MADISON, WIS. – The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) officially expanded its board of directors and chose officers to serve in leadership roles for the organization in the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1.

WCMA shared that Tim Omer, president and managing director at Emmi Roth USA, was reelected as the association’s president.

Omer will work with the following industry standouts on WCMA’s executive committee:

• First vice president: Mike Sipple, vice president, manufacturing, Agropur

• Second vice president: Jeff Gentine, president and chief executive officer, Masters Gallery Foods

• Treasurer: Kim Heiman, president, Nasonville Dairy

• Secretary: Chris Roelli, owner, Roelli Cheese

The organization’s board voted in 2023 to increase its number of regional manufacturer representatives and add new seats for processor and marketer members, as well as supplier members. As a result, WCMA elected seven new members.

WCMA’s expansion called for two new Western US board seats, which went to Mindy Berrey, senior director of sales, global dairy ingredients, Land’ O’ Lakes Inc.; and Wilf Costello, chief commercial officer-cheese, Glanbia Nutritionals.

With the addition of a second Eastern US seat, the board elected Mark Federico, owner of Narragansett Creamery.

The newly established seat for processor and marketer members went to Kurt Epprecht, vice president of cheese quality and dairy policy, Great Lakes Cheese.

For the new supplier member seat, the board chose Betsy Erdelyi, managing director, BMO Bank N.A.

Additionally, the board selected two new director-at-large positions, which went to Orphee Paillotin, owner, Alpinage Artisan Cheese; and Jennifer Drake, senior VP of operations, Grande Cheese.

The board election process for existing seats included finding a replacement for the eastern Wisconsin seat, with Sargento Foods general manager Brian Baker completing his maximum six years of service. The board elected Jon Metzig, owner, Union Star Cheese, for the seat. Likewise, the Western US at-large seat vacated by Valley Queen Cheese CEO Doug Wilke will be filled by Tony Eafanti, VP, business development, Leprino Foods.

With V&V Supremo technical director of operations Tom Dahmen retiring from his role, Foreign Type Cheesemakers Association chose Luke Buholzer, VP, sales, Klondike Cheese Co., to replace him on the WCMA board. Similarly, the Eastern Wisconsin Cheesemakers & Buttermakers Association will now be represented on the board by Henning’s Cheese president Kerry Henning, with Renard’s Cheese owner Chris Renard stepping down.

Reelected board members were:

• Bruce Workman, owner, Edelweiss Creamery

• Kim Heiman, president, Nasonville Dairy

• Declan Roche, senior VP and chief commercial officer, Foremost Farms USA

• Richard Guggisberg, owner, Guggisberg Cheese

• Jeff Gentine, president and CEO, Masters Gallery Foods

• Greg Alberts, president, Kelley Supply

• Paul Bauer, CEO, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery

• Steve Stettler, president, Decatur Dairy