Join Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association and Center for Dairy Research as they host exhibits, seminars and networking opportunities designed to help you grow your business!

CheeseCon is the only event that combines stimulating educational seminars, valuable networking opportunities, exciting celebrations honoring industry greats, and a sprawling exhibit floor - all with a dairy processing focus. We can't wait to see you in Madison!

Schedule of Events:

7:00 Am - 8:00 Am
Amcor Continental Breakfast

Kick Off Wednesday Morning With Amcor's Continental Breakfast.

Location: Atrium

8:00 Am - 8:50 Am
Opening Keynote: Mastering Change Management In Dairy's Evolving Environment

Rapid Innovation And Constant Disruption Demand Adaptability And Resilience From Dairy Processors. As The Pace Of Change In Our Industry Quickens, Hear Directly From Leaders In Transition, As They Share Actionable Strategies To Balance Vision With Agility, Harnessing The Power Of Emerging Technology, Building Inclusive Culture, And Navigating Dynamic Markets And Politics.

Moderator
Betty Thompson, Chair Of The Board Of Directors Of The Society For Human Resource Management
Change Management Strategies And Tools
Expert Panel
Heather Anfang, President Of Dairy Foods, Evp At Land O' Lakes Inc.
Craig Caballero, Ceo Of United Dairymen Of Arizona
Bob Sarver, President And Ceo Of Great Lakes Cheese
David Scharfman, Vp Of Growth At Specialty Cheese Company
Location: Hall A

9:00 Am - 11:00 Am
Cheese Defects: Challenges And New Approaches To Help Address Them

Join Cdr’s Cheese Technologist And Scientists As They Offer An Overview Of The Main Cheese Defects And Their Causes. You Will Learn About Keys To Avoid Flavor And Texture Defects In Commodity Cheeses And The Use Of Modern Genetic Tools To Help Solve Microbial Issues Will Be Discussed. You Will Also Learn About New Anti-Fungal Compounds Derived From Dairy Proteins As Well As Making Cheese From Highly Concentrated Milk

Expert Speakers

Insight Into Current Defects Challenging The Industry And Possible Causes.
Dean Sommer, Cheese Technologist, Cdr
Genetic Tools For Microbial Analysis (Beyond Traditional Plating Methods).
Dr. José Miguel Pérez, Cheese Scientist, Cdr
Novel Antifungal Compounds From Dairy And Potential Applications.
Dr. Rodrigo A. Ibáñez, Cheese Scientist, Cdr
Expanding The Limits Of Cheese Manufacture With Highly Concentrated Milk.
Grace Cassidy, Graduate Student, University Of Wisconsin-Madison
Q & A Panel
All Speakers

Location: Mendota Rooms 3-4

Cutting Edge Opportunities In Wastewater Processing And End Products

Treating Wastewater From Dairy Processing Offers Challenges In Capturing And Managing Nutrients As Well As Opportunities In Capturing And Managing Nutrients. As Options Narrow For Land And Waterway Application Of Treated Water, New Technology Is Discovering Novel Solutions And Opportunities To Enhance Treatment And Harness “Waste” Nutrients As Useful End Products.

Moderator
John Umhoefer, Executive Director, Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association
Expert Speakers

Landspreading Regulation And Site Optimization
Steve Warrner, Wastewater Specialist, Wastewater Program, Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources
Drying To Solve Problems: The Growing Potential For New Processing Technologies
Bryan Gatzke, Permitting And Compliance Manager, The Probst Group
High Strength Diversion And Isolation Of Dairy Industry Wastewater; Upstream And Downstream Implications
Simon Larson, Project Engineering Manager, Complete Filtration Resources
Overcoming Wastewater Hurdles In Cheese Production With Nanobubbles
John Crisman, Senior Water Process Engineer, Moleaer Inc.
Reimagining Wastewater Treatment: Utilizing Organic Materials As Valuable Feedstocks
John Lucey, Director, Center For Dairy Research
Q & A Panel
All Speakers

