Management
The Dairylea Cooperative senior leadership team works hand-in-hand with the board of directors to set the direction, goals and strategies of Dairylea Cooperative. The leadership team offers an unparallel combination of industry expertise. Each follow the Cooperative’s strong set of values to meet the expectations of our farmer-members.
Gregory I. Wickham, Chief Executive Officer
Greg Wickham is Chief Executive Officer of Dairylea Cooperative Inc., a $1 billion milk marketing cooperative responsible for the marketing of more than 2,000 members across the Northeast United States. Dairylea and a number of other cooperatives with Northeast milk supplies participate in a milk marketing joint venture called Dairy Marketing Services LLC, where Greg holds the title of President/CEO. DMS exists to enhance efficiencies in Northeast milk marketing and Greg was instrumental in its creation.
Dairylea also offers Farm Services to its members, including buying, lending, risk management and insurance. A number of the Farm Services have been developed in conjunction with Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. As part of his cooperation with that cooperative, Greg holds the title of President of Farm Services for DFA.
On the national level, Greg is a well-respected member of the dairy industry. He currently holds the position of New Chair Chairman of the Executive Council for National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC). NCFC is an organization of nearly 3,000 farmer cooperatives from across the country and is the voice of America’s farmer cooperatives. In addition to his role at NCFC, Greg is a board member for National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF); sits on the board for the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, formed by Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI); and is a regional advisory board member of HSBC in Upstate, N.Y.
Greg is a graduate of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, where he received a degree in agricultural economics, and the University of Hartford, where he received his M.B.A.
Greg resides in Manlius, N.Y. with his wife, Lisa. They have three grown children.
Interested in learning more about Greg? Visit a Minute With Greg Interview
Clyde E. Rutherford, President
Clyde E. Rutherford is the president and chairman of Dairylea Cooperative Inc., a position he has held since 1978. In 1999, Dairylea joined with Dairy Farmers of America’s Northeast Area to create a milk marketing entity, Dairy Marketing Services, LLC (DMS). As a result of this relationship, Clyde also serves on DFA’s Corporate Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, DFA’s Fluid Marketing and Public Policy Committee, and is the chairman of the International Dairy Trade Policy Committee established by DFA.
Clyde is also active with a number of industry associations on the national and regional level.
On the national level, he is a director of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) — serving as first vice chairman and, in the past, served as its assistant secretary/treasurer. Clyde is also a director for the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and currently serves as treasurer. Additionally, he serves as a director for the National Livestock Producers Association (NLPA) and holds the position of vice chair.
Regionally, he is on the Board of Directors of O-AT-KA Milk Products Cooperative, Inc.; vice president of Dairy One Cooperative Inc.; a director and member of the Executive Committee of Empire Livestock Marketing, LLC; and a director of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of Central New York.
William Beeman, Chairman
William Beeman currently serves as Chairman of Dairylea Cooperative Inc. Bill has served on Dairylea’s Board for more than 20 years, most recently as First Vice President. His farm has been a member of Dairylea for more than 30 years.
Bill and his wife Ginny own and operate an 80-cow farm in Kingsley, PA. In addition to serving on the Board for Dairylea, Bill served as a Director for the Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders and held a leadership position on the Executive Committee of the Northeast Dairy Leadership Team (NEDLT). Additionally, he has represented his region on the local dairy promotion board for more than 3 years.