs and what it means for dairy. You’ll be introduced to a series of cutting-edge innovation tools, including a claims playbook, a digital platform and resource tool, plus an innovation showcase of global products, concepts and inspiring product prototypes. These solutions are designed to align perfectly with the evolving needs of today’s consumers, providing your organization with a unique opportunity to accelerate growth and outpace the competition. Don’t miss this chance to gain actionable insights and explore how REAL dairy can be the key to unlocking new growth avenues for your business. |
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3:15pm - 4:00pm |
Artificial Intelligence and Automation in Dairy Production
Sponsored By:
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||
As we enter the next industrial revolution, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in food production is not just an opportunity but a necessity to remain competitive. In a market flooded with discussions on digital transformation, AI, and automation, cutting through the noise and taking the first practical step can be challenging. This session will delve into the transformative potential of AI in the dairy industry, offering a clear and pragmatic roadmap of proven solutions to well-known challenges. We will provide an in-depth examination of what the combination of automation and AI mean for dairy operations, highlighting practical and effective solutions that save time, money, and unnecessary effort. Through real-world examples, we will demonstrate how our innovative solutions empower dairy producers to make better everyday decisions, leveraging industry knowledge and experience rather than relying solely on technology. Join us to discover how Tetra Pak can propel your dairy operation into the future, harnessing the power of AI and automation to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. |
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3:30pm - 4:00pm |
Press Briefing
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4:00pm - 5:00pm |
Women in Dairy Event
Sponsored By:
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5:00pm - 6:30pm |
Foundation Cornhole Tournament
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6:00pm - 7:30pm |
PAC Reception (invitation only)
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January 28, 2025 | Event | Speaker | Location |
7:15am - 8:15am |
State Association Executive Meeting (invitation only)
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8:30am - 9:30am |
Breakfast Session: Rural Economic Outlook
Sponsored By:
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Grand Oaks Salon GHIJ | |
What to expect on interest rates. Examining the reliability of the nation’s electric grid. Understanding artificial intelligence and our labor market. These topics and more will be covered by Tom Halverson, president and CEO of CoBank. Halverson is responsible for implementing the strategic and business direction for CoBank, one of the largest private providers of credit to the U.S. rural economy. The bank delivers loans, leases and other financial services to agribusiness, food and supply cooperatives, rural infrastructure, and Farm Credit customers in all 50 states. In his presentation, Tom will share CoBank’s assessment on the state of the farm, food, and rural economies, risks and opportunities in domestic markets, and the key trends that every food and agribusiness CEO should be aware of. In 2023, CoBank recorded one of the best years in its history from a financial standpoint, despite substantial uncertainty and volatility in the macro economy. Average loan volume reached all-time highs. Credit quality in their loan portfolio remained strong. Hear Tom’s perspective on how food and agriculture businesses can continue to deliver value to customers and shareholders by understanding the trends shaping America’s rural economy. |
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9:30am - 9:45am |
Networking Break
Sponsored By:
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Grand Foyer | |
9:45am - 10:45am |
Deep Dive Session: Dairy in an Evolving Health Environment
Sponsored By:
|
||
The U.S. spends roughly $1.1 trillion per year to treat diet-related diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and cancer—a problem recognized by government, healthcare companies, and food industry alike. Each of these sectors is responding—how can dairy better leverage its positive health benefits to help improve health and compete in the evolving market? Join us as we explore the rise of GLP-1 drugs, current industry research and marketing efforts, and the role of government nutrition programs and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. |
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9:45am - 10:45am |
Deep Dive Session: FMMO Changes - Impacts on Risk Management for Processors and Buyers
|
||
Changes in Class I price formula will make risk management more complicated for beverage milk processors, while using only cheddar blocks for pricing Class III milk will change basis points and possibly reduce risk for most cheese buyers and sellers, including exports. |
|||
10:45am - 11:00am |
Networking Break
Sponsored By:
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Grand Foyer | |
11:00am - 12:00pm |
Deep Dive Session: Making Dairy Limitless for the Next Black Swan Event
|
||
A global pandemic, wars, tariffs, and shortages. Five years later, supply chain disruptions seem like yesterday’s problem. But experts think these kinds of events will continue, rather than dissipate. How are YOU prepared to be limitless in the next black swan event? Come hear from experts who spend their careers studying disruption to talk about a few future scenarios and how to prepare for them. |
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11:00am - 12:00pm |
Deep Dive Session: Strategic Advocacy in a Post-Chevron World
|
||
In the six months since the Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright and Corner Post decisions, advocates for dairy are already adjusting to the seismic shift in policymaking responsibilities among federal legislators, regulators and courts. In this deep dive, learn more about how food and agriculture advocates must adapt their strategies to be successful advocates for dairy and to improve the business climate for the future. |
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12:15pm - 2:00pm | Lunch Session: Eric Traupe | Grand Oaks Salon GHIJ | |
A powerful voice in the Intelligence Community and one of its leading national security professionals, Eric Traupe is the former assistant director of the CIA for the Near East and served on the front lines of U.S. counterterrorism efforts for more than 20 years. He remains a trusted advisor to our nation’s highest-ranking leaders, having advised CIA directors, presidents, cabinet and military officials, and members of Congress. Eric will discuss the geopolitical and economic issues as we head into 2025, share an intelligence insider’s assessment of the potential outcomes of headline-grabbing global issues, as well as the possible impact on businesses, the global economy, and society. From the front lines to the White House and to the board room, Traupe will offer his perspectives on the geopolitical drivers that contribute to market volatility, supply chain disruption, and factors that are paving the way to a new world order that dairy industry leaders will need to understand to prosper. |
