Committees and Advisory Panels

The American Cheese Society is a network of volunteer leaders who provide resources in services of our members. We’re glad for your interest in joining our committees! We will be reopening applications for our committees after the ACS 2024 Conference. We hope you’ll consider applying at that time!  Learn about Committee Service and APPLY NOW to submit a Committee Member Interest Form.

Certification Committee

Oversees the creation, maintenance, and operation of all ACS certification programs and products including the Certified Cheese Professional® Exam and the Technical, Aesthetic, and Sensory Tasting Evaluation (T.A.S.T.E) Test®.  Working groups within the committee handle review of applications, appeals processes, exam writing and question analysis, governance, and scoring functions.

Chair: Trevor Thomas, ACS CCP®, Lactalis Deli
Vice Chair: Molly Browne, ACS CCP®, ACS CCSE®, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin
ACS Board Liaison: Bill Stephenson, DPI Specialty Foods
ACS Staff Liaison: Jamie Png, ACS Cheese Industry Professional

Members: Nathan Aldridge, ACS CCP®, ACS CCSE®, Gourmet Foods International; Andy Fitzgerrell, ACS CCP®, ACS CCSE®, Rumiano Cheese Co.; Oliver Ford, ACS CCSE®, Beehive Cheese Co.; Courtney Johnson, ACS CCP®, ACS CCSE®, Washington State Cheesemakers Association; AJ Rosenberg, ACS CCP®, Swiss American; Bill Rufenacht, ACS CCP®, Dairy Connection; Gabriel Salazar, ACS CCP®, ACS CCSE®, Sweet Grass Dairy; Sue Sturman, ACS CCP®, ACS CCSE®, Makers and Mongers; Joey Wells, CCP®, Whole Foods Market

Interested in getting involved? You can read more about this committee here.

Climate Impact Task Force

Works to position the ACS as the single unifying voice of our membership to present to the world what our climate impact is and the progress we are making.

Chair: Bill Stephenson, DPI Specialty Foods
ACS Staff Liaison: Tara Holmes, ACS Executive Director

Members: Mike Koch, FireFly Farms; Jessica Little, Sweet Grass Dairy; Lynn Giacomini Stray, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese; Kurt Beecher Dammeier, Sugar Mountain

Conference Planning Committee

Advises and assists in the planning of the program and activities associated with the Annual ACS Conference.

Chair: Casie Wiginton, Antonelli’s Cheese Shop
ACS Board Liaison: Larry Hedrich, LaClare Family Creamery, Erin Clancy, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese
ACS Staff Liaison: Nerissa Magnuson, ACS Conference Planner

Members: Lynne Affleck, Kustaa; Katie Bray, Oregon Cheese Guild; Lance Lynn, Texas A&M

Interested in getting involved? You can read more about this committee here.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force

The DEI Task Force will carry out a systematic audit of both existing and new ACS processes, procedures, and programs across all committees, events, initiatives, and communications. From this audit, the Task Force will make an initial series of multi-pronged recommendations with the purpose of increasing the visibility and representation of cheese workers from marginalized communities throughout all levels of ACS.

Co-Chairs: Emiliano Lee, Dan Utano, Jamie Png
ACS Staff Liaison: Jamie Png, ACS Cheese Industry Professional

Members: Alisha Norris Jones, Immortal Milk; Isabel Ocampo, Greenwich Cheese Company. Also currently accepting applications. Apply here!

Interested in getting involved? You can read more about this committee here.

Education Committee

Responsible for review, selection, and coordination of the educational programming offered at the ACS Annual Conference. Committee members must commit to attending a two-day planning session each October, and are responsible for coordinating and overseeing 3-5 sessions at conference.

Chair: Rueben Nilsson

ACS Board Liaison: Charuth Van Beuzekom-Loth, Dutch Girl Creamery
ACS Staff Liaison: Tara Holmes, ACS Executive Director

Members: Lance Lynn, Texas A&M; Sue Miller, Birchrun Hills Farm; Rueben Nilsson; Jamie Png, ACS; Rachel Fritz Schaal, Parish Hill Creamery & Dairy Foods Consulting; Emily Harbison, Dairy Connection; Kyra James; Brian Schlatter, Fromagex; Brian Civitello, Mystic Cheese Co.; Charuth Van Beuzekom-Loth, Dutch Girl Creamery; Jessica Fernández-Lopez, Mexican Mongers; Katie Schall, Beehive Cheese; Kat Spann

Interested in getting involved? You can read more about this committee here.

