All Speakers

Jeff Alix is global head of business development, palatability and microbiome in the Pet Business Group under the Taste, Texture and Health Business Unit at dsm-firmenich. He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from California State University; plus he attended comprehensive academic courses in food science offered through Nestle. During his 41-year career in the pet food industry, Alix has gained experience across various functional disciplines including pet food ingredients, flavor development and food science followed by sales, business development and marketing. Before joining DSM, he was a research scientist at Nestle and a technical support and product development manager at Bioproducts (acquired by AFB International). For an interim period at DSM, Alix was the pet industry global business head for the DSM-Evonik joint-venture company Veramaris.

Under Ben Allen’s leadership, BinSentry is scaling rapidly as it uses artificial intelligence to provide customers with market-leading accuracy and automation. BinSentry is installing nearly 2,000 new sensors every month for some of the largest agricultural companies in North America as they work to support increases in worker safety and decreases in operating costs. Allen joined BinSentry after his successful run as head of global market development at Indigo Ag, an agtech startup. Prior to that role, he led efforts to scale Agri-Trend’s Agri-Data software organization in preparation for its acquisition by Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) in 2015.

Michael Allison is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Purple Heart recipient and CEO of the Adversity Academy Leadership Development Co. With over two decades of leadership experience, he has empowered high-level individuals and Fortune 500 organizations to break through limitations and embrace a mindset of growth and accountability. His journey through the aftermath of 9/11 and the Iraq War, where he led critical missions, shaped his unique approach to leadership under extreme pressure. Allison’s entrepreneurial journey has seen him successfully launch multiple businesses, earning recognition from outlets like INC 5000, Franchise Consultant, USA Today and ESPN. He was honored with the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana Wesleyan University. Additionally, his insights have been featured in media including VFW Magazine, NBC, multiple podcasts, TEDx stages and About Face Military Mental Health Tribute.

Luciano Andriguetto and three partners founded Global Feed Solutions in 2019. The company is dedicated to locally producing innovative products. In 2020, as head of R&D, Andriguetto invented a new application of a molecule, aimed at optimizing the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the diet of layers, broilers, breeders and swine in all phases. A Brazilian patent was recently published, and a patent has also been applied for in the U.S. and in the Patent Cooperation Treaty countries. Andriguetto holds a Ph.D. in animal science and nutrition from Cornell University, and bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in veterinary medicine from Universidade Federal do Paraná.

Jesus Arango, DVM, Ph.D., is responsible for driving the program development of the broiler breeding program from measuring traits using the latest available technologies to optimizing population structure for maximizing genetic gain, developing best-in-class genetic prediction models and progressing any other areas that would lead to continual improvement of egg production traits. Prior to joining Cobb, he worked more than 20 years in academia and over 10 years with Hy-line International. Arango earned his DVM from Universidad Central de Venezuela, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. He went on to achieve his master’s degree in animal breeding and genetics from Universidad Central de Venezuela, Facultades de Agronomía y Ciencias Veterinarias, and a Ph.D. in animal breeding and genetics from University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).

Ryan Backman-Flamerich is a senior manager on United Airlines' decarbonization team responsible for the airline's procurement of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Prior to joining United, he led project teams in Deloitte’s ESG consulting practice supporting clients in the transportation, hospitality and services sector as well as in the food land and agriculture sector. Backman-Flamerich earned a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School, and a bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and political science, both from the University of Alabama.

Shawn Baier’s responsibilities at TSI Group include new business development, research and development management, as well as identifying and acquiring new technologies for commercialization. He holds a master of science from Iowa State University and a master of business administration from the University of Iowa. Previously, he served as a research scientist with MTI Biotech, with specific responsibilities for overseeing outside research projects related to HMB and muscle performance and health; later, he also became director of sales and marketing, then chief operating officer. Baier also worked for the Iowa State University Center for Designing Foods as an assistant to the director responsible for managing all research projects at the center, including administration of a year-long, NIH/NIA-funded research study investigating the benefits of HMB for older adults.

Anne Ballou, Ph.D., technical director at SIWA, works to support healthy and happy animals by improving gastrointestinal health and function. She received her bachelor of science and master of science in animal science from the University of Kentucky and her Ph.D. in functional genomics from North Carolina State University, where she studied the relationships between gastrointestinal bacteria and host immune function. Ballou overlays molecular biology, data science and immunology in her research to understand and promote microbiomes that contribute to animal health and function.

As the director of sustainability, Emily Battilega oversees the application and implementation of sustainability guidelines across Versova, leads the measurement of the company’s sustainable efforts, and partners with the sales and marketing team to engage with customers in partnership for the development of sustainable supply chains. A valued team member for more than eight years, Battilega has led Versova's sustainability initiatives since taking on her current role in 2022. The Versova family of companies houses over 38 million laying hens in the U.S.

Katie Belflower is a manager on the Menu Research and Insights team at Technomic. She tracks and analyzes current and predictive menu and concept trends and data for both the U.S. and Canada. In addition to contributing to reports and newsletters, Belflower also presents various webinars and at conferences for the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Hana Bieliauskas leads Inspire’s southern office in Asheville, North Carolina, oversees the company’s digital practice and directs its marketing. With 15 years of public relations and digital marketing experience — primarily serving food, agriculture, nonprofit and pet care clients — she has worked on more than 100 digital campaigns that have won national and regional awards. Prior to joining Inspire, Bieliauskas oversaw communications at a national children’s advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. A graduate of Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism with a specialization in political science. Bieliauskas has served on the marketing committees for Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Central & SE Ohio and Girls on the Run of Central Ohio, and she served for two terms on the board of Girls on the Run of Western North Carolina.