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2:00pm - 3:00pm |
General Session: What's New in Dairy Product Ingredient Innovation
Sponsored By:
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Grand Oaks Salon GHIJ | |
Learn from the experts about new and novel dairy ingredients that have entered the marketplace or that are in the near-term pipeline and what consumer trends and demands are driving this innovation. |
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3:15pm - 4:45pm |
NextGen Leadership Roundtable (invitation only)
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3:30pm - 4:30pm |
Economic Policy Committee Meeting (invitation only)
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3:30pm - 4:30pm |
Sustainability Committee Meeting (invitation only)
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5:30pm - 7:00pm | Cocktails and Conversation | ||
January 29, 2025 | Event | Speaker | Location |
8:00am - 9:00am |
General Session: The Four Seasons of a CEO: Navigating Leadership Transitions and Strategic Evolution
Sponsored By:
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Grand Oaks Salon GHIJ | |
The dairy industry is facing a pivotal time, facing surmounting pressures of sustainability along with changing industry regulation and a shifting labor market. Strong leadership is required to lead the dairy industry and navigate through this pivotal period. The plenary session will introduce the six key practices that set exceptional leaders apart from the rest;
The session will close with a panel featuring 4 CEOs which will provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and strategies at different stages of a CEO's career, from mid-career development to first-time CEO challenges to legacy and succession planning, and the continuous evolution of skills and lessons learned. |
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9:00am - 10:00am |
General Session: Dairy Innovations Are Saving Lives and Creating New Markets
Sponsored By:
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Grand Oaks Salon GHIJ | |
A dairy innovator joins leaders from the nation’s foremost hunger relief and disaster response organizations to talk dairy nutrition. Demand from food banks, disaster relief and global feeding programs is growing market thanks to the development of high-value, nutrient dense, and shelf-stable dairy foods. Around the world, dairy ingredients including milk powders play a vital role in getting micronutrients to chronically malnourished children through school feeding programs. Beyond milk powders, dairy ingredients are essential in the creation of a new line of medically-tailored foods that save the lives of thousands of children each year. Leaders from U.S. food banks often remark how milk, cheese, and yogurt are some of the most in-demand foods but least accessible for food bank customers. Issues such as lack of cold storage capacity are notorious for limiting the availability of fresh, nutritious and perishable foods such as milk and dairy. Now new shelf-stable products are changing the conversation and helping people recover from disasters such as hurricanes, landslides, wildfires, and more. |
Chairman’s Lecture: Kevin McCarthy
Join us for an insightful session with Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy as we delve into the key priorities of the new Administration and the 119th Congress. With his unparalleled experience working closely with leadership from both parties, Former Speaker McCarthy offers a unique perspective on the future landscape of Washington.
Discover what the recent elections signify for the dairy industry and gain valuable insights into the potential implications. Explore the key players shaping this environment, anticipate the policies and legislation that will take center stage in the first year, and contemplate the broader effects of shifting power dynamics for both the U.S. and the global stage.
Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the evolving political landscape and its impact on various sectors, guided by the expertise of Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthy is the 55th Speaker of the House.
Described as a man who exudes “true American grit,” McCarthy's political journey is the quintessential American story. After starting a small business at the age of 21, McCarthy went back to college to earn his bachelor and master degrees in business. He was rejected for an internship to the congressional seat he later held for seventeen years. Prior to being elected to Congress, McCarthy served in the California State Legislature where he became the fastest rising Minority Leader in the history of the California State Assembly.
McCarthy won the Speakership after a historic 15 ballots, and went on to secure $2 trillion in deficit reduction, all while protecting the full faith and credit of the United States, keeping our government open, and making sure our troops were paid. He also refocused Congress on America’s long-term challenges by creating the first-ever Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
Throughout his career, McCarthy fought for a more effective, efficient, and accountable federal government. He also personally recruited and actively supported commonsense candidates for office who have helped reshape the Republican Party – several of whom have become Senators, Governors, and cabinet secretaries. Overall, under his leadership, dozens of new Republican women, minorities, and veterans have been elected to Congress.
In Congress, he held nearly every elected leadership position in the House Republican conference and served under three Presidents, during two economic crises, and through consistent political upheaval while always maintaining his approach to governing as a Happy Warrior.
President's Breakfast
Join us for the 2025 President’s Breakfast where Michael Dykes will deliver the Annual State of Dairy Address. He will review the past year's developments in the dairy industry and provide insights into the future. His presentation will highlight the LIMITLESS possibilities that emerge when our industry unites to prioritize and tackle our key opportunities and challenges. This is a must-attend event for anyone invested in the future of 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 - The Future of Dairy Procurement
Join us for an enlightening session on the future of dairy procurement, where we will explore the evolving landscape of sourcing and purchasing dairy products in a rapidly changing industry. As global challenges and technological advancements reshape the dairy sector, it becomes critical to stay ahead with innovative procurement strategies.
