Former Vice President of Business Development to Lead and Maximize Strategic Initiatives
Dairy MAX is pleased to announce the promotion of Jennie McDowell to chief strategy officer (CSO). In her new role, McDowell will focus on building the resilience and adaptability of the organization through strategic planning, identifying and capitalizing on emerging opportunities and continually aligning with Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) to provide value to our dairy farmers. Additionally, McDowell will serve as an advisor to the chief executive officer (CEO), Mike Konkle, and promote interdepartmental collaboration while streamlining strategic initiatives and overseeing program management.
McDowell has worked for Dairy MAX since August 2012, serving as the vice president of business development where she has spearheaded multi-year organization-wide strategic plans and fostered industry-wide collaborations with DMI, U.S. Dairy Export Council, Milk Processor Education Program, state and regional dairy councils, dairy research centers and dairy processors. As part of the work she led in business development, McDowell crafted a strategic partnership between esports influencers and online grocery delivery service Instacart. This unique partnership emerged from an organization-wide goal of strengthening Gen Z’s trust in dairy and resulted in $4.1 million in online dairy sales.
McDowell's impactful tenure at Dairy MAX includes organizing the distribution of over 5.7 million pounds of milk to food banks, partnering with the International Dairy Foods Association to enhance milk accessibility and forging key partnerships to address supply chain challenges and support emergency relief efforts. She has also facilitated a partnership with the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys and embedded a Dairy MAX employee within their community relations team with the intent to drive dairy nutrition education to youth in the community. This partnership strategy has resulted in a 36 percent increase in fan interest in purchasing dairy. Her efforts have not only increased opportunities, but also significantly contributed to the innovation and sales growth throughout the dairy community.
“Jennie's vast experience and proven track record in business development and strategic planning make her the ideal candidate to guide Dairy MAX through the evolving landscape of the dairy industry,” said Mike Konkle, CEO of Dairy MAX. “Her dedication to our mission, vision and the dairy farmers we serve is evident in her remarkable achievements over the years. We are confident that under her leadership, Dairy MAX will continue to thrive and reach new heights.”
As CSO, McDowell will leverage her more than 20 years of experience in transforming consumer data and market insights into actionable strategies. Her new role will involve continued focus on building a positive work culture, leading high-performing teams and forecasting to adapt to changes within the dairy industry.