Location: Mendota Rooms 1-2

Unpacking Carbon Footprints: A Value Chain Approach To Advancing Dairy Sustainability

Ghg Emissions Are A Critical Sustainability Topic For Many Industries, Including U.S. Dairy.  As A Result, Stakeholders Increasingly Expect Companies To Measure, Disclose, And Manage Their Ghg Footprints. This Includes Setting Credible, Science-Based Ghg Reduction Goals For Scope 1 (Direct), Scope 2 (Indirect From Energy), And Scope 3 (Value Chain) Emissions.   Join For Three Mini Panels Of Dairy Industry And Processor Experts To Explore Carbon Foot Printing Across The Farm, Plant And Product Levels. Gain Insights Into The Latest Guidance, Methodologies, And Resources From The Climate Source And The Innovation Center For U.S. Dairy And How They Support Dairy Companies On Their Decarbonization Journeys.

Welcome
Erin Degennaro, Manager, Dairy Industry Relations, Innovation Center For U.S. Dairy
Farm Session
Moderator
Sage Saffran, Manager, Sustainability Initiatives, National Milk Producers Federation
Expert Panelists
Rachel Turgasen, Senior Director, Member Relations & Corporate Sustainability, Foremost Farms Usa
Kris Scheider, Zirbel Dairy Farms, Foremost Farms Farmer
Plant Session
Moderator
Eric Hassel, Vp, Sustainability Standards, Measurement And Reporting, Innovation Center For U.S. Dairy
Expert Panelists
Kaitlyn Harbort, Corporate Sustainability Manager, Foremost Farms
Sarah Schmidt, Vice President Of Marketing, Associated Milk Producers, Inc.
Product Session
Moderator
Jessie Deelo, Ceo, The Climate Source
Expert Panelists
Sudeep Jain, Director, Quality Assurance, Michigan Milk Producers Association
Holly Jones, Director Of Global Esg/Sustainability, Agropur

Location: Upper Level Meeting Rooms

9:00 Am - 1:00 Pm
Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest

Dairy Student Teams From Across The United States Gather At Cheesecon To Evaluate Dairy Products And Vie For The Title Of Collegiate Champion. Visit The Action Live On-Site And Catch A Glimpse Of The Future Of The Dairy Industry.

Location: Mendota Rooms 5-7

10:00 Am - 5:00 Pm
Tabletop Exhibits

The Largest Tabletop Exhibit Floor In The 37-Year History Of This National Conference - More Than 350 Expert Supplier Partners From Around The World - Takes Over Cheesecon Wednesday Afternoon. It's The Dairy Industry's Single Best Interaction Of Processors And Solutions Providers - All In One Giant Hall.

Location: Exhibit Halls B, C, D

11:00 Am - 1:00 Pm
Complimentary Lunch

Everyone At Cheesecon Can Enjoy A Complimentary Lunch During The Tabletop Exhibits. Enjoy Networking With Friends, New And Old.

Location: Hall A

12:30 Pm - 4:20 Pm
Ideas Showcase

Supplier Experts Take To Our Two Education Stages Throughout The Afternoon, Imparting Quick-Hitting Impactful Information To Dairy Processors. It's A Tool Chest Of Ideas Presented Right On The Exhibit Floor.

Location: Hall B

3:30 Pm - 4:30 Pm
Collegiate Contest Awards Ceremony

Hundreds Of Students Attending Cheesecon For The Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest Move From Visiting Exhibits To Our Main Stage To Celebrate The Students And Schools That Performed Best!

Location: Hall A

5:00 Pm - 7:00 Pm
Novonesis Reception & Championship Cheese Auction

The Afternoon Of Tabletop Exhibits Closes With A Bang As The Dairy Industry Gathers To Celebrate Gold Medalists In The United States Championship Cheese Contest And Bids To Take These Winners Home. The Novonesis Reception Is The High Energy Climax To The First Full Day At Cheesecon And A Chance To Support Wcma Contests, Scholarships, Training Programs And Strategic Support Of Industry Partners Like Cdr. Bid For The Future Of The Dairy Industry!

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