Ermias Kebreab, PhD, Professor and Sesnon Endowed Chair, Sustainable Animal Agriculture Department of Animal Science, UC Davis

Dr. Ermias Kebreab is a professor of Animal Science and holds the Sesnon Endowed Chair in Sustainable Animal Agriculture at the Department of Animal Science, UC Davis. Dr. Kebreab was appointed associate vice provost at UC Davis Global Affairs in 2016 to advance the university’s engagement in international education. Dr. Kebreab also serves as the deputy director of Agricultural Sustainability Institute. Dr. Kebreab conducts research on reducing the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, including the sustainable use of feed additives.

Dr. Kebreab has served in several national and international committees including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine. Dr. Kebreab has mentored or hosted over 30 scholars in his laboratory and authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles, 34 book chapters, and edited 5 books.

Dr Kebreab received several awards including International Agriculture Award and AFIA Ruminant Nutrition Award from American Society of Animal Science. Dr. Kebreab received his Bachelor of Science degree from University of Asmara, Eritrea, Master of Science and Ph.D. from University of Reading, United Kingdom.

Kate Gordon, Director, Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom on Climate, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research

Kate Gordon is a nationally recognized expert on the intersection of climate change, energy, and economic development. Gordon was appointed Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and Senior Advisor to the Governor on Climate by Governor Gavin Newsom on January 7, 2019. She has authored or co-authored numerous publications, including the Fourth National Climate Assessment’s chapter on “Reducing Risks Through Adaptation Actions”. Prior to being appointed OPR Director, Gordon was a Senior Advisor at the Henry M. Paulson Institute, where she oversaw the “Risky Business Project,” focused on quantifying the economic impacts of climate change to the U.S. economy, and also provided strategic support to the Institute’s U.S.- China CEO Council for Sustainable Urbanization. She was also a nonresident Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.

Earlier in her career Gordon served as Vice President for Climate and Energy at the Center for the Next Generation, Vice President of Energy and Environment at the Washington D.C.-based Center for American Progress, and Co-Executive Director at the national Apollo Alliance (now the Blue Green Alliance).

Gordon earned a J.D. and a masters in city and regional planning from the University of California-Berkeley, and an undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University.

Phil Lempert, Founder and Editor, Founder and CEO, The Lempert Report, Retail Dietitians Business Alliance

For more than 25 years, Lempert, an expert analyst on consumer behavior, marketing trends, new products and the changing retail landscape, has identified and explained impending trends to consumers and some of the most prestigious companies worldwide. Known as The Supermarket Guru®, Lempert has served as food trends editor and correspondent for NBC News’ Today show, reporting on consumer trends, food safety and moneysaving tips, as well as showcasing new products, with regular appearances on ABC’s The View, FOX Business, Dr. Oz, The Oprah Winfrey Show, 20/20, CNN, CNBC, and FOX.

Well-known as an author and speaker, Lempert was one of the pioneers of the new information media, founding SupermarketGuru.com, one of the leading online food and health resources, in 1994. He is the founder and editor of The Lempert Report, the founder and CEO of the Retail Dietitians Business Alliance and develops and manages programs for organizations including the National Restaurant Association, Specialty Foods Association and Food Marketing Institute. He serves on numerous boards including: U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance Honor the Harvest, Sial Innovation Jury, Seminis, Ingenuity and Betterer Foods Advisory Boards.

Phil Lempert graduated from Drexel University with degrees in Marketing and Retail Management and did his Post-Graduate studies at Pratt Institute. He worked at McDonald’s and Howard Johnson’s before joining his family’s food brokerage firm. Lempert went on to create Lempert Advertising. A resident of California, Lempert’s roots are in the Belleville, New Jersey dairy farm started by his grandfather. The family food tradition carried on through his father’s work as a food manufacturer, distributor and broker and then to Phil Lempert, The Supermarket Guru.

Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

Karen Ross was appointed secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) on January 12, 2011, by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. Secretary Ross has deep leadership experience in agricultural issues nationally, internationally, and here in California. During Secretary Ross’ tenure, the Department has focused on core functions to protect and promote California agriculture in a time of significant budget reductions, and it has emphasized change-management to position the agency to more effectively and efficiently serve its stakeholders in meeting the challenges of the 21st Century.

Secretary Ross has strengthened partnerships across government, academia and the non-profit sector in the drive to maintain and improve environmental stewardship and to develop adaptation strategies for the specific impacts of climate change. She has initiated programs to provide greater opportunities for farmers and ranchers to engage in sustainable environmental stewardship practices through water conservation, energy efficiency, nutrient management and ecosystem services.

The Secretary has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a graduate of the Nebraska Ag Leadership Program.

Brad Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, California Dairies, Inc.

Brad Anderson is the President and CEO of California Dairies, Inc. (CDI). Stepping into the CEO position on January 1, 2020, Brad brings more than 26 years of leadership experience to the role.

Previously, Brad held the position of CDI’s Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining CDI, he was the Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer at Dean Foods, the largest fluid milk processor in the U.S. During his tenure at Dean Foods, Brad was active in the dairy industry and served on the MilkPEP Board for six years in total and Chairman of the Board for the last two years. Brad’s career began at Earthgrains and progressed to Pepsi Bottling Group, Sara Lee Corporation and Dean Foods before joining CDI in September 2018.

Brad currently serves as a Board Chairman of Challenge Dairy Products, Inc., Board Member of the American Dairy Products Institute, DairyAmerica, US Dairy Export Council and the International Dairy Foods Association Ingredient Board.

Brad earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Georgia.

Taryn Ravazzini, Deputy Director, Statewide Groundwater Management California Department of Water Resources

Taryn Ravazzini was appointed Deputy Director of Statewide Groundwater Management in May 2019. Taryn leads the Department’s implementation of the landmark 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, and established DWR’s Executive Sustainable Groundwater Management Office in January 2018. She also served as an executive advisor to the California Water Commission, having previously held the position of acting executive officer for the Commission in 2016-2017. Taryn joined DWR in 2015 when she was appointed as Deputy Director of Special Initiatives where she served as policy advisor and subject matter expert to the Director and Chief Deputy Director on a broad range of issues impacting statewide water management.

Prior to joining DWR, Taryn held an appointment as the coordinator for the Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Plan Interagency Implementation Committee. Before that, she worked as a strategic public and governmental relations consultant, specializing in natural resources and local government issues. She has held multiple positions at the Association of California Water Agencies in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and staffed U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California). Taryn also spent several years working in California’s wine industry.

Taryn earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego, and Juris Doctor degree from Golden Gate University School of Law. Taryn is a member of the California State Bar.

David Darr, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, Dairy Farmers of America

David has been with DFA since 2001 and currently serves as chief strategy and sustainability officer. In this role, David leads efforts to connect DFA’s strategy with members, employees and other stakeholders. In addition, David leads Cooperative efforts on sustainability, including environmental footprinting, animal care and corporate social responsibility. His previous areas of responsibility have included overseeing DFA’s Farm Services Division, creating and managing DFA’s Gold Standard Dairy Program and leading an economic analysis team.

Ashley Rosales, Program Director of Nutrition Sciences, Dairy Council of California

Ashley Rosales, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, is the Program Director of Nutrition Sciences for Dairy Council of California where she oversees programs and strategies that improve the health of children and families through developing lifelong healthy eating habits. Driven by Dr. Bruce Daggy’s quote, “Let’s build wellness rather than treating disease,” Ashley specializes in applying consensus research to amplify the important role of milk and dairy foods in healthy, sustainable eating patterns and addressing nutritional needs across the lifespan to support optimal health. With a professional background in strategic planning, issues management, trends tracking and communications, Ashley leads efforts to empower stakeholders to use evidenced-based nutrition science to ensure communities have access to nutritious foods and to make healthy eating easier. Ashley serves as a steering committee member for the California Local School Wellness Policy Collaborative and carries volunteer leadership roles in the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the California Conference of Local Health Department Nutritionists. Ashley is a media spokesperson for both traditional and social media channels. She received her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Clinical Nutrition from UC Davis and completed her dietetic internship program at Napa State Hospital.

