Meet Our Team
Our team combines category insight, operator experience, and market intelligence to help QSR and restaurant brands grow through dairy strategy.
With more than 60 years of combined foodservice experience, we support menu development, commercialization planning, and data-informed decision-making — translating dairy into measurable business outcomes across traffic, differentiation, and margin performance.
We understand how decisions are made in real-world restaurant environments, and we build solutions designed to work operationally — not just conceptually.
Why Partner With Us?
Built for Foodservice Growth
We partner directly with QSR and restaurant operators to turn category expertise into commercial impact. Our work is grounded in how menus are priced, how promotions are executed, and how profitability is protected in competitive environments.
From strategic planning to execution support, we focus on practical solutions that drive measurable results.
Educate
Data-Driven Category Intelligence
We deliver timely, operator-focused insights on menu trends, consumer behavior, and category shifts impacting foodservice today.
Our approach centers on actionable intelligence — helping partners identify where dairy can drive demand, support premium positioning, and align with evolving consumer expectations.
Consult
Strategic Menu & Commercial Planning
We provide tailored guidance aligned to your business objectives. This includes menu architecture support, opportunity identification, pricing considerations, and commercialization strategy.
Our goal is to help operators leverage dairy applications that are scalable, operationally feasible, and positioned for profitable growth.
Innovate
Commercially Viable Innovation
We collaborate with partners to develop dairy-forward concepts, limited-time offers, and daypart expansion opportunities rooted in real-world execution.
Every innovation is designed to balance creativity with operational practicality — supporting differentiation while maintaining margin discipline..
Meet Our Business Development Team
Our goal is creating and developing profitable opportunities with our partners.
Katie Ashley
Director, Strategic Partnerships
Award-winning foodservice sales leader with +15 years of experience in foodservice sales, program management, and strategic growth across national and regional markets
Managed multi-million-dollar accounts and drove double-digit growth at top companies including Performance Foodservice, US Foods, and Sysco (FreshPoint)
Michael Adams
Senior Director, Consumer and Market Intelligence Research
+25-year experienced multi-industry Strategist and Researcher for top domestic and global companies
Master in writing research instruments qualitative and quantitative
Directed global research initiatives that exceeded +25k participant, +40 countries leading to new growth strategies
Joanne Engelhardt-Risko
Chief Marketing Officer
+20-year experienced Industry award winning Food Innovator, Marketing, Brand and Sales leader for top CPG companies (Mars Chocolate Wrigley, Campbells, Synder’s Lance)
M&M’s, DOVE, Pretzel Crisps, Cape Cod Chips, Milky Way, SNICKERS, Snyder’s Pretzels, Pretzilla, M&M’s Colorworks, Uncle Bens Rice
Debbie Beans
Chief Operating Officer
15-year experience in nutrition innovation, strategy and product innovation
10-year experience leading business development in foodservice channel
Brings strong knowledge of milk flow and of supplier relationships
Registered and licensed Dietitian Nutritionist
Partner with Confidence
The Dairy Alliance Exchange is built specifically for restaurant operators seeking practical insight, strategic collaboration, and growth-focused solutions.
Gain access to operator articles, category intelligence, and menu strategy insights designed to support demand generation, differentiation, and margin performance.
Join The Dairy Alliance Exchange
Create a free operator account to access member-only insights and strategic resources.
Learn More About The Dairy Alliance
Learn More About Our Story
Discover how The Dairy Alliance supports Southeast dairy farm families and promotes the power of real dairy. From education to innovation, our mission is to make dairy part of a healthier, more sustainable future.
Connect on the Farm
See where it all begins. Our dairy farm families across the Southeast are committed to quality, sustainability, and community. Take a closer look at the people and passion behind every glass of milk and every bite of cheese.