Organic Valley proudly announces Shawna Nelson as the farmer-owned cooperative’s new executive vice president of membership (EVP). Growing her experience from intern to vice president over the span of 18 years, Nelson has been a key contributor to Organic Valley’s growth and has also demonstrated success at every stage. Nelson also adds her perspective to the executive leadership team as a woman leading in agriculture focused on the farmers and producers that underpin the American food system.
Born and raised in the same Driftless area that Organic Valley calls home, Shawna Nelson started
her career at Organic Valley in 2005 as a human resources intern and then moved to various roles
in marketing, sales analysis, recruitment, employee relations, field operations, and dairy pool
management. Nelson’s appointment as the EVP of membership began on Oct. 23, 2023, as
current EVP of Membership Travis Forgues also begins his transition to Hidden Springs Creamery
and their family farm on Nov. 3.
“I am honored and elated to take the next step with the cooperative and continue serving its mission to create a stable economic model for organic family farms,” Nelson said. “Since 2005, I’ve known Organic Valley is the place I am meant to be. I look forward to working more closely with CEO Jeff Frank, the rest of our executive leadership team, board members, farmer-members and teams across the cooperative to realize the immense potential for Organic Valley’s continued growth and success.”
Nelson is advancing her role at Organic Valley from her previous position as vice president of
dairy pool, where she also oversaw membership functions that directly impacted the dairy pool of the
cooperative, including hauling, regional pool management, scheduling, forecasting, milk
handlers and dairy payroll.
As EVP of membership, Nelson will be responsible for the cooperative’s farmer-member touchpoints. She will also work with farmer pools within the organization. This new position takes Nelson’s leadership beyond the cooperative’s dairy pool to its egg, meat, produce, and grower pools. Nelson will also guide the programs that support all of the cooperative’s pools. This will include member communication, sustainability, as well as veterinary services.
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