GRAND PRAIRIE, TX – Dairy MAX is proud to announce the appointment of Jennie McDowell as chief executive officer, effective July 28, 2025.
McDowell brings to the role a deep understanding of the organization’s mission, strong industry relationships and a proven track record of strategic and operational leadership. She succeeds Keira Lombardo, who has played a key role in advancing the organization and will stay on through August 8 to help guide a smooth and collaborative transition.
“Jennie has earned the respect of our board, staff and industry partners through her commitment to innovation and her passion for dairy,” said Mike Marley, chair of the Dairy MAX board of directors. “She understands the challenges and opportunities our farmers face and brings the kind of strategic insight and steady leadership this role demands.”
McDowell joined Dairy MAX in 2012 and most recently served as chief strategy officer, where she led long-range planning, championed organization-wide innovation and strengthened alignment with national partners, including Dairy Management Inc. and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). Before that, as vice president of business development, she generated $5.6 million in online dairy sales through a groundbreaking esports influencer and Instacart collaboration, and restructured college athlete campaigns to expand reach and reduce costs by 70%.
Her leadership of the business development team led to creative partnerships across retail, food service and digital platforms—resulting in the launch of eight new dairy products and a sales increase of 11% to 23%. Additionally, she 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. This partnership strategy resulted in a 36% 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 industry.
McDowell also played a critical role in Dairy MAX’s pandemic response, partnering with Borden Dairy to secure a $147 million USDA award that enabled the distribution of over 40 million pounds of milk for emergency relief in 2020. Her leadership was instrumental in delivering 5.7 million pounds of milk to food banks across our region and in shaping USDA policy to expand year-round access to fluid milk through food assistance programs. On the international front, McDowell coordinated export initiatives that strengthened relationships in Mexico and led to 32% month-over-month growth in cheese sales in H-E-B stores located in Mexico. Her focus on global collaboration has deepened connections with USDEC and partners across the federation to increase both domestic and international demand for dairy.
“It’s an incredible honor to step into this role and lead a team so deeply committed to serving our farmers,” said McDowell. “I believe the best ideas are built collaboratively, and I’m excited to continue fostering a culture that empowers our people and drives the dairy industry forward.”
