New York Farm Viability Institute Website Press Releases 

Date: July 6, 2007

Contact: Rebecca Schuelke, public relations specialist
(315) 453-3823 extension 103
(315) 427-2714

rschuelke@nyfvi.org  

Kenville Heads New York Center for Dairy Excellence

Mark Kenville, of Manlius, New York, has been named Director of the New York Center for Dairy Excellence, announced Tom Sleight, Executive Director of the New York Farm Viability Institute.

In his new position, Kenville will be responsible for managing the Center for Dairy Excellence and carrying out its objectives. Launched earlier this year by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets under the New York Farm Viability Institute, the Center develops and oversees initiatives that increase dairy farm profitability and build a stronger dairy industry in the state.

Prior to his new position, Kenville was with Latorra, Paul & McCann, a marketing communications agency in Syracuse, New York, where he handled public relations and account management for a variety of clients, including several agricultural businesses. Previously, he was Director of Member Relations and Communications for Dairylea Cooperative Inc. for 11 years. In addition to managing the communications department and membership programs at Dairylea, Kenville was highly involved in government and industry relations.

“We are very pleased that Mark has accepted this position,” said Sleight. “He has a strong background in communications and project management, as well as broad experience in agriculture and the dairy industry. Additionally, he has a track record of working with diverse groups of people to build consensus and move forward with positive action, which is essential to the success of the Center for Dairy Excellence.”

The New York Center for Dairy Excellence will also collaborate with the Center for Dairy Excellence in Pennsylvania and Vermont’s dairy leadership to seek solutions and coordinate efforts to reduce obstacles to success in the Northeast dairy industry. The dairy centers will work with the Northeast Dairy Leadership Team, forged from an agreement to work collaboratively and regionally that was initiated in June 2006 by the departments of agriculture from each of the three states.

Kenville is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University. He served on the New York State 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees, the National Milk Producers Federation Board of Directors, the Northeast Cooperative Council Board, the Pennsylvania Council of Cooperative Board and the Empire State Council of Agricultural Organizations.

The New York Farm Viability Institute is a farmer-led nonprofit organization that directs on-farm applied research to foster a profitable and renewable agriculture system that includes New York’s diverse farm sectors, commodities, farm sizes, production practices and geographic regions. The Institute is funded through a legislative appropriation to New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. For more information, visit www.nyfarmviability.org