WCMA Grows Staff Team, Member Offerings

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) today announced the hiring of Ryan Dunn as Manager of Business Operations, supporting a growing membership base and portfolio of services.

"We’re pleased to welcome Ryan to WCMA. His skills and attention to detail will be valuable assets as we offer our members exciting new opportunities to build and strengthen their businesses,” said WCMA Executive Director John Umhoefer.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the WCMA team,” Dunn added. “I look forward to putting my experience and talents to work to serve the dairy processing industry.”

Dunn previously served as Grants Manager at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (WDATCP) within the Division of Agricultural Development. There, he handled the distribution of nearly $12 million each year in key grant funds through the Dairy Processor Grants; Export Expansion Grants; Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin; the Specialty Crop Block Grant program; and the Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Resiliency Grants.

Dunn inherits business operations responsibilities from Sara Schmidt, who will now serve as the Association’s Member Engagement Manager, leading membership development and driving engagement in WCMA trainings and programs.

These new roles support a multitude of new offerings WCMA has added to its diverse range of programming. In the last year alone, the Association has expanded its member benefits to include direct business development support, free onboarding and recruitment videos, a new Health & Safety Group, additional industry trainings, and more. To learn more about WCMA’s services and membership, visit WisCheeseMakers.org.