1.Please select your preferred candidate for 2nd Vice President.

Mat Bartkowiak VP of Corporate Responsibility and Development at Nelson-Jameson, Inc.
Mat is a former humanities professor from the University of Wisconsin System, who over the course of half-a-decade doing research work for Nelson-Jameson as a side gig, got engaged and excited about food safety, and was encouraged by seeing how a business could be a force for good in the community. As VP of Corporate Responsibility & Development at Nelson-Jameson, Inc., Mat works with suppliers/manufacturers, customers, academic programs, regulatory authorities, and others to push forward programs of mutual growth, education, and service to the food industry. His passion is helping NJ's customers create safe, quality food in a sustainable way. His position allows him to be a conduit between this diverse set of interests in the food industry, with a consistent aim to continue to grow NJ's presence as a good steward and citizen of the dairy and food industries. He serves on the Board of Directors and as Second VP for the Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association, and just finished multi-year commitments to the Wisconsin Section of IFT, and the Marshfield Area United Way. He also serves on numerous food safety advisory committees and works with various academic programs across the country to push forward best practices and training opportunities for the food industry.

Ross A. Niemi Executive Operator | Owner–Investor | Board Director at Metal War Corporation
Ross Niemi is an experienced executive operator, owner, and board director with nearly three decades of leadership across manufacturing, consumer products, technology, and global operations. He is currently Principal & Co-Owner at The Metal Ware Corporation, a 100-year-old manufacturing company with operations in the United States and China and a portfolio of consumer brands including Nesco. Nesco Food Preservation is Metal Ware’s largest product category.

Ross has led complex businesses through growth, integration, and transformation. As COO and Partner at Chard International, he grew the business more than 400% in under three years, scaling revenue from $2M to $14M and successfully completing a merger with The Metal Ware Corporation. As a co-owner of Metal Ware, he has led all aspects of the business including organizational leadership across a 100+ employee platform.

Earlier in his career, Ross held senior leadership roles at Dell, Firebrand Wireless, and Motorola, where he managed P&L-level responsibilities, led global account strategy, oversaw $1B+ customer portfolios, and directed large, cross-functional teams spanning sales, engineering, product, and operations. His background includes deep experience in go-to-market strategy, M&A integration, international operations, and large-scale customer relationships.

In addition to his operating roles, Ross is an active investor and advisor. He has served as a venture capital limited partner and advisory board member, led and invested in real estate development projects, and founded a venture focused on investing, technology, and supporting entrepreneurial growth. He has also served on and chaired nonprofit and community boards, including board leadership roles with Lakeshore College Foundation Board (current board member & past president), Habitat for Humanity (past president), Scouting America Troop 801 (current adult committee chair), Sheboygan Innovation Counsel (advisory member), and Wisconsin Internet of Things (advisory member).

Ross brings to boards a pragmatic, owner-oriented perspective grounded in strategy execution, financial discipline, operational rigor, and people leadership. He is known for bridging strategy and operations, navigating complex stakeholder environments, and helping organizations scale sustainably.

Ross holds an MBA with distinction from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, magna cum laude, from Marquette University.

Richard Carey Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel, The Metal Ware Corporation
Rick Carey is the Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel of The Metal Ware
Corporation, a Wisconsin-based manufacturer and marketer of consumer goods with a
focus on small kitchen electrics and food preservation technologies. He has served as
General Counsel since 2005 and assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in 2016.
Mr. Carey earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1999 and
holds dual undergraduate degrees in Public Relations and Business Administration from
Marquette University. He began his legal career practicing both plaintiff and defense
litigation, providing him with a balanced and practical perspective on legal risk, compliance,
and dispute resolution.

As General Counsel, Mr. Carey has led corporate legal strategy with an emphasis on
workplace safety, product liability, and regulatory compliance. His experience includes
participation in the development of industry-specific legislation impacting manufacturing
and consumer products.

As CEO, Mr. Carey oversees strategic planning, product development, and market expansion
for The Metal Ware Corporation. The company specializes in consumer food preservation
products and small kitchen electrics, including the invention of the first all-electric digital
home canner. His background also includes industrial food manufacturing experience in
spice and seasoning production, quality control, and food safety systems.

Mr. Carey brings executive leadership, legal expertise, and hands-on manufacturing
experience relevant to organizations dedicated to advancing food protection, regulatory
excellence, and public safety.

Kristy Herlitzka Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance for Kwik Trip Production Operations

Kristy Herlitzka is the Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance for Kwik Trip Production Operations in La Crosse, WI. In her role, she is responsible for development and the implementation of Kwik Trip’s food safety/HACCP plans, good manufacturing practices, quality assurance, SQF, environmental monitoring, sanitary design, food safety training and food defense programs in the Bakery, Dairy, Bread and Bun facility and Kitchens. She and her entire team are passionate about food safety and work toward the ongoing improvement of the corporate food safety programs.

Kristy is a graduate of Viterbo College in La Crosse, WI. Prior to joining Kwik Trip, Kristy worked for Reinhart Foodservice and has over 27 years of industry experience in food safety, quality assurance, internal and external auditing, USDA and FDA regulatory compliance and continuous improvement.

Vic Grimm Vice President of Food Safety, Quality & Product Development at Masters Gallery Foods

Vic Grimm has been immersed in the dairy industry his entire life, growing up the son and grandson of milk haulers. He began his full‑time career in 1997 at Land O’Lakes in general labor at the whey plant, where he helped train and install an ERP system—work that led to a plant sanitarian role and a deep appreciation for sanitation as the backbone of any food facility.

Vic advanced to Trega Foods (then Simon’s Specialty Cheese in Little Chute, Weyauwega Milk Products in Weyauwega, and Krohn’s Dairy in Luxemburg, later acquired by Agropur), serving as a Cheese Plant Supervisor. There he learned cheesemaking and production end‑to‑end and earned both his Wisconsin Cheesemaker License and Bulk Weigher & Sampler License. He then moved into quality leadership as Quality Manager in Weyauwega, mastering audits and strengthening collaboration with customers and suppliers while balancing operational and business needs.

As Corporate Quality Manager, Vic supported facilities in Little Chute, Luxemburg, and Weyauwega, WI, along with Hull, IA—experience that positioned him to bridge technical quality and commercial priorities. During this time, he was part of the team to help design, install and train the Wisconsin facilities on a new ERP system. He subsequently worked as Director of Industrial Sales & Key Accounts, selling cheese from seven Agropur U.S. plants: Little Chute, WI; Luxemburg, WI; Weyauwega, WI; Hull, IA; Le Sueur, MN; Lake Norden, SD; and Jerome, ID.

Vic joined Masters Gallery Foods as Vice President of Food Safety, Quality & Product Development, where he and the team are dedicated to mastering the cheese business and enhancing the lives of employees, partners, and communities. From the shop floor to executive leadership, Vic brings a practical, systems‑oriented approach grounded in sanitation, craftsmanship, and customer partnership.