Gregory Miller, Global Chief Science Officer, National Dairy Council

Gregory D. Miller, Ph.D., M.A.C.N., Global CSO for National Dairy Council, and Adjunct Associate Professor in the department of food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois. He is also Nutritional Security Sector Lead for the Global Dairy Platform and is recognized as a leading voice in the global food system. He is currently leading the effort to enhance dairy’s contributions toward a more sustainable food system by examining the intersection between nutrition, health, food insecurity, and environmental impact.

Dr. Miller graduated in 1978 from Michigan State University with a B.S. degree in Nutrition, in 1982 earned a M.S. and in 1986 a Ph.D. in Nutrition (Toxicology)) from The Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Miller is a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry and served on the editorial board of many other journals. He has served as President for the American College of Nutrition. He was a Member of the Board of Directors for the American Society for Nutrition.

In October of 2016, Dr. Miller was appointed to a Food and Agricultural Organization HLPE to carry out a study on Nutrition and Food Systems that fed into the CFS debates at the 44th session in 2017.

Dr. Miller has presented more than 120 invited lectures and has published more than 160 research papers, reviews, articles, and abstracts. He has co-edited three books on diet, nutrition, and toxicology and contributed chapters to nine books.

Frank Mitloehner, PhD, Professor and Air Quality Specialist, Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis

Frank Mitloehner is a professor and air quality specialist for 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”.

John Talbot, CEO, California Milk Advisory Board

John Talbot brings more than 25 years of marketing and brand management experience to his role as CEO of the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) where he focuses on building awareness and demand for California milk and dairy products across the U.S. and around the world.

Mr. Talbot began his career in sales at Procter & Gamble before joining PepsiCo in 1985 where he spent 12 years leading brand management and product development. During his tenure at PepsiCo, Mr. Talbot managed global marketing properties between some of the company’s best-known and most prominent brands including Pepsi, Frito Lay, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC. His extensive background in growing consumer brands also includes 2 years leading new product development for E&J Gallo Winery and running corporate marketing for technology-related businesses in communications and Internet services. In his most recent role as VP of global market development for the Almond Board of California, Mr. Talbot managed the continued growth of the global almond industry with a focus on market access, trade stewardship and consumer marketing.

Mr. Talbot holds an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in Illinois. He currently resides in California’s Bay Area where he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Fred Schonenberg, Founder, VentureFuel

VentureFuel helps large corporations and industries identify and partner with startups and breakthrough technologies to accelerate R&D, resulting in 100+ pilots, $12m+ in revenue for startups that are now valued at over $1.5bn.

Fred has spent 15+ years introducing new formats and first-to-market products to corporations with award winning creative solutions and ability to accelerate R&D to drive ROI. He runs innovation programs for brands like Nike, Pepsi, AB InBev, General Mills, Beam Suntory, etc. that include startup competitions, pilot programs, corporate strategy as well as large events such as the LIFT Summit, Rogue Women and Innovation Brew.

He is a frequent speaker at Cannes, SXSW, Advertising Week, Venturing Summit, etc. and an industry thought-leader published in Forbes, Ad Age, Business Insider, The Huffington Post, Media Post, The Drum, Creator Magazine, Adweek, Event Marketer, etc.

Joel Hastings, Editor and Publisher, DairyBusiness

Joel Hastings is editor and publisher of DairyBusiness, producing the bi-weekly digital magazine, video interviews and the DairyVoice podcast. He’s spent his career as a dairy journalist and publisher, earlier with Holstein World, The Dairyman and DairyBusiness magazines in the West, Midwest and Northeast.

