DBIC Team
Janet Ady
Client Product Research & Assessment
Ms. Ady is President of Madison-based Ady Voltedge, a market research, branding, marketing and communications firm. She assists the Dairy Business Innovation Center team with market research and analyses on branding, labeling, packaging, and product characteristics, and helps develop educational content on marketing topics such as how to market artisanal and specialty dairy products, trends in key labeling terms, and more. Her company provides market research, branding, marketing and communications services to economic development entities nationwide including target industry analyses, brand positioning, place branding, turnkey economic development websites, and marketing plans.
Ms. Ady serves on the Executive Committee of Wisconsin Economic Development Association, Advisory Council of Wisconsin Business Development, at-large Board Member of the Wisconsin Geographic Information Coordination Council through the Wisconsin Department of Administration, and is also a member of Mid-America Economic Development Council, Professional Developers of Iowa, the Iowa Economic Development Association, and the International Economic Development Council.
She earned her B.S. from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and her Masters in Management (M.B.A.) from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Business at Northwestern University.
Jean Andreasen
Client Manager
Ms. Andreasen serves as the Administrative Specialist for USDA’s North Central Regional Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Grant Program (NCR-SARE). She assists the Dairy Business Innovation Center team with client management.
Prior to her position with USDA, she served as the general manager of PastureLand, a small grass-based dairy cooperative in southeastern Minnesota where she worked with the co-op’s member-owners to develop all aspects of their business including marketing, sales, distribution, milk pick-up and production schedules, R&D, and contract negotiations. Ms. Andreasen also served as the Midwest Marketing Coordinator for Food Alliance (a third party certifier for sustainable agricultural practices), and as Director of Member Services and Outreach for Mississippi Marketing Natural Foods Cooperative in Saint Paul, MN.
She is currently in her third term as a board member of the Minnesota Project, a non-profit organization that champions the sustainable production and equitable distribution of food and energy in communities across Minnesota.
Ms. Andreasen earned her B.A. in Fine Arts from Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN.
Kate Arding
Farmhouse Cheese Specialist
Ms. Arding is an independent dairy consultant specializing in small-scale cheese production. She is also a co-founder of Culture, the acclaimed first national consumer cheese magazine launched in December 2008. Ms. Arding assists the Dairy Business Innovation Center as a farmhouse cheese and cheese store specialist, focusing on affinage, sales and marketing, and helping small-scale cheesemakers adapt to changing market demands.
A native of Britain, she has worked in the farmhouse cheese industry for 18 years, first as wholesale manager for Neal’s Yard Dairy in London, where she developed extensive knowledge and love of the farmhouse cheese industry. In 1997, she moved to California to help establish the Cowgirl Creamery and Tomales Bay Foods, a business modeled after Neal’s Yard Dairy, but focusing on American artisanal cheeses.
Ms. Arding currently lives in rural New York.
Abby Bachhuber
Client & Project Specialist
Ms. Bachhuber is deeply committed to promoting local foods. Her consulting repertoire includes grant writing, market research for feasibility studies, business and marketing plans, business assessments, meeting facilitation, and special event planning. She assists the Dairy Business Innovation Center with client and project management activities.
Past work experiences include developing organic and alternative method farms, coordinating a subsidy program for Community Supported Agriculture food shares, and managing an agricultural products marketing program for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection.
Ms. Bachhuber holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Kathy Brown
DBIC Administrator
Ms. Brown owns her own company, Planning Options Inc., which offers administrative support to non-profit organizations and trade associations as well as event planning. She serves as the administrator for the Dairy Business Innovation Center as well as a project specialist.
A rural native of central Illinois, Ms. Brown worked for the Illinois Department of Agriculture for 19 years in both the domestic and international marketing areas promoting the Illinois food industry. After moving to Wisconsin in 1995, she continued to work in the marketing field for American Ag-Tec International and Wisconsin Cherry-Burrell until forming her own company in 2002. Ms. Brown has also helped coordinate the annual Wisconsin Aquaculture Conference for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection and served as the Board Coordinator for the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board for two years. She is also the administrator for the Wisconsin Specialty Cheese Institute.
Ms. Brown attended Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois.
Daniel J. Carter
Founder and Chairman
Mr. Carter is the current Founder and Chairman of the Dairy Business Innovation Center. During his career, Mr. Carter was Vice President of the John D. Grier Company, importers and exporters, in Washington, D.C. He served as Director of Sales & Marketing, Vice President, Board of Directors for the Purity Cheese Company until 1975 when he co-founded Dan Carter, Inc. which Mr. Carter and his wife sold to their employees in 2003.
During his professional career, Mr. Carter served on the Board of the American Cheese Society, as President of the National Association of Specialty Food Trade (Fancy Food Show), as President of the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association, as President of the Wisconsin Cheese Gift Shippers Association and as President of the UW College of Agriculture Board of Visitors.
