Tell us a bit about yourself and Grande Cheese.
I’m truly honored and humbled to serve you in leading the best dairy advocacy organization in Wisconsin. Growing up on a dairy farm in Lafayette County, which has been in our family for 150 years, I have been involved in agriculture my entire life. Upon graduating from college, I started working for Grande as a producer services representative in 1990. Since then, I’ve worked in various roles within the company, currently as the vice president of milk marketing, sustainability and strategic sourcing. The teams I lead are responsible for sourcing everything we need to make “The Finest Italian Cheeses Money Can Buy® "including all direct materials (milk, packaging, natural gas, etc.) and indirect materials (services) necessary from the farm to the customer. My teams also market the byproducts of milk not required for certain products, such as surplus butterfat/cream, whey, etc.
Grande was founded in 1941 by Italian immigrants. The guiding principles of integrity and heartfelt devotion to the craft of making authentic Italian cheeses have been the bedrock of Grande’s growth and success. In our 84 years, we have grown to become an industry leader within the Wisconsin agricultural community and a nationally established brand. Today, the cheeses that proudly display the Grande brand are the preferred choice of our food service customers – discerning independent pizzerias and Italian casual dining restaurants nationwide. Even now, beyond the US, we are expanding our international presence with the brand both in Italian cheeses and whey ingredients.
Tell us why you are committed to the organization and what it means to Grande Cheese.
It is important to know that Grande is committed to a producer-direct milk supply to support our growing business. With that, Grande was excited to witness DBA’s creation 25 years ago and we have participated in supporting the organization each step of the way. DBA’s principles align closely with Grande’s Social Responsibility pillars of Business Sustainability, Environmental Awareness, Associates, and Community Involvement. As a processor who has all our manufacturing assets in Wisconsin, it is important to note that the success of Wisconsin’s dairy farmers is critical to the success of Grande. Without the farmers’ success, Grande’s business continuity is at risk.
What are some challenges the dairy community is facing today that you feel our organization can take steps to address?
Twenty-five years ago, the legacy of Wisconsin maintaining the “America’s Dairyland” title was at risk. Cow numbers were declining, California was capturing dairy market share, and it was a challenge for progressive-minded dairy producers to grow in Wisconsin. As for Grande, at that time, we were a smaller company, yet we found ourselves stretching our milk procurement perimeter to encompass five states to ensure delivery of the high-quality raw milk required to support our business. Fast forward to today and Wisconsin’s industry has experienced impressive growth. Since 2000, Wisconsin has added 25 million pounds per day of new milk production, outpacing California’s 19 million pounds per day. At Grande, we now only have to reach ~50 miles from each manufacturing plant to secure our milk requirements. In today’s milk procurement environment, producers are fewer, larger, more business savvy and most have plans for continued growth. This is exciting for our industry and Wisconsin. Quite frankly, we are in a position that I wasn’t sure was possible 25 years ago. DBA deserves much credit for clearing a political and regulatory path for this impressive growth. At the 25-year mark, it is appropriate to stop and reflect on the journey, but it’s no time to be complacent, as both challenges and opportunities continue to lie ahead. Wisconsin and the US dairy industry have tremendous opportunities to support a growing global demand for dairy products. But to capture this opportunity we must think and work more collaboratively between farmers and processors. These relationships must grow to establish better business transparency and communications. Twenty-five years ago, the farmer may have watched their milk leave the driveway with little regard for where it went or the consumer it touched. Today, it’s critically important to understand the milk journey, processing complexities, and ultimately, the customer’s needs/expectations. Twenty-five years ago, the relationship between producer and processor was largely gauged by what they put in the tank (quality, volume, etc.). Moving forward, more intentionality must be provided by the producer and processor to align bi-directional business to business needs and expectations. This will be uncomfortable for both sides initially, but if we are to continue to elevate Wisconsin as “the” dairy state, it is critical that we think about the business relationships more proactively.
What are you looking forward to the most in your role as president?
I’m not quite sure where the time has gone, but my 35 years of working in this great industry have convinced me that the best years lie ahead of us. It is through the combined motivation and optimism of all DBA members that we will continue to advance our industry for the betterment of farmers, processors, the environment, communities, and employees. Thank you again for the opportunity to be a part of your success.