A native of Upstate New York, he’s traveled widely nationally and internationally working with dairy producers and ag businesses. He lives near Fresno, Calif.

Susan Talamantes Eggman, Assemblymember, California State Assembly

Born and raised in Northern California, Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman grew up on her family’s small almond orchard and apiary in Turlock. She enlisted in the U.S. Army out of high school and served four years as a medic. After her service, she attended California State University, Stanislaus, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work. She worked as a mental health provider and medical social worker before completing a Ph.D. at Portland State University.

A professor of social work at Sacramento State University before her election to the legislature, Assemblymember Eggman was the first Latina to serve on the Stockton City Council. Her district, the 13th, includes the San Joaquin Delta communities of Stockton, Tracy, Thornton and Mountain House.

Assemblymember Eggman is the chair of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, and serves on the committees on Appropriations, Business and Professions, Natural Resources, and Utilities and Energy. She is the author of the landmark End of Life Option Act.

Adam Wylie, Associate Director, Environment & Global Responsibility, Leprino Foods Company

Adam has been responsible for environmental compliance and sustainability for over 23 years, beginning in the automotive industry, then in the foundry industry, and for Leprino Foods Company since 2013. He also did time as a consultant performing environmental, health & safety audits for clients around the world. At Leprino, he strives for tenacious continuous improvement while supporting Leprino’s employees in exercising their passions for Global Responsibility throughout their work and their lives.

Adam has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Chemistry from Kettering University and a master’s degree in Environmental Science & Management from Duquesne University. He lives in Wheat Ridge, Colorado with his wife, two active teenagers, and big grocery bills.

Mike Newland, Director of Agriculture Business Development, Propane Education & Research Council

Michael Newland is the Director of Agriculture Business Development for the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). His role includes working with farmers and manufacturers to develop new uses for propane and new markets within the agriculture industry. Newland has more than 20 years of experience in sales, sales and project management, and brand development in the agriculture market. Prior to his role at PERC, Newland has served as National Sales Manager for Business Development at AgYield, Vice President of Sales and Operations for the Midwest USA Division of MagGrow, and Director of Field Operations and National Agronomist for Wilton Agriculture Strategies.

Geoffrey Vanden Heuvel, Director of Regulatory & Economic Affairs, Milk Producers Council

Geoffrey Vanden Heuvel started his work with Milk Producers Council as the Director of Regulatory and Economic Affairs after retiring from a 39-year career as a dairy farmer in Southern California. His specific responsibilities include being the dairy industry’s eyes, ears and advocate as the various Ground Water Sustainability Agencies begin to implement the Groundwater Sustainability Management Act in California.

Geoffrey developed expertise in groundwater management and California water issues through is nearly three decades of experience serving on the boards of the Chino Basin Watermaster, The Chino Basin Water Conservation District as well as the Southern California Water Coalition where he continues to serve on the Executive Committee.

Pete Kappelman, Senior Vice President, Member and Government Relations, Land O’ Lakes, Inc.

Pete Kappelman brings a lifetime of experience to the role of Senior Vice President of Member and Government Relations, as a successful crop and dairy farmer along with his advocacy experience and board involvement with many agricultural organizations.

Mr. Kappelman has been a leader in working with legislators on important ag policy issues including the Farm Bill, trade and immigration. He also served as an Ag Policy Advisor to the Administration for the United States Department of Agriculture and the Office of the United States Trade Representative and was named Director of the Year in 2018 by the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. His board service included the National Milk Producers Federation, the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, and the UW Center for Dairy Profitability.

Kappelman is a fourth-generation farmer, having led Meadow Brook Dairy Farms, LLC, with his wife Shellie and their three adult children – an operation consisting of 450 milking cows along with 1,100 acres of cropland. The Kappelmans were Wisconsin’s 1995 Dairy Farm Family of the Year and Kappelman was 2018 Dairyman of the Year. Kappelman received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, College of Agriculture.