After graduating and working in private practice as a veterinarian, Niels Blees, MSc., DVM, began his Ph.D. program and concurrent residency at the European College of Veterinary Comparative Nutrition at Utrecht University. With his project, he collaborates with Darling Ingredients to study the potential effects of collagen hydrolysates in dogs with osteoarthritis. In 2023, Blees won the ESVCN-Waltham Award for his work on the bioavailability of collagen hydrolysates in dogs, leading to presenting the work at the American Association of Veterinary Nutrition conference. He has taught post-graduate courses on nutrition for veterinarians and veterinary technicians, teaching students and taking them along in the amazing world of pet food and nutrition.

Vivian Breen joined Cobb in 2016 and is currently the director of research and development. Prior to Cobb, she held a post-doctoral research associate position in the Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin (Madison). She earned her DVM and master’s degree in animal breeding and genetics from Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. She also earned her Ph.D. in animal science (animal breeding and genetics) from the same institution.

Dana Brooks is the president and CEO of PFI in Washington, D.C. She has worked in government relations for 24 years, representing a range of agricultural and food interests. Brooks has received the Women in Agribusiness Ambassador Award and been named a Woman of Influence by Pet Age and Top 50. She also serves as an officer of the board of directors for Pet Partners.

Allison Burdick is a sustainability analyst with the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC), an industry non-profit supporting companies with their sustainability goals. In that role, she spearheads PSC's ingredients and formulation initiatives, as well as its partnership with HowGood, a sustainability database for products and ingredients.

Antonio Cabras, based in Italy, has 10 years of experience in the packaging industry, specializing in solutions for the pet food sector with a strong focus on sustainability. Additionally, he brings 20 years of expertise in marketing and communication, having founded a digital marketing and communication agency, and is passionate about technology.

Louise Calderwood is the American Feed Industry Association’s director of regulatory affairs, providing leadership on regulatory and state issues related to pet food and general regulatory issues. She works closely with committee leadership of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Formerly Calderwood was the government relations director for the Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance and Vermont’s Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Calderwood holds degrees in dairy science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and animal science from the University of Vermont. She is a frequent presenter at state association meetings and public forums related to the animal food industry.

Ethan Carter has served as Darling Ingredients’ director of sustainability since August 2022. Prior to joining Darling Ingredients, he led sustainability efforts for ExxonMobil’s unconventional business and oversaw development of a multi-billion-dollar greenhouse gas reduction strategy for the Permian Basin, targeting net-zero emissions by 2030. Carter has more than 10 years of experience in a variety of environmental and sustainability roles in the energy industry. He holds a master’s degree in sustainable business from Marylhurst University and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Arkansas.

Po-Ju (Ray) Chiu began his entrepreneurial journey as a co-founder of BioInspira, a sensor technology company spun out from his research as a biochemical engineering student at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Calyx’s AI-powered vision systems and edge sensing platforms provide real-time weight and weight distribution data for broiler chickens, enabling more precise harvest planning, feed optimization, and nutrition strategies. The company's technology is deployed across the U.S., Latin America, Europe and Asia — empowering producers and integrators with actionable, real-time data.

Yuval Cinnamon is an embryologist specializing in poultry genetics and biotechnology. He earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, plus completed postdoctoral fellowships there and at the National Institute for Medical Research in London. His research integrates bioinformatics, molecular genetics, embryology, cell biology and advanced imaging to investigate early embryogenesis in chickens. Among his key innovations are Golda, a genetic solution that ensures only female chicks hatch, and Layers Laying Broilers (LLB), a breakthrough technology enabling layer hens to produce broiler chicks efficiently and humanely.

Herek Clack, Ph.D., is the co-founder and chief scientific officer for Taza Aya, and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Michigan. Clack’s research group focuses on chemical and biological aerosols and their interactions with electric fields and electrical discharges. He is the recipient of the XVI Distinguished Young Alumni/ae award (MIT, 2000), the NSF CAREER Award (NSF, 2004), the Harry J. White Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Science and Application of Electrostatic Precipitation (International Society for Electrostatic Precipitation, 2013), and the Kenneth M. Reese Outstanding Research Scientist Award (Univ. of Michigan College of Engineering, 2019). He earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from MIT, and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Wayne Daley, Ph.D., is a retired principal research engineer from the Georgia Tech Research Institute’s (GTRI) Intelligent Sustainable Technologies Division. He has over 30 years of experience serving in management and technical leadership roles in the Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP). Daley is currently the CEO of WDDLY Associates. In this role he oversees the development of sensing systems to support collaborative automation in poultry secondary and further processing operations. Daley received his degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology in mechanical engineering.

Ed de Souza is a professional in food extrusion technology with a 30-year career at Wenger Manufacturing LLC. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from Fort Hays State University in Kansas and a business administration degree from Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Brasil. Known for his deep technical expertise and leadership, de Souza has become a trusted consultant in extrusion process for pet food. Throughout his tenure at Wenger, he has served in various roles, including his leadership in establishing Wenger do Brasil in Valinhos — a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Currently serving as process director, Wenger Process Solutions, de Souza's hands-on approach and commitment to efficiency have consistently helped customers optimize operations and achieve outstanding results. Beyond his professional achievements, he is deeply committed to education, service and innovation, establishing him as a key resource for customers and academic institutions, and further advancing the field of extrusion technology.

