2026: Looking ahead together at Dairy Connection

By: Katie Phillips | President & CEO, Dairy Connection Inc.

As we step into January, I’m feeling excited and grateful. This month marks the start of my first full year as CEO of Dairy Connection, and that feels both humbling and energizing. When I began this role in April of 2025, I knew it would be a year of transition, learning, and growth. Thanks to the incredible people around me, I didn’t have to do this alone.

Some of you may not know who I am because I’ve spent the past 15 years working behind the scenes at Dairy Connection. This past year, I’ve introduced myself to a lot of people as the new President and CEO, but I’m not new to this company. Dairy Connection has been my professional home for a long time, and I’m honored to lead us into this next chapter.

This year taught me something important: leadership means moving from “I hope this happens” to “I’m committed to making this happen.” That shift in thinking has been powerful for me. It gives us focus and momentum.

This year wasn’t without its challenges, with employee turnover being one of the biggest. Those moments tested us, but they also reminded us how strong we are when we work together. One bright spot? My dad, Dave Potter, who started Dairy Connection and still owns it, has been able to jump in when needed. He loves being part of things in short bursts, and honestly, so do we. Could we do this without him? Sure. But it’s a lot more fun with him around.

Our team is the heart of Dairy Connection. My sister, Melissa, and my husband, Adam, work alongside me, which makes this business feel even more like family. We also have incredible teammates who make this company what it is: Valerie, who has been here longer than I have, and Bill, who has been with us for over 13 years. Jessica and Tanner have been part of the team for a couple of years now, and this past year we welcomed three new team members: Blaine, Jake, and Nick. Blending experience with new ideas gives us the strength, creativity, and steady consistency to grow confidently and remain at the level our customers expect.

Looking forward, 2026 is all about building on what we’ve started. We’ll keep strengthening our team and investing in our culture. We’ll continue to improve internal practices so we can serve our customers even better. And we’ll continue to evolve alongside our customers, many of whom have expanded with us over the years.

Through all this growth, our mission remains unchanged: It is our mission to support local food culture and help our customers succeed, no matter their scale.

We believe:

Artisan, farmstead, and specialty food makers play an important role in supporting thriving towns and communities.

Collaboration, curiosity, and integrity are at the core of what we do.

Our customers are hard-working, honest, passionate professionals—and we strive to be the same.

We’re still all about education, providing access to businesses of every size, and sharing our love for cheese. That passion connects us to our customers and to the communities we serve.

As we begin this new year, I’m optimistic about what we can achieve together. Thank you for being part of our journey, whether as a customer, partner, or team member. Here’s to a year of growth, collaboration, and, of course, great cheese.

Happy New Year!

If we haven’t met yet, I’d love to connect. Please reach out! I look forward to getting to know you.

Katie Phillips can be reached at kphillips@dairyconnection.com