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:

8:00 Am - 9:15 Am
Wcma Recognition Breakfast Exclusively Sponsored By Dsm-Firmenich

All Attendees Are Invited To Celebrate The Achievements Of Industry Greats. Wcma Is Proud To Honor Leaders Who Have Built The U.S. Cheese Industry, Featuring Recipients Of:
Wcma Babcock Award
Wcma Vanguard Award
Wcma Luminary Award
Wcma Distinguished Service Award
Wcma Cheese Industry Champion Award
Wcma Life Member
 
Location: Hall A

9:30 Am - 11:00 Am
Navigating Inclusion: Supporting Dairy’s Diverse Workforce Post-Executive Order 14173

Following President Donald Trump’s Order Limiting Private Organizations From Conducting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion And Accessibility (Deia) Programs, Many Dairy Processors Are Working To Determine How To Navigate Both Liability Concerns And A Necessity To Support Their Workforce.  Join Legal Experts And Industry Leaders For An Engaging Conversation About This Hot Topic, And Their Strategies To Uphold A Welcoming, Equitable Workplace, Attracting Top Talent, While Ensuring Long-Term Success In A Changing Regulatory Environment.  

Moderator
Rebekah Sweeney, Senior Director, Programs & Policy, Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association
Expert Speakers
Allison Bolet Cafaro, Generational Impact Manager, Great Lakes Cheese
Jose Quijada, Senior Director, Digital Solutions, Ecolab
Farrah Rifelj, Sub-Practice Leader, Affirmative Action, Micheal Best & Friedrich Llp
Hosted By:
Location: Mendota Rooms 5-6

9:30 Am - 11:45 Am
Innovative Uses For Whey, Whey Permeate And Milk Powders

Learn About Increased Uses For Whey And Whey Permeate From The Scientists At Center For Dairy Research And University Of Wisconsin-Madison. Dairy Coproducts Are Rich In Various Types Of Bioactives That Have Potential Health And Nutritional Benefits. Scientists Will Review The Types Of Bioactives Present In Coproducts Like Whey Protein Phospholipid Concentrate (Wppc).  Researchers Will Discuss Characterizing The Flow Properties Of Sweet Whey Powder Using Rheology And Approaches To Improve The Solubility Of High Protein Milk Powder. There Is Growing Interest In Using Whey Permeate Or Acid Whey To Generate Green Chemicals Or Value-Added Ingredients By Biofermentation Or Other Bioconversion Processes. Projects Ongoing At Uw-Madison Will Be Reviewed That Are Upcycling Dairy Coproducts.

Expert Speakers
Whey Protein Phospholipid Concentrate (Wppc) And Various Bioactives That Can Be Isolated From Dairy Coproducts.
Dr. Gulustan Ozturk, Assistant Professor, Uw-Madison
Understanding And Addressing The Flowability Issues In High-Lactose Dairy Powders.
Dr. Ayushi Kapoor, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cdr
The Impact Of Milk Salts On The Rehydration Behavior And Functionality Of High Protein Milk Powders.
Dr. Daniel Wilbanks, Researcher, Cdr
Upcycling Dairy Coproducts: Overview Of Current Research Projects At Uw-Madison.
Dr. John Lucey, Cdr Center Director, Uw-Madison Professor

Location: Mendota Rooms 3-4

Industry Advances In In-Plant Food Safety Measures

Innovation Center For U.S. Dairy Has Built Successful Industry Teams To Advance Key Food Safety Goals.  Explore Strategies For Foreign Material Controls And Pathogen Control In Brines. Next, Discover The Latest Research On Listeria In Hispanic-Style Cheeses, And The Survival Of H5n1 In Dairy Products.

Moderator
Tim Stubbs, Svp Food Safety And Product Research, Innovation Center For Us Dairy
Expert Speakers
Foreign Materials Controls
Gale Beard, Director Of Operations, Food Safety & Quality, Grande Cheese
Alex O’brien, Food Safety/Quality Coordinator, Center For Dairy Research
Food Safety Management Of Cheese Brines
Erika Bognar, Director Of Food Safety, Sargento Foods
Michelle Braun, Quality Process Improvement Manager, Agropur
Panel Q&A On Foreign Materials & Brines
Gale Beard
Erica Bognar
Michelle Braun
Alex O’brien
Jeremy Travis, Vp Of Quality & Technical Services, Hilmar
Food Safety Research Updates
Hispanic-Style Cheese And Listeria Monocytogenes: Do All Cheese Types Carry Equal Risk?
Zoe Anderson, Food Science Masters Student, Oregon State University
Dairy Goes Viral: Let’s Talk Avian Influenza (H5n1) Risk And Control In Dairy Foods
Dr. Sam Alcaine, Vp Regulatory & Scientific Affairs, International Dairy Foods Association

Location: Mendota Rooms 1-2

Sustainable Trade: Exploring The Nexus Of Sustainability And Dairy Exports

Sustainability Initiatives Are Increasingly Shaping The Landscape Of International Trade. For U.S. Dairy Exporters, Aligning With Evolving Consumer Demands, Market Expectations And Regulatory Frameworks Is Essential To Drive Growth And Maintain Competitiveness. In This Session, Hear From National Sustainability And International Market Experts About How Evolving Trade Policies, Customer Expectations And Sustainability Certifications Are Shaping The Future Of Dairy Exports.

Expert Speakers
Nicholas Gardner, Senior Vice President, Sustainability And Multilateral Affairs, U.S. Dairy Export Council
Megan Sheets, Vice President, Strategic Development, U.S. Dairy Export Council
Panelists
Carly Arendt, Global Sales & Marketing Strategist, Sartori Cheese
Jason Burley, Group Vp, Custom Ingredients, Grande Cheese
Alfiya Thomas, Vice President, Export Sales, Schreiber Foods

Location: Upper Level Meeting Rooms

12:00 Pm - 1:15 Pm
Complimentary Keynote Lunch | Driving Growth In Health & Wellness, Foodservice And Exports

Attendees Reconvene For A Complimentary Lunch And An Engaging Keynote Address.

With Significant Investments In New U.S. Dairy Infrastructure And Uncertainties And Challenges In Both Domestic And Export Markets, Smart Growth Strategies Are In High Demand. In This Engaging Talk, Paul Ziemnisky Provides A Snapshot Of Key Export Markets And Channels, Reviews The Latest Foodservice Landscape And Potential Growth Segments, And Discusses Opportunities To Grow The Cheese Industry's Share Of The Health And Wellness Benefits Consumers Seek. Dr. Chris Cifelli Provides A Look At Existing And Emerging Cheese Science And How It Can Help The Industry Leverage Dairy's Health And Wellness Benefits.

Presented By
Paul Ziemnisky, Group Evp For Health & Wellness, Insights And Innovation, Dairy Management Inc.
Chris Cifelli, Ph.D, Vice President, Nutrition Research, Dairy Management Inc.
 
Location: Hall A

1:30 Pm - 3:30 Pm
Dairy Grading And Evaluation Workshop

Nationally-Recognized Cheese Evaluators Will Lead Attendees Through The Process Of Examining, Tasting And Evaluating The Quality Of Ten Cheese Styles. Learn The Steps In Professional Grading, The Nomenclature Of Flavor, Texture And Body Defects, And Scoring Systems Used In Regulatory And Competition Grading.

Location:  Upper Level Meeting Rooms

Interactive Workshop For Specialty Cheesemakers

Exclusively For Artisan And Specialty Cheesemakers, This Workshop At Center For Dairy Research (Cdr) Will Include Lectures, A Guided Sensory Activity, And An Interactive Tour Of Cdr’s Ripening Rooms. Space Is Limited To 25 Participants And The Special $50 Fee Includes The Lunch Upon Arrival At Cdr, The Workshop And Transportation To/From Cdr.  The Shuttle Bus Will Depart The Alliant Energy Center At 12:15 P.M. And Return By 3:30 P.M.

Learning Objectives
Understand Affinage As An Option For Adding Value To Cheese, Including Cheese That You Already Produce, And Learn About The Basic Types Of Affinage.
Investigate The Composition And Character Changes That Occur In Cheese During Affinage.
Learn Food Safety Perspectives For Different Affinage Varieties As Well As Advice On Wood Board Variances And Insight On Wood Board Safety.
Obtain Resources Available To You As An Artisan/Specialty Cheese Maker.
Expert Speakers
Ben Ullerup Mathers, Specialty Cheese Coordinator, Cdr
Dr. Mark Johnson, Cheese Scientist, Cdr
Alex O’brien, Safety & Quality Coordinator, Cdr
Lindsey O’brien, Dairy Foods Trainer, Cdr

Location: Center For Dairy Research

4:30 Pm - 5:30 Pm
United States Champions Reception Exclusively Sponsored By Nelson-Jameson

Enjoy The Thursday Evening Festivities With A Splendid Gathering Featuring The Best Cheeses From All Over The Nation At The United States Champions Reception Exclusively Sponsored By Nelson-Jameson.

Location: Lobby

5:30 Pm - 9:00 Pm
United States Champions Awards Banquet

Description: Gather With Dairy Professionals From Around The Nation To Honor The Outstanding Achievements Of The 2025 United States Championship Cheese Contest Winners. This Elegant Gala Is A Night To Remember For Dairy Craftsmen, And A Must For Anyone With A Passion For The Industry.

Location: Hall A

9:00 Pm - 11:59 Pm Cdt
Custom Fabricating & Repair Afterglow Reception

Relax And Mingle With Your Peers As Custom Fabricating & Repair Hosts This Special Closing Party For 2025 Cheesecon.

Location: Capitol Ballroom, Sheraton Hotel

Click here to Register