This session will bring together industry procurement leaders to discuss emerging trends, best practices, and the latest tools to optimize dairy procurement operations.
- Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing
- New Technology and AI
- Supplier Relationships
- Risk Management in Dairy Procurement
- Costs Management
- Regulatory and Compliance Issues
Deep Dive Session - Beyond Carbon: Business & Natural Capital
Some have called the 2020s the decade of climate action. In parallel, there is momentum behind corporate stewardship, standards, reporting, and investment in natural capital and biodiversity. While near-term carbon outcomes are of vital importance, this panel will explore the long-run importance of also considering how full ecosystems are connected to our business operations.
Deep Dive Session: State of Women in Dairy - A Progress Report
In 2024, IDFA presented the first ever State of Women in Dairy survey readout, complete with key findings and recommendations for greater gender equality across the dairy sector. Join a follow up discussion to learn about progress made, see new benchmarking data, what partnerships have formed, and where we go from here.
Deep Dive Session: Got Security? Protecting Dairy Processing in the Digital Age
Cybersecurity threats in the dairy food and agriculture sectors pose unique challenges that require targeted solutions. This panel session brings together experts to discuss the evolving landscape of cybersecurity in these industries, share insights into current vulnerabilities, and explore effective strategies to safeguard critical infrastructure and data.
Carla Harris
Carla Harris is a Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley. She was most recently as a Vice Chairman responsible for increasing client connectivity and penetration to enhance revenue generation across the firm. She formerly headed the Emerging Manager Platform, the equity capital markets effort for the consumer and retail industries and was responsible for Equity Private Placements. In her 30+ year career, Ms. Harris has had extensive industry experiences in the technology, media, retail, telecommunications, transportation, industrial, and healthcare sectors. In August 2013, Carla Harris was appointed by President Barack Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council.
For more than a decade, Ms. Harris was a senior member of the equity syndicate desk and executed such transactions as initial public offerings for UPS, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Ariba, Redback, the General Motors sub-IPO of Delphi Automotive, and the $3.2 Billion common stock transaction for Immunex Corporation, one of the largest biotechnology common stock transactions in U.S. history. Ms. Harris was named to Fortune Magazine’s list of “The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America”, Fortune’s Most Influential List, U. S. Bankers Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance (2009, 2010, 2011), Black Enterprise’s Top 75 Most Powerful Women in Business (2017), and “Top 75 African Americans on Wall Street”, and to Essence Magazine’s list of “The 50 Women Who are Shaping the World”, Ebony’s list of the Power 100 and “15 Corporate Women at the Top” and was named “Woman of the Year 2004” by the Harvard Black Men’s Forum and in 2011 by the Yale Black Men’s Forum.
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Carla received an MBA, Second Year Honors from Harvard Business School and an AB in economics from Harvard University, Magna Cum Laude. Carla has also received Honorary Doctorates of Laws, Humanities and Business from Marymount Manhattan College, Bloomfield College, Converse College, Jacksonville University, Simmons College, the College of New Rochelle, St. Thomas Aquinas College, Babson College and Fisk University, Wake Forest University and Felician University respectively. Carla Harris is actively involved in her community and heartily believes that “we are blessed so that we can be a blessing to someone else.”
She is the past Chair of the Board of the Morgan Stanley Foundation and of The Executive Leadership Council, and sits on the boards of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), The Sesame Workshop, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and is an active member of the St. Charles Gospelites of the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and the Mark Howell Singers. She is a member of the board of overseers of Harvard University and of the board of directors of the Walmart Corporation, Cummins Corporation and MetLife. Ms. Harris was co-chair of the National Social Action Commission of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She has been named to the New Jersey Hall of Fame (2015) and has received the Bert King Award from the Harvard Business School African American Alumni Association, the 2005 Women’s Professional Achievement Award from Harvard University, the Pierre Toussaint Medallion from the Office of Black Ministry of the Archdiocese of New York, the Women of Power Award given by the National Urban League, the Women of Influence Award from The Links, Incorporated and many other awards. In her other life, Carla is a singer who has sold out concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theatre, and released 4 Gospel CDs:“O This is Christmas” (2021) “Unceasing Praise” (2011), “Joy Is Waiting”(2005), and her first CD entitled, “Carla’s First Christmas”(2000), was a bestseller on Amazon.com in New York and was featured on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather in his “American Dream” segment. She is also an internationally renowned public speaker and the author of the books, Strategize to Win (2014), Expect to Win (2009) (Hudson Press) and of Lead To Win (2022).
General Session: Leveraging Dairy's Health Halo to Attract Young and Non-Traditional Consumers
Dairy products play a critical role in the healthy diets of Americans, yet not all Americans believe dairy is essential to their diet. How can the dairy industry leverage current population trends, new product innovation and government initiatives to solidify dairy’s healthy halo among all Americans? This panel will identify opportunities for dairy companies to better appeal to younger demographics and to change the perceptions of those who believe dairy does not fit within their diet.
Unlocking Growth: Harnessing the Power of REAL Dairy and Health & Wellness to Give Consumers What They Really Want
Dairy Management, Inc. has discovered that more than 50% of consumers are dissatisfied with how current food, beverage and supplement offerings meet their health and wellness needs.
