Patrick Criteser Portland, Oregon President and CEO Tillamook County Creamery Association
What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I have a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington and an MBA from Harvard University.
Please describe your professional background.
I have spent most of my career with large branded consumer products companies, working across a range of functions including operations, marketing and finance. These include Procter & Gamble, Disney and Nike. Most recently, I was CEO of a specialty coffee company, and then co-CEO of the parent company, Farmer Brothers, a 100-year-old publicly traded coffee company based in Los Angeles.
What are your new responsibilities?
As the CEO of a farmer-owned cooperative with such a strong consumer brand, my primary responsibility is to lead TCCA’s effort to grow our brand, introducing even more consumers to the high-quality Tillamook dairy products we have spent the last 100-plus years perfecting.
What excites you most about working in your new role?
As a native Oregonian, I grew up eating great-tasting Tillamook cheese and other Tillamook dairy products and have been a life-long fan. Getting to work every day with the devoted, talented people behind the Tillamook success is a real privilege, and I know there is much more success to come.
How will your work in this position affect dairy producers?
The Tillamook County Creamery Association membership is a strong community of dairy farmers, many of whom have been dairying in this county for generations. With more than 100 years of heritage, our cooperative’s members have a long-term view and understand that everyone benefits from an unwavering commitment to the quality of our products, the strength of our brand and the resulting opportunity for continued growth. PD