Education Webinar Sub-Committee

Responsible for review, selection, and coordination of the online educational content offerings at ACS.

Chair: Kyra James, Own Your Funk
ACS Staff Liaison: Kori Sulewski, ACS Membership and Operations Specialist

Members: Joe Alstat; Lynne Affleck; Samantha Genke; Richard-Luis Morillo; Isabel Ocampo, Greenwich Cheese Company

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee, a Bylaws mandated committee, consists of the officers of the Board of Directors. The officers review topics and make recommendations to the full Board, hold monthly meetings to develop Board agendas, and take on required roles/duties of each office per the ACS Bylaws.

ACS Board President: Larry Hedrich, LaClare Family Creamery
ACS Staff Liaison: Tara Holmes, ACS Executive Director

Members: Jessica Little, Sweet Grass Dairy, ACS Board Vice President; Rachel Perez, UNFI Fresh, ACS Board Treasurer; Britton Welsh, Beehive Cheese Company, ACS Board Secretary; Mike Koch, FireFly Farms, ACS Board Chair.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee, a Bylaws mandated committee, consists consist of the officers of the Board of Directors, the ACS Executive Director, and at least one other Board member appointed by the Board President. The members are charged with review and recommendation of the annual ACS budget to the Board of Directors, developing financial policies, monitoring quarterly finances, fiduciary oversight of the association’s assets, and ensuring compliance through annual third-party audits.

Chair: Rachel Perez, ACS CCP®, UNFI Fresh, ACS Board Treasurer
ACS Board Chair: Mike Koch, FireFly Farms, ACS Board Chair
ACS Staff Liaison: Susan Nolte, ACS Director of Finance

Members: John Stueland, Town & Country Markets; Lynn Giacomini Stray, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.; Jessica Little, Sweet Grass Dairy

Food Safety & Regulatory Committee

With a heavy emphasis on food safety, the R & A committee works to shed light on issues, policies, regulations, and research that impact ACS members. The committee strives to review the science and make sound recommendations to the Board of Directors on ACS positions and actions based on the facts. Committee members commit to participation in working groups to advance specific programs and products.

Chair: Ron Tanner, Tanner Food Group
Vice Chair: Susan Rigg, River Whey Creamery
ACS Board Liaison: Adam Brock, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin
ACS Staff Liaison: Jamie Png, ACS Cheese Industry Professional

Members: Adam Brock, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin; Chad Galer, Dairy Management Inc.; Dariann Gallegos, Rogue Creamery; Eric Holley, Sweet Grass Dairy; Krista Jacobsen, Murray’s Cheese; Kerry Kaylegian, Penn State University (Advisory Role); Paul McNeely, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese; Taryn Orlemann

Interested in getting involved? You can read more about this committee here.

Governance Committee

The Governance Committee (GC) will assist the Board of Directors (BOD) of the American Cheese Society (ACS) in carrying out its mission and responsibilities to uphold the letter and spirit of the ACS Bylaws and BOD approved policies.

Chair: Britton Welsh, Beehive Cheese Company
Vice-Chair: Jessica Konrath, Winter Winds Farm
ACS Board Liaison: Britton Welsh, Beehive Cheese Company
ACS Staff Liaison: Kori Sulewski, Membership & Operations Coordinator

Members: Larry Hedrich, LaClare Creamery; David Gremmels, Rogue Creamery; Bob Wills, Cedar Grove Cheese; Kat Spann; Larry Hedrich, LaClare Family Creamery; Mike Koch, FireFly Farms; Jane Bauer; Sheila Flannigan

Interested in getting involved? You can read more about this committee here.

Judging & Competition Committee

Responsible for determining all criteria for the cheeses entered into the ACS Judging & Competition by ACS member cheesemakers. The committee also oversees the roster of judges, the entry categories, the judging processes, scoring, reporting, and awards criteria. The committee runs the ACS Judging & Competition and Awards Ceremony on-site each year, including  managing logistics and coordinating volunteers.  Committee members should be prepared to assist with the on-site operation of the Judging & Competition, an in-person commitment of up to 6 days annually.