Mr. Carter was inducted into ‘Les Maitres-Conseils en Gastronomie Francaise”, named a ‘Life Member’ of the Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association, received the International Dairy Deli Bakery’s ‘President’s Award’, was honored with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the American Cheese Society, was presented ‘Award of Distinction’ from the University of Wisconsin – Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences “in appreciation of highly meritorious service to agriculture and rural life”, received ‘Kohl Recognition’ from Senator Herb Kohl at the initial screening “Living On the Wedge; Wisconsin’s Artisan Cheesemakers”, and received a "Commendation Award" from Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle for services given “to grow the artisan and specialty cheese industry of Wisconsin”.
Mr. Carter earned degrees from UW-Madison and Georgetown School of Foreign Service, Washington, D.C.
Jane Royer Carter
Client Services
Ms. Carter was raised, and has lived her life, within the Wisconsin dairy industry. Her family’s Purity Cheese Company, Mayville, Wisconsin, produced the first constant weight specialty cheeses in the United States with the MayBud brand now part of Kraft Specialty Foods.
During 22 years as a Speech and Hearing Pathologist in Virginia and Wisconsin, the final five years were funded under a Federal Title I grant program she submitted for ‘Preschool and Adult Aphasia Speech Pathology.’ In 1975 she and her husband co-founded Dan Carter, Inc. and she served as operations manager until her retirement in 1998. Involved in the formation and organization of the Dairy Business Innovation Center, Ms. Carter continues to be available to clients for organizational planning and a source for dairy industry information.
Ms. Carter serves on the Board of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ‘Friends of the Horicon Marsh International Education Center’ and was named ‘Volunteer of the Year’. She co-chaired the 1995 “Mayville Sesquicentennial’, was honored as the “Citizen of the Year” by the Mayville Chamber of Commerce, served on the ‘Council of Rural Initiatives’ Board under Wilda Nilsestuen, and is Lay Leader in her church.
Ms. Carter received her B.A. degree in Speech Pathology/School of Education from UW-Madison.
Case Dorresteyn
Plant Siting and Dairy Consultant
Mr. Dorresteyn is the founder of New Horizons Agriculture, a Madison-based agricultural consultancy company offering a wide range of consultancy services, but specializing in relocation assistance to farmers. He serves as a plant siting and dairy consultant for the Dairy Business Innovation Center.
A native of the Netherlands, Mr. Dorresteyn was employed by various organizations for 25 years, focusing on dairy activities in the United States, South America and Africa before founding his own company in 2000.
For the past 14 years, he has been a volunteer with the Madison School and Community Recreation ski program for the disabled. Additionally, he is also a licensed real-estate broker for the State of Wisconsin.
Mr. Dorresteyn attended the Agricultural College Dronten and the Business University Nyenrode in the Netherlands.
Maggie Fitzsimmons
Client & Project Specialist
Ms. Fitzsimmons is passionate about supporting farmers and families in Wisconsin. She assists the Dairy Business Innovation Center with client and project management activities.
Past work experiences include co-managing Troy Community Farm, an organic, community-supported vegetable farm in Madison and coordinating the family services program at Habitat for Humanity of Dane County.
Ms. Fitzsimmons is currently participating in “Leadership Wisconsin”. This is a two-year continuing education program through the University of Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension that develops leadership skills and increases knowledge about the issues that impact agriculture on a local and global scale.
Ms. Fitzsimmons earned her B.A. in Geography with a concentration in human-environment interaction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also earned a Certificate in Environmental Studies.
James Gage
Grant Writer & Business Strategy
Mr. Gage is a management consultant with specialties in grant writing, business development, marketing, and spatial technology. He assists the Dairy Business Innovation Center with grant writing, business strategies and meeting facilitation.
Past work experiences include agricultural and natural resource-based projects and research studies in Russia, Jamaica and 20 countries in Africa. Besides value added dairy, he has consulted on the business aspects of other local food issues such as kitchen incubators and creating opportunities for sustainable poultry processing. Mr. Gage has over 75 technical publications in both agriculture and technology journals. His grant writing has resulted in awards from USDA, NASA, World Bank, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the US Agency for International Development, among others.
He currently serves as a SARE grant reviewer and a Wisconsin Entrepreneurial Network approved business services provider, and is a Slow Money Wisconsin board member.
Mr. Gage earned his M.S. degree in horticulture from the University of Maryland.
Laurie S.Z. Greenberg
Client Services
Ms. Greenberg is involved in commissioned studies for producers, educational materials and program development, and video shorts for communication, education and branding. She assists the Dairy Business Innovation Center with client services, research and training.
Past work experience includes 25 years working with small businesses and non-governmental organizations in farming and food systems, microenterprise development and natural resource management in the Upper Midwest and in 13 Latin American nations. Ms. Greenberg has written numerous grant proposals that have been funded by federal and state agencies as well as private foundations.
