“Jason has been a valued member of our team for more than two decades, and his leadership and deep knowledge of the dairy industry and Maola make him an excellent fit for this position,” said Jon Cowell, CEO of Maola Local Dairies. “We are thrilled to see him step into this executive role to help strengthen our milk marketing efforts and continue building value for our member-owners.”

Smith grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Norwood, N.C., where he worked alongside his four siblings. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science and agriculture business management from North Carolina State University before joining the cooperative in 2001 as a logistics specialist.

 Over the years, Smith has held positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently, as director of sales and logistics, he led the raw milk dispatch team, managed relationships with raw milk customers, procured supplemental milk supply, and worked closely with the milk accounting team to ensure accurate invoicing for the cooperative’s entire milk shed. He also monitored federal order pooling requirements and collaborated extensively with contract haulers to deliver milk from member farms to Maola plants and third-party customers.

“I am honored to serve our Maola Farmers in this new capacity,” Smith said. “Our cooperative has a proud history and a strong future, and I look forward to working with our farmers and our staff as we continue providing high-quality milk to our customers.”