Join us for an exclusive session tailored for industry leaders, where we’ll dive deep into the findings from a comprehensive study involving over 12,000 U.S. consumers to reveal what consumers really want for their health and wellness needs and what it means for dairy. You’ll be introduced to a series of cutting-edge innovation tools, including a claims playbook, a digital platform and resource tool, plus an innovation showcase of global products, concepts and inspiring product prototypes. These solutions are designed to align perfectly with the evolving needs of today’s consumers, providing your organization with a unique opportunity to accelerate growth and outpace the competition.
Don’t miss this chance to gain actionable insights and explore how REAL dairy can be the key to unlocking new growth avenues for your business.
Artificial Intelligence and Automation in Dairy Production
As we enter the next industrial revolution, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in food production is not just an opportunity but a necessity to remain competitive. In a market flooded with discussions on digital transformation, AI, and automation, cutting through the noise and taking the first practical step can be challenging. This session will delve into the transformative potential of AI in the dairy industry, offering a clear and pragmatic roadmap of proven solutions to well-known challenges.
We will provide an in-depth examination of what the combination of automation and AI mean for dairy operations, highlighting practical and effective solutions that save time, money, and unnecessary effort. Through real-world examples, we will demonstrate how our innovative solutions empower dairy producers to make better everyday decisions, leveraging industry knowledge and experience rather than relying solely on technology. Join us to discover how Tetra Pak can propel your dairy operation into the future, harnessing the power of AI and automation to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.
Sean Sims
Sean has 30 years’ experience in industrial automation and has worked in teams around the world to improve production safety, reliability and efficiency across multiple industries, including energy, chemical, pharmaceutical and food & beverage. Sean works at Tetra Pak, where he is responsible for customer-facing automation and digital capabilities across the company. Sean is based in Austin, Texas, is married to fellow engineer Tara, and has one son, Nicholas, who is lives in Houston and is following his own engineering career in polymers and chemicals.
Breakfast Session: Rural Economic Outlook
What to expect on interest rates. Examining the reliability of the nation’s electric grid. Understanding artificial intelligence and our labor market. These topics and more will be covered by Tom Halverson, president and CEO of CoBank. Halverson is responsible for implementing the strategic and business direction for CoBank, one of the largest private providers of credit to the U.S. rural economy. The bank delivers loans, leases and other financial services to agribusiness, food and supply cooperatives, rural infrastructure, and Farm Credit customers in all 50 states. In his presentation, Tom will share CoBank’s assessment on the state of the farm, food, and rural economies, risks and opportunities in domestic markets, and the key trends that every food and agribusiness CEO should be aware of. In 2023, CoBank recorded one of the best years in its history from a financial standpoint, despite substantial uncertainty and volatility in the macro economy. Average loan volume reached all-time highs. Credit quality in their loan portfolio remained strong. Hear Tom’s perspective on how food and agriculture businesses can continue to deliver value to customers and shareholders by understanding the trends shaping America’s rural economy.
Thomas Halverson
As CoBank’s president and chief executive officer, Thomas Halverson is responsible for implementing the bank’s strategic and business direction as set by the board of directors. Previously, he served as CoBank’s chief banking officer where he was responsible for the bank’s Agribusiness and Rural Infrastructure Banking Groups as well as the Banking Services Group and corporate communications. Halverson is the chair of CoBank’s Management Executive Committee.
Prior to joining CoBank in 2013, Halverson spent more than 15 years with Goldman Sachs, where he was most recently managing director and chief of staff for Goldman Sachs Bank USA, a $120 billion commercial bank subsidiary of the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Prior to that he served in a variety of executive positions at the firm, including head of credit risk management for Goldman Sachs in Asia (ex-Japan) and executive director of credit risk management and advisory in London. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Thomas Halverson served as principal credit officer for country risk at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London.
Halverson is a summa cum laude graduate of Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He earned a British Marshall Scholarship and completed a doctorate in war studies at King’s College, University of London.
Deep Dive Session: Dairy in an Evolving Health Environment
The U.S. spends roughly $1.1 trillion per year to treat diet-related diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and cancer—a problem recognized by government, healthcare companies, and food industry alike. Each of these sectors is responding—how can dairy better leverage its positive health benefits to help improve health and compete in the evolving market? Join us as we explore the rise of GLP-1 drugs, current industry research and marketing efforts, and the role of government nutrition programs and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Deep Dive Session: FMMO Changes - Impacts on Risk Management for Processors and Buyers
Changes in Class I price formula will make risk management more complicated for beverage milk processors, while using only cheddar blocks for pricing Class III milk will change basis points and possibly reduce risk for most cheese buyers and sellers, including exports.
Deep Dive Session: Making Dairy Limitless for the Next Black Swan Event
A global pandemic, wars, tariffs, and shortages. Five years later, supply chain disruptions seem like yesterday’s problem. But experts think these kinds of events will continue, rather than dissipate. How are YOU prepared to be limitless in the next black swan event? Come hear from experts who spend their careers studying disruption to talk about a few future scenarios and how to prepare for them.
Deep Dive Session: Strategic Advocacy in a Post-Chevron World
In the six months since the Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright and Corner Post decisions, advocates for dairy are already adjusting to the seismic shift in policymaking responsibilities among federal legislators, regulators and courts. In this deep dive, learn more about how food and agriculture advocates must adapt their strategies to be successful advocates for dairy and to improve the business climate for the future.
Lunch Session: Eric Traupe
A powerful voice in the Intelligence Community and one of its leading national security professionals, Eric Traupe is the former assistant director of the CIA for the Near East and served on the front lines of U.S. counterterrorism efforts for more than 20 years. He remains a trusted advisor to our nation’s highest-ranking leaders, having advised CIA directors, presidents, cabinet and military officials, and members of Congress.
Eric will discuss the geopolitical and economic issues as we head into 2025, share an intelligence insider’s assessment of the potential outcomes of headline-grabbing global issues, as well as the possible impact on businesses, the global economy, and society. From the front lines to the White House and to the board room, Traupe will offer his perspectives on the geopolitical drivers that contribute to market volatility, supply chain disruption, and factors that are paving the way to a new world order that dairy industry leaders will need to understand to prosper.
Eric Traupe
A powerful voice in the Intelligence Community and one of its leading national security professionals, Eric Traupe is the former assistant director of the CIA for the Near East and served on the front lines of U.S. counterterrorism efforts for more than 20 years. He remains a trusted advisor to our nation’s highest-ranking leaders, having advised CIA directors, presidents, cabinet and military officials, and members of Congress, and participated in momentous White House strategic, policy, and resource decisions. Traupe has tackled the full range of U.S. national security issues, and his leadership, acumen, and unmatched ability to cultivate enduring relationships between the U.S. and its foreign partners continues to be heralded in intelligence circles.
Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Traupe is an inclusive and transformational leader whose “exemplary leadership will reverberate across the CIA for decades,” as noted by the agency’s top officials. He draws from his experiences championing diverse, people-centered cultures to share proven strategies for embracing the principles of servant leadership for more impactful collaboration across organizational and cultural boundaries, and empower teams to innovate, enhance creativity, develop solutions, and succeed in challenging environments. To complement his highly sought-after leadership insights, Traupe is masterfully skilled at engaging audiences with his captivating perspectives on today’s top issues in risk management, national intelligence, and the ever-evolving geopolitical landscape.
In addition to advising U.S. and world leaders, military officials, and private industry executives, as CIA Near East assistant director, Traupe’s work centered on responding to trends impacting the global landscape. This included directing traditional intelligence activities, such as Iran’s nuclear and regional ambitions, the CIA’s foreign partnerships across the Middle East and North Africa, and global competition with China and Russia. He also spearheaded initiatives to develop innovative cyber, technology, and data exploitation solutions to address complex national security issues. Throughout his tenure, he thrived in assignments that required crisis management skills, sound judgement, and an ability to assess internal and external risks. As a member of the CIA’s Expanded Corporate Board, Traupe led thousands of officers from different professional units, developed and executed multi-billion-dollar budgets, and addressed acute intelligence and foreign policy challenges on behalf of the CIA director. He expertly assessed geopolitical and economic trends, forecasted key budgetary investments, evaluated security risks, and weighed the implications of the pandemic’s impact to ensure his workforce maintained cohesion, resiliency, and mission-focus.
Prior to the CIA, Traupe served in the United States Marine Corps for nearly 10 years. He held several command and staff assignments and completed deployments to the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans, Japan, and Europe. Traupe played a key role in managing three separate non-combatant evacuation operations in The Gambia, Albania, and Zaire, during which, a total of 1,500 U.S. citizens were safely rescued.
Since leaving the public sector, Traupe founded Azimuth Global LLC, a consulting firm that provides strategic advisory services to Fortune 500 companies in the technology, national security, and strategic risk sectors. He serves as an operating partner with Lightspeed Venture Partners, sits on the Board of Advisors for Intel Corporation, and serves as an advisor to Anduril Industries Inc. and other emerging technology companies. Traupe is also a senior Advisor at WestExec, on the Board of Advisors for the Center for a New American Security, a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, and a panel member for the Special Competitive Studies Project focused on geopolitical rivalries associated with China and Russia. Additionally, he is an Ambassador for the Third Option Foundation and the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation. He was previously the President of Capella Federal Inc., a subsidiary of Capella Space Corp.
Consistently recognized as a strategic thinker and collaborative leader, Traupe’s contributions to the Intelligence Community have been recognized with several honors, including the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, Clandestine Service Career Award, CIA’s Director Award (twice), George W. Bush Award for Excellence, and the Presidential Rank Award — to name a few. He holds an MBA in international business from American University and a BA in communications from the University of Michigan, where he starred as a linebacker participating in two Rose Bowls and a Gator Bowl.
General Session: What's New in Dairy Product Ingredient Innovation
Learn from the experts about new and novel dairy ingredients that have entered the marketplace or that are in the near-term pipeline and what consumer trends and demands are driving this innovation.
