MADISON, WIS. – With labor challenges persisting in the dairy processing industry, the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) aims to bring professionals together and generate more solutions.

WCMA announced that its Sept. 12 workforce and education committee meeting will focus on connecting those in the industry to share their thoughts in an effort to forge actionable strategies.

Rebekah Sweeney, WCMA’s senior director of programs and policy, said she anticipates a day of insightful discussions and emphasized that all interested professionals in the dairy processing industry are welcome to attend the hybrid meeting.

"Hearing directly from WCMA members about the workforce challenges they face each day is critical to crafting meaningful advocacy strategies and useful tools,” Sweeney said.

The trade association shared that the meeting will feature an expert panel, including Jeff Pertl, secretary-designee for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families; and Rebecca Giroux, community and economic development officer at the Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority.

In-person attendees for the meeting, hosted at the Novonesis corporate headquarters in Milwaukee, may also get a tour of the facility, as well as a human resources discussion from the company’s leaders.

The hybrid session will offer presentations on the labor outlook and address barriers to employment, such as childcare, housing access and affordability, immigration restrictions, and workforce training challenges. The agenda also calls for small group discussions to identify necessary tools and policy changes.

Registration information and a detailed agenda are available on WCMA’s website.