President and CEO
Schreiber Foods | Green Bay
Ron Dunford is president and chief executive officer of Green Bay-based Schreiber Foods, one of the largest dairy companies in the world. With more than 10,000 employees and annual revenues of $7.5 billion, the employee-owned company produces and distributes yogurt, cream cheese, natural cheese, American cheese and shelf-stable beverages. Its 32 production facilities span five continents. Dunford currently co-chairs the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s $20 million “Ignite the Future” campaign, and Schreiber Foods made a major gift in 2023 to endow the Institute for Women’s Leadership at UWGB.
Education: Bachelor’s, Utah State University
Highlights from the past 12 months: “Schreiber has (pursued) innovation as a future path to growth. For example, we’re now in the logistics, risk management and software businesses. We’ve successfully grown our non-manufacturing business, which is an important part of our growth strategy.”
Thing to learn this year: “I’m a visual person, and I have an appreciation for art. I’ve been inspired by how former President George W. Bush took up painting after he left office. I would like to learn how to paint.”
Playlist for commute/run: “Some of my go-to podcasts are ‘Freakonomics,’ ‘How I Built This,’ ‘Corporate Competitor,’ ‘Wisdom from the Top,’ ‘How Leaders Lead,’ ‘Ted Radio Hour,’ ‘Tom Bilyeu’s Impact Theory,’ ‘Hidden Brain,’ ‘Finding Mastery’ and ‘Outside.’”
What would you do if you could choose another career: “I’d be an outdoor adventure guide, leading people up mountains, navigating white water rapids or heli-skiing. I love a good outdoor adventure and helping create memorable experiences for others would be extremely satisfying.”
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Manufacturing | Food & Beverage
President and CEO
Schreiber Foods | Green Bay
Ron Dunford was named president and chief executive officer of Schreiber Foods in 2019. The employee-owned, Green Bay-based dairy company produces cheese, cream cheese, yogurt and other products for fast-food restaurants, grocery stores and wholesalers. It reports annual sales of more than $5 billion, distributing its products from plants in the U.S., Germany, Mexico, India and Brazil. Ranking among Forbes’ top 100 largest private companies nationally, Schreiber has more than 9,000 employees.
Dunford has been with the company since 1996. He was named a vice president in 2000, senior vice president in 2002, president and chief operating officer of food service chain sales in 2003, president and COO of global operations in 2006, and president of Schreiber U.S. in 2014.
Dunford has been on Schreiber’s board of directors since 2003. He has also served on the boards of Mentors International, the Innovation Center for U.S Dairy, the International Dairy Foods Association and Utah State University Center for Entrepreneurship. He is also past chairman of the National Cheese Institute.
He is currently a co-chair of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s $20 million “Ignite the Future” campaign, alongside Packers president Mark Murphy and other Green Bay business leaders.
Education: Bachelor’s, Utah State University