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Homegrown Exec to Become Organic Valley’s First Female CEO

March 19, 2025

Shawna Nelson — who started with Organic Valley as an intern 20 years ago — will take the reins from Jeff Frank, who departs for Monogram Foods’ CEO position.

Andy Hanacek

Organic Valley, a producer of organic dairy, eggs, meat and produce, has appointed Shawna Nelson to be the farmer cooperative’s fourth CEO — and its first female CEO — effective March 28, 2025. Nelson, who has worked for the co-op for nearly 20 years, working her way up from an intern, takes the reins from Jeff Frank. Frank is departing the company to become CEO of Monogram Foods.

Nelson was born and raised in the area of Wisconsin where the co-op was founded, and she first worked as an intern in 2005. She subsequently earned higher roles in marketing, sales analysis, recruitment, employee relations, field operations and dairy pool management. Most recently, she served as executive vice president of Membership for the co-op.

Frank led the company for slightly more than two years, overseeing several milestones and initiatives at both the farm and business levels. Organic Valley is appreciative of his contributions and is optimistic that Nelson’s experience throughout the co-op will help it accomplish even more.

“The board chose Shawna because of her demonstrated strong leadership, understanding of the farmer membership, and connection to the employees,” Organic Valley farmer and board president Dave Hardy said in a release. “She has shown dedication to the mission and to organic food, and with her vision will lead our farmer-owned cooperative forward.”

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.