Meet Our Advisors

Crossing disciplines and functions spanning the food system, our dedicated program advisors provide ongoing insight, guidance, and support for both the program curriculum and cohort experience.

Carrie Rigdon

Carrie Rigdon
Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Alida Sorenson

Alida Sorenson
Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Lisa Robinson

Lisa Robinson
Ecolab 

Steve Olsen

Steve Olson
Steve Olson Consulting

Rolando Gonzalez

Rolando González
The Acheson Group

Tamara Nelsen

Tamara Nelsen
Minnesota AgriGrowth Council

Jeanine Flaherty

Jeanine Flaherty
Schlotterbeck & Foss

Jared Willbergh

Jared Willbergh
Food Safety Advisor

Melanie Neumann

Melanie Neumann
Matrix Sciences International

Keith Cole

Keith Cole
CMX Technology

Courtney Bidney

Courtney Bidney
General Mills

Joe Scimeca

Joe Scimeca 
International Dairy Foods Association

Dan Belina

Dan Belina
Land O'Lakes Inc.

Nicole Neeser

Nicole Neeser
Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Matt Surdick

Matt Surdick
CHS Inc.