[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 191 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8544-S8545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO RICHARD L. COTTA

 Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Richard L. 
Cotta on the occasion of his retirement from California Dairies, Inc., 
CDI.
  Since 2007 Richard has held the title of president and CEO of 
California Dairies, Inc., CDI. He has spent his entire career in the 
dairy industry in virtually all aspects of the business.
  Richard Cotta's career at CDI began in 1993, when he joined San 
Joaquin

[[Page S8545]]

Valley Dairymen, a dairy processing and marketing cooperative, as its 
general manager.
  In 1999, San Joaquin Valley Dairymen merged with Danish Creamery and 
California Milk Producers to form CDI. Cotta was named senior vice 
president of producer affairs and government relations at CDI, a role 
he held until he was named CEO in 2007. Under his leadership, CDI 
profits have reached record levels. Today, CDI is California's largest 
dairy provider and the second largest in the United States.
  From 1980 to 1984 Richard was the CEO of United Dairymen of 
California, a producer trade organization, until it merged to form 
Western United Dairymen. Then from 1984 to 1993, he served as the CEO 
of Western United Dairymen, the largest producer trade association in 
the state.
  Previously, Richard worked as a sire analyst for American Breeders 
Service, a classifier for the Holstein Association of America, and a 
principle in Genetics, Inc. For several years he was a dairy consultant 
on feeding, breeding and management systems.
  Richard is a graduate, with honors, of California State Polytechnic 
University, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in dairy husbandry. He also 
owns and operates Cotta Farms and is a partner in Terra Bella Farms, 
both almond farming operations.
  Richard sits on the following boards: U.C. Davis Deans Advisory 
Council, California State University Chancellors Ag Advisory Council, 
Sacred Heart School Foundation, and the Innovation Center for U.S. 
Dairy. In addition, he sits on the Globalization Operating Committee 
for the U.S. Dairy Export Council.
  At the request of the Secretary of Agriculture, he has participated 
in world trade missions to open the U.S. dairy market overseas.
  Please join me in congratulating Richard Cotta on his notable career 
and his retirement from California Dairies, Inc.

                          ____________________