General Session: The Four Seasons of a CEO: Navigating Leadership Transitions and Strategic Evolution
The dairy industry is facing a pivotal time, facing surmounting pressures of sustainability along with changing industry regulation and a shifting labor market. Strong leadership is required to lead the dairy industry and navigate through this pivotal period. The plenary session will introduce the six key practices that set exceptional leaders apart from the rest;
- Set the direction: Successful leaders are known for their bold vision and ability to reframe the game, making big strategic moves that redefine their industries
- Align the organization: They treat the "soft stuff" as the hard stuff; focusing on one thing to move culture, solving for a stable and accountable yet agile core and align top talent to value creation
- Mobilize through leaders: They solve for the team’s psychology, creating a complementary talent ecosystem to operate in a steady rhythm as a team
- Manage upwards: They build a foundation of trust with their leadership that taps into wisdom while focusing on the future
- Connect with stakeholders: They stay elevated with stakeholders , seeking to understand the big picture and common intersection of needs
- Manage personal effectiveness: Great leaders manage their time and energy through a series of sprints, live their “to be list” and stay humble
The session will close with a panel featuring 4 CEOs which will provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and strategies at different stages of a CEO's career, from mid-career development to first-time CEO challenges to legacy and succession planning, and the continuous evolution of skills and lessons learned.
General Session: Dairy Innovations Are Saving Lives and Creating New Markets
A dairy innovator joins leaders from the nation’s foremost hunger relief and disaster response organizations to talk dairy nutrition. Demand from food banks, disaster relief and global feeding programs is growing market thanks to the development of high-value, nutrient dense, and shelf-stable dairy foods. Around the world, dairy ingredients including milk powders play a vital role in getting micronutrients to chronically malnourished children through school feeding programs. Beyond milk powders, dairy ingredients are essential in the creation of a new line of medically-tailored foods that save the lives of thousands of children each year. Leaders from U.S. food banks often remark how milk, cheese, and yogurt are some of the most in-demand foods but least accessible for food bank customers. Issues such as lack of cold storage capacity are notorious for limiting the availability of fresh, nutritious and perishable foods such as milk and dairy. Now new shelf-stable products are changing the conversation and helping people recover from disasters such as hurricanes, landslides, wildfires, and more.
Speakers
Michael Dykes, D.V.M.
President & CEO | International Dairy Foods Association
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.
Thomas Halverson
CEO and President | CoBank
Thomas Halverson
As CoBank’s president and chief executive officer, Thomas Halverson is responsible for implementing the bank’s strategic and business direction as set by the board of directors. Previously, he served as CoBank’s chief banking officer where he was responsible for the bank’s Agribusiness and Rural Infrastructure Banking Groups as well as the Banking Services Group and corporate communications. Halverson is the chair of CoBank’s Management Executive Committee.
Prior to joining CoBank in 2013, Halverson spent more than 15 years with Goldman Sachs, where he was most recently managing director and chief of staff for Goldman Sachs Bank USA, a $120 billion commercial bank subsidiary of the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Prior to that he served in a variety of executive positions at the firm, including head of credit risk management for Goldman Sachs in Asia (ex-Japan) and executive director of credit risk management and advisory in London. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Thomas Halverson served as principal credit officer for country risk at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London.
Halverson is a summa cum laude graduate of Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He earned a British Marshall Scholarship and completed a doctorate in war studies at King’s College, University of London.
Carla Harris
Senior Client Advisor | Morgan Stanley
Carla Harris
Carla Harris is a Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley. She was most recently as a Vice Chairman responsible for increasing client connectivity and penetration to enhance revenue generation across the firm. She formerly headed the Emerging Manager Platform, the equity capital markets effort for the consumer and retail industries and was responsible for Equity Private Placements. In her 30+ year career, Ms. Harris has had extensive industry experiences in the technology, media, retail, telecommunications, transportation, industrial, and healthcare sectors. In August 2013, Carla Harris was appointed by President Barack Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council.
For more than a decade, Ms. Harris was a senior member of the equity syndicate desk and executed such transactions as initial public offerings for UPS, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Ariba, Redback, the General Motors sub-IPO of Delphi Automotive, and the $3.2 Billion common stock transaction for Immunex Corporation, one of the largest biotechnology common stock transactions in U.S. history. Ms. Harris was named to Fortune Magazine’s list of “The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America”, Fortune’s Most Influential List, U. S. Bankers Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance (2009, 2010, 2011), Black Enterprise’s Top 75 Most Powerful Women in Business (2017), and “Top 75 African Americans on Wall Street”, and to Essence Magazine’s list of “The 50 Women Who are Shaping the World”, Ebony’s list of the Power 100 and “15 Corporate Women at the Top” and was named “Woman of the Year 2004” by the Harvard Black Men’s Forum and in 2011 by the Yale Black Men’s Forum.
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Carla received an MBA, Second Year Honors from Harvard Business School and an AB in economics from Harvard University, Magna Cum Laude. Carla has also received Honorary Doctorates of Laws, Humanities and Business from Marymount Manhattan College, Bloomfield College, Converse College, Jacksonville University, Simmons College, the College of New Rochelle, St. Thomas Aquinas College, Babson College and Fisk University, Wake Forest University and Felician University respectively. Carla Harris is actively involved in her community and heartily believes that “we are blessed so that we can be a blessing to someone else.”
