Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin has named Suzanne Fanning as senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Wisconsin Cheese. Since joining the organization two years ago, Fanning has played a key role in the start of a marketing transformation for Wisconsin’s 175-year-old cheese industry.

In 2018 alone, her team led communications for the company’s brand identity, built the Cheeselandia ambassador program and made headlines around the globe for the Guinness World Records achievement of the World’s Largest Cheeseboard. Earlier this month, the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin team launched a national commercial, executed under her leadership. In addition, consumers will soon see a new Proudly Wisconsin Cheese logo on retail packaging.

Her team’s innovative strategy has driven impressive results — increasing social media engagement by over 4,000% and achieving over $30 million in national publicity coverage for Wisconsin cheese with features in The New York Times, Bon Appétit and Food & Wine, as well as on The Today Show and Late Night with Seth Meyers. To view media coverage in real time, visit Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin’s media blog.  

“Wisconsin’s $45 billion dairy industry is vital to the state and to our dairy farmers, and we are fortunate to have Suzanne’s talent, energy and leadership at the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin,” says CEO Chad Vincent. “She is developing a high-performance team to bring Wisconsin cheese and Wisconsin dairy to new heights.”

In her new role, Fanning will continue to focus on marketing communications, which includes branding, digital, advertising, public relations and consumer events, and will also add consumer confidence, farmer outreach, and channel and retail marketing to her responsibilities.

Fanning continues to speak around the country to help professionals and students learn how to drive big results with small budgets and creative ideas. She has been a guest lecturer at Ohio State University and the University of Wisconsin. She has been a speaker for The Business Marketing Association, PRSSA, WSPRA, Social Media Week Chicago, Social Media Week NY, Pivot NY, BlogHer, Forrester and the National Agri-Marketing Association.

She has served on the boards of Social Media Week, iBlog, I-COM and the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association, and served as president of the Word of Mouth Marketing Association.

Her marketing philosophies and results have been featured in Forbes, the Chicago Tribune, PRWeek, Groundswell, Secrets to Social Media Marketing, Brains on Fire and Killing Giants.

Source: Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin