Midwest Dairy CEO Molly Pelzer Announces Retirement After 40 Years of Service
Sourse: The DairyNews
Midwest Dairy, the checkoff organization representing over 4,000 dairy farmers in a ten-state region in the Midwest, announces the upcoming retirement of Molly Pelzer, the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Effective March 2024, Pelzer will be concluding her nearly 40-year career with the organization.
Pelzer, who commenced her journey with Midwest Dairy in June 1984 as a program director working with schools and healthcare professionals, has since held various leadership roles before assuming the CEO position in 2019. A registered dietitian and graduate of the University of Missouri–Columbia, Pelzer's contributions have significantly impacted the dairy checkoff.
The organization's board has initiated a search for the next CEO and has engaged a search firm to facilitate the selection process. Charles Krause, Corporate Board Chair of Midwest Dairy, expressed appreciation for Pelzer's dedication, work ethic, and devotion to the dairy farmers, wishing her the best in her well-deserved retirement.
Pelzer's legacy includes strategic guidance to Midwest Dairy's 55-plus employees in fulfilling the organization's vision of bringing dairy to life and its mission of providing consumers with an excellent dairy experience. Under her leadership, Midwest Dairy has maximized dairy farmers' investments in the dairy checkoff through collaborative efforts with retailers, foodservice, wellness, and industry partners. Additionally, Pelzer has focused on research to develop solutions for both industry and consumer needs.
Pelzer's impact on building trust and demand for the dairy industry is noteworthy, and she takes pride in developing a metrics scorecard that communicates the impact of farmers' checkoff investments. Working closely with farmer boards, Pelzer has emphasized the farmer-led nature of checkoff and has played a critical role in advancing strategies that make a difference for dairy farm families.
Expressing gratitude to the dairy farm families in the region, Pelzer acknowledges their hard work in producing milk that nourishes the world and vows to continue advocating for the dairy industry in her retirement. Her departure marks the end of her tenure as the third CEO in Midwest Dairy's 23-year history.
The organization's board has initiated a search for the next CEO and has engaged a search firm to facilitate the selection process. Charles Krause, Corporate Board Chair of Midwest Dairy, expressed appreciation for Pelzer's dedication, work ethic, and devotion to the dairy farmers, wishing her the best in her well-deserved retirement.
Pelzer's legacy includes strategic guidance to Midwest Dairy's 55-plus employees in fulfilling the organization's vision of bringing dairy to life and its mission of providing consumers with an excellent dairy experience. Under her leadership, Midwest Dairy has maximized dairy farmers' investments in the dairy checkoff through collaborative efforts with retailers, foodservice, wellness, and industry partners. Additionally, Pelzer has focused on research to develop solutions for both industry and consumer needs.
Pelzer's impact on building trust and demand for the dairy industry is noteworthy, and she takes pride in developing a metrics scorecard that communicates the impact of farmers' checkoff investments. Working closely with farmer boards, Pelzer has emphasized the farmer-led nature of checkoff and has played a critical role in advancing strategies that make a difference for dairy farm families.
Expressing gratitude to the dairy farm families in the region, Pelzer acknowledges their hard work in producing milk that nourishes the world and vows to continue advocating for the dairy industry in her retirement. Her departure marks the end of her tenure as the third CEO in Midwest Dairy's 23-year history.
