CheeseCon 2025, hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) in Madison, Wis., served as a premier gathering for dairy processing professionals and enthusiasts.
The event provided a platform for industry leaders, suppliers, and academics to connect and share knowledge while recognizing pioneering dairy leaders and hosting a cheese auction to raise funds for scholarships and industry research. And in addition to bags of swag, attendees took away powerful insights from educational sessions that covered topics such as cutting-edge wastewater processing, innovative uses for whey, the latest advancements in food safety, and sustainable trade practices.
In between networking, the cheese auction, and hospitality events, the Nelson-Jameson team was able to sit in on educational sessions and share some key takeaways.
“This session was a welcome discussion that broke down approaches and cultural mindsets in tackling carbon emissions. Panelists from Foremost, Agropur, Michigan Milk, AMPI, and others delved into Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, ways to build on each other's strengths, and work done in the industry to ensure accuracy and encourage program forward movement.” - Mat Bartkowiak, VP of Corporate Responsibility and Development at Nelson-Jameson
“Gale Beard and Alex O'Brien shed light on basic key principles that are sometimes overlooked amidst a plant's daily operations. They highlighted that it is important to distinguish between a preventative maintenance program and a mere maintenance plan — two approaches that can drastically impact the efficiency and safety of operations. The true challenge lies in whether companies are proactively addressing potential issues or simply reacting to them as they arise. A strong preventative maintenance program is essential for long-term safety and success.” - Amanda Hill, Nelson-Jameson Key Account Specialist
“Understanding and managing the complex microbial ecosystems in cheese is crucial for improving cheese quality, safety, and production efficiency. Cheese experts explained advanced analytical techniques for studying and influencing these microbial populations. They also discussed strategies to minimize spoilage organisms and regulate histamine-producing bacteria.” - Amanda Hilgart, Nelson-Jameson marketing content editor and PIM specialist
“Representatives from Great Lakes Cheese, Ecolab, and Michael Best & Friedrich discussed ways that their businesses encouraged programs that brought a wide variety of the most competitive candidates to their organizations, and perhaps even more importantly, how they target creating a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to ensure retention. At the end of the day, it's about practical, good business practices to build up the best teams that you can in an increasingly competitive marketplace.” - Bartkowiak
The energy was high, as evident by the velocity of bids and the pace of the multiple auctioneers during the annual Novonesis Reception and Championship Cheese Auction at CheeseCon.
Dairy processors, dairy industry suppliers, manufacturers, and more collectively raised more than $350,000 to support industry training programs offered by the WCMA, dairy scholarships and innovation at higher education institutions.
Nelson-Jameson participated in the flurry of activity with bids across the board and left with two victorious bids totaling $24,000 for award-winning cheeses from Southwest Cheese and Saputo.
“WCMA's annual Championship Cheese Auction is a beloved tradition among the Nelson-Jameson team,” said Nelson-Jameson auction representative and VP of corporate strategy, Devon Vogel. “Not only does it showcase our customers' delicious award-winning dairy products, but even more importantly, the industry scholarships that support our next generation of dairy enthusiasts. The fast-paced bidding and per-pound calculating is an absolute blast for those with the bidding paddle and the teammates cheering us on.”
Each year, Nelson-Jameson shares the winning items with its employees in its annual holiday gift box, at employee events, or as a breakroom snack. This year’s Auction featured 95 gold-medal cheeses, butters, and yogurts from the 2025 U.S. Championship Cheese Contest.
Nelson-Jameson also took part in official WCMA business while in Madison. Bartkowiak, VP of Corporate Responsibility and Development at Nelson-Jameson, was elected to serve as Second Vice President after serving previously as a board director.
"It's an absolute honor to be elected to the executive team for the WCMA board,” Bartkowiak said after the announcement in Madison. “I consider myself very fortunate to work with a board comprised of such accomplished and thoughtful industry leaders. WCMA and its remarkable staff do so much to further education and training, and to be stewards of the industry. It's a pleasure to get to play a small role in the work they do."
The WCMA also announced its newly elected officers, who are set to assume their positions on July 1. Kim Heiman of Nasonville Dairy will return as President, bringing prior experience from a 2017-2019 term. Jeff Gentine of Masters Gallery Foods was named First Vice President, Betsy Erdelyi of BMO Harris Bank was named Treasurer, and Chris Roelli of Roelli Cheese Co., will continue as Secretary.
WCMA membership is open to dairy processors, manufacturers, marketers, and suppliers nationwide. More information is available at WisCheeseMakers.org/Become-A-Member.
Before the cheese auction, four Nelson-Jameson team members (pictured above) were honored on stage for completing the WCMA's Front-Line Leadership Classes. The classes are designed for new and seasoned leaders to build their skills in conflict resolution, communication, stress and time management, and creating a team mentality. Congrats to the Nelson-Jameson course grads:
If you couldn't make the trip to Madison for CheeseCon 2025 but still want to catch up with what’s new at Nelson-Jameson, check out the articles below to see just some of the things we were talking about with attendees:
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