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DBIA Mentors

DBIA has a new website!

Please visit dbia.wisc.edu for all of the up-to-date DBIA information, including grants and technical assistance.

As part of the technical assistance offered through DBIA, we currently have a team of five experienced Mentors on staff available to assist DBIA grant recipients to further accelerate their businesses.

The five mentors represent a breadth of dairy business and processing knowledge, including supply chain management, business consulting, product development, food safety/regulatory, procurement, and more.

Mentorship assistance will be offered in several formats; this includes live or recorded webinars focusing on specific topics that have generated interest, FAQ and other documentation based on popular inquiries, referrals to other CDR staff with particular expertise, and individual guidance as demand permits.

Staff Bios

Staff

Jim Natzke

DBIA Mentor

Randy Krahenbuhl

DBIA Mentor

Jeff Schwager

DBIA Mentor

Brian Riesterer

DBIA Mentor

Mike Matucheski

DBIA Mentor

Brandon Prochaska

Sensory Coordinator

Alex O'Brien

Dairy Safety & Quality Coordinator

Emily Slatter

Grant Administration Manager

Vic Grassman

Technology Commercialization Manager

John A. Lucey

Director of CDR, Professor of Food Science

Mark Johnson

Outreach Specialist Emeritus

Andrea Luke

Administrative Director

Rani Govindasamy-Lucey

Distinguished Scientist

Tom Guerin

Assistant Center Director

Dean Sommer

Senior Management Team, Cheese & Food Technologist

John Jaeggi

Senior Management Team, Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Program Coordinator

Gina Mode

Coordinator Cheese Industry & Applications

Luis A. Jiménez-Maroto

Assistant Coordinator, Cheese Industry & Applications

Katie Hilty

Assistant Coordinator, Cheese Industry & Applications

Rodrigo Ibáñez

Associate Scientist

José Miguel Pérez

Cheese Scientist

Jeremy Lindloff

Pilot Plant Manager

Kristen Houck

Research Specialist

Mellisa Houfe

Research Cheesemaker, Cheese & Processing Groups

Jim Grisamore

Research Specialist

Maggie Becher

Assistant Coordinator, Cheese Industry & Applications Group

Ben Ullerup Mathers

Assistant Coordinator, Cheese Industry & Applications

Yanjie Lu

Client-Based Researcher and Lucey Lab Manager

Andrea Miller

Senior Management Team, Outreach Program Manager Communications & Training

Shelby Anderson

Communications Specialist

Mike Molitor

Process Advisor / Innovator

Tim Hogensen

Media Specialist

Michael P. Gay

CEcD, Development Specialist

Jim Cropp

Instrumentation Technologist, Assistant Pilot Plant Manager

Brad Harkins

Cheesemaker

Zachary Delfosse

Cheesemaker

Jamie Fahrney

Research Cheesemaker

Daniel Wilbanks

Coordinator Dairy Products & Processing Team

Ian Kozaczek

Cheesemaker

Niels Hansen

Maintenance Technician

Tom Blihovde

Cheesemaker

Heather Cooper

Events Coordinator

Lindsey O’Brien

Dairy Foods Trainer

Nick Larsen

Cheesemaker

Stacy Kunesh

Culinary Technician

Brody Killoren

Communications Assistant

Pratishtha Verma

Dairy Ingredients & Applications Specialist

Yectli Tahuilan

Assistant Coordinator, DPPT

Matt Hophan

Procurement Specialist

Srirupa Sen

Researcher

Rex Nario

Administrative Assistant

Ryne VanStippen

Financial Specialist

Rafik Tadjer

IT Systems Administrator

Nick Terebayza

Analytical Research Specialist

Ingrid Havlik

Analytical Research Specialist

How to Work With a DBIA Mentor:

At this time, DBIA mentorship is limited to companies who have previously received a Dairy Business Builder or Dairy Industry Impact grant from DBIA.

A brief survey is available in the DBIA grant management system to signal your interest and area of assistance.

Please note that due to demand, it may take some time before a Mentor is available to work with you.