April 27-29, 2026

All Speakers

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

Nate Thomas
Founder and Partner
BSM Partners
Nate Thomas is a pet care industry professional with more than 26 years of technical experience holding executive-level positions in several pet food companies. In January 2011, Nate co-founded BSM Partners, the leading full-service pet care research, consulting and strategy-to-shelf product innovation firm. Under Thomas' leadership, this growing firm currently employs nearly 50 industry experts, making BSM the largest, most credentialed and experienced independent team in the entire industry. Thomas has been included in every edition of Pet Age’s Power 50 list of leaders in the pet care space and is often quoted in news coverage of industry trends.
Date/TimeTitle
Tue Apr 28
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Pathways in pet nutrition: Exploring your future in a growing industry
KCCC Halls C-E, Future of Pet Food Pavilion

This session sparks student curiosity and opens their eyes to the wide range of impactful careers shaping the future of pet nutrition. By connecting them with leaders across the Animal Health Corridor, the program shows that their scientific training can lead to meaningful roles in research, innovation, engineering, product development, data science and many other specialties. Students will walk away with confidence that there is a place for their talent in this fast-growing industry, along with practical guidance on how to connect with employers for internships, fellowships and early career programs.