Women in Petfood Leadership

Empowering women working in pet food

5 women pose in front of Women in Petfood Leadership sign at IPPE
Women in Petfood Leadership

Join our growing tribe!

Be part of a growing collective of women and allies in the pet food industry! Our Women in Petfood Leadership group offers events, mentorship and networking opportunities designed to inspire and uplift.

Where We Connect

Pet Food Collab
Global Pet Expo
Petfood Forum
Superzoo
Interzoo

About Women in Petfood Leadership

Women in Petfood Leadership brings together like-minded professional women in pet food to build a community and interact by offering opportunities for networking, career planning, leadership development and professional support. This program is open to all women, and men, who support the principles of cooperation, education, mentoring, and encouragement for women to grow professionally throughout the pet food industry.

Women in Petfood Leadership is presented by Petfood Industry®. 

This initiative is made possible by several leading women in the pet food manufacturing industry. Thank you to committee members Jennifer Igou with Camlin, Gail Kuhlman with GXK Consulting, Leah Lambrakis with Simmons Pet Food, Betty McPhee with Heartland Supply, Leigh Ann Sayen with The Peterson Co., and Laura Moran with LPM Innovate, for your support!
Pet Food Collab Logo

Dine Around: The Leadership Shift: Two Careers, Two Companies, Lessons in Leadership

Women in Petfood Leadership first brought Kathy Gross and Laura Moran together after decades of building parallel careers at Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Mars Petcare. Now, they’re bringing their conversations about career transitions and leadership lessons to the WIPL community. Hear how they moved from technical experts to senior leaders, learned to influence beyond their functions, navigated changing responsibilities and balanced career and family.

Through their shared and differing experiences, Kathy and Laura will invite attendees to reflect on one important question: What is your next leadership shift?

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | 7 p.m.
Rockin K’s (north side of campus on Kimball Rd) 
Manhattan, Kansas, USA

Pet Food Collab Network Sponsors

3D Corporate Solutions
Balchem
Coperion
Fairview Mills
Kerry
Petfood Collab
Wenger
Zinpro

Global Pet Expo

Returning March 2027
Orlando, Florida, USA

Group of women gathered in the Puppy Play Area at Global Pet Expo

Petfood Forum

Coming April 26-28, 2026
Kansas City, Missouri, USA

“Petfood Forum is more than just a trade event, it’s focused on education, latest trends in the market and an added focus on empowering women in the industry through Women in Petfood Leadership.”

Rachel Cardwell

Marketing Director, Extru-Tech, a JBT Marel Company

SUPERZOO 2027

Returning August 2027
Las Vegas, Nevada

“We’re excited to bring Women in Petfood Leadership back to SUPERZOO, creating space for meaningful conversations, fresh insights and stronger connections across the pet food community.”

Debbie Phillips-Donaldson

Editor-in-Chief, Petfood Industry and Petfood Forum

Interzoo 2028

Returning May 2028
Nuremberg, Germany

Four women smile for a photo at Women in Petfood Leadership during Interzoo 2026