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The Dairy Alliance Team
Board of Directors
Michael Ferguson
President
Tate County, Mississippi
Michael Ferguson is a farmer from Tate County, Mississippi, where he and his wife Jill milk more than 100 cows each day and raise beef cattle.
Roddy Purser
Vice President
Cabarrus County, North Carolina
Roddy Purser is a farmer from Cabarrus County, North Carolina.
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Ken Smith
Treasurer
Fauquier County, Virginia
Ken Smith is a fourth-generation farmer from Fauquier County, Virginia. Ken milks 980 Holstein cows and farms 2,500 acres of corn and soybeans. In 2013, the Smith family opened Moo Thru.
Maxie Aker
Secretary
Wythe County, Virginia
Maxie Aker is a dairy farmer from Wythe County, Virginia.
Directors
Johnny Sparkman, Tennessee
Joe Bratcher, Kentucky
Brendon Eberly, Georgia
Kevin Satterwhite, South Carolina
John Harrison, Tennessee
Cecelia Moyer, Virginia
Cameron Eaker, North Carolina
Steve Lee, Tennessee
Jennifer Glover, Georgia
Richie Traylor, Alabama
Kelly Obert, Indiana
Chris Huffman, Kentucky
Ashley Bailey, Georgia
Ted Trotter, Tennessee
Jennifer Leech, Virginia
Matthew Johnson, North Carolina
Tammy Craun, Virginia
Leadership Team
Farrah Newberry
Chief Executive Officer
Farrah is no stranger to agriculture or the dairy community, both in Georgia and around the Southeast. She’s worked on behalf of Georgia dairy farm families for the last 20+ years as the Executive Director for Georgia Milk Producers. Farrah is a graduate of the University of Georgia and continues to serve as the President of the Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia.
Barbara Sims
Chief Financial Officer | VP, Administration
Barbara Sims has worked with The Dairy Alliance for more than 30 years. Barbara has an Associate of Arts degree in Marketing and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Finance. Her roles at The Dairy Alliance include human resource benefits, payroll, budgeting, finance and administrative operations.
Debbie Beans, MS, RDN, LDN
Chief Operating Officer
Debbie joined The Dairy Alliance in 2011 as a part of the Youth Wellness team. She serves as VP of Dairy Transformation, overseeing the development of new programs and strategic plans while coordinating research and pilot projects. She has a Master’s degree in Animal and Food Science and a bachelor of science degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Vermont.
Joanne Engelhardt-Risko
Chief Marketing Officer
Before joining The Dairy Alliance in 2023 as VP of Strategic Marketing, Joanne worked in brand repositioning, consumer research, new product development and driving consumer engagement. Based in North Carolina, she leads The Dairy Alliance’s marketing strategies driving demand for fluid milk and dairy in the Southeast region.
Mekenzie Panhans
Vice President, Corporate and Environmental Affairs
Mekenzie is a seasoned sustainability and communications professional with over eight years of progressive leadership at The Dairy Alliance. Since December 2023, she has been serving as Director, Sustainability and Farmer Communications, where she shapes and executes the Southeast region’s sustainability plan— strengthening the competitive edge of Southeast dairy farmers by encouraging the adoption of conservation practices and highlighting dairy’s dedication to animal care and environmental stewardship.
Laura Buxenbaum, MPH, RDN, LDN
Senior Director, Health & Wellness
Laura joined The Dairy Alliance team in March 2004. She conducts television, radio, and print interviews regarding nutrition throughout the Southeast region, educating the public on the importance of a balanced diet. She received her Master of Public Health at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.