CheeseCon, taking place April 15–17, will feature a tabletop exhibit floor that is larger than ever this year, with 371 booths hosted by the industry’s most trusted supplier businesses. The trade show floor also features two Ideas Showcase stages, where suppliers will unveil their newest innovations and insights. I had the chance to chat with John Umhoefer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA), to learn more.
Early bird registration ends on February 25, so get moving if you want to take advantage of 10 percent off most registrations. April 7 will be the advance registration deadline—after that date, all registrations take place on-site.
“The first full day of the conference kicks off on Wednesday, April 16, with a must-see Opening Keynote Panel: Mastering Change Management in Dairy's Evolving Environment,” John began telling me. “Betty Thompson, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Society for Human Resource Management, offers change management strategies and tools, complemented by a panel of dairy industry leaders featuring Heather Anfang, President of Dairy Foods, EVP at Land O' Lakes; Craig Caballero, CEO of United Dairymen of Arizona; Bob Sarver, President and CEO of Great Lakes Cheese; and David Scharfman, VP of Growth at Specialty Cheese Company.”
Following the Opening Keynote, attendees can explore a variety of thought-provoking breakout sessions, including:
Following the WCMA Recognition Breakfast exclusively sponsored by dsm-firmenich on Thursday, April 17, attendees can keep the learning going with four fascinating seminar offerings:
Later that day, attendees can dive into one of two informative, hands-on workshops:
“When thousands of industry professionals converge on Madison, Wisconsin, in April, they’ll find a wealth of ways to connect and grow, from nearly 400 tabletop exhibits by trusted suppliers to impactful educational sessions, action-packed celebrations of the industry’s best, and more,” John continued. “We’re thrilled to partner with CDR’s world-class technical experts to offer this one-of-a-kind event focused on dairy processing.”
CheeseCon offers much more than just impactful education and meaningful connection—it’s fun too! The event will kick off on Tuesday, April 15, with the elegant Tetra Pak Welcome Reception, open to all, and the WCMA Young Professionals Reception (add-on ticket required). On Wednesday, April 16, join friends and peers at the Amcor Continental Breakfast before diving into the Opening Keynote Panel and a morning of fascinating seminars. Later, on Wednesday evening, grab a bidding paddle and join the action-packed Novonesis Reception and Championship Cheese Auction.
Then, on Thursday, April 17, which begins with the WCMA Recognition Breakfast, attendees can reconnect in the evening with friends and peers at the U.S. Champions Reception, exclusively sponsored by Nelson-Jameson. Then, they can close out another successful CheeseCon at the lively Custom Fabricating & Repair Afterglow Reception.
“CheeseCon is North America’s premier gathering of dairy processors. This is the only event that combines the world-renowned expertise of the CDR team with a targeted focus on cheese, butter, and whey products,” John noted. “A diverse range of industry professionals attend CheeseCon, including CEOs, marketing staff and product distributors, plant managers, food safety and quality assurance staff, young professionals, sales personnel, and others.”
All of this and much more can be found in Madison, Wisconsin, in just a couple of months. Will you be in attendance?
