Our team includes experienced dairy farmers as well as industry executives from the specialty food and consumer product market, as well as seasoned cheesemakers.
Kent Underwood – Chief Operating Officer
Kent received his B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Arizona. He is a fifth generation dairyman and has been involved at all levels of the industry. After leaving school Kent took over the operations of a rapidly growing dairy in Wisconsin and led them from 100 to 900 milking cows in just three years. From 2004-2008 Kent managed dairy operations for Woodstock Water Buffalo expanding the herd from 20 head milking to over 350 head while expanding operations to 4 Vermont dairy facilities and assisted in developing the brand which retailed in all 50 states.
Rick Woods – Vice President Creamery Operations
Rick has spent the past 16 years working for Grafton Village Cheese Company, where he was involved in all aspects of cheese production from cheese maker to plant manager. His duties there included managing relationships with distributors and retailers, supervision of the plant, regulatory compliance and developing educational cheese making programs for school groups. While at Grafton, Rick helped to develop award winning cheeses, recognized domestically and internationally.
Steven Drebber – Cheesemaker
As unlikely a cheesemaker as you’d ever expect to find is our own Steven Drebber. A fully licensed and practicing Chiropractor, Steven condensed his practice to a few days per week to explore his inner “artisan cheesemaker.”
Sharon Huntley – Director of Marketing
Most recently a former owner and partner of advertising agency Digital Flannel, Inc., Sharon comes to Vermont Farmstead with over 20 years of experience in traditional, direct, strategic and brand marketing and advertising. She embraces the opportunity to build, steward and champion the Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company brand from the ground up.
Kyle Thygesen – Chief Financial Officer
Kyle received his B.S. degree from Virginia Tech in Dairy Science. Kyle has a diverse background of financial business experience including tenures as a loan officer with First Pioneer Farm Credit, Branch President with Merchants Bank and Controller / Director of Administration and Finance with the Woodstock Water Buffalo Co. Most recently Kyle owns and operates his own successful dairy enterprise with his wife and son. The Farmstead at Falls Hill, LLC is an Organic Dairy farm, complimented by the sale of grass finished beef, pork and poultry. Kyle has a practical approach to analytics and numerous contacts throughout the industry.
Valerie Traynor – Senior VP, Sales & Marketing
Valerie brings more than 20 years of research and marketing expertise to her new position, including nine years in specialty foods retail as executive marketing director at Whole Foods Market. Most recently, she was owner and president of a marketing and consulting firm specializing in the natural and organic foods industry.
Angie Underwood – Sales Manager
Angie comes to Vermont Farmstead Cheese from Arizona, where she previously worked at SheKnows, LLC and Costa Rican Vacations, where she was awarded “Top Sales Rep” of the quarter for sales, service, and relationship building excellence. She has also worked as a volunteer at the Congo Initiative. Angie’s strong background in business development is central to her primary responsibility of developing sales nationwide for the company.
Anne Mallary – Office Manager
Anne grew up on a dairy farm in Fairlee, VT which raised registered Holsteins. After graduating from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, she lived and worked on dairy farms in Vermont as the herd manager. Fast forward ten years and Anne earned her stripes in bookkeeping and tax preparation. As the treasurer for the Town of Tunbridge for 15 years and preparing income tax returns for almost 20, Anne merges her two interests and careers working for VFCC as our office manager.
Marjorie Hardy – Milk Supply & Marketing Specialist
Born and raised on her family dairy farm in Maine with registered Ayrshire cattle, Marjorie has first-hand experience milking and feeding cows, delivering and raising calves, and promoting the dairy industry. She attended the University of Connecticut-Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture with a major in Animal Science. Upon graduating with an Associates degree in Animal Science in 2011, she was named “The Outstanding Undergraduate Woman of Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture”.
Matt Lombard –Herdsman
Matt received his Associates degree in Dairy Herd Management from Vermont Technical College where he also earned his Bachelors in Sustainable Design. As a 2003 graduate of Woodstock High School he has worked locally with Tom Debevois, worked at Dairy Development International (DDI), in Cortland, NY and most recently worked at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Mass as the Livestock Manager for 2 years. With his previous dairy experience rotating around dairy production, Matt has aspiring interest in Jersey pedigrees, and type conformation, while starting his own herd of Jerseys.