GREEN BAY, Wis. – John Holevoet, who has directed government affairs for the Dairy Business Association of Wisconsin for the past year, has been promoted to lead the organization’s public policy efforts.
Holevoet’s expanded responsibilities were announced by DBA Executive Director Tim Trotter.
“John has been an integral part of our efforts to create a political environment that makes it possible for the state’s dairy industry to be successful,” Trotter said. “His commitment and abilities will serve the DBA’s members and the greater dairy community well in this more extensive role.”
Holevoet, whose title will remain director of government affairs, will lead the team he has been a part of since joining the association in June 2014.
“Our focus will remain the same, although the importance of our work grows each year as more farmers retire or leave farming,” he said. “We must be able to keep the farms we have and enable them to prosper.”
Holevoet’s promotion comes on the heels of an announcement by Laurie Fischer, DBA’s director of dairy policy, that she is leaving the organization to establish a public affairs consulting firm.
Holevoet, who lives in Lake Mills, Wis., grew up on a hog and sheep farm in northwestern Illinois and attended graduate and law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining the DBA, he was in private practice as an attorney.
“The average American is three generations removed from the farm. I’m just one, but being able to put my knowledge and legal training to work for Wisconsin’s dairy farmers is really a way for me to go back to my roots and pay tribute to the generations that came before me,” Holevoet said.
