Scott Outlines Priorities For Checkoff’s Next Chapter

New DMI President, CEO Shares Vision During Joint Annual Meeting

Corey Scott began her tenure as president and CEO of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) with a focus on strengthening relationships across the industry, keeping the checkoff relevant to consumers and building on opportunities to grow demand for U.S. dairy.

Scott began her new role Oct. 12, succeeding Barbara O’Brien, who is retiring after 25 years with DMI, including five years as president and CEO. Scott shared her priorities during the 2026 Joint Annual Meeting of the United Dairy Industry Association, the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and the National Milk Producers Federation, held Oct. 20-21 in Kissimmee, Fla.

The meeting brought together more than 730 dairy farmers and industry representatives under the theme “U.S. Dairy: Committed. Resilient. Ready.”

Scott emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication with farmers and importers, and hearing what is going well, what is challenging and what they want to see from the checkoff.

“Very early in my career, I had the opportunity to engage with dairy farmers, and they welcomed a young lady from the East Coast who knew nothing about agriculture to their kitchen tables, to talk about their way of life – the good, the bad and the ugly,” Scott said.

“It’s still about that kitchen table. What I ask of you going forward is that you continue to share with me what’s impacting your life, what’s going well, what’s challenging and the things we do that you like or don’t like. I’m here to represent you and all of your neighbors.”

In response to a farmer’s question about what she hopes to accomplish, Scott outlined three goals for the next three years.

Her first is for every farmer and importer to understand and confidently explain at least one valuable element of how checkoff dollars are spent. She wants farmers to be able to share that information with their local boards and neighbors and explain how national checkoff work complements the efforts of local, state and regional organizations.

“I want your neighbors to be able to hear it, understand it and believe in it,” Scott said.

Her second goal is to make DMI a great place to work, with employees who understand the organization’s purpose and are passionate about serving farmers and importers through promotion and research.

Scott’s third goal is to increase dairy consumption.

“I want every person who can consume dairy to be consuming one more serving a day,” she said.

Scott highlighted the importance of understanding what consumers want from food and recognized factors such as taste, texture, clean labels and protein. She said these elements are “natural to dairy” and used a hockey analogy to emphasize the need for having a vision for the checkoff.

“Are we going to where the puck is, or are we going where the puck is going?” she asked. “And that’s a question that I’m hopeful, in three years, I can stand up here and say, ‘We are going where the puck is going.’”

Building on Strong Foundation

O’Brien’s leadership helped guide DMI’s work and she is confident in Scott and the organization’s ability to continue serving dairy farmers and importers.

“Every CEO inherits an organization, and every CEO has the responsibility to leave it stronger,” O’Brien said. “This is not a story about what one CEO accomplished. It is a story about what farmers have built over decades and our readiness for what comes next.”

O’Brien emphasized the importance of aligning checkoff investments around shared priorities, measuring results and directing farmer and importer resources toward the opportunities with the greatest potential.

“Every dollar has an opportunity cost,” she said. “Every new investment means something else receives less. And as the opportunities grow larger, our choices become even more important.”

Marilyn Hershey, a Pennsylvania dairy farmer and chair of the DMI Board of Directors, said the checkoff remains committed to conducting research, promotion and collaboration across the dairy industry.

Reflecting on the meeting’s theme, Hershey said DMI’s leadership transition represents an important step in continuing that work. She welcomed Scott to the role and expressed confidence in the organization’s future.

“Corey, welcome. We are very excited for this next chapter of DMI,” she said.

Hershey also emphasized the importance of continuing to invest in dairy research and promotion, particularly as farmers face changing market conditions and the industry expands processing capacity to meet growing demand.

“The importance of our promotion dollars working remains as critical as ever,” Hershey said.

O’Brien closed her remarks by thanking farmers, the DMI staff, researchers, health professionals, customers and industry partners who will carry the checkoff mission forward.

“To the farmers (and importers) across this country who invest in the checkoff, whether you’ve been in a checkoff meeting or not – thank you,” O’Brien said. “You give this organization its purpose.”

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