DBIA Mentors
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
