2024 State of the Dairy Industry

John T. Umhoefer is executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, a business trade association serving Wisconsin’s $10 billion cheese manufacturing and processing industry. John joined the Association in 1992, and through his position at WCMA, serves on numerous industry committees and boards including the Wisconsin Agricultural Security Council, Dairy Rules Advisory Council, EDGE Cooperative Board and Wisconsin Agriculture Coalition. As leader at WCMA, John oversees a team of so-on-to-be 10 employees dedicated to working with federal and state legislators, as well as regulators in agriculture, natural resources, business development and health, to build and improve the dairy industry while preserving resources for generations to come. The Association serves as a trainer and educator for industry personnel, a business development and information hub, and a resources for grants and specialized expertise. WCMA is proud to work for dairy manufacturers with facilities and staff in 35 states. John earned a Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1985 and began his career as editor of National Dairy News, Cheese Market News and Dairy Foods: industry trade journals. In 1988, John joined Stephan & Brady Inc., a Madison advertising & public relations firm, as a senior public relations specialist serving dairy industry clients including Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. John and his wife Sara live in Madison and are proud parents of two daughters and one son.

Mary Wilcox is the founder of Significant Outcomes LLC, an Ohio-based consultancy, providing technical and business expertise spanning both the dairy and food industries. She holds a B.S. in Biological Science, M.S. in Animal Nutrition and MBA in Business. Learn more at https://significantoutcomesllc.com.

Geri has dedicated her career to helping Fortune 500 food and beverage companies, agriculture companies, and nonprofits successfully grow their businesses. She’s provided hands-on guidance in leading change, developing best-in-class teams, creating new ways of working, and executing strategic business and marketing programs that have delivered significant results. In 2020, Geri took the helm of The Dairy Alliance, serving as the Chief Executive Officer. A strategic thinker, Geri taps into her three decades of leadership experience and her ability to solve complex problems in a fast-changing environment to drive milk sales and improve dairy’s image in the Southeast while positioning The Dairy Alliance as a leader in the industry. Before joining The Dairy Alliance, Geri most recently served as President and CEO of CloverQuest, where she helped nutrition businesses and brands navigate the wellness environment and build and activate strategic plans that give them a competitive advantage. Geri also served in a leadership capacity at a variety of companies, including Vice President, Global Marketing at Isagenix; Vice President, Strategic Marketing - Beverage and Nutrition at Kerry; Senior Vice President, Nutrition Strategy and Business Development at Dairy Management Inc.; Senior Director, Nutrition Strategy and Science Outreach at PepsiCo; and Global Director, Strategic Communications at Solae. Geri holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Nutrition from Missouri State University, as well as a Master of Business Administration degree from the New York Institute of Technology. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geriberdak/

Amy DeLisio, MPH, RDN serves as CEO of Dairy Council of California bringing a wealth of executive and professional expertise to the position. Amy previously served as the Executive Director for the Center for Wellness and Nutrition, Public Health Institute where she grew the program over the last seven years leading over 30 staff members towards a noteworthy cause. Amy served as a Program Director for the Public Health Institute for the three years prior. She has also served as a Public Health Nutrition Supervisor for the CA Department of Health and as a Public Health Nutrition Consultant, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program for the CA Department of Health. Additionally, she served as a Nutritionist for the Watts Health Center Prevention Department. Amy holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Science, Coordinated Program in Dietetics with a Psychology minor from Youngstown State University, Ohio. Along with her professional skills and attributes, Amy likes to stay active by walking her dog, Penny, or working out at the gym. She enjoys being in nature, gardening, cooking, and baking. She likes to travel to new places and try the local cuisine and coffee (with cream of course).

Michael Burdeny is President of Challenge Dairy Products, Inc. -- a CA heritage brand established in 1911-- the leading butter brand in the west and a top challenger nationally. Challenge is a wholly owned subsidiary of CDI and leads the sales, marketing and distribution of its Challenge, Danish Creamery branded and private label butter at key retailers, along with other dairy products to 2,500+ foodservice accounts. Michael plays an integral role in fueling commercial growth, leading the teams responsible for innovation, marketing and sales.