Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association Details Speaker Lineup for CheeseExpo 2024; John Umhoefer Comments

Get ready to learn from thought leaders, preeminent researchers, and top technical experts in dairy processing at CheeseExpo 2024! Those interested in attending can register here through the end of today, April 8, for the expo, set for April 16–18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All registrations after today will take place on-site.

“This one-of-a-kind event is a hub for meaningful connection and a thoughtful exchange of ideas, all tailored to the dairy processing industry,” said John Umhoefer, Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) Executive Director. “Whether you're looking for innovative products, fresh perspectives, or a broader network—if it’s important to you, you’ll find it at CheeseExpo.”

Hosted by WCMA and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR), CheeseExpo offers everything needed to help dairy manufacturers, processors, and their supplier partners achieve their business goals. Join over 4,000 friends and colleagues for invaluable networking, exciting celebrations honoring industry greats, and engaging educational seminars.

Seminars begin on Wednesday, April 17, all taking place from 9:15-11:30 a.m. After the Opening Keynote sponsored by RELCO, attendees can continue the sustainability conversation in Dairy Sustainability through the Supply Chain, where the University of Wisconsin’s Dr. Michel Wattiaux leads an all-star panel, including FrieslandCampina’s Sumeet Mathur as well as:

• Shaina Ashare, Sr. Manager Member Relations Dairy – Sustainability and Member Services, Land O’ Lakes
• Kyle Jensen, Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing, Hilmar Cheese
• Josh Luth, Global Sustainability Lead, Schreiber Foods
• Sumeet Mathur, Managing Director, FrieslandCampina Consumer Dairy Americas
• Erica McDougall, Business Enablement & Sustainability Manager, Land O’ Lakes
• Shane Reynolds, SVP Commercial Operations, Milk Specialties Global

"Sustainability is no longer the wave of the future for dairy processors—it's the here-and-now,” Umhoefer notes. “Whether you’re just beginning your sustainability efforts, or you’re an experienced professional in the field, there’s no better place to learn and grow than at CheeseExpo."

Also on Wednesday, CDR will lead a Technical Session on Cheese Functionality and Performance. Learn the latest dairy research, from how to tailor-make your products to optimize cheese functionality and performance, to performance of concentrated milks and anti-caking agents in finished products. This session will take a deep dive into the functionality of low moisture part skim mozzarella.

Or, join WCMA for Policy Leadership and the 2024 Election, discussing the latest political prognostications from Dr. Charles Franklin of Marquette Law School. Mike Brown, Chief Economist, International Dairy Foods Association and Gregg Doud, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Milk Producers Federation close the program with a deep dive into Federal Milk Marketing Order reform developments.

On Thursday, April 18, all seminars will take place from 9:30-11:30 a.m. after the WCMA Recognition Breakfast exclusively sponsored by dsm-firmenich. In a Technical Session on the Impact of Dairy on Human Health, moderator and CDR Distinguished Scientist Dr. Rani Govindasamy-Lucey will explore the amazing components of milk and how they are designed for human health. Speakers include:

• Dr. Daniela Barile, Professor and Chemist and Chancellor Fellow in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of California – Davis
• Dr. Joseph Pierre, Assistant Professor of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Dr. Rodrigo A. Ibáñez, Associate Scientist, Center for Dairy Research
• John Larsen, Research Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison

In a Technical Session on Whey Permeate Utilization, CDR invites attendees to discover how dairy coproducts could play a role in the emerging bioeconomy. Dr. John Lucey, CDR Director and Professor of Food Science leads a panel of experts including:

• Dr. Tim Donohue, Director, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center
• Dr. Victor Ujor, Assistant Professor of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Dr. Erica L-W Majumder, Assistant Professor of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy has also prepared a deep dive into Food Safety Information for Dairy Processors. Join Tim Stubbs, SVP of the Innovation Center for an expert panel on Improving Your Food Safety Problem Solving, Root Cause Analysis, and CAPA Programs. The panel includes:

• Jeremy Travis, VP of Quality and Technical Services, Hilmar
• Erika Bognar, Director of Food Safety, Sargento Foods
• Gale Beard, Director of Operations, Food Safety & Quality, Grande Cheese Company

You’ll also hear an update on Listeria research projects from Dr. Kristin Schill, Associate Scientist, Food Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin.

Lastly, WCMA’s Building Your Workforce on an ESG Foundation features nationally renowned thought leader Jim Link, Chief Human Resources Officer for the Society for Human Resources Management, with a deep dive into new research on how sustainability drives the career decisions of Millennial and Gen Z workers. This session also features a practical discussion of how industry leaders are already using ESG endeavors to secure crucial human capital.

If you are interested in attending, I suggest you rush over to CheeseExpo.org before the end of today to secure your spot. Enjoy the show!