American Dairy Association North East names new CEO

SALINA, N.Y. — John Chrisman is the new CEO of American Dairy Association North East (ADANE), which represents 9,000 northeast dairy farmers.

Chrisman will help the organization, which is headquartered on Elwood Davis Road in the town of Salina, fulfill its mission to promote the dairy industry and serve as the association’s key liaison with industry and government leaders. He will start in his new role on June 2 and succeeds Rick Naczi who will retire after 32 years.

“With more than two decades of experience leading multiple departments in dairy promotion, John is perfectly suited for this new challenge,” ADANE Board President Audrey Donohoe said in a press release. “We are thrilled to have someone with such knowledge and commitment to dairy farmers lead the organization into the future.”

Prior to being named CEO, Chrisman held senior leadership positions in retail marketing, producer relations, school marketing, processor relations, and hunger relief. He has worked in the dairy promotion industry since 2001.

Chrisman joined American Dairy Association Mideast in Ohio in 2001 and continued his career with Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program in Philadelphia. Those two groups merged with American Dairy Association & Dairy Council in Syracuse in 2016 to become American Dairy Association North East.

“Over the years, I have performed a wide range of functions, which allowed me to work one-on-one with dairy farmers as well as consumers,” Chrisman said. “I believe my experience and insight will be key to elevating our programs in retail, schools, broadcast media, and digital marketing to meet demand of consumers.”

Chrisman said he is humbled to represent ADANE’s 9,000 dairy farmers. “There are no better or harder working people than the dairy farmers who I will represent,” he said. “I am both honored and privileged to have been chosen and trusted to lead the organization on their behalf.”

Chrisman holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris University, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

American Dairy Association North East is the local affiliate of the National Dairy Council and is committed to nutrition education and research-based communications to stakeholders including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academic, consumers, and media. Funded by dairy checkoff dollars from its member farmers in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and northern Virginia, ADANE works closely with Dairy Management, Inc. to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the northeast region. In addition to the Syracuse–area HQ office, ADANE also has a location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.