The SDFRC Operational Advisory Committee (OAC) advises the center on overall policies and program goals and develops short and long-term research objectives to ensure that approved projects meet the research directives of the center and the Dairy Management, Inc. National Research Plan.

The committee consists of industry representatives, university advisers, DMI staff, center directors and faculty members. Members of this board represent some of the most innovative regional and national companies now processing dairy products, functional dairy ingredients and foods formulated with dairy components. We are very proud to be associated with our partners and grateful for their multidimensional input into our center programs with their expertise, experience, time commitment, funding, and most importantly, their vision for the future.

OAC Members 2009

• Shantanu Agarwal , Director, Product Innovation, Dairy Management, Inc.
• Eric Bastian, Vice President, Research & Development, Glanbia Nutritionals
• Arti Bedi, Director, Research & Development, Land O'Lakes, Inc.
• Gary Cartwright, Pilot Plant Coordinator, Food Bioprocessing & Nutrition Science Department, NCSU
• Robert E. Burrage, N.C. Dairy Foundation
• Connie Cerdena, PepsiCo, Inc.
• Mitch and Laurie Davis, Davisco Foods International, Inc.
• E. Allen Foegeding, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor, Food Bioprocessing & Nutrition Science Department, NCSU
• Tom Helm, Director, Food Technology, Grande Cheese Company
• Alice Heth, Director, Yoplait New Ventures R&D, General Mills
• Todd Klaenhammer, SDFRC Director, Distinguished University Professor, Food Bioprocessing & Nutrition Science Department, NCSU
• Veronique Lagrange, US Dairy Export Council
• Isabelle Laye, Principal Scientist-Cheese & Dairy, Kraft Foods, Inc.
• Joseph Light, Senior Director, National Starch
• Fu I. Mei, Program Manager, Kraft Foods Global Technology
• William Benjy Mikel, Head, Dept. of Food Sci., Nutrition & Health Promotion, MSU
• Raj Narasimmon, Director Product Applications, Dairy Management, Inc.
• Keith Oakley, Executive Director, College Advancement, NCSU
• Kayla Polzin, Cargill, Inc.
• Brian Reinhart, Associate Principal Engineer, Kraft Foods Global Technology
• Dennis Romero, Culture Systems & Molecular Biology, Danisco USA Inc.
• K.P. Sandeep, Assoc. Professor, Food Bioprocessing & Nutrition Science Department, NCSU; Director, Center for Advanced Processing & Packaging Studies
• Jim Stalder, Manager, Protein Development & Functionality, Frito-Lay
• Donn Ward, Head, Food Bioprocessing & Nutrition Science Department, NCSU
• Eric Young, Executive Director, Southern Association of Agriculture Experiment Station Directors, NCSU