DCI Cheese Company: Announces seven new hires, one promotion and two role expansions

Contact: Kristy Klug

262.677.3407

kklug@dcicheeseco.com

RICHFIELD, Wis., September 16, 2010 – DCI Cheese Company, a leading importer, manufacturer, distributor and marketer of specialty cheeses and other restaurant-quality prepared foods, announces the addition of seven new employees: Monica Giacone, Merchandiser; Ashley Hertel, Production Supervisor; Jim Hintz, Helpdesk Coordinator; Pat Lennon, Plant Engineer; Alaina Muche, Assistant Account Coordinator/Merchandiser; Donna Otto, Customer Service Representative; and Brittany Rautenberg, Marketing Coordinator. One promotion was also announced: Kim Dyer, Product Development Coordinator. Additionally, both Doug Koch and Brett La Ronge have been given role expansions.

“DCI continues to grow quickly in response to increasing demand for our value-added products and services,” said Tim Omer, President of DCI. “We’re keeping our focus on staffing to ensure we remain the go-to resource for all of our customers’ specialty cheese and prepared food needs.”

Monica Giacone

Monica Giacone joins DCI as a Merchandiser. In this role, Giacone will provide strategic support to one of DCI’s largest customer accounts. She comes to DCI with extensive merchandising experience having worked at Acosta Sales & Marketing as a Fresh Foods Technician and Territory Sales Manager.

Ashley Hertel

Ashley Hertel joins DCI as a Production Supervisor. Hertel will manage shift employees, focusing specifically on safety, quality, productivity and reliability. Hertel comes to DCI with more than five years of plant supervisory experience, most recently with Tufco Technologies as a Manufacturing Supervisor/Fill-in Production Manager. Hertel received a Bachelor’s Degree from UW-Eau Claire.

Jim Hintz

Jim Hintz joins DCI as a Helpdesk Coordinator. In this role, Hintz will be responsible for installation and support of hardware, desktop software, operating systems and network connectivity. Hintz has been an IT Contractor at DCI since March, 2010. Prior to that, he worked at Potawatomi Bingo Casino as an MIS Technician. Hintz is a Microsoft Certified Professional.

Pat Lennon

Pat Lennon joins DCI as a Plant Engineer. Lennon will be responsible for managing capital projects including preparation, installation and startup; providing leadership in equipment reliability; and improving plant processes utilizing continuous improvement techniques to improve safety, efficiency and quality. He has over 30 years of engineering experience and has worked for Sargento Foods, Unilever and BelGioioso Cheese in Project/Process Engineering leadership roles. Lennon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Alaina Muche

Alaina Muche joins DCI as an Assistant Account Coordinator/Merchandiser. In this role, she will provide sales and merchandising support to one of DCI’s largest accounts. Most recently, Muche worked at Tab Products as a Customer Service Representative. She received her Bachelor’s degree from UW-Whitewater.

Donna Otto

Donna Otto joins DCI as a Customer Service Representative. Otto will be responsible for providing complete service support to multiple accounts. She formerly worked for Bay Valley Foods for nine years as a Customer Service Representative and for Agrilink Foods and American Medical Security in Customer Service. Otto received her Bachelor’s degree from Lakeland College.

Brittany Rautenberg

Brittany Rautenberg joins DCI as Marketing Coordinator. Rautenberg worked as a Marketing Intern for DCI prior to accepting the position. In her new role, she will focus on production scheduling, coordinating trade shows and maintaining a variety of DCI’s customer-specific in-store marketing programs. Rautenberg received her Bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Kim Dyer

Kim Dyer has been promoted to Product Development Coordinator. In her new role, Dyer will be responsible for coordinating new item requests, creating product specifications and managing the sample request process.

Doug Koch

Doug Koch’s role as Director of Distribution was expanded to include the role of Asset Manager for the Shred and Slice Departments. In this enhanced role, Koch will be responsible for the safety, quality, productivity, reliability and process improvements in the shred and slice lines. In addition, Koch will add support to the Warehouse Department as needed.

Brett La Ronge

Brett La Ronge’s leadership role over the Warehouse Department has been expanded. La Ronge will work with Koch to further improve the Warehouse Department through this enhanced role.

Hintz, Muche and Rautenberg will work from the company’s headquarters in Richfield, Wis. Dyer, Hertel, Koch, La Ronge, Lennon and Otto will work from the Green Bay, Wis., facility. Giacone will be based out of Dallas, Texas.

About DCI Cheese Company

An innovative leader in the cheese industry since 1975, Richfield, Wisconsin-based DCI Cheese Company is the largest importer, manufacturer and marketer of specialty cheeses and other restaurant-quality prepared foods in the United States. The company offers an impressive portfolio of fully-owned or exclusively-held imported and domestic specialty cheese brands including Black Diamond®, Goldy’s®, Joan of Arc®, King’s Choice®, Meza®, Nikos®, Organic Creamery® and Salemville®, among others. DCI’s value-added products can be found in restaurants, grocery stores, club stores and specialty shops across the country. DCI’s mission is to be the leading solution-based provider in the cheese industry and actively seeks strategic partnerships to expand their manufacturing, branding, sales, marketing and distribution. For more information on DCI Cheese Company and their portfolio of specialty cheese and prepared food brands, visit http://www.dcicheeseco.com.