Meet Kim Niino -- Maryland & Virginia Honors the Women Who Tell Our Story

Culture and heritage are passed down through the generations with stories and experiences, and every March, across the United States we honor those storytellers by celebrating Women’s History Month. A month rich in remembering the contributions and advancements that women have made throughout the years. While this nationally recognized tradition of celebrating women was established in 1987, our organization with over a 100-year history, has long been influenced by many remarkable women who have been instrumental in our successes.??

This year’s Women’s History Month theme is ‘Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories’, we want to spotlight a few women now, who tell the story of our cooperative and who are shaping it into the business it is today.

Show your support for women, all March long and beyond, by learning about them and sharing their stories with your family and friends.?

How long have you been with Maryland & Virginia? What roles have you held with us?

I started at Maryland & Virginia on February 6th so I’m very new to this company. However, I have been working in the dairy industry for over 35 years. I started in the dairy industry with Carnation Dairy (now Nestle), as a management trainee learning every job in the plant. I learned to pasteurize milk, run fillers, and load trucks. I could not think of a better way to get acquainted with what I would be doing for years to come. After spending five years with Carnation/Nestle I had the opportunity to move back to the Pacific Northwest by taking a Quality Manager position with Darigold where I spent the next twenty-seven years. I eventually became the Plant Manager of their fluid milk facility that was starting to run caseless milk, identical to what is being made in our Landover facility. Just before joining Maryland & Virginia, I held the position of Sr. Director of Operations at Darigold where I oversaw four milk drying facilities. I will use what I have learned over the years to help make our cooperative more profitable.

What piece of advice would you give to women in the dairy industry?

Dairy is a male-dominated industry, but do not let that intimidate you. Remember, you are working with people and to treat others as you want to be treated. Most of my career has been working for a coop. Always keep the producers in mind when decisions are made that could impact their livelihood. They are the owners of the company, and we work for them. Working in operations in the dairy industry is tough work. Cows do not take time off from making milk, so neither do we. This demanding line of work is not for everyone, but working with the great people at Maryland & Virginia makes it worth it.

Who is the most influential woman you know and why?

I have been fortunate to have met several women who inspire me in a number of ways. I like to take bits and pieces of what I admire about these women and try to emulate these qualities. ?I admire strong women who stand up for themselves in a manner that shows compassion and empathy. I admire smart but humble women. I admire women who are strong leaders who know when to step back and allow others to shine. ?

?What career achievement are you most proud of?

The titles I’ve had do not define me. Yes, I’m proud of surviving and thriving in an industry considered tough and demanding. But what I’m most proud of in my career are the relationships I have made with the people I have worked with and those who have helped me throughout my career. Over the past six months, I relied on these relationships and friendships to get me to where I am today, and I could not be happier to have landed at MDVA.

?Why do we need more women in leadership?

Women compliment an organization. When there is a healthy balance of both genders, who equally contribute towards a common goal, I have found it creates an environment where nothing is impossible.