NextGen Leadership Program

To prepare for the future and retain top talent, organizations need to provide learning and professional development programs for their next generation of leadership. At IDFA we are dedicated to providing resources to our members to ensure positive growth within their companies.

The NextGen Leadership program is designed to support, guide and prepare mid-senior level dairy industry professionals ready to take the next step in their leadership journey. This unique program convenes classes of IDFA members for a multi-faceted, year-long curriculum. The program equips participants with skills required to successfully conquer business demands today – and in the future. Participants build relationships with their peers, develop leadership skills and learn to become advocates for the dairy industry. The program strives to provide dairy professionals with the knowledge and networking opportunities to become future leaders in the dairy industry.

Program Goals

The program is developed around three core development areas:

• Advocacy
• Leadership Development
• Networking

Eligibility

The application period for the Cohort 5 class (2023-2024) opened on May 8, 2023 and will close on June 16, 2023.

Program participation is limited to representatives of IDFA member companies. All candidates must have the support of their companies to participate, and they must commit to participation in the entire program, including attendance at all events. Candidates who wish to apply must complete an application.

Staff Contact

Colin Newman

Chief of Staff

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Apply

Thank you for your interest in applying to the IDFA NextGen Leadership Program. The application period for the Cohort 5 class (2023-2024) opened May 8, 2023 and will close on June 16, 2023.

How to Apply

1. Fill out Application Form. Please submit completed form to Colin Newman at cnewman@idfa.org by June 16, 2023.  
2. When you submit your application form, please be sure to include supplemental items which include the following: cover letter, resume, and letter of recommendation from company sponsor.

Note: Your application will not be considered until you have submitted the required supplemental items. Accepted applicants will be responsible for a $5,000.00 program fee.

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2023-2024 Schedule

Washington Leadership & Advocacy Seminar (In-Person)

September 12, 2023 – September 15, 2023
Washington, DC

Fall Leadership Webinar Virtual Workshop I

October 2023
Zoom

Fall Leadership Webinar Virtual Workshop II

November 2023
Zoom

Dairy Forum 2024 (In-Person)

January 21, 2024 - January 24, 2024
Phoenix, AZ

Spring Leadership Webinar Virtual Workshop

March 2024
Zoom

Spring Meetings of the IDFA Executive Council & Industry Segment Boards (In-Person)

May 2024

IDFA Leadership Symposium 2024 (In-Person)

June 2024

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Sponsor

Please find the NextGen Leadership Program Sponsor Prospectus via the link below to explore the opportunity your organization has to support and empower the next generation of leaders in the dairy industry. Please contact Melissa Lembke at mlembke@idfa.org to inquire more about a potential sponsorship.

Cohort 4 (2022-2023 Class) Sponsored by:

FAQs

What is the NextGen Leadership Program?

The NextGen Leadership Program is an IDFA People Strategy initiative designed to support, guide and prepare industry professionals ready to take the next step in their leadership journey. This unique program will convene a class of IDFA members for a multi-faceted year-long program.

The NextGen Leadership program will equip participants with skills required to successfully conquer business’ demands today – and in the future. Participants will build relationships with their peers, develop leadership skills and learn to become advocates for the dairy industry. 

Who is invited to apply to the NextGen Leadership Program?

Program participation is open to representatives of IDFA member companies. All candidates must have the support of their companies to participate. This program is geared toward mid-senior level dairy industry professionals.

Does my company have to be an IDFA member to apply to NextGen Leadership Program?

Program participation is limited to representatives of IDFA member companies.

Is there a cost to joining the program?

Yes, there is a $5,000.00 program fee. Accepted candidates of the Cohort 5 class will be contacted with payment instructions.

If my company isn’t an IDFA member, is there an extra fee to join?

At this time, the NextGen Leadership Program is only open to IDFA members.

How do I join the NextGen Leadership Program?

Applications for the 2023-2024 class open May 8.  The application period closes on June 16^th.

Can more than one person from my company participate in the program?

Yes, more than one person per company can apply to be part of the NextGen Leadership Program.

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Cohort 4 (2022-2023 Class):

Sponsored by:

• Nathan Bass, Vice President of Operations, Valley Queen Cheese
• Gale Beard, Director, Quality Assurance, Grande Cheese Company
• Melissa Bischoff, Director, Milk Procurement, Leprino Foods
• Corey Brower, Director - R&D, Saputo Dairy USA
• Brian Carden, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Crystal Creamery, Inc.
• Steven Christiansen, VP of HR and OD, Idaho Milk Products
• Rylen Dickey, Category Manager – Ingredients, Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.
• Dakonya Freis, VP-Product Management & Marketing, Nelson-Jameson Inc.
• Jeff Galbraith, Director of Operations, Continental Dairy Facilities LLC
• Grant Gondell, Head of Global Commodities, United Dairymen of Arizona
• Erin Graf, Leader - Total Rewards & HR Operations, Darigold, Inc.
• Ben Hoperich, Dairy Category Manager, Abbott Labs
• Heather Krebsbach, Director - Operational Quality, Sargento Foods Inc.
• Ana Leach, Assistant General Counsel, Land O'Lakes, Inc.
• Edward Learoyd, Vice President, Safety, Food Safety, Quality, Regulatory, Great Lakes Cheese Company
• Jose Maldonado, R&D – Lead, Lala US Inc.
• Matthew Maxson, VP, Corporate Controller, California Dairies, Inc.
• Ryan Murphy, Director, National Sales & Operations, Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.
• Mark Petersen, Ingredients Sales Manager, Valley Milk LLC
• Chris Pritchard, Chief Financial Officer, DairyAmerica, Inc.
• Matthew Ryan, Director, Operations and Capital Management, Hershey Creamery Company
• Casey Sallander, CFO - Kemps LLC and Central, Dairy Farmers of America
• Sarah Schmidt, Vice President of Public Affairs, Associated Milk Producers Inc.
• Billie Shaffer, Vice President, Product Strategic Management, Glanbia Nutritionals
• Jason Smith, Director of Sales and Logistics, Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Inc.
• Sean Steichen, Director of Sales, Diversified Foods, Inc.
• Blake Tangen, Director of Supply Chain & Risk Management, First District Association
• Klazien Voogt, General Manager, Columbia River Technologies
• Jeff Wilkerson, Supply Chain Operations Leader, Kroger Co.
• Matt Zimbric, Senior Director of Cheese Technology, Foremost Farms USA

Cohort 3 (2021-2022 Class):

Sponsored by:

• Mike Agate, Turner Dairy Farms, Inc. m
• James Anderson, California Dairies, Inc.
• Ivan Beck, Agropur Cooperative
• Mindy Berrey, Land O'Lakes, Inc.
• Kristen Coady, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
• James De Jong, Glanbia Nutritionals
• Derek DeGroot, Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.
• Michael Dudas, Schuman Cheese
• Kathryn Egan, Crystal Farms Dairy Company
• Thomas Filak, Dairy.com
• Steve Gulley, DairyAmerica
• Marissa Hake, fairlife, LLC
• Heather Iafrate, Norseland Incorporated
• Marvin Jones, Bel Brands USA, Inc.
• Mara Kamat, Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc.
• Kelly Kerrigan, Michigan Milk Producers Association
• Jimmy Lawhorn, Blue Bell Creameries, L.P.
• Brian Loch, Saputo Dairy Division USA
• Kate Lott, Tillamook County CreameryAssociation
• Florian Middelhuis, Idaho Milk Products
• Tracy Mobley, The Kroger Co.
• Kristin Naranjo, Valley Milk LLC
• Jose Quijada, Ecolab
• Patti Schaefer, First District Association
• Sean Simonian, Producers Dairy Foods, Inc.
• Kristine Stoll, Schreiber Foods, Inc.
• Brad Suhling, Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.
• Rachel Turgasen, Foremost Farms USA
• Eric Vorpahl, Masters Gallery Foods, Incorporated
• Zachary Waite, Hershey Creamery Company