Lynn Dornblaser brings almost 40 years of product trend knowledge to her position as client advisor. In this role she provides insight to clients and the industry, leveraging her career’s worth of knowledge and Mintel’s rich data sources. Prior to joining Mintel in 1998, Dornblaser covered new product trends at several trade magazine publishing companies. She has been quoted by major U.S. news organizations, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times and CNN. Dornblaser holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Illinois.

Elizabeth Doughman is the editor of WATT PoultryUSA and Poultry Future. In this role, she is responsible for managing and creating engaging content about what’s next for the broiler, turkey and layer industries across print, e-newsletters, websites, videos, podcasts and in-person events, including the Chicken Marketing Summit and the Poultry Tech Summit. Prior to joining WATT Global Media in 2019, Doughman worked at a multimedia brand covering the animal research sector for 14 years. Doughman obtained a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in journalism from Northeastern University.

Niki Dutta is a scientific program officer for the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) where she provides program support to the Cultivating Thriving Production Systems Priority Area. Some of her responsibilities include supporting the International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA), managing the Veterinary Student Research Fellowship program, and assisting with content development for new and existing programs. Dutta earned a master’s degree in sustainability management from American University and completed her undergraduate studies in international business and management at Dickinson College.

Brian Earnest is lead economist for animal protein in CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange division. He provides market and industry research for the poultry, pork and beef sectors. Earnest has more than 10 years of industry and consulting experience. Prior to joining CoBank, he was senior commodity analyst, poultry, with IHS Markit’s Food and Agricultural Commodities Economics group. Earnest provided forecasting and price risk strategies, client service, as well as project consulting in the poultry and egg space. He previously held various procurement and advisory roles with Topco Associates LLC, a retail food industry cooperative. Earnest holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in economics from Eastern Illinois University.

Becky Faudree is the vice president of procurement at ButcherBox, bringing years of experience in meat sourcing, strategic planning and growing programs that move the needle. With a strong focus on animal welfare, negotiation, pricing strategy and business expansion, she knows how to spot opportunities and turn them into real, impactful solutions, whether that's launching a new program or product. Prior to joining ButcherBox, Faudree ran operations for two beef companies and ran procurement as global meat coordinator for Whole Foods Market.

Nick Fereday is an executive director within Rabobank’s research department in New York, specializing in food and consumer trends. Fereday has worked in food and agriculture for his entire career starting in the 1990s at the Department of Agriculture in Papua New Guinea, followed by a rewarding period working at the UK’s National Resources Institute on agricultural programs in developing countries in Africa and Asia and then switching to more commercially focused consultancy-based work at LMC International.

At JBS, Fox helps to spearhead the design of value chain initiatives aimed at bolstering sustainability efforts of the company's commodity suppliers. Prior to joining JBS in 2024, she served as vice president for sustainability for Versatron Corporation and as global director sustainable agriculture strategic partnerships and strategy for Nutrien Ag Solutions. Fox earned a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Trinity Washington University and and a master's degree in Ecology and atmospheric science from the University at Albany.

Roger Gerlach is currently the director of global pet food sales for APC. He has more than 30 years of experience in the pet nutrition category, having held various commercial roles focusing on team leadership, key account management, new business development and category management. Gerlach began his career with the Iams Co. and later Procter & Gamble. He has also worked for Cargill, where he managed private label pet food sales and led branded pet food sales.

Hannah Godfrey is a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College companion animal nutrition research team. She completed her master of science with Adronie Verbrugghe, Ph.D., in 2021, conducting research on lipotropic supplementation in kittens for obesity prevention. Following her master’s degree, Godfrey continued to study the unique nutritional needs of cats as part of her doctoral program and is now focusing on macronutrients in feline health and metabolism. She has multiple authored scientific publications and presented at several conference presentations.

Travis Gracey, a third-generation meat professional, kicked off his career in Oklahoma’s retail meat industry in 1992. He’s held roles as department manager, district supervisor, category manager and director for some of Oklahoma’s best retailers, including Pruett’s Food, Jumbo Foods, Associated Wholesale Grocers and currently works as the meat sand seafood category manager at HAC, which operates 80 grocery stores under several well-known banners, including Food World, Piggly Wiggly and CashSaver.

Bill Griffith is the COO for Peco Foods, the seventh largest broiler producer in the U.S. Griffith is the current NCC chairman. Prior to joining Peco, he worked for Keystone Foods U.S. where he served as president from 2016-2019. He also held roles of vice president in food safety and quality assurance during his nine years at Keyston. Griffith also had a successful tenure at Perdue Foods, overseeing food safety, quality and regulatory compliance. He holds two degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: a bachelor’s degree in biology and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

Clark Griscom is a master’s degree student in food science at the University of Arkansas, working under Dr. Philip Crandall. He earned his bachelor’s degree in food science from the University of Arkansas in 2023 and is on track to complete his master’s degree in December 2025. His research focuses on using color and fluorescent spectrometry to detect poultry contamination on food contact surfaces. He has a strong interest in artificial intelligence and is experienced in applying AI tools to support automation and data analysis in food safety applications. He also frequently collaborates with agricultural engineers on projects that integrate robotics into poultry processing and food safety systems.

Kathy Gross, Ph.D., DACAN, recently retired after a 32-year career at Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc., where she held the role of worldwide director of R&D, overseeing the nutritional design, clinical studies and global claims for Hill’s companion animal products. Gross now serves as an adjunct professor at Kansas State University, contributing her expertise to the pet food science and animal health programs on both the Manhattan and Olathe campuses. She also consults on topics such as companion animal nutrition, pet food and ingredient product design, innovation and animal health. Gross earned her Ph.D. in animal nutrition from Kansas State University, a master of science in animal nutrition from Virginia Tech and a bachelor’s degree in animal bioscience from Penn State University. She is board certified in animal nutrition and has authored more than 100 publications, abstracts and book chapters, plus earned 20 patents.

