Tipton to Retire as CEO of International Dairy Foods Association
Connie Tipton, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), announced this week that she will be retiring at the end of 2016.
She has 35 years of experience in the industry, joining the staff of the Milk Industry Foundation and the International Ice Cream Association in 1981. That’s where she met her late husband, Tip Tipton, who was CEO of both organizations at the time.
In 1990, the Tiptons formed IDFA as an umbrella organization for the Milk Industry Foundation, the International Ice Cream Association and the National Cheese Institute.
Together, they formed a formidable lobbying team, advocating dairy processor issues. They often clashed with the National Milk Producers Federation over issues such as Federal Orders, the Farm Bill and supply management. But they also found ways to work together on Federal dairy dietary guidelines and school nutrition issues.
A transition team of six executives from IDFA member companies will oversee the search process for a new IDFA CEO. Both internal and external candidates will be considered.