Cohort 2 (2020-2021 Class):

Sponsored by:

• Chris Allen, Vice President Dairy Marketing & Econ. Policy, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
• Erika Bognar, Director - Food Safety, Sargento Foods Inc. 
• Colby Butcher, Operations Manager, Plains Dairy, LLC
• Darin Copeland, Public Relations Manager, Prairie Farms Dairy Inc.
• Brian Danahy, Senior Director of Fluid plants, Distribution, and CI, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. 
• Peter Ernster, Vice President Sales, California Dairies Inc.
• Christina Fiocchi, Project Management & Packaging Manager, Saputo Dairy Division USA
• Trevor Fleege, Director - Dairy Commodities, Agropur
• John Foster, Global Category Manager, Nestle/Nestrade
• Eric Fuhrmann, Division Change Management Lead, Saputo Dairy Division USA
• Stephanie Goodwin, Senior Manager, Federal Government & Industry Affairs, Danone North America
• Jamie Gudgeon, Director of Hauling & Scheduling, Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative
• Darin Hanson, Vice President of Milk Supply and Risk Management, Foremost Farms USA
• Kyle Hunter, Vice President, Stanpac Inc.
• Bryan Johnston, Vice President Foodservice, Americas, Fonterra USA Inc.
• Steven Keilman, Corporate Quality and Food Safety Manager, Saputo Dairy Division USA
• Alison Krebs, Dairy Policy Senior Manager, Leprino Foods Company 
• Donna Krska, Leader of Strategic Sourcing & Procurement, Darigold, Inc. 
• Katsy Leeman, Sanitation Manager, Brewster Cheese Company
• Andy Pfister, Vice President - Procurement/Industrial Sales, Masters Gallery Foods Inc.
• Annie Piepenhagen, Senior Director, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
• Bob Sarver, Director of Operations & Continuous Improvement, Great Lakes Cheese, Co., Inc.
• Kim Slack, Strategic Account Manager, TC Transcontinental Packaging
• Tim Smith, Sales Director, Fonterra USA Inc.
• Leaine Souza, West Region Member Relations Manager, Land O' Lakes, Inc. 
• Brian Sweet, Chief Financial Officer, Producers Dairy Foods, Inc. 
• Martina Woods, Regulatory Scientist, Saputo Dairy Division USA
• Ryan Yonkman, Vice President, Rice Dairy LLC

Cohort 1 (2019-2020 Class):

• Ebru Basaran-Shull, Director, Compliance and Government Affairs, Sargento Foods, Inc., Plymouth, Wisc.
• Mark Benson, Vice President Supply Chain, Leprino Foods Company, Denver, Colo.
• Brian Fletcher, Vice President, Commercial/Institutional Service and Sales, Rice Dairy, Chicago, Ill.
• Lucas Fuess, Director of Dairy Market Intelligence, HighGround Dairy, Chicago, Ill.
• David Hakes, Regulatory Product Compliance Manager, Company Affairs, Schreiber Foods, Inc., Green Bay, Wisc.
• Jeff Larson, General Manager, Dairy Operation, H-E-B, San Antonio, Texas
• Megan Lesch, Food Safety and Compliance Manager, Shamrock Foods Company, Phoenix, Ariz.
• Erin Massey, Product Development Manager, Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., Kirkwood, Mo.
• Matt McClelland, Director of Operations, Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., Earth City, Mo.
• Caleb Robinson, Strategy Manager, Saputo Dairy Foods USA, Dallas, Texas
• Michael Sachau, Market Development Director, TC Transcontinental, Ada, Mich.
• Patrick Schallberger, CEO, Hollandia Dairy, San Marco, Calif.
• Matt Wilkinson, General Manager, IT (CIO), Strategic Projects and Contract Management, Great Lakes Cheese, Hiram, Ohio