Hiland Dairy Foods Co. has promoted Mike Leibacher to general manager of its Dallas-Fort Worth operation, effective March 1. He replaces Ray Gibson, who retired after a 43-year career in the dairy industry.
Gibson spent decades serving the Dallas-Fort Worth market. He began in 1982 as a route salesman with Borden Dairy, rose through a series of leadership roles and became general manager in 2009. When Hiland acquired Borden’s Texas operations in 2022, Gibson stayed on to guide the transition and maintain continuity for retailers and customers across the region.
“Ray’s leadership, industry expertise, and dedication to the customers and communities we serve have made a lasting impact,” said Hiland Dairy President Rick Beaman. “We are grateful for his many contributions and wish him the very best in his retirement.”
Leibacher brings more than 23 years of dairy industry experience to the role. He joined Hiland in 2019 and has held positions including key account manager, branch manager and most recently district sales manager in Dallas. His background spans operations, merchandising, sales and national account management.
“Mike’s operational knowledge and strong customer relationships make him well suited to lead our Dallas team,” Beaman said. “We are confident in his ability to continue building on our strong foundation in this important market.”
Julian Hernandez has also been elevated to Assistant Manager/Controller as part of the transition. Hernandez joined the organization in 2017 and advanced through several financial leadership positions. He was named controller following the 2022 Borden acquisition and has supported operational performance and financial processes for the Dallas operation since.
The leadership changes reflect Hiland’s commitment to building on its position in the Dallas-Fort Worth market — one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. The Springfield, Missouri-based farmer-owned dairy company operates 16 plants and 56 distribution centers across the Midwest and Texas, producing milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, yogurt, butter, ice cream and a growing lineup of lactose-free and protein-rich dairy products.
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