She is an American Cheese Society board director and lectures about the Wisconsin specialty cheese industry as a member of the speakers’ bureau of the Wisconsin Humanities Council.
Ms. Greenberg has a Ph.D. in Cultural Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.S. in Adult and Extension Education from Cornell University.
Tom Johnson
Strategic Planning
Mr. Johnson is a cheesemaker, writer and assists Dairy Business Innovation Center clients with strategic planning. He is currently writing Hard Pressed, a memoir about the rise and fall of Bingham Hill Cheese Company which he and his wife founded and operated in Fort Collins, Colorado. The company earned numerous national and international awards before ceasing operations in 2006.
Prior to entering the cheese industry, Mr. Johnson was executive director of the Fountain Creek Watershed Project where he received the EPA Region VIII Outstanding Environmental Achievement Award. Additionally, he served as business editor of the Fort Collins Coloradoan, a Gannett daily newspaper.
Mr. Johnson holds an M.S. in Watershed Science from Colorado State University and a BA in English Composition from DePauw University.
Penny Lindstrom Molina
Strategic Marketing
Ms. Lindstrom specializes in strategic marketing, media relations and business development. She provides Dairy Business Innovation Center clients with expertise in all areas of product and consumer marketing from concept to market.
Ms. Lindstrom has led many organizations through organizational reviews to identify and position themselves as leaders in their fields including the University of Wisconsin’s Babcock Institute for International Dairy Research, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Aurora University, and National-Louis University.
She volunteers her time to aid the growth of sustainable farming in the economically depressed Vernon County region of Wisconsin by helping to found the Western Wisconsin Food Enterprise Center. This entity guides non-profit organizations through the long range planning processes to create sustaining fund-generating products or services and supports the performing arts. She was awarded the outstanding volunteer of the year award by the Boys & Girls Clubs and has worked on several civic, education and social service boards of directors.
Ms. Lindstrom holds a B.A. in Communications from Boston College and a Stateline Farm Beginnings certificate from Angelic Organics Farm Learning Center.
Ranee May
Product Development & Analysis
Ms. May has worked as the Plant Manager and Instructor at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls for the past 29 years. She assists the Dairy Business Innovation Center with processing, product development and food safety specialties.
Her areas of expertise include dairy processing, HACCP plans, sanitation, and providing educational needs to the dairy industry. Ms. May has worked with dairy clients in more than 20 countries and is a highly-respected cheesemaker and educator. She has received the President’s Award for contributing over 4000 hours of volunteer time to the dairy industry in developing countries and has served as the national president for the University Creamery Managers Association.
Ms. May has earned degrees in food science from the University of Nebraska and University of Minnesota, receiving her M.S. with an emphasis in dairy technology.
Neville McNaughton
Technical Analysis
Mr. McNaughton owns his own company, CheezSorce, which is based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company offers expertise in the areas of plant design and process efficiency, business siting, equipment utilization, product options and development, expansion planning and options, and process optimization strategies. He provides Dairy Business Innovation Center clients with technical analysis assistance.
A native of New Zealand, Mr. McNaughton manufactured specialty cheeses for 13 years. He joined the New Zealand Dairy Board and traveled to the U.S., spending nine years as technical support manager for cheese sales. Mr. McNaughton moved to the enzyme and culture technology industries and today consults with cheese manufacturers around the world on quality cheese production. He also serves as a cheese judge for various cheese contests around the country.
Mr. McNaughton attended Massey University in New Zealand.
Jeanne Meier
DBIC Dairy Goat Specialist
Ms. Meier currently serves on the Dairy Business Innovation Center’s Management Team and coordinates the organization’s dairy goat project.
Her areas of expertise include teaching, farming and practicing law. Ms. Meier served five years in the Peace Corps in Colombia and Ecuador and is fluent in Spanish. She also spent many years as the Director of the Farm Center at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, leading a team to provide services to Wisconsin farmers and agribusinesses.
Ms. Meier has been a member of and held board positions for several organizations including: Lafayette County Teachers Association, Green County Lawyers, Wisconsin State Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Agricultural Law Association, Wisconsin Rural Development Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce and others. She has received numerous awards and recognition from groups such as Easter Seals of Wisconsin, Virginia Hart Special Recognition, Outstanding Woman in Agriculture, Friend of the Family Farm, Friend of the County Agent, Lawyer Pro Bono Publico, and many others.
Ms. Meier holds a Law Degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Claire Mikolayunas
Small Ruminant Extension Specialist
As the Small Ruminant Extension Specialist for the State of Wisconsin, Ms. Mikolayunas partners with the Dairy Business Innovation Center to provide technical and business development assistance to increase dairy sheep production in Wisconsin.
