Hilmar
Richard Whatley serves as the Engineering Manager at Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc., overseeing a $20 million capital investment plan and managing Site Engineering Centers of Excellence to align with strategic objectives. Previously, Richard held positions including Electrical Engineering Manager and Regional Engineering and Reliability Manager at Golden West Packaging Group. At Georgia-Pacific LLC, Richard led major equipment rebuilds and the redesign of safety control circuits, while at WestRock Company, Richard managed capital investment projects and site sustainability efforts. Early career experience includes serving as a Reliability Engineer at International Paper, focusing on machinery installation and training. Richard is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Operations Management at Arizona State University, following degrees in Electronic Instrumentation Technology and Industrial Electrical from Modesto Junior College.
Hilmar
Hilmar improves lives around the world by being a leading producer of wholesome dairy products that contribute to the success of all stakeholders. Founded in 1984, Hilmar serves customers in more than 50 countries. State-of-the art production facilities in California and Texas convert high-quality milk received from local independent dairy farms into a variety of nutritious cheese and whey ingredients. The company specializes in the production of cheddar and natural-style cheeses utilized by private label and national brand companies worldwide. Its Hilmar Ingredients division manufactures and markets globally a wide range of whey protein, lactose products and milk powders. Committed to continuous improvement, innovation and sustainability, Hilmar strives to make products that benefit all involved from our customers to our suppliers to our employees and communities. Together, we deliver the promise of dairy.