October 22, 2025
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shelly Mayer
800-947-7379
mail@pdpw.org
 
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Program flier
 

Dairy Executives to Explore Strategy, Sustainable Growth in Puerto Rico
2026 PDP Managers Academy offers executive coaching, out-of-industry insights, cultural experiences
 
DAIRY NEWS – The 2026 Managers Academy for Dairy Professionals^®, presented by Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP), is a unique opportunity for dairy industry leaders to bolster their management skills and position their dairy business for long-term growth. The three-day workshop will feature real-world case studies, out-of-industry tours and executive-level conversations to position their dairy business for strategic, sustainable growth.
 
The 2026 Managers Academy will be held January 20-22, 2026, at the Marriott’s Hotel Rumbao in in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The program is developed by PDP in collaboration with Progressive Dairy, Progressive Dairy Solutions and Rabo AgriFinance.
 
“Managers Academy is a great opportunity to learn new ideas from other industries that we can implement on our own farms and businesses,” said Patrick Maier, dairy producer from Waunakee, Wis. “The trainings are practical and relate to issues we face every day.”
 
Program facilitators will be:

• Marissa Nehlsen, author and founder/CEO of an eight-figure, debt-free financial firm
• Dick Wittman, business consultant with Wittman Consulting

 
Nehlsen and Wittman will lead executive-level trainings to help attendees:

• Develop governance and leadership systems for long-term success
• Design customized, multi-year business action plans
• Learn communication strategies for managing family and team dynamics
• Turn operational challenges into clear business strategies

 
A unique element of the Managers Academy program are out-of-industry tour experiences that introduce attendees to the culture and traditions of the host location while providing new insights to business and management strategies. The tours will feature:

• Hacienda Muñoz, craft coffee farm and roaster that scaled with purpose
• Finca Neo Jibairo, agrotourism model that blends innovation and tradition
• Casa BACARDÍ, iconic rum brand that demonstrates excellence in global business management

 
Registration is now open with limited space available. Registration fee includes all sessions, training materials, meals, tours and tour travel. Travel to the program and hotel accommodations are not included with registration. A block of discounted rooms is available at Marriott’s Hotel Rumbao when booked by Dec. 19, 2025.
 
For more details and lodging information visit www.pdpw.org or contact PDP at 800-947-7379.
 
Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) is the nation's largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed."
 
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