The Maine Cheese Guild hired its first executive director, Ron Dyer of Winthrop. He brings a wealth of management experience and technical, agricultural, food safety and business experience that will help grow and support the guild’s membership. He looks forward to supporting Maine’s small and large cheese makers and creameries throughout the state and members who sell guild products or support the organization in other ways. This position was funded in part by a grant from the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, according to a news release from the Portland-based guild.

Dyer said, “I believe this is an exciting opportunity to support and promote Maine’s incredibly talented cheese producers. These businesses are true artisan’s and represent a local, high quality and safe food for all Maine families to enjoy.”

“We are so grateful to the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center for recognizing the talent of our cheesemaking community and supporting the Maine Cheese Guild mission to provide educational and technical assistance for our creameries,” said Maine Cheese Guild President Holly Aker. “Ron’s advanced food safety knowledge, expertise in agriculture, and track record of supporting small business, is exactly what we were hoping to bring to this role and to our members.”