She is the past Chair of the Board of the Morgan Stanley Foundation and of The Executive Leadership Council, and sits on the boards of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), The Sesame Workshop, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and is an active member of the St. Charles Gospelites of the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and the Mark Howell Singers. She is a member of the board of overseers of Harvard University and of the board of directors of the Walmart Corporation, Cummins Corporation and MetLife. Ms. Harris was co-chair of the National Social Action Commission of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She has been named to the New Jersey Hall of Fame (2015) and has received the Bert King Award from the Harvard Business School African American Alumni Association, the 2005 Women’s Professional Achievement Award from Harvard University, the Pierre Toussaint Medallion from the Office of Black Ministry of the Archdiocese of New York, the Women of Power Award given by the National Urban League, the Women of Influence Award from The Links, Incorporated and many other awards. In her other life, Carla is a singer who has sold out concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theatre, and released 4 Gospel CDs:“O This is Christmas” (2021) “Unceasing Praise” (2011), “Joy Is Waiting”(2005), and her first CD entitled, “Carla’s First Christmas”(2000), was a bestseller on Amazon.com in New York and was featured on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather in his “American Dream” segment. She is also an internationally renowned public speaker and the author of the books, Strategize to Win (2014), Expect to Win (2009) (Hudson Press) and of Lead To Win (2022).
Kevin McCarthy
55th Speaker of the House
Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthy is the 55th Speaker of the House.
Described as a man who exudes “true American grit,” McCarthy's political journey is the quintessential American story. After starting a small business at the age of 21, McCarthy went back to college to earn his bachelor and master degrees in business. He was rejected for an internship to the congressional seat he later held for seventeen years. Prior to being elected to Congress, McCarthy served in the California State Legislature where he became the fastest rising Minority Leader in the history of the California State Assembly.
McCarthy won the Speakership after a historic 15 ballots, and went on to secure $2 trillion in deficit reduction, all while protecting the full faith and credit of the United States, keeping our government open, and making sure our troops were paid. He also refocused Congress on America’s long-term challenges by creating the first-ever Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
Throughout his career, McCarthy fought for a more effective, efficient, and accountable federal government. He also personally recruited and actively supported commonsense candidates for office who have helped reshape the Republican Party – several of whom have become Senators, Governors, and cabinet secretaries. Overall, under his leadership, dozens of new Republican women, minorities, and veterans have been elected to Congress.
In Congress, he held nearly every elected leadership position in the House Republican conference and served under three Presidents, during two economic crises, and through consistent political upheaval while always maintaining his approach to governing as a Happy Warrior.
Eric Traupe
National Intelligence Leader; Former CIA Assistant Director
Eric Traupe
A powerful voice in the Intelligence Community and one of its leading national security professionals, Eric Traupe is the former assistant director of the CIA for the Near East and served on the front lines of U.S. counterterrorism efforts for more than 20 years. He remains a trusted advisor to our nation’s highest-ranking leaders, having advised CIA directors, presidents, cabinet and military officials, and members of Congress, and participated in momentous White House strategic, policy, and resource decisions. Traupe has tackled the full range of U.S. national security issues, and his leadership, acumen, and unmatched ability to cultivate enduring relationships between the U.S. and its foreign partners continues to be heralded in intelligence circles.
Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Traupe is an inclusive and transformational leader whose “exemplary leadership will reverberate across the CIA for decades,” as noted by the agency’s top officials. He draws from his experiences championing diverse, people-centered cultures to share proven strategies for embracing the principles of servant leadership for more impactful collaboration across organizational and cultural boundaries, and empower teams to innovate, enhance creativity, develop solutions, and succeed in challenging environments. To complement his highly sought-after leadership insights, Traupe is masterfully skilled at engaging audiences with his captivating perspectives on today’s top issues in risk management, national intelligence, and the ever-evolving geopolitical landscape.
In addition to advising U.S. and world leaders, military officials, and private industry executives, as CIA Near East assistant director, Traupe’s work centered on responding to trends impacting the global landscape. This included directing traditional intelligence activities, such as Iran’s nuclear and regional ambitions, the CIA’s foreign partnerships across the Middle East and North Africa, and global competition with China and Russia. He also spearheaded initiatives to develop innovative cyber, technology, and data exploitation solutions to address complex national security issues. Throughout his tenure, he thrived in assignments that required crisis management skills, sound judgement, and an ability to assess internal and external risks. As a member of the CIA’s Expanded Corporate Board, Traupe led thousands of officers from different professional units, developed and executed multi-billion-dollar budgets, and addressed acute intelligence and foreign policy challenges on behalf of the CIA director. He expertly assessed geopolitical and economic trends, forecasted key budgetary investments, evaluated security risks, and weighed the implications of the pandemic’s impact to ensure his workforce maintained cohesion, resiliency, and mission-focus.
Prior to the CIA, Traupe served in the United States Marine Corps for nearly 10 years. He held several command and staff assignments and completed deployments to the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans, Japan, and Europe. Traupe played a key role in managing three separate non-combatant evacuation operations in The Gambia, Albania, and Zaire, during which, a total of 1,500 U.S. citizens were safely rescued.
Since leaving the public sector, Traupe founded Azimuth Global LLC, a consulting firm that provides strategic advisory services to Fortune 500 companies in the technology, national security, and strategic risk sectors. He serves as an operating partner with Lightspeed Venture Partners, sits on the Board of Advisors for Intel Corporation, and serves as an advisor to Anduril Industries Inc. and other emerging technology companies. Traupe is also a senior Advisor at WestExec, on the Board of Advisors for the Center for a New American Security, a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, and a panel member for the Special Competitive Studies Project focused on geopolitical rivalries associated with China and Russia. Additionally, he is an Ambassador for the Third Option Foundation and the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation. He was previously the President of Capella Federal Inc., a subsidiary of Capella Space Corp.
