Doug McCullough grew up on a dairy farm in South Central Pennsylvania. He received a bachelor’s degree in dairy science from Virginia Tech, was named top dairy student in the nation, and was a brother and officer in the Alpha Gamma Rho social-professional fraternity. He then went on to obtain a master’s degree in dairy management and operations research from the University of Florida.
McCullough has worked in the dairy industry as a farmer in the family business, as an extension outreach specialist at the University of Wisconsin, and as a consultant at a start-up dairy financial services firm. After going back to school for his MBA at Duke University, he worked at Johnson & Johnson for 23 years in roles of increasing responsibility in customer logistics as well as procurement, materials management, and project management. Most recently he worked for the company’s pharmaceutical division as a senior manager supporting global supply chain reliability. He was a leader in the company’s DEI community, serving on multiple DEI councils and helping launch and lead the global disability employee group that encompasses autism, disability, neurodiversity, and mental health. He’s also the business manager and co-owner with his brother of a 600-acre cattle and crop farm outside of Springfield, Missouri.
Born with spinal muscular atrophy, a degenerative neuromuscular disease, McCullough performs community service to help people with disabilities lead more active lives. He also serves on advisory committees for CureSMA and Penn Medicine Princeton Hospital in Princeton, New Jersey, and previously for the National Muscular Dystrophy Association. Recently, he launched a program focused on leadership development specifically for people with disabilities.
A popular speaker known for his authenticity and humor, McCullough has been invited to speak at events throughout the continental US as well as in Puerto Rico, Colombia, Germany, and Turkey.