With over 20 years of experience in extrusion technology, Jenni Harrington has a wide range of experience in practical application and formulation development for a broad range of products from pasta and cereal to pet food and alternative proteins. She has led dozens of trials and experiments to prove technology and define processes to incorporate a wide range of raw materials in feed and food. Harrington has also spoken at a broad range of technical conferences for feed and food applications for extrusion technology.

Todd Harrison is a partner at the Venable law firm and co-chair of Venable’s FDA Group, guiding clients through the myriad government regulations associated with food and drug labeling and marketing. Working extensively in the areas of food and dietary supplement safety, labeling and advertising claims, Harrison helps clients in the consumer products, drug and medical device, and dietary products industries comply with government regulations. He regularly achieves favorable results in defending clients against Federal Trade Commission advertising complaints, enforcement actions and prosecutions, and overcoming competitor challenges in courts and other forums.

As vice president of product at Ancera, Troy Hatlevig brings operational discipline and user-focused design expertise for complex logistics and data systems. Hatlevig is a product leader with experience innovating operations at Wayfair Freight and Monster.com.

For the past 13 years, Shelly Hein has been an integral part of the senior management team at Petcurean Pet Nutrition, a Canadian company dedicated to providing premium pet food solutions. As vice president of operations, she leads a diverse department that touches many aspects of the business — from demand planning and inventory control to nutrition, quality assurance, innovation and customer care — ensuring that every function reflects Petcurean’s commitment to quality and excellence. Her journey to the pet industry wasn’t a straight path. Armed with a degree in microbiology and an extensive background in automotive manufacturing operations, Hein honed her problem-solving skills and developed a knack for staying calm when things go off the rails. While those abilities remain invaluable, she finds the pet industry far more fulfilling — after all, happiness is a warm puppy.

Marty Heller, Ph.D., has worked as a senior consultant at Blonk Sustainability, a division of Mérieux NutriSciences, since 2021, where he has led LCA projects on crop cultivation, animal production, feed additives, novel protein production and consumer packaged foods. Prior to joining Blonk, he spent 15 years as a research specialist with the Center for Sustainable Systems at University of Michigan, also conducting LCA research primarily on agriculture and food systems, including investigations into the environmental impact of U.S. diets. Heller holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Michigan State University.

MarketPlace is a firm specializing in strategy, research, branding and marketing for pet and human nutrition companies. In more than 12 years there, Nicole Hill has led strategy and research for global business-to-business (B2B) companies and national consumer brands in the pet and human nutrition categories, including Farmland Traditions, BARK, TropiClean, Ultra Chewy , Kerry, Zinpro and SupplySide. She bridges the B2B supply chain and consumer market dynamics to inform product innovation, identify untapped market opportunity and develop and market new brands. In her role, Hill also leads MarketPlace's syndicated research arm: Nextin Research. Focused on pet and human nutrition categories, Nextin provides industry professionals turnkey access to insightful consumer data, trends and insights that help them anticipate what's next in their categories.

Nancy Himmelfarb, principal of Himmelfarb Sustainability Consulting, is a strategic advisor who helps organizations advance sustainability, reputation and business growth while reducing risk. Her clients are businesses, industry associations and nonprofits, mostly in food and agriculture, including, e.g., Conagra Brands, Target, Corteva Agriscience, U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs, National Chicken Council and the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and Center for Food Integrity.

Lonnie Hobbs Jr., Ph.D., is interested in research related to agribusiness, marketing, pet food economics, teaching and learning, and assessing program efforts. His research focuses on analyzing current marketing strategies, customer behavior and product demand to inform product design and marketing decisions in the food and agriculture industry, and particularly the pet food sector. In addition to his work in agribusiness management, Hobbs also aims to enhance student, faculty and employee experiences through research to improve programming, recruitment and teaching. His current research areas include identifying relevant and interesting research problems, examining factors contributing to pet obesity, estimating pet food demand structure and utilizing online customer review data to evaluate the effectiveness of product attribute differentiation.

Karen Jones leads the learning and development at NextUp, a nonprofit organization that works to empower women in the workplace through leadership development, programming and inspiring events. Her team manages the design and delivery of the leadership development programs and assessment processes for partner organizations. Jones has more than 15 years of experience in organizational effectiveness, leadership development, talent management, inclusion strategy design and execution, change leadership and organizational process improvement. She has served as an executive in Fortune 500 companies including American Express, Sara Lee Corporation, U.S. Cellular and Ulta Beauty. Jones has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Grambling State University and a master of arts in organization leadership from Gonzaga University.

Ramin Karimpour is the founder and CEO of TARGAN. His passion has been conceiving innovative solutions and making them a reality. To date, Karimpour has launched over 140 bio-systems and industrial automation products while creating manufacturing facilities in China, India, the EU, Latin America and the United States. He has led business operations, R&D, engineering and sales teams for Dolan Jenner Industries, Applied Science & Technology, PerkinElmer, Kodak Molecular Imaging, MIDAS Vision Systems, Spire Corporation, Pfizer and Zoetis. Karimpour received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in electrical engineering from Boston University, and post-graduate certifications from Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Massachusetts, in plasma processing and executive management. Karimpour founded TARGAN to create products that address animal welfare and financial performance in animal agriculture.

