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About the Center for Dairy Excellence

CDE Board
Center Board of Directors

The Center for Dairy Excellence is a non-profit 501C6 organization created in 2004. The organization was created to enhance profitability and viability of the dairy industry, the leading sector of Pennsylvania's number one industry, Agriculture.

The center works closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and numerous allied industry organizations to support Pennsylvania's dairy farm families. The center’s mission is to enhance the profitability of the dairy industry by empowering people, creating partnerships, and increasing the availability and use of resources.

Click here to review the Center's 2010 Annual Summary

Center Board of Directors

Currently, twenty-two individuals serve on the Center for Dairy Excellence board of directors. With the integration of the Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders with the Center for Dairy Excellence occuring on Jan. 1, 2011, this board will transition down to thirteen members by December 31, 2012.

Board members of the Center for Dairy Excellence include:

 Lolly Lesher, President, Bernville, Pa.  Gary Heckman, Vice President, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
 Betsy Albright, Treasurer, Harrisburg, Pa.  John Siglow, Secretary, Syracuse, N.Y.
 Arlin Benner, Mount Joy, Pa.  Ron Kline, Troy, Pa.
 Erick Coolidge, Wellsboro, Pa.  John Ligo, Grove City, Pa.
 David Dowler, Meadville, Pa.  Brian Reed, Lititz, Pa.
 Glenn Gorrell, Milan, Pa.  Steve Reinford, Mifflintown, Pa.
 Leon Graves, Syracuse, N.Y.  Sam Shannon, Sunbury, Pa.
 Jennifer Heltzel, Martinsburg, Pa.  Vinton Smith, Gettysburg, Pa.
 Gordon Hoover, Carlisle, Pa.  Dr. John Stanton, Sewell, N.J.
 David Hunsberger, Mifflintown, Pa.  Christine Waddell, Townville, Pa.
 Junia Isiminger, Union City, Pa.  Matt Wanner, Narvon, Pa.

Center Staff

The center has four full-time and two part-time staff. Those are:

John Frey
Executive Director
Phone: 717-346-0849
Fax: 717-705-2342
Email John
Karen Purnell
Accounting & Administration Coordinator
Phone: 717-346-9905
Fax: 717-705-2342
Email Karen
Jayne Sebright
Communications Director
Phone: 717-259-6496
Fax: 717-259-6496
Email Jayne
     
Emily Yeiser
Dairy Initiatives Manager
Phone: 717-346-0849
Fax: 717-705-2342
Email Emily
Alan Zepp
Risk Management Program Coordinator
Phone: 717-346-0849
Fax: 717-705-2342
Email Alan
Heidi Zimmerman
Project Manager
Phone: 717-346-0849
Fax: 717-705-2342
Email Heidi