Becky Rasdall Vargas, senior vice president of trade and workforce policy at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), joins us for Episode 52 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast to discuss “Tariffs and Supply Chain Challenges.” Based in Washington, D.C., the IDFA, since 1990, represents the dairy manufacturing industry including cheese, milk and ice cream processors. Rasdall Vargas has the challenge of negotiating public posing and staying on top of the Trump administration’s rapidly changing policy announcements.

Catherine Bayard, global product manager of Plant Attitude at Givaudan, joins us for Episode 51 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast. Bayard manages the dairy and cheese alternatives category globally at Switzerland-based Givaudan, helping to create food experiences intended to do good and feel good for body, mind and planet. 

Bayard has more than 20 years of expertise in senior marketing and category management roles in diverse food and beverage categories. She holds a master’s degree in Marketing from ESCP Business School and a master’s degree in food science and agribusiness.

BNP Media Group Publisher Doug Peckenpaugh sits down with Erik Brainard, President & CEO of Anritsu Infivus Inc. and Vice President of the Food Production Solutions Association Board of Directors, as they discuss the upcoming Food Solutions Exchange & Conference 2025.  The event will take place March 19-21 at Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, AZ. 

Katie Brown, EdD, RDN, president of the National Dairy Council (NDC), a nonprofit education organization founded by U.S. dairy farmers with a vision of a healthy, sustainable world with science as its foundation, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 50 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast.

In this role, Dr. Brown sets the strategic direction for NDC’s Scientific, Regulatory and Affairs team and serves a subject matter expert and spokesperson on dairy’s wellness benefits and the responsible production practices of innovative dairy farmers as contributive to nutrition security, equitable food systems and a healthy population. 

Jeff Falash, research and development manager for Neenah, Wis.-based NERCON, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 49 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast to discuss packaging trends.

Falash began his career at Nercon 37 years ago. He started in assembly on the plant floor, spent time as part of its field services group, and eventually moved into his current role as R&D and service manager. 

Falash spends most of his days solving problems and consulting with NERCON’s applications team to solve customer issues as well as developing new solutions that will help customers achieve their production goals more efficiently.