Wendy Kavanagh serves as president and CEO of the National Protein & Food Distributors Association (NPFDA) and the NPFDA Scholarship Foundation. As president, she serves the membership and community by supporting the mission of the organization — to promote the protein and food distributors, processors and allied industries by bringing them together and providing forums to foster successful, long-term business relationships.Kavanagh has been a nonprofit professional since 1995 and most recently served as president of the Georgia Society of Association Executives and GSAE Foundation for 20 years. Prior to 2005, she owned and operated Tessera Association Management, an association management company. She earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in June 2002. Kavanagh earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.

Brian Kiepper, Ph.D., is an associate professor and extension specialist of poultry science at the University of Georgia. Kiepper’s work during his 27 years at the university focuses on environmental areas of water use and conservation, wastewater generation and treatment, and waste reduction and by-product recovery in poultry processing plants and other commercial and industrial facilities. He is also an adjunct faculty member for the university’s college of engineering. Prior to coming to the university in 1998, Kiepper was the assistant director of water and wastewater services for Rockdale County, Georgia, where he oversaw wastewater treatment and laboratory facilities, and the industrial pretreatment program. Brian received his bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Tech University, and his master’s degree in food science and his Ph.D. in poultry science from the University of Georgia.

Brian Klein is a principal scientist within the Microbiome group in the Global Science & Research organization at dsm-firmenich, leading a team supporting all business units addressing the impact of biotics on human and companion animal health and wellness. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at Bates College, then his Ph.D. in molecular microbiology at Tufts University School and Medicine as an NRSA F31 fellow studying microbe-microbe interactions and the effects of mutagenesis on the human oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. Klein was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship via the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and carried out work at the Harvard Dental School/Forsyth Institute to better understand athlete microbiomes and athletic facilities’ microorganisms. Prior to joining dsm-firmenich, he led the microbiology and translational medicine groups at Vedanta Biosciences and founded his own company, BrickBuilt Therapeutics; he then sold it to DermBiont Inc., where he worked until joining dsm-firmenich in 2022.

Twan Koenen has over two decades of deep expertise in animal processing technology and hygiene innovation. In his roles as processing technologist, R&D developer and farm manager in in both poultry and red meat sector, he combines a strong technical and analytical background with a holistic approach on improving both product and processing hygiene in the meat industry. He is responsible for innovation, technological support and implementation of multi hurdle cleaning approach: a hygiene concept for meat processing that improves both visual and microbial product hygiene.

Amanda Kowalczyk, Ph.D., is an evolutionary genomicist specializing in computationally guided trait design. She is the CEO and co-founder of Hatched Genetics, where she leads efforts to create the first commercially available genetically engineered chickens in the United States. She is committed to bridging the gap between cutting-edge genomic science and the real-world needs of poultry farmers to improve outcomes for both chickens and people. Kowalczyk earned her Ph.D. in computational biology from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Shawn Lalehzarian worked with several brands such as Wolfgang Puck, Starbucks, Pinkberry, California Pizza Kitchen and Chili’s just to name a few before opening The Red Chickz in 2014. The Red Chickz puts its West Coast spin on the Southern favorite, offering the most innovative menu within the hot chicken segment. Today, The Red Chickz has five locations: Los Angeles, California; Culver City, California; Carlsbad, California; Cypress, Texas; and most recently, Fresno, California, with an additional 24 locations in development.

Leah Lambrakis is the vice president of research and development, nutrition and scientific affairs for Simmons Pet Food and Simmons Animal Nutrition. She leads a team of 35 scientists that drives nutrition, pet food formulation, process engineering, ingredient technology and innovation. Lambrakis has a life-long passion for nutrition, health and wellness, new and innovative advances on how to feed our pets better and consumer insights for pets and pet parents. In her 24-plus-year career, she has developed deep knowledge in pet food science. In addition to supporting her team at Simmons, Lambrakis also enjoys immersing herself in the industry with her involvement with the Pet Food Institute’s Nutrition Subcommittee as vice-chair; she is also a board of trustee member with the Morris Animal Foundation and most recently has joined the Pet Food Association of Canada's board of directors. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in animal science and animal nutrition from the University of Guelph.

Shannon Landry is pet brand manager at Packaged Facts, a leading authority on the U.S. pet industry and a division of the Freedonia Group. She has been researching the pet market for more than a decade, covering a range of topics including pet food and treats, with a focus on the U.S. market. Landry is a regular contributor to PETS International magazine and VetWatch, served as a panelist at Petfood Forum 2024, has most recently presented at GlobalPETS Forum 2025, APPA's Pet Summit and the National Animal Supplement Council's conference.

Rob leads Marriner Marketing’s strategic direction, ensuring teams are well-resourced, motivated and aligned with the agency’s mission of clarity. His strategic guidance has played a key role in brand positioning and marketing efforts for Campbell’s, Apeel Sciences, Kent Corporation, Perdue Farms, Butterball, Dannon, Away From Home, Gehl’s, Rich Products, McCormick, Nestlé Professional and The Sugar Association.

Troy Lohrmann is a multidisciplinary nutritionist and biochemist with four decades of expertise in poultry and swine science, microbiology, and nutritional optimization. His career spans roles in technical service, sales, research leadership and recently retired as the CEO of a U.S. animal health company focused on antibiotic-free health solutions. His travels have had him working with leading producers, processors and manufacturers across the globe. Lohrmann holds numerous patents that integrate scientific research with practical applications in the areas of animal health, nutrition, seed traits and grain processing.

