April 27-29, 2026

All Speakers

Dog and cat food research experts who will present at Petfood Forum & Petfood Essentials

Brenda Knapp
Director of Nutrition
Simmons Pet Food
Brenda Knapp is the director of nutrition at Simmons Pet Food. She was born and raised on a family farm outside of Dubuque, Iowa, which laid the foundation for her passion for animals, agriculture and supporting farmers. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in dairy science from Iowa State University, then graduate degrees at the University of Illinois in animal nutrition with a focus on companion animals. Knapp began her career in animal nutrition and spent over 10 years living and working in Latin America with Cargill and Trouw Nutrition, supporting a range of species from pets to shrimp. Her career includes a diverse range of technical, cultural and market experiences that have shaped her perspective, thinking and approach.
Date/TimeTitle
Wed Apr 29
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Closing session: It’s an experiment! Musings on leadership, creativity and careers
KCCC Halls C-E, Tech Talk stage

“The people who are happiest in their career path treat their careers as an experiment, not an identity.” Within this statement lives a world of possibility to try new things, explore curious questions and continue to grow in a career that brings you joy and fulfillment. Bridget Meadows, owner of Bridget Meadows Coaching and a pet food industry veteran, examines the concept of experimental thinking within a career and how it can powerfully shift your mindset, build your resilience and open up new possibilities for happiness at work.  A panel of professionals who have made such career pivots will share their experiences, including Sarah Andereck, pet account manager, IFF; Brooke Eiler, sales manager, North America, IQI; and Brenda Knapp, director of nutrition, Simmons Pet Food.

Organized by Women in Petfood Leadership, which is sponsored by AFB International, Balchem PetShure, Camlin Fine Sciences, Coperion, Extru-Tech, Heartland-Progan, Kerry, the Peterson Co., Simmons Pet Food, Wenger and Zinpro.