The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has named Jennifer Martin director, external and member communications, and Michael Goodin manager, multimedia and digital content, within the executive and strategic communications department. The positions are new and will focus on promoting and extending IDFA’s communications and reputation management activities with and for IDFA members and the broader dairy and food industries.
“On behalf of IDFA and our 500 members across dairy foods, we are excited and grateful to welcome these talented and driven communications professionals to our association,” said Matt Herrick, senior vice president of executive and strategic communications for IDFA. “Jenny Martin’s background in developing and managing brand and communications in food, agriculture and research position her well to lead our work into a new era. Michael Goodin has collected an industry-leading portfolio of creative and digital work that will help us tell our story more effectively and with flair. We couldn’t be more pleased with adding Jenny and Michael to our team. Their talent and experience underscore how IDFA under Michael Dykes’ leadership has put together an A-team for dairy.”
IDFA deploys a combination of advocacy, education, and network-building to make a positive difference for dairy foods. The association focuses on state and federal legislation and regulation that impacts members and their businesses, as well as policies and research that foster innovation and expand markets for dairy foods. As a knowledge hub for dairy, IDFA delivers data, research and analysis that helps dairy companies and professionals be leaders in business innovation, corporate responsibility and market development.
IDFA’s communication team is focused on demonstrating IDFA’s value to existing and future members; building brand awareness through advocacy and campaigns such as Dairy Delivers; protecting the reputation of members and the dairy industry; and positioning IDFA experts and members as thought-leaders in food safety, nutrition, trade, sustainability, innovation and economic impact.
“I am excited to join the IDFA team, which is doing great work to amplify the power of dairy,” said Martin. “My passion for food and agriculture started on the farm I grew up on in Iowa and carried on through my career in communications. I am proud to continue serving food and agriculture on behalf of IDFA’s members.”
Martin comes to IDFA from The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) where she managed communications for TFI's nutrient stewardship and security and safety programs. She also assisted in developing communications strategies for TFI's policy and advocacy efforts, directed TFI's member communications, and provided marketing support for TFI conferences. For the past 14 years, Martin has worked in various roles in agricultural communications. Before joining TFI, she served as the director of food technology communications at the International Food Information Council (IFIC) and served in key federal government roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, communicating the benefits of federally funded agricultural research. During her service, she was instrumental in the launch of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Martin earned her BA in journalism from Iowa State University and an MPS in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
“I am thrilled to join the wonderful team at IDFA,” said Goodin. “For over 10 years, I’ve managed the production and distribution of a wide variety of multimedia products for a diversity of clients and outlets. My passion is creating compelling content that strategically influences policy. I am excited to begin working with the IDFA team to make big strides for dairy.”
Goodin has a decade of experience in fast-paced, campaign-style creative media atmospheres with multimedia production and management of digital teams. As manager of the video production team at the Heritage Foundation, Goodin delivered multimedia products and solutions to increase social media performance and generate national brand recognition. With his own media production company, Goodin specialized in advocacy videos and digital communications. He began his career in media production as a producer and editor for numerous Discovery Channel programs, as well as full-length documentaries and national television commercials. Goodin earned a BS in media studies from Radford University.
Both Martin and Goodin began their new roles with IDFA this week.
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3 million jobs that generate $159 billion in wages and $620 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent 90 percent of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.