Matt Longshaw, Ph.D., is research and application manager at Calysta, where he is responsible for the pet food and aquaculture feeds R&D program. Previously, he was the pharmaceutical development manager at an animal health company, with responsibility for developing medicines for use in aquaculture, and a senior research scientist for the U.K. government, heading up a team working on individual and population level effects of disease. Longshaw has a Ph.D. in veterinary pathology and is an elected member of the Royal Society for Biology. He has presented extensively at national and international conferences and to a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses at several universities, and has published more than 70 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters in disease and nutrition of terrestrial and aquatic animals.

Matt Lueger is executive vice president of sales and marketing at NorthWind Technical Services. With 20 years of experience in controls and automation and a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kansas, he specializes in helping manufacturers in the food and beverage, plastic and pet food industries find automation solutions to enhance plant efficiency. He and NorthWind are committed to being on the leading edge of AI solutions for manufacturing operations, striving to develop usable, reliable solutions for manufacturers trying to leverage the fast-growing technology.

Rajan Lukose, Ph.D., is a thought leader and the chief data scientist at Cambridge Technology, a global technology services provider helping U.S.-based and international companies transform their operations by leveraging the cloud, data analytics, artificial Intelligence and machine learning. Cambridge PetTech, a division of Cambridge Technology, has been serving the pet food industry for over 20 years, helping solve complex animal health IT challenges across research, testing, manufacturing, sales and marketing disciplines. Lukose has led and participated in numerous industry events, including speaking engagements at conferences, universities, webinars, workshops and senior management presentations, where he has shared his expertise and knowledge on a variety of technology-related topics and their applicability across industries and disciplines.

The current highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak has been ongoing for over three years and has presented unprecedented challenges to North America's poultry industries. Commercial poultry losses have been staggering, wild bird and mammal populations have been infected, and cows in hundreds of dairies have tested positive for the virus. Learn more about the status of the current outbreak and the control measures that are being tested and implemented in the U.S. and vaccination in other countries.

Betty McPhee is a passionate advocate for pets and a trusted leader in the pet food industry. With a career spanning global sales and leadership roles at respected companies like Omega Protein, Cargill, Trouw Nutrition and Ameri-Pac, she brings a wealth of experience in regulatory compliance, technical sales, marketing and product innovation. McPhee’s deep understanding of the industry is matched by her active involvement in shaping its future — she has served on numerous committees with the American Feed Industry Association, Pet Food Institute and Association of American Feed Control Officials. McPhee studied marketing and management at Denver University, completed executive leadership training at the University of Chicago and pursued manufacturing studies at Texas A&M. Outside of work, she gives back through volunteer service and board leadership, including with the Nebraska Humane Society Friends Forever, Women in Petfood Leadership and her local HOA.

Kane Miller, Ph.D., founded Axitan in 2017 to apply endolysin biotechnology for managing pathogens in animal agriculture. He earned his biochemical engineering doctorate from University College London. Over the last eight years, Miller has led the development of Axitan's technology platform, which quickly pairs endolysins with pathogens and brings new endolysin-based products to market. Axitan is headquartered in Comer, Georgia, where the company's production facilities are located. Miller splits his time between the U.S. and Axitan's research and development center in the U.K.

Ana Rita Monforte, Ph.D., is flavor and data sciences manager at AFB International and has been with the company for three years. She holds a doctorate in mechanisms for flavor formation and a deep understanding of data modeling. Monforte has presented at several scientific congresses regarding flavor formation in foods, with particular attention to linking palatability with chemical composition. At AFB, her focus has been on searching for new ingredients capable of increasing palatability as well as applying artificial intelligence modeling coupled with several analytical tools.

Lara Moody is the Institute for Feed Education and Research’s (IFEEDER) executive director. She provides leadership to the public charity’s activities including program development, strategic partnerships and collaborative resourcing, working closely with IFEEDER’s board of trustees and committee members. Moody also collaborates with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) to pursue and communicate the institute’s work, creating opportunities to engage donors and further the dialogue on important issues impacting the feed industry. Previously, she served as the vice president of stewardship and sustainability at the Fertilizer Institute and worked in research and extension programs at Iowa State University and the University of Tennessee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering and master’s degree in biosystems engineering from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Laura Moran is CEO of LPM Innovate, a strategic advisor and fractional innovation leader in the pet food and consumer goods space. She created PetSpark Navigator to help companies speed up innovation and align teams around what really drives growth. Her work also includes M&A assessment and integration, guiding businesses through product, team and operations alignment during periods of transformation. Moran has led innovation at both big names and scrappy startups, from creating Temptations cat treats at Mars to launching 150+ new products and boosting margins at BARK. She now helps companies strengthen their product pipelines, scale operations and drive sustainable growth. Moran is also co-chair of Women in Petfood Leadership and is a mentor at Vanderbilt’s Wond’ry Innovation Center, where she helps future innovators find their path.

Amit Morey, Ph.D., specializes in innovative technologies to improve poultry and seafood safety, quality, processing efficiencies combined with AI/ML. He is the founder and co-founder of technology start-ups, SENS-D LLC, TraceR2C LLC and Eternal Engines. Before joining Auburn's faculty in 2015, Morey held leadership roles in the food industry, including serving on the board of directors at the national proteins and food distributors association and principal scientist at food safety net services. He was selected for the New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Award in 2018. Morey earned his Ph.D. in poultry science from Auburn University, following a master’s degree in seafood science from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a master’s degree in fishery science and technology from the University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore, and a bachelor’s degree in fish and fisheries science from Dr. B.S. Konkan Agricultural University.

Ali Murtaza Solangi is an entrepreneur and technologist best-known as the founder and driving force behind Poulta Inc., a startup transforming poultry farming with AI-powered management systems. Under his leadership, Poulta has become an agricultural technology leader, delivering IoT-driven systems for thermal control, predictive analytics, enhanced productivity, animal welfare and sustainability. Solangi holds over 10 patents across IoT, healthcare-focused IoT, and energy/utility algorithms and devices, an embodiment of his forward-looking mindset.

Angelique Myburgh, a registered professional in animal science, holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in agricultural animal science from the University of Stellenbosch, plus a certificate in canine and feline nutrition from the University of Southern Illinois. Her career includes research focused on plains zebra meat quality, leading to a 2023 publication and future work in the same domain. As the nutrition and development specialist at Montego Pet Nutrition, Africa’s leading pet food company, Myburgh specializes in pet food development across various formats, including dry, wet and semi-moist products, with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability and nutritional excellence.

Simone Obetti is currently the CEO of Velvet USA Inc - Packaging & Equipment Solutions, based in Brooklyn, New York. In this role, he oversees all operations, driving growth and expanding the company’s footprint in the U.S. market since January 2024. Leading a dynamic team, Obetti focuses on delivering innovative packaging solutions and building strategic partnerships to meet the evolving needs of Velvet’s clients.

Erkin Peksoz is principal, client insights, at Circana and leads the Perdue Farms team. Prior to joining Circana in 2017, he held various brand management roles across the food and beverage CPG industry. In his own words, nothing excites and energizes him more than observing and reacting to the ever-changing consumer trends and decisions. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in civil engineering and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Hans Pieringer is the co-founder and CEO of PhageLab, a biotechnology company based in Chile with a strong presence in Brazil. PhageLab tackles antibiotic resistance in the livestock and poultry industries through bacteriophage-based solutions. Pieringer holds a master’s degree in biotechnology from Universidad Andres Bello.

Bill Potter, Ph.D., recently joined the University of Arkansas as Food Safety and Processing Extension Specialist and Poultry Federation Chair in poultry science. Prior to that, Potter was a poultry industry leader with stints at ConAgra Poultry, Advance Foods, George’s Inc. and Elanco Animal Health. His initiatives in food safety have made impacts at the local, state, and national level. Bill holds a bachelor's degree in animal science, with an MBA from Texas A&M. He also obtained master's degree and Ph.D. in poultry science from the University of Arkansas.

Alex Rankovic, Ph.D., is research associate at the University of Guelph, specializing in companion animal and equine nutrition. She earned her MSc. and Ph.D. in companion animal nutrition at the University of Guelph, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with Anna Kate Shoveller, Ph.D. Rankovic’s doctoral research focused on the role of dietary choline in fat metabolism in cats, advancing knowledge in nutrient utilization and metabolic health. A published researcher and award-winning presenter, Rankovic also shares her expertise as a host of the Pet Food Science Podcast and as a lecturer of undergraduate and graduate courses in animal nutrition.

Allison Reser is a sustainability leader dedicated to driving impactful change in the pet industry. As the director of sustainability & innovation at the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC), she oversees programs that address climate action, sustainable packaging and responsible sourcing. With a master of science in sustainability management from Columbia University, Reser has diverse experience ranging from environmental education to circular economy advocacy. A skilled project manager and speaker, she collaborates with industry leaders to create scalable solutions.

In his current role as head of strategy, investor relations and net-zero programs for Pilgrim’s, Andy Rojeski manages sustainability efforts for U.S.-based operations, including the development and execution GHG reduction activities through the supply chain, notably Scope 3. In addition, he manages engagement with the financial community and select corporate development activities. Previously, Rojeski spent nearly 15 years at Tyson Foods, where he held a variety of senior leadership positions. He graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and he earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago in strategic management and finance.

Diana Rosero-Pena is a seasoned company research analyst specializing in packaged food and food retail across North America, bringing a wealth of knowledge from her role at Bloomberg Intelligence. With more than 15 years of experience in the financial markets, her expertise serves as a guiding light in the world of consumer staples. Rosero-Pena has a master of business administration in finance and global business from Rider University.

Lankford Ruffin has over 30 years of experience as an environmental professional serving in the food, automotive and nuclear industries. He has been with Butterball for over a decade and has been involved in everything from acquisitions, sustainability efforts, various construction projects and a host of environmental compliance matters. Lanford earned a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Washington State University. He is a current board member and a past chair for the US-RSPE. Ruffin is also a member of the North Carolina Chamber environmental policy committee.

Kevin Ryan is the founder/CEO of Malachite Strategy and Research, a CPG, retail and foodservice-focused insights and innovation agency. Ryan previously served as the global strategic senior planner at Amazon, overseeing the team responsible for corporate brand and advertising strategies for Global Prime and Non-Prime consumers. Prior to Amazon, Ryan was director of strategy and innovation at General Mills. For 15 years, Ryan led corporate and brand initiatives to discover new opportunities globally. Ryan is an expert in the front end of innovation, specializing in deep ethnography, strategic mapping, consumer jobs-to-be-done development, design thinking, agile methodologies and new product ideation. Ryan holds both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in food science and a MSc in food anthropology. Kevin writes a food industry newsletter (FoodStuff) and also hosts a food industry podcast called 3 Squares.

Cameron Sanders is responsible for directing Peco’s efforts in policy, training, auditing, and research and development related to animal health and welfare, while also leading Peco’s sustainability efforts pertaining to resource management and environmental stewardship. He earned a bachelor’s degree in poultry science-production from Mississippi State University with a specialization in global business at Troy University. He has held varying roles at Peco since 2016 and has been instrumental in progressing Peco’s animal health and welfare program and biosecurity procedures.

Chris Schlag, J.D., advises clients on a wide range of environmental, social and governance issues, providing strategic and practical guidance. She helps clients navigate emerging challenges by finding policy, regulatory and transactional solutions to manage complex ESG risks. Schlag earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Imtiaz Shams is a founding partner of Post Urban Ventures, a venture builder that builds and invests in deep tech businesses, with a recent exit of the Microsoft-funded generative AI startup Hazy. He is the CEO of FLOX, a U.S.- and U.K.- based business applying the best of machine vision and machine learning to chicken farming to improve the welfare of birds. FLOX has received investment from the funders of companies like Airbnb, Pinterest, Square (Block) and Flexport.

Aleksan Shanoyan, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. He earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University, master of science from University of Illinois and bachelor of science from Armenian National Agrarian University. Shanoyan’s research is in agribusiness economics and management. His most recent research projects examine economics and marketing of pet food, contracting and vertical coordination strategies in beef and biofuel supply chains, resilience of agri-food systems, information and communication technology applications in agriculture and facilitation of agri-food supply chains in developing economies. Shanoyan teaches courses in food and agribusiness management, marketing and strategy at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Katherine Sierra is a graduate student studying poultry food science. In addition to her current work on effectiveness of room temperature plasma technology, she has worked with engineering bioplastics with biopolymers and antimicrobials to improve Listeria monocytogenes control in ready-to-eat foods stored over 12 weeks. Originally from Honduras, Sierra holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in food science and technology engineering from Zamorano University and Auburn University, respectively.

Paul Sinowitz joined Qdoba in June of 2019 and currently serves as the chief supply chain officer. In his role, he oversees all aspects of the supply chain for food and beverage, packaging, finance and indirect categories. Sinowitz has served in executive supply chain roles for the past 35 years from large national restaurants such as Sonic, Yum Brands (KFC) and Advantica Restaurants (Denny’s, El Pollo Loco, Coco’s, Carrow’s and Hardees). Most recently, he spent the last 11 years working with MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment. He received a bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University.

Daniela Soto graduated with a bachelor of science in food engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico. Currently working as a high-pressure processing (HPP) food applications specialist at Hiperbaric, she provides scientific and technological support to HPP users, including meat and pet food producers. Soto helps customers innovate HPP products at the Hiperbaric HPP Incubator Pilot Plant in Florida and participates in webinars, presentations and workshops. She has experience in food research and industry, and has been involved with the Institute of Food Technologists, winning two international competitions and volunteering for the non-thermal processing technologies group.

From a varied agricultural background in cropping Speller moved into the poultry sector when he purchased a broiler farm in 2004 in the U.K. and from scaling that business and discovering a need to use his own data in new ways, David Speller has since gone on to establish a global artificial intelligence business, Optifarm. The company focuses on uncovering and understanding the cause-and-effect information held within existing, readily available, poultry farm data.

Jan S. Suchodolski, Ph.D., is a professor, Purina PetCare Endowed Chair for Microbiome Research, associate director and head of microbiome sciences at the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University. He received his DrVetMed from the University of Vienna, Austria, and his Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology from Texas A&M University. Suchodolski is board certified in immunology by the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists. His research focuses on developing biomarkers for gastrointestinal disease and therapeutic approaches for the modulation of the intestinal microbiota, and he has authored or co-authored more than 400 peer-reviewed articles in veterinary gastroenterology and microbiome research. In 2024, he received the American Veterinary Medical Association career achievement in canine research award.

Gail Tavill joined OSI Group in 2022, bringing 30 years of experience in the packaged foods industry and a proven track record as an industry sustainability champion. Key accomplishments include completing a full climate inventory globally, setting climate targets and working toward them by initiating several partnerships and customer collaborations to promote and progress sustainability interventions in the animal agriculture sector in the U.S., U.K., Europe and Australia. Previously, Tavill served as vice president of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at Conagra Brands, and also in various packaging research and development roles at Kraft Foods. Throughout her career, she has been active with industry collaborations and organizations on topics of food waste, packaging, transparency and sustainability. She earned a bachelor of science in packaging from Michigan State University, where she has been inducted into the Packaging Alumni Association Hall of Fame, and a master of science in environmental management from the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Ernie Tedeschi is a macroeconomist with private sector, government and academic experience. He is currently the director of economics at the Budget Lab at Yale Law School and is also a visiting fellow at the Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy at Georgetown University. Until March 2024, Tedeschi was the chief economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), where he briefed the president on incoming economic data. Prior to CEA, he was managing director and head of fiscal analysis at Evercore ISI, a macro advisory firm, and an economist at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Tedeschi completed his undergraduate studies at Stanford University and graduate work at the University of California at Berkeley.

With over 20 years of industry experience, Joost ter Heerdt has led HatchTech to become a leading player in poultry incubation technology, now serving clients in more than 40 countries. Under his leadership, the company continues to innovate and maximize the genetic potential of poultry. He has played a pivotal role in developing some of the world’s largest, most advanced hatcheries, serving well-known industry brands. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Harper Adams University and a master’s degree in economics from Radbound University.

Austin Therrell is the executive director for the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Prior to taking on that role, he served on AAFCO's board of directors and as co-chair of the AAFCO Feed & Feed Ingredient Manufacturing Committee, a member of the AAFCO Pet Food Committee and a member of the Current Issues and Outreach Committee. Therrell previously served as the animal feed program manager for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, where he oversaw animal food inspection priorities across the state, product registrations, labeling compliance and a statewide sampling program. He graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor of science degree in animal and veterinary science and a minor in business administration.