GAY LEA - Key Persons
Since becoming a Gay Lea Foods member in 1998, I have been both impressed and inspired by the leadership and vision exhibited by the leaders of the co-operative. Their strong commitment to provide opportunities for personal growth and development for employees, delegates and directors will serve the co-op well as it helps lead the Canadian dairy industry into the future.
As a Gay Lea Foods' member since 2001, I've learned that the co-operative's success is a direct result of its commitment to collaboration, community and quality. It is the people and their passion, and commitment, to the long-term success of the co-operative that enables Gay Lea Foods to focus on productivity-enhancing investments that support our members and create jobs and growth here in Canada.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Independent Director / Dean McCann - Independent Director
I am very excited and feel fortunate to be a member of the Gay Lea Foods Board of Directors. My very early childhood was spent on a dairy farm, and I feel the values of the co-operative fit well with my own personal values. I look forward to helping Gay Lea Foods capitalize on opportunities that will grow the co-operative for the benefit of all members.
As a dairy farmer, I'm passionate about the dairy industry from farm to fork. As a member of Gay Lea Foods, I'm grateful for the opportunity to invest and participate in the industry beyond the farm gate, and to be part of a widely respected, Canadian producer-owned and directed co-operative that makes incredible products, leads with its values, and supports our communities.
As first-generation dairy farmers, my family immediately saw the value in joining Gay Lea Foods. We became members in 1992, shortly after starting our operation. Since that time, we have watched the co-operative thrive and grow. I look forward to what the future will bring as Gay Lea Foods continues to expand the market for Canadian cow and goat milk.
My wife and I became Gay Lea Foods members in 2012 because we always believed in the co-operative and its brands. We also saw membership as an opportunity for our farm, as we had joined other co-operatives.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Bothwell Cheese Inc.
My wife and I became Gay Lea Foods member in 2005 because we wanted to become part of the Gay Lea Foods family. We saw the co-operative starting to grow and become a bigger player in the Ontario processing market and wanted to be part of the excitement.
I married into the world of dairy farming and, following Woodhouse tradition, became a Gay Lea Foods member shortly thereafter, in 1995. I love that my family and our farm are part of a larger co-operative that shares our values. We are part of a bigger picture - one that continues to grow as Gay Lea Foods expands its boundaries and embraces both goat and bovine dairy producers.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Operations
I married into the dairy business and, along with my husband, became a member of Gay Lea Foods in 2009. We wanted to learn more about the industry and were drawn to the co-operative's value-based business model. Being part of Gay Lea Foods means focusing on member and industry needs, while remaining true to the core principles of our co-operative identity.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Corporate & Co - Operative Affairs
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
I have been a Gay Lea Foods member since 1987. It's in my blood to love animals, work hard and raise a family while celebrating the values of farm life. Gay Lea Foods is a co-operative owned by dairy farmers. As we grow, evolve and continue to improve the industry for our members, these "born on the farm" values remain at our core.
As a dairy farmer who has worked with both dairy cows and goats, I understand the value of a co-operative like Gay Lea Foods that allows member dairy farmers to connect with the processing side of the business and unite our voices to help shape the future of our industry for the generations to come. I've been a proud member since 2000.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Management Team
- President
The Gay Lea Foods Born on the Farm standard and commitment to quality are values that truly resonate with me. It is an honour to work with and on behalf of this remarkable group of dairy farmers, industry leaders and employees, and I look forward to building upon the incredible foundation of success they have built to create even more opportunities for sustainable, long-term growth in the Canadian dairy industry.