Speaker Hall of Fame

Lashonda Geffrard's name is synonymous with passion, dedication, and innovation. As the driving force behind Black Pet Business Network, The Paw Shop, and Paws of Hope Florida. Lashonda is a force to be reckoned with, a true trailblazer in the world of entrepreneurship, and animal welfare. Her boundless love for animals and her drive to create a more inclusive and thriving pet industry has catapulted her into the realm of expert pet industry speaking and influence.

With an unwavering commitment to positively impacting the pet industry as a whole, Beyond her speaking engagements, Lashonda's impact on the pet industry extends to her role as a popular columnist for various industry publications. Her thought-provoking articles delve into the depths of the industry and shed light on emerging trends.

Robert is a successful entrepreneur with a track record of creating value from customer data.

Robert is the co-owner and CEO of identicare, the UK’s largest pet microchip registration and pet protection services provider.  Identi offers recurring-revenue subscription services to over 4 Million pet owners.  In Feb 2024 Robert bought out his joint venture partner (Animalcare PLC) with backing from Bridgepoint Group, one of the UK’s leading private asset investors, in a transaction valued at £30 Million. 

At the same time Robert continues to oversee Fernbrook Partners, a private portfolio covering early-stage technology and lifestyle investments and commercial property acquisition, development and leasing.

From 2011 - 2017 Robert helped the acquisition, turnaround and successful sale of RAC, the world’s oldest motoring organisation.  In his executive role as Managing Director Motoring Services, he oversaw the data assets of RAC’s 8.2 Million members and also ran six data / digital businesses.  He was actively involved in the post-acquisition integration of RAC by Carlyle Private Equity and subsequent exit to GIC Singapore in 2014 and CVC Partners in 2015.

Prior to this, in 2001 Robert founded what became emnos - the leading provider of ‘customer centric’ services and decision-support tools.  Clients included top retailers (Target, Walgreens, Morrisons, Waitrose, Boots, Co-operative Group) and their FMCG suppliers.  The business was sold to Palamon Private Equity in 2007 and sold on to American Express in 2011.

Robert spent the previous 13 years in marketing and sales roles in the consumer and retail industries.

Robert is an elected member and former board director of the Young Presidents Organisation and regular media contributor (and TED talker) on the use of customer data.  He lives in the UK with his wife and four children.

Heidi Sirota serves as Nationwide’s Chief Pet Officer, leading the nation’s first and largest provider of pet insurance protecting more than 1 million pets. She joined Nationwide in 2018 as vice president of marketing for the Retirement Solutions business and led an expansion of its capabilities and markets.

Before joining Nationwide, Heidi transformed consumer experiences in human health care. As UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Bank vice president of marketing, she pioneered the retailization of health savings accounts, and as a marketing executive at Aetna and ConnectiCare she introduced new, engaging ways for consumers to shop for health insurance and get care.

Heidi started her career in commercial bank operations, then moved into investment and insurance marketing leadership at The Phoenix Companies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Loyola Marymount University and completed executive education from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Heidi sits on the Board of Trