The International Dairy Foods Association announced its President and CEO Connie Tipton will retire at the end of 2016. Tipton, who has led IDFA since 2004, made the announcement at the annual Dairy Forum held this week in Phoenix.

“I have decided to retire at the end of 2016 after 35 fulfilling years representing the dairy foods industry,” Tipton says. “I have had a wonderful career working with this industry and appreciate all of the opportunities I have been given, the friends I have made and the fun I have had.”

A transition committee of six executives from IDFA member companies will oversee the process for selecting the association’s next leader. Jeff Kaneb, executive vice president at HP Hood LLC, will chair the committee. Other committee members include Ed Mullins, executive vice president and CEO, Prairie Farms Dairy , Inc.; Mike Reidy, senior vice president – corporate affairs, Leprino Foods Company and chairman of IDFA; Patricia Stroup, vice president and chief procurement officer, Nestle USA, Inc.; Gregg Tanner, CEO of Dean Foods Company; and Mike Wells, president and CEO of Wells Enterprises, Inc.