The 2010 ADPI/ABI Annual Conference attracted just under 700 manufacturers, marketers and suppliers of manufactured dairy products from 16 different countries. Participants gathered for several days in Chicago, IL to hear prominent industry and government representatives discuss the state of the dairy industry and to network at the unique conference “where the dairy industry does business”.
“ADPI and ABI work very hard each year to put on this outstanding event, and by all accounts it was a very successful conference. We are committed to organizing a premier event that brings the leaders of the dairy industry together each year in Chicago to conduct business, strengthen relationships and hear from industry experts on relevant topics and current developments in the dairy sector,” stated Dale E. Kleber, the Chief Executive Officer of ADPI.
The conference began on Monday, April 26th with an outstanding panel of prominent dairy economists. Mary Ledman of Keough Ledman & Associates, moderated the group of panelists which included: Mark Voorbergen of Rabobank International – Europe; David McGowan, of Fonterra; Phil Plourd, of Blimling & Associates; and Mike McCully, of Kraft Foods.
Keynote speaker, Ed Wallace, Author, Founder and Chief Relationship Officer of The Relational Capital Group, followed the panelist session with an informative presentation on “Business Relationships That Last”.
ADPI Affiliate Member, M. Jane Carlisle, Jr. of United International Industries, Inc., recognized George E. Hutson as the 2010 Award of Merit recipient and described Mr. Hutson’s multi-faceted 40 year career in the dairy and cheese processing industry. Under Hutson’s leadership his company, Filtration Engineering, has become a worldwide leader in the dairy industry for its membrane filtration systems.
Mr. Dale Kleber, ADPI CEO, then presented the 2010 Jim Page Memorial Scholarship to
Cassie Tegeler, daughter of a Swiss Valley Farms Dairy Cooperative employee in Davenport, IA. Tegeler is a junior majoring in Journalism/Communications at the University of Northern Iowa who maintains a straight A average and has received numerous collegiate honors.
The group then heard from luncheon speaker, Brian Rittgers, Director of the Dairy Business Unite for Elanco Animal Health on Food Economics and Consumer Choice: Technology’s Role in the 21st Century.
The day ended with a butter industry breakout session focused on “Servicing the Market for Butterfat.” Moderator Tom Suber of the U.S. Dairy Export Council led presenters, Dave Stiefer from U.S. Dairy Export Council, Laura Gottschalk from U.S. Dairy Export Council and Dairy Management Inc.., Irv Holmes from Challenge Dairy Products and Lavonne Dietrich from Dairy Farmers of America.
Meeting attendees then had an unparalleled opportunity to network with representatives from throughout the domestic and international dairy industry during a well-attended reception, sponsored by the ADPI Affiliate Members.
On Tuesday morning, conference attendees were given insights into how social media can impact their marketing strategies by Donna Berry from Dairy Foods and Chad Mitchell from Forrester Research. This breakfast program was sponsored by Dairy Foods and O-AT-KA Milk Products Coop., Inc.
Tuesday’s general session covered the following topics: “India’s Dairy Industry at a Crossroad – A View of the World’s Largest Milk Producer” presented by Harish Damodaran from The Hindu Business Line; a report on the CCC’s handling of surplus nonfat dry milk from Cleveland Marsh of the USDA; the “Washington Regulatory Report” from Richard Mann of Keller & Heckman, LLP; and “International Trends in Whey and Dairy Ingredients” presented by Tage Affertsholt of 3A Business Consulting.
The Industry Luncheon sponsored by Hoogwegt U.S., Inc. was well attended and participants heard from Mr. Rick Berman, the Executive Director for the Center for Consumer Freedom and the President of Berman & Company.
The conference came to a close as the Customer Appreciation Reception, sponsored by Cheese Market News, Hilmar Ingredients, Darigold, Inc., Land O’Lakes, Inc. and Saputo Cheese USA, Inc., allowed attendees another opportunity to network with dairy industry leaders while sampling an appetizing variety of cheese including award-winning cheeses donated by MCT Dairies, Hoogwegt U.S., Inc., T.C. Jacoby, and Jana Foods.
The 2011 ADPI/ABI Annual Conference will be held April 24 – 26, 2011, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown in Chicago, Illinois. ADPI members and other industry attendees are encouraged to save the date and begin planning to attend.
Source: American Dairy Products Institute
