Corey Scott to succeed Molly Pelzer as CEO of Midwest Dairy

USA – Midwest Dairy, a US-based dairy organization representing 4,400 dairy farms, has appointed Corey Scott as its new Chief Executive Officer. Scott, effective March 13 to succeed the retiring CEO, Molly Pelzer.

Corey Scott, previously the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Athian, brings over 15 years of leadership experience, including notable positions at Land O’Lakes and its sustainability division, Truterra LLC.

Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Scott was named by GreenBiz as one of the “12 Women Cultivating Sustainable Food Systems in 2023” and received a prestigious US Dairy Sustainability Award for her commitment to reducing the dairy industry’s environmental footprint.

“I am honored to serve as CEO for Midwest Dairy and work on behalf of dairy farmers across our 10-state region. I have worked with dairy farmers throughout my career and am always struck by the passion they show for their cows, the environment, and our communities,” Scott stated during the appointment.

In addition to her experience, Scott holds an executive MBA and undergraduate degrees from the University of Minnesota and the Carlson School of Business.

The incoming CEO will succeed Molly Pelzer, who has dedicated almost 40 years of her career to the dairy checkoff.

Pelzer, who began her journey as a program director in June of 1984, has held various leadership positions within the organization before assuming the role of CEO in 2019.

Her contributions to the dairy industry have been celebrated, and she will retire in March.

“Molly has contributed almost 40 years of experience to the dairy checkoff, and her achievements will be celebrated. I have appreciated Molly’s work ethic, devotion to the dairy farmers, and focus on making a difference. I wish her nothing but the best as she enjoys her retirement,” Charles Krause, Corporate Board Chair of Midwest Dairy, commended Pelzer.

“Pelzer has been instrumental in building trust and demand for the dairy industry during her tenure. She played a crucial role in developing a metrics scorecard over the last four years, providing farmers with a clear understanding of the impact of their checkoff investment.”

Expressing her gratitude, Pelzer noted that during her time at Midwest Dairy, she has seen checkoff strategies evolve and foster new ideas that make a difference for dairy farm families.

“It has been a privilege to work for dairy farmers in each of my roles in dairy checkoff, and I will continue to be a dairy advocate in my retirement.”

Meanwhile, Midwest Dairy has also retained the expertise of Fred Pabst, Dairy and Agriculture Search Practice Leader at Herd Freed Hartz, to lead the selection process for the next CEO.

Subscribe to our food and agriculture industry email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE