Frank Mitloehner is a professor and air quality specialist in Cooperative Extension in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Mitloehner received a Master’s of Science degree in animal science and agricultural engineering from the University of Leipzig, Germany, and a PhD in animal science from Texas Technical University. Dr. Mitloehner is an expert for agricultural air quality, livestock housing and husbandry.

Dr. Mitloehner has served as chairman of a global United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) partnership project to benchmark the environmental footprint of livestock production. Dr. Mitloehner serves as the North American scientific lead for the Global Feed LCA Institute. Dr. Mitloehner is workgroup member on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) and member on the National Academies of Science Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee on “A Framework for Assessing the Health, Environmental, and Social Effects of the Food System”.

Linda Eatherton is an award winning global food marketing and communications expert who has spent over thirty years in her career working in on the front line of the food industry. Eatherton learned the business first-hand while working at Kraft in corporate communications and then later leading industry relations, issues management and marketing communications for the national dairy industry at Dairy Management Inc.

As global director of one of the world’s top marketing agencies’ most formidable Food Practice, Eatherton counseled Fortune 500 corporations, industry groups and channel suppliers around the world. Eartherton’s nose for news formed early at the University of Missouri where she received her Bachelor’s degree in journalism. Serving as president of the Society for Nutrition Education Foundation’s (SNEF) board of trustees, most recently was recently inducted into Les Dames de Escoffier as Eatherton blends real-world business practicality with the dynamic influences of perception, nutrition and culinary trends.

Bob Langert joined McDonald in 1983 with a management position in logistics, packaging and purchasing. Later, Langert was appointed McDonald’s first vice sustainability to lead sustainability in 2006. Langert led the development of McDonald’s 2020 Sustainability Vision and Framework, including McDonald’s commitment to the environment, supply chain sustainability, and balanced menu choices.

Langert retired from McDonald’s, March, 2015 and joined the GreenBiz Group, writing a regular column, The Inside View; and helping with the Green Biz Executive Network. Langert is president of Mainstream Sustainability, advising companies on sustainability strategies, and a nationally recognized speaker. Langert has a Master’s Degree in business from Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois and a Bachelor’s of Art from Lewis University, Romeoville, IL.

Brian Fiscalini is the chief executive officer of Fiscalini Farms and Cheese Company. Before returning to the family business, Fiscalini worked as an intern in Northern Indiana and Central Wisconsin for Fair Oaks Dairy Farms. Fiscalini has worked in many aspects of animal husbandry, dairy cattle nutrition, growing crops, cheese manufacturing, sales and marketing for the family business. Fiscalini holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and a Master’s of business administration from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

Ashley Boren is the executive director of Sustainable Conservation and has directed the strategy, growth and operations since 1997. Boren received a 2007 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award for her unwavering commitment to innovative, balanced problem-solving to address a variety of critical environmental problems facing California. Prior to Sustainable Conservation, Boren spent eight years at Smith & Hawken, a mail order and retail gardening company, working in finance, new business development, inventory planning and retail merchandising.

Boren began her career at The Nature Conservancy in program development and fundraising. In addition the work at Sustainable Conservation, Boren serves on the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, on UC California’s President’s Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources, and on the Executive Committee of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute’s External Advisory Board at UC Davis. Boren is a graduate of the Marlborough School in Los Angeles, which awarded her their 2008 Woman of the Year Award, and has a Bachelor of Arts in human biology, a Master’s of Art in applied economics and a Master’s of Business Administration from Stanford University.

Lynn Giacomini Stray is chief operating officer and co-owner of Point Reyes Farmstead Cheeses Co. Giacomini Stray began her career in sales and marketing in the wine industry in the early 90’s. In 1999, Giacomini Stray assisted the family operation in transitioning a conventional dairy into an artisan farmstead cheese operation. Giacomini Stray now manages the operations and sales for the company.

In August of 2000, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company made their first batch of Original Blue, California’s first classic style Blue Cheese. The farmstead line has grown to include Pt. Reyes Toma, Bay Blue, fresh Mozzarella, and aged Gouda. The Fork at Point Reyes, a Culinary and Educational Center, opened in 2010 offering educational and private venue event space emphasizing education and entertainment around the brand. Giacomini Stray is involved in local and sustainable agriculture organizations in the community, to preserve land and farming in Marin county, including the Marin agricultural Land Trust and the Agricultural institute of Marin.

Samir Sheikh is the executive director and Air Pollution Control Officer for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Sheikh has nearly twenty years of experience in directing, developing, applying and administering air quality improvement programs. Sheikh was recently appointed to lead the largest air district in the state of California with some of the toughest air quality challenges in the nation.

Serving a region facing a variety of economic and public health challenges, Sheikh has led the development and implementation of some of the toughest and most innovative air pollution control strategies in the nation while working cooperatively with the regulated community to reduce administrative costs and achieve environmental and economic balance. Sheikh has worked with a wide range of stakeholders to form a variety of successful coalitions to bring significant resources to the Valley for incentive-based emission reduction programs.