Consistently recognized as a strategic thinker and collaborative leader, Traupe’s contributions to the Intelligence Community have been recognized with several honors, including the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, Clandestine Service Career Award, CIA’s Director Award (twice), George W. Bush Award for Excellence, and the Presidential Rank Award — to name a few. He holds an MBA in international business from American University and a BA in communications from the University of Michigan, where he starred as a linebacker participating in two Rose Bowls and a Gator Bowl.
Hotel
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
Dairy Forum will be held at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas. A discounted room rate of $289 per night plus applicable taxes will be available to Dairy Forum attendees. The deadline to secure a room is Friday, January 3, 2025 or until the room block sells out. We have reserved a large block of rooms, but once the room block is full, 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
Hotel Cancellation Policy: Hotel reservations can be canceled up to twenty-four (24) hours prior to arrival without fees. If complete cancellation of an individual reservation takes place within twenty-four (24) hours of the scheduled arrival a cancellation fee equal to one (1) night room and tax will be charged by the hotel.
The Oaks Course at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
The Oaks course presents a memorable, fair challenge to golfers of all ability levels. The host course of the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open reflects the Tour’s departure from the modern style course (expansive grass areas and spectator mounding) to a more natural look and feel. Eighteen holes, 7435 yards, Par 72.
Schedule
7:30 a.m. Central - Morning Golf Tournament – Shotgun Start (Scramble)
1:00 p.m. Central - Afternoon Golf Tournament - Shotgun Start (Scramble)
Golf Tournament Registration Fee: $299
Registration includes greens fee, cart fee, practice facilities, light breakfast (morning players) or boxed lunch (afternoon players), 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:
IDFA Foundation Cornhole Fundraiser
Join us on Monday afternoon, Jan. 27, from 5:00-6:30 p.m. for the first annual Dairy Forum Cornhole Fundraiser to benefit the IDFA Foundation. All cornhole enthusiasts and novices are welcome. Register in groups of two or on your own to have an opportunity to play cornhole while also fundraising to make a difference for our industry and the communities where we work.
The fundraiser will include a round-robin tournament and playoff with the top eight players, as well as an awards ceremony. The top two players at the end of the tournament will win their very own cornhole boards and an inscribed award plaque! 100% of the funds raised will support the IDFA Foundation, which promotes the health and wellbeing of people, communities, and our planet on behalf of U.S. dairy.
If you would like to support the IDFA Foundation, please click here.
Registration Fees
Individual $249
Doubles $399
5K Fun Walk/Run
Sunday, January 26 | 9:00AM
All levels of runners and walkers are invited to participate in the Dairy Forum 5K Fun Walk/Run. This event is a great way to start your day with a little cardio alongside your colleagues. The 5K (3.1 miles) route will lead you around the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa property.
Registration Fee: $60
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 or ACH/Wire Transfer
The fastest and easiest way to register is online. If an invoice is required to submit payment by check or ACH/wire transfer, please email registrar@idfa.org.
Q: Registration Substitutions
Registration is non-transferable from one company to another; however, substitutions within companies are welcome at any time. Please email registrar@idfa.org if you would like to make a registration substitution.
Q: Registration Cancellation Policy
Registration cancellations received in writing will be accepted prior to December 20, 2024 for a full refund, minus a $75 processing fee. Cancellations received after December 20, 2024, will be eligible for a 50 percent refund, less the processing fee. Your Dairy Forum registration fee is non-refundable after January 6, 2025. Substitutions may be made without penalty. All cancellations and substitutions must be received in writing at registrar@idfa.org.
Q: Golf Tournament Cancellation Policy
All golf tournament cancellations will receive a full refund before December 20, 2024. No golf tournament refunds will be issued after December 20, 2024. All cancellations must be received in writing at registrar@idfa.org.
Q: 5K Fun Walk/Run Cancellation Policy
All 5K Fun Walk/Run cancellations will receive a full refund before December 20, 2024. No 5K Fun Walk/Run refunds will be issued after December 20, 2024. All cancellations must be received in writing at registrar@idfa.org.
Q: Foundation Cornhole Fundraiser Cancellation Policy
All Foundation Cornhole Fundraiser cancellations will receive a full refund before December 20, 2024. No Foundation Cornhole Fundraiser refunds will be issued after December 20, 2024. 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 press@idfa.org. News media must present credentials to qualify.
Q: Attire
Attire is business casual although we encourage attendees to dress comfortably for evening receptions which may be held outdoors.
Q: Affiliate Events
Affiliate events are 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 functions. If you are interested in reserving space at the conference hotel for an affiliate meeting or event, please contact lgold@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 propels the dairy industry to new heights by providing attendees with the most cutting-edge information. Designed to elevate the industry and the businesses within it, Dairy Forum offers an unrivaled platform for exchanging ideas, fostering innovation, and cultivating meaningful connections. With a focus on empowering attendees with actionable insights, Dairy Forum equips them with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate emerging trends, capitalize on opportunities, and overcome challenges. By attending Dairy Forum, industry professionals can expect to elevate their businesses, advance their expertise, and actively contribute to the conversation that shapes the future of dairy.
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.
Please contact lgold@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 vpender@idfa.org.