Petfood Forum recently spoke with Brianne Dowdall, packaging engineer at Ollie Pets. Brianne was selected as a First For Forum Ambassador for the 2025 event.
First For Forum offers pet food professionals who have never attended in the past a chance to attend the show at no cost. Ambassadors are selected through a nomination process.
We are pleased to welcome Brianne to Petfood Forum on April 28-30, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri.
What are you looking forward to the most at Petfood Forum?
Brianne: With most of my experience in the human food industry, I’m excited to expand my understanding of the pet industry — specifically best practices, emerging trends and new innovations.
What are you hoping to accomplish at Petfood Forum?
Brianne: I hope to deepen my knowledge of pet food processing, packaging, labeling and marketing. Additionally, I hope to connect with industry professionals to grow my network and foster long-lasting relationships. By attending the conference workshops, panel discussions and keynote sessions, I plan to leave the Forum feeling inspired and equipped with an actionable plan to make a greater impact at Ollie and for pets everywhere.
Which exhibitors are you looking forward to visiting?
Brianne: I’m particularly interested in visiting the packaging exhibitors to discuss challenges surrounding cold-chain shipping and explore potential solutions.
Which educational sessions are you looking forward to?
Brianne: Sustainability is a personal passion of mine, and I believe we all have a role to play in creating a positive impact. I’m especially looking forward to the Sustainability and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) sessions during Petfood Essentials, with a focus on packaging — an area that directly aligns with my role.
Are you planning to do anything fun while you’re in Kansas City?
Brianne: I’m a foodie at heart and coming from Beer City, I love checking out new breweries. I’m excited to dive into the local food scene and maybe take a brewery tour if I have time.
About Brianne:
Bri Dowdall is a packaging engineer with over nine years of experience in the human food industry, having worked at Mars Chocolate, Beyond Meat and Gordon Food Service. Since joining Ollie in 2024, she’s focused on optimizing packaging designs, leading sustainability initiatives and ensuring an exceptional unboxing experience for customers, all while exploring innovative materials to reduce waste in the direct-to-consumer space.
Passionate about growth, problem-solving, and helping others, Bri is excited to apply her expertise to benefit both pets and the planet. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, she is a proud Border Collie mom, outdoor enthusiast, and advocate for health, wellness, and environmental responsibility.
Learn more about the other First For Forum Ambassadors