Chair: David Lockwood, Neal’s Yard Dairy
Vice-Chair: Kari Skibbie, Wisconsin Aging and Grading Cheese
Immediate Past Chair: Rachel Perez, ACS CCP®, UNFI Fresh
ACS Board Liaisons: Rachel Perez, ACS CCP®, UNFI Fresh, Erin Clancy, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese, Julia Powers, ACS CCP®, Peterson Company
ACS Staff Liaisons: Kori Sulewski, Membership and Operations Specialist; Nerissa Magnuson, Conference Planner; Tara Holmes, Executive Director

Members: Mariah Ballard, ACS CCP®, Harmons; Erin Clancy, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese; Stephanie Clark, Ph.D., Iowa State University; Craig Gile, ACS CCP®, Cabot Creamery Cooperative; John Greeley; Sara Maruyama, Tillamook; Janee’ Muha, ACS CCP®, The Mobile Monger; Julia Powers, ACS CCP®, Peterson Company; Lisa Roberts, Zingerman’s; Rich Rogers, ACS CCP®, Scardello Artisan Cheese; Kari Skibbie, Wisconsin Aging and Grading Cheese

Interested in getting involved? You can read more about this committee here.

Marketing and Communications Committee

To do our best marketing and communication work, we turn to our volunteer advisory panel to partner in effectively reaching our members and the community at large. People with a variety of experiences in cheese as well as expertise in aspects of marketing such as strategy & positioning, social media & engagement, and public relations & personas are encouraged to apply.

Chair: Stephanie Skinner, Culture Magazine
Co-Chair: Chris Eastwood, GFI
ACS Board Liaison: Erin Clancy, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese
ACS Staff Liaison: Endsley Eggert, Marketing Manager

Members: Vanessa Chang, ACEF; Izzy Creveling, Peterson Cheese; Andy DeCou, Schnucks; Janet Fletcher, Planet Cheese; Ari Goldsmith, KeHE; Emily O’Conor, Freeland; Sarah Simms, Lady and Larder; Amy Thompson, Full Shelf Foods; Kara Young, Vermont Creamery

Interested in getting involved? You can read more about this committee here.

Nominating Committee

The nominating committee is a Bylaws mandated committee. Each year, the Nominating Committee reviews Board make up to assess upcoming openings; reviews, interviews, and vets nominees; and proposes a slate of candidates to the Board of Directors for approval in alignment with ACS Bylaws.

Chair: Lynn Giacomini Stray, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.
Staff Liaison: Tara Holmes, Executive Director

Members: Steve Jones, Gourmet Imports; Cristi Menard, Landmark Creamery; Kat Spann

Interested in getting involved? You can read more about this committee here.

Scholarship Selection Panel

Manages the ACS Conference Scholarships, funded by the American Cheese Education Foundation. The panel sets the scholarship criteria, reviews applications, and selects scholarship recipients.

Chair: Rebekah Baker, ACS CCP®, UNFI
ACS Staff Liaison: Kori Sulewski, ACS Membership and Operations Specialist

Members: Stephanie Ciano, ACS CCP®, World’s Best Cheeses; Connie Concon, Point Reyes Cheese; Emi Lee, Northcoast Coop; Sue Miller, Birchrun Hills Farm; Isabel Ocampo, Greenwich Cheese Company; Tom Perry, Shelburne Farms; David Rogers, Standard Market; Charuth Van Beuzekom-Loth, Dutch Girl Creamery, Cara Warren, Isigny

Interested in getting involved? You can read more about this committee here.

Guild Outreach Working Group

The Guild Outreach Working group was formed in 2020. This working group aims to foster community, connection, information and resource sharing among the grassroots networks of Guild and Guild affiliates who provide regional support for cheesemakers.

ACS Board Liaison: Jessica Little, Sweet Grass Dairy
ACS Staff Liaisons: Jamie Png, ACS Cheese Industry Professional

Steering Committee Members: Katie Bray, Oregon Cheese Guild; Courtney Johnson, Washington State Cheesemakers Association; Marty Mundy, Vermont Cheese Council; Kelsie Parsons, Sobeys Inc.

Interested in getting involved? You can read more about this committee here.