Respected and accomplished, Janet A. W. Harriman, MBA, is the quality assurance manager and head of corporate quality at the United Sugar Producers & Refiners Cooperative in Edina, Minnesota, where she is responsible for leading team building, identifying key performance indicators, managing risk, and cultivating diversity. Ms. Harriman’s team oversees production and compliance across nine manufacturing plants, five operating plants, and up to 25 external facilities, ensuring consistent customer satisfaction nationwide. Her inclusive leadership approach seeks to ensure that both employees and customers are empowered. Joining the company in 2007, she has steadily ascended the ranks after having held a series of vital positions and credits her success to her willingness to embrace challenges and opportunities proactively.
A perennial contributor to her field, Ms. Harriman has been a member of Sugar Industry Technologists since 2008, serving as the group’s president in 2023 and 2024. Her dedication to her industry was further evidenced by her receipt of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Sugar Industry Technologists, among other accolades, throughout her professional and academic careers. Educationally, she proudly holds a Master of Business Administration in executive management from the University of Mary in North Dakota and a Bachelor of Arts in public relations, advertising and advanced communications from the University of North Dakota. Additionally, she is certified as a preventive controls qualified individual by AIB International, Inc., and as a safe quality food (SQF) practitioner from the SQF Institute.
Ms. Harriman’s commitment to personal professional growth is evident in her belief that receiving honest, even sometimes painful, feedback is essential for individual development. As an expert in her industry, she sees opportunities within quality management that need to be adapted to both human and electronic elements, and she desires to be part of that growth process. Looking ahead, she aims to increase her support and mentorship for her team at United Sugar Producers & Refiners Cooperative and for the company at large while recognizing the skills of younger employees and addressing their challenges. Ms. Harriman’s dedication also extends beyond her career to civic-minded organizations, where she makes meaningful contributions.
A native of Fargo, North Dakota, Ms. Harriman most enjoys spending time with her family – including her husband Iain and only child Kaelan – and friends. She likes learning new things and is designing and building her own shed.