ST. PAUL, Minn. – Midwest Dairy Association™ (Midwest Dairy), the producer-funded checkoff organization that works to increase sales, foster innovation and inspire consumer confidence in dairy products and practices, recently underwent an organizational realignment. The new structure, which welcomes Chuck Cruickshank as the new Senior Vice President of Industry Relations to the staff, positions Midwest Dairy to better serve the future needs of Midwest dairy producers and the industry.
Under the new structure, the Industry Image and Relations program will be realigned into two program areas, including Industry Relations and the newly-created Integrated Communications. Cruickshank, who brings more than 35 years of agricultural experience and was most recently with Dairy Management Inc., will be responsible for the organization’s producer and board relations strategies as well as implementing industry relations activities in Minnesota and acting as the lead relationship manager for a number of Midwest co-ops and other cheese and ingredient processors. The Integrated Communications team, which will primarily be responsible for inspiring consumer confidence in dairy products and practices, will be led by Senior Vice President Donna Moenning, who brings with her 25 years of agricultural and communications experience, including five with Midwest Dairy.
To proactively position the nutritional value of dairy products, particularly as a solution for child health and wellness, the Nutrition Affairs and School Nutrition programs will be merged to become the Health and Wellness Team. It will be led by Senior Vice President and registered dietitian Molly Pelzer, who has more than 26 years with the organization. The Marketing Team will continue to be managed by Senior Vice President Kevin Stiles and will be focused on dairy product innovation and leveraging the dairy producers’ investment by working with and through industry partners. Stiles has more than 26 years of experience, including 11 years with Midwest Dairy.
Lastly, Brenda Goldman, who joined the organization in March, has become the Vice President of Human Resources and Planning. Goldman brings more than 10 years of human resources experience, most recently with Deluxe Corporation, and in addition to leading Midwest Dairy Human Resources, she will facilitate the strategic planning process. Mike Kruger remains as CEO of Midwest Dairy. He has been with the organization for more than 25 years.
The history of the Midwest Dairy weaves through nearly 90 years of dairy history. Producers in Iowa, Missouri and eastern Kansas formed the Midland Dairy Association in 1971 with headquarters in Ankeny, Iowa, and a program office in Overland Park, Kansas. Their counterparts in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota – all states that produce more milk than they can consume – combined their state promotional organizations in 1993, forming the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council of the Upper Midwest, with headquarters in St. Paul, Minn., and a program office in Brookings, S.D. These two larger organizations joined forces in 2000, forming the Midwest Dairy Association and adding dairy producers and consumer territory in Arkansas, western Kansas and eastern Oklahoma. The American Dairy Association of Illinois joined Midwest Dairy a year later.
Today, Midwest Dairy represents more than 11,000 dairy producers, about 20 percent of all U.S. dairy operations. Midwest Dairy programs reach nearly 35 million consumers through marketing, promotion, nutrition education programs and public relations campaigns. Offices are located in St. Paul, Minnesota; Ankeny, Iowa; and Overland Park, Kansas.
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Midwest Dairy Association is a non-profit organization funded by dairy producers to build demand for dairy products through integrated marketing, nutrition education and research. Midwest Dairy is funded by checkoff dollars from dairy producers in a nine-state region, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. For more information, visit www.midwestdairycheckoff.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook at Midwest Dairy.
Source: Midwest Dairy Association