A New England native, she worked on sheep and dairy cow farms in Northern Ireland and Maine and managed a small flock of dairy ewes in a portable milking parlor.
Ms. Mikolayunas has served as President of the Dairy Sheep Association of North America, organizing the Great Lakes Dairy Sheep Symposium. She has also served as a board member for the Indianhead Sheep Breeders Association.
Ms. Mikolayunas holds a Ph.D. in Dairy Sheep Nutrition and an M.S. in Agronomy and Animal Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. degree from Cornell University.
Phillip G. Molina
Business Development and Marketing
Mr. Molina co-founded his own company, Windward Business Development and Marketing, offering go-to-market services to the Dairy Business Innovation clients and others.
He has guided food enterprises to market success for over 20 years. His broad experience ranges from leading popular multimillion-dollar brands, to turning around regional businesses, to launching thriving entrepreneurial ventures. Offerings include Business Strategy and Planning, Consumer and Market Insights, New Product Development, Brand Management, Integrated Marketing Communications, and Category Management/ Trade Promotion Optimization. He also founded a not-for-profit corporation and has led a variety of community and charitable organizations.
Mr. Molina holds a B.A. in Business from the University of Kansas and an M.B.A. in Marketing from the University of St. Thomas.
Norm Monsen
DBIC Client Manager
In addition to farming near Stoughton, Wisconsin, Mr. Monsen serves as the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection liaison with the Dairy Business Innovation Center. Moreover, he coordinates the Wisconsin Dairy Artisan Network at the Department where he helps farmers and small dairy product processors in adding value to their milk through production and marketing of specialty dairy products. Mr. Monsen also works to partner with a host of agencies in providing a network of assistance to dairy farmers.
Prior to joining the department in 1998, he served as a Farm Center volunteer, providing direct consultation and advice for farmers in crisis.
Mr. Monsen earned a B.A. in Rural Sociology with an emphasis on Community Development and is a Leadership Wisconsin fellow.
Andrea Neu
Client Services & Brand Positioning Consultant
Ms. Neu launched her own company, Image Maker, in 2001 which has allowed her to provide marketing and communications consulting services dedicated to business and product brand positioning. She assists Dairy Business Innovation clients and others with brand development projects, specializing in packaging, labeling, and marketing materials development.
Prior to owning her own company, Ms. Neu served 18 years as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Vice President of Marketing Services for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. All total, she has more than 35 years of experience in Integrated Marketing Communications, focusing her expertise within the food industry.
Ms. Neu served on the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association board of directors for nine years, the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation board, as well as several other Wisconsin business boards.
She earned her B.A. Degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Rebecca Paris
Client Manager
Ms. Paris serves as a client manager and project consultant for the Dairy Business Innovation Center. In addition, she works for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection as a project specialist for the Dairy Business Initiative and serves as the market coordinator for the Capitol View Farmers’ Market in Madison.
Ms. Paris holds a B.S. Degree in Business Management from Northern Michigan University.
Carl Rainey, DATCP
Business Plan Development
Mr. Rainey is an Economic Development Consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, providing one-on-one counseling to Wisconsin value added agricultural producers. He assists the Dairy Business Innovation Center clients with business plan development. Mr. Rainey’s counseling includes: start-up issues, research methods, sources of financing, business plan development, marketing strategy development, resolving personnel issues, and financial analysis.
His work history includes a wide variety of management positions in production and services, marketing representative for brokers nationwide, and a business consultant for more than six years. He has also taught small business finance and management at the college level.
Mr. Rainey holds a B.A. in Business, an M.A. in Education, and an M.B.A. He also has an AA in Missile Maintenance Technology.
Rich Scheuerman
Strategy, Marketing Services & Client Manager
Mr. Scheuerman assists Dairy Business Innovation clients and others in the areas of strategic planning, financial planning and analysis, capital project evaluations, mergers and acquisitions, operational assessments, risk management, turnaround consulting, and general management.
A seasoned executive with 30 years of management experience, he served as President and CEO of Alto Dairy Cooperative until its sale to Saputo in 2008. Prior to joining Alto, Mr. Scheuerman worked as the Chief Financial Officer for Raskas Foods, a St. Louis-based cream cheese manufacturer. He began his career in various financial and planning positions with Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., both in the corporate office and with the company’s Eagle Snacks snack foods venture. Mr. Scheuerman recently taught Corporate Finance to M.B.A. students and Statistics to undergraduates at a local college.
He is a former Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association Board member and served on the Board and Legislative Committee for the International Dairy Foods Association. Mr. Scheuerman was also asked by the International Dairy Foods Association to testify at a USDA hearing on make allowances. He serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Waupun Memorial Hospital and plays clarinet in the Verona Area Concert Band.
Mr. Scheuerman earned his M.B.A. in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Math Degree from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.