CICERO, N.Y. — The Northeast Dairy Foods and Suppliers Associations recently announced the appointment of Alex E. Walsh as executive director.

Walsh oversees the day-to-day operations of the two associations — Northeast Dairy Foods Association, Inc. (NDFA) and Northeast Dairy Suppliers Association, Inc. (NDSA) — as well as the governmental, public, and industry relations on behalf of membership. The Camillus resident serves as the fifth executive director in the NDFA’s 95-year history.

“Alex will bring a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to the position,” Daniel Lausch, president of the Northeast Dairy Foods Association board, said in a press release. “We look forward to his leadership and continuing the outstanding work the association does on behalf of dairy processor and manufacturer members.”

He joined the associations in 2018 as director of communications and membership before serving as associate VP of regulatory affairs from 2020 to 2021. Prior to joining the organization, Walsh served as a legislative aide to retired state Sen. John A. DeFrancisco, as a public-information officer for Onondaga County, and as an account manager at Syracuse marketing firm Pinckney Hugo Group, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“We are excited to have Alex rejoin the associations and bring fresh energy with his diverse background to enhance the supplier membership, NDSA board president Melissa Fryer said. “His leadership will be an asset to the growth and betterment of the associations and dairy industry in the northeast.”

Northeast Dairy Foods and Suppliers Associations, headquartered at 5701 E. Circle Drive in Cicero, are full-service dairy-trade organizations representing dairy processors, manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers in the Northeast U.S.

Northeast Dairy Foods Association represents members including fluid-milk producers, distributors, byproduct manufacturers, ice-cream plants, yogurt plants, and dairy producers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The Northeast Dairy Suppliers Association includes more than 200 dairy vendor and supplier member companies from international businesses to small family-owned companies that distribute goods and services to the dairy industry.