Through these efforts, the San Joaquin Valley now has access to over $300 million per year in local, state and federal funds for clean air projects that expedite air quality improvement. To date, Mr. Sheikh has overseen the expenditure of over $1 billion in public/private investment in the San Joaquin Valley’s clean air efforts through voluntary programs.

David Blakemore is the president of animal nutrition and health at DSM. Blakemore holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Blakemore joined DSM in his current position in May 2016, following a twenty-nine year career at The Dow Chemical Company. Blakemore has held several senior leadership positions, both global business and geographic regions, for Dow and Dow AgroSciences.

Blakemore was the president for Dow AgroSciences – Brasil, the president and general manager of Dow’s North Region of Latin America, Dow AgroSciences vice president of international business and Dow’s business president for the Specialty Chemicals division. In 2014, Blakemore assumed the responsibilities of vice president of global marketing and sales for Dow. Blakemore is a business leader with over thirty one years of experience in driving a strong focus on customers and markets with a disciplined approach to business and innovation.

Paul Sousa is the director of regulatory and environmental affairs with Western United Dairymen. Sousa is a graduate of UC Davis, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in environmental resource science. Sousa has worked with UC Cooperative Extension in Stanislaus County to reduce irrigation induced erosion and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board assessing compliance of confined animal facilities with state and federal water quality regulations. Sousa is a certified crop advisor with the American Society of Agronomy. Sousa has recently worked with his members to access funding for methane reductions from the Alternative Manure Management Program at California Department of Food and Agriculture

Dr. Annette Jones is the director and state veterinarian for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Dr. Jones graduated with honors from the University of California, Davis with a degree in economics. Dr. Jones later attended the U.C. Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. After practicing as a private veterinarian for three years, Dr. Jones joined the California Department of Food and Agriculture in 2001. On July 1, 2004, Dr. Jones was appointed director of the Animal Health and Food Safety Services. In this capacity, Dr. Jones oversees an annual budget of $45.5 million and 222 employees engaged in programs for animal health, milk and dairy food safety, meat and poultry inspection, and livestock identification.

Dr. Jones also works closely with the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, which is operated by U.C. Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, under a contract with her Division. In September of 2010, besides continuing to perform as director, Dr. Jones was appointed state veterinarian, the position ultimately responsible for the State’s veterinary authority on animal health and food safety related to livestock and poultry.

Jenny Lester Moffitt is a 5th generation California farmer and undersecretary at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, also serving as Deputy Secretary from January 2015 – February 2018. Appointed to these positions by Governor Jerry Brown, Lester Moffitt works to engage stakeholders on issues that affect ranchers and farmers, including climate change, land use, water policy, and food security.

Prior to joining CDFA, Lester Moffitt spent 10 years as Managing Director at Dixon Ridge Farms, her family’s organic walnut farm and processing operation. As a farmer and policymaker, Lester Moffitt believes that agriculture is critically important to sustaining our environment, rural communities and economy.

Neil Black is the president of California Bioenergy. Black has over twenty-five years of senior management experience and plays a key role in the operations, development and financing of CalBio projects. Black has also played an ongoing role in the state programs, incentives and legislation to lead to successful manure-methane capture projects. CalBio works closely with Dairy Cares, AECA, and other agricultural groups.

Black was also a founding member of the Bioenergy Association of California, and Neil was its first chairman. Working in partnership with the dairy industry, Black was involved in the development of the BioMAT and is now focused on creating effective revenue programs for vehicle fuels. Prior to joining CalBio, Black was managing principal at GreenOrder, a leading sustainability firm, which worked with GE, GM and other large companies. Black was also the chief executive officer of two technology start-ups and president of The Nation magazine. Black is also an advisor to the Broadscale Group. Neil earned a Master’s of business administration from Harvard Business School.

Daryl Maas is the founder and chief executive officer of Maas Energy Works, California’s largest dairy digester developer. The company has completed 10 California digesters, including a project on California’s largest dairy, and the state’s only operational dairy digester pipeline cluster, producing low carbon vehicle fuel.

Maas attended the Air Force Academy and served on various overseas deployments. Maas returned home in 2007 and found a new kind of career in agriculture. Now with eleven years of constant expansion in three states, Mass and his team of over 35 full time digester experts are thrilled to see California producers gaining value from dairy energy. The team provides digester development, 24/7 operations, and financing, while also being the only company in the market to build projects that are 100% owned by dairy families.

Marianne Smith Edge, MS, RDN, LD, FADA, FAND is a senior associate with The Context Network. Smith Edge is also the founder and principal of The AgriNutrition Edge, a consultancy committed to assisting food, health and agriculture organizations better navigate the changing consumer environment. Smith Edge is a recognized nutrition and sustainability thought leader.

Since 2008, Smith Edge has worked with commodity groups and the food industry on positioning sustainability and the relationship to diet and health, including involvement with Dairy Management, Inc and its initial Dairy Sustainability Summit. Smith Edge holds a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics from the University of Kentucky also formerly serving as a member of the Board of Trustees. Smith Edge has a Master’s degree in public health-nutrition from Western Kentucky University and earned a certification in appreciative inquiry from the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University.

