Michael A. Graven

Mike Graven is a broker/supplier to the Missouri Dairy Industry. He has represented International Food Products, and has been with Dairy House Company since 1998. Dairy House assists the dairy industry in the creation of flavor, ingredient systems, and their applications. He was chosen as Salesman of the Year on three occasions at Consolidated Flavors.

Graven has brokered or sold, chocolate powder, sugar, vitamins, eggnog base, fruit drink base, and flavored milk base. He is knowledgeable, hands on, and always looking for ways to help a processor save money, create new products, improve quality, and improve sales. Mike is competitive and always hustling to help you out. Graven has driven countless miles to Missouri dairies, picking up or dropping off product, then getting back to St. Louis in the same day so the Dairy House lab can check something out, analyze a product, or develop a matching product.

Mike Graven will do whatever it takes to satisfy his customers. He always goes above and beyond the call of duty taking care of processor needs. If you’re short of product he will personally run down to his firm’s plant to pick up, for example, cocoa powder or vitamins and deliver them in his car. He has dropped off product at 3 AM so that a plant would have ingredients to pasteurize. He will head out at 3 PM and drive seven hours, just to ensure you are covered.

Graven sets the gold standard for customer service; always striving to meet and exceed expectations. Even if Mike and his company do not secure your business during a bidding session, he is still just a phone call away with help and support on items a processor may use.

Mike’s determination to serve his customers and his persistent drive to meet a firm’s needs sets him apart from the herd. In a dairy’s extremely competitive business with 24/7 demands from its customers, Mike never fails to serve. When you hear “the Graven stories” from multiple processors, you know this is a way of life for him. It is who he is and how he works. He is passionate about service to his customers.

Mike may start out as a supplier, but then he becomes your friend. If he ever loses any of your business, his true character magnifies as he continues to offer technical support, making sure you are satisfied. He is happy to wait for the opportunity to be your “go to guy” again as primary supplier.

Graven has mentored and trained many people in the dairy business. From line supervisors, to plant managers, to sales personnel to general managers, he has been a fount of knowledge and has shared his vast experience. Here is an example provided by one general manager: “After one of our new line supervisors recently encountered Mike in the plant, he asked me if I knew Mike. When I told him I’d worked with Mike for many years, he said ‘I learned more from this guy in 30-40 minutes than I have in 6 months on the job!’ He had me wondering if we’d hired the right guy after that comment, but the point is the new supervisor was telling me that he had a new resource who could answer a lot of his questions.”

The general manager went on to say: “Mike doesn’t like to brag about his accomplishments and what he does for the processors. He just believes he’s there to help and make us better. I’ve personally benefitted from his knowledge and experience and know more about our ingredients due to Mike’s tutelage. On top of all that he’s a reliable person that becomes the man to go to for help and support based on his broad experience in the industry. He does the ordinary things, extraordinarily well.”

Graven grew up as one of six children in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He served in the Marine Corps Reserves for six years. Mike and his wife, Betty, have been married for 40 years. They love spending time with their two daughters, Holly Flora and Marit Ayers, and five grandchildren. Mike’s hobbies are golf, handball and hot rods. He belongs to Fox Run Golf Club, Missouri Athletic Club, and Missouri Handball Hall of Fame.

Mike’s 35 years of service has earned him the respect and gratitude of all in the Missouri Dairy Industry. Thank you for a job well done!