The president of the North American branch of an international dairy marketing company will speak at the Rotary Club of Evanston on Thursday about the company and its place in the Evanston community.

Roisin Hennerty, president of the North American branch of Ornua Foods, which has been headquartered in Evanston for more than 10 years, said she plans to talk about the Irish dairy farmers her company represents.

“(The purpose is) to continue to spread a little bit of information about the business … to share how our business has become integrated into the community and the value of that and to really explain who we are,” she said.

Hennerty was asked to speak at the meeting as part of this month’s focus on foreign relations and global initiatives, said Dick Peach, executive secretary of the Rotary Club. The club is comprised of 48 local business leaders and community members, and holding a presentation at one of its weekly meetings gives speakers good exposure to their cause, he said.

“Rotary is all business people and business leaders, and they have not only a local but also a national and global reach through Rotary,” Peach said.

Ornua, formerly known as the Irish Dairy Board, is a farmers’ cooperative that markets dairy products produced on Irish farms, such as Kerrygold brand cheese, to the rest of the world.

Evanston was chosen as the headquarters’ location not only for its proximity to the Chicago area and its centrality in the U.S., but also for the vibrant community that it provides, Hennerty said.

“We wanted to be able to provide people with places to go after work, food, entertainment, shopping,” she said. “There’s an awful lot of activities in Evanston as well, so it’s a very appealing place, particularly for the younger demographic that we have on our team.”

Hennerty said the city’s strong commercial base and high concentration of food and restaurant businesses provide ample opportunities for innovation and partnerships. She emphasized the importance of “influencers” in the food industry, which she defined as entrepreneurs who develop new products and brands.

“I think Evanston is a real hotbed for that kind of community,” Hennerty said.

Additionally, Hennerty said many Ornua employees live and raise their families in Evanston, which brings them even closer to the community. As a result of this bond, the company makes an effort to give back to the community, she said. The Kerrygold brand frequently contributes to the fundraising efforts of local schools, and employees volunteer as part of NU Campus Kitchens, a student organization that donates leftover food from Northwestern dining halls to Evanston residents, she said.

Most recently, Ornua collaborated with Youth & Opportunity United, a local youth development agency that provides services to young people and their families, and brought in two interns from Evanston schools, Hennerty said.

City manager Wally Bobkiewicz, who is also the president of the Rotary Club, spoke highly of the relationship between Ornua and the city.

“They market Kerrygold brand products around the United States, so they have good professional jobs right in our downtown,” Bobkiewicz said. “They’re a great part of the Evanston community.”

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