Dr. Robert Hagevoort is an associate professor and extension dairy specialist at New Mexico State University. Dr. Hagevoort earned his Bachelor’s degree in tropical animal production from the College for Tropical Agriculture in Deventer, The Netherlands. Dr. Hagevoort received a M.S. and a Ph.D. both from Texas A&M University.

Prior to joining New Mexico State University as an extension dairy specialist, Dr. Hagevoort served as an independent dairy consultant primarily in the Southwestern U.S. as an extension specialist, he has been working closely with the dairy Industry focusing regulatory and environmental issues, and initiated an effort to rebuild a dairy program at NMSU through the formation of the U.S. Dairy Education & Training Consortium. A key component of his current extension program is the development and implementation of a comprehensive dairy workforce training & safety program.

Mr. Cliff Gladstein is the founder and president of Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA). For over twenty-two years, he has been local, state, and national leader in the effort to develop cost-effective policies, programs, and products to reduce pollution from transportation, relieve the nation’s dependence on petroleum, and create innovative public-private partnerships to pursue market-based solutions for environmental problems.

Mr. Gladstein is the founder of the Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor (ICTC), the nation’s first and most successful public-private partnership to accelerate the commercialization of clean alternative fuel vehicles in the interstate movement of goods. He has used his knowledge and experience to develop and implement clean transportation and power generation technology deployment programs and incentive programs.

Mr. Gladstein is on the board of the Bioenergy Association of California, Chairs the Education Fund of the California League of Conservation Voters, and teaches air quality policy at the UCLA Institute of Environment and Sustainability. He has been an advisor to the University of Southern California’s Sustainable Cities Program and Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. He is a graduate of Duke University and holds three graduate degrees from the University of Texas, Austin, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Katie Brown, Ed.D., RDN joined National Dairy Council (NDC) in June 2017 as senior vice president of sustainable nutrition. Brown has a passion for connecting agriculture, food, nutrition and health to elevate sustainable nutrition as relevant, meaningful and actionable. Brown leads thought leadership and education efforts to educate people on the benefit of dairy to health and sustainable food systems across the lifespan. Brown is a registered dietitian nutritionist and has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in dietetics and nutrition and a Doctorate degree in education.

Prior to joining NDC, Brown served as the chief global nutrition strategy officer and national education director for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation. In these roles, Brown led the planning for a new vision and strategic direction for the profession, as it reached its hundredth year centennial in 2017. Brown was also responsible for the Academy Foundation’s Future of Food and Kids Eat Right public education and community-based nutrition research initiatives.

Jack Broadbent serves as the chief executive officer/air pollution control officer for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Under Mr. Broadbent’s direction, the Air District strives to provide a healthy breathing environment for every resident in the nine county San Francisco Bay Area region.

Mr. Broadbent joined the Air District after serving as Air Division director at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Region IX. In that position, Mr. Broadbent was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Clean Air Act as well as indoor air quality and radiation programs for the Pacific Southwest region of the United States. Before serving at the U.S. EPA, Mr. Broadbent served as the deputy executive officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District as well as the director of planning and other senior management positions. While at the South Coast Air District, Mr. Broadbent directed the development of a number of landmark programs that contributed to significant improvements in air quality in the Los Angeles region.

In the 1980s, Mr. Broadbent served as corporate environmental programs manager for the largest private employer in California: Hughes Aircraft Company. Mr. Broadbent holds a Master’s degree in environmental administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science—both from the University of California, Riverside.

Cindy Schweitzer founded Schweitzer Consulting LLC to provide nutrition and food science expertise for the food industry, including insights about complex diet-health relationships, translating scientific evidence and identifying research priorities. Schweitzer’s global technical expertise spans for more than thirty years in non-profit, ingredient and food service organizations.

Most recently, Schweitzer was technical director for Global Dairy Platform where facilitating world-wide collaborative efforts on dairy nutrition and health issues and research initiatives to promote dairy foods as nutritious components of healthy sustainable diets. Schweitzer previously worked for McDonald’s Corporation driving their worldwide nutrition strategy on regulatory guidelines and labeling standards. As senior scientist with Cognis Corporation (formerly Henkel), Schweitzer led research and regulatory efforts, similar to prior work directing the nutrition research program for the National Livestock and Meat Board. Schweitzer’s career started in dairy food manufacturing as a technical sales representative for Marschall Products Division of Miles Laboratories. Schweitzer obtained a PhD in human nutrition at Utah State University and a Bachelor of Science in food science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Anja Raudabaugh is the chief executive officer of Western United Dairymen (WUD). Raudabaugh came to WUD from the Madera County Farm Bureau serving as the executive director for four years. Prior to this role at the Farm Bureau, Raudabaugh worked as a project manager for a Fortune 500 Company, and as the senior legislative assistant for Congressman Doug Ose, representing California’s 3rd District in Washington D.C. Previously, Raudabaugh was the marketing director for the California Asparagus Commission and district representative for State Senator Dick Monteith. Raudabaugh’s extensive experience in the political environment adds tremendous value to the organization. Raudabaugh’s time in Sacramento working as a project manager and technical adviser handling CEQA and NEPA requirements as they applied to state and federal agencies, has lent her a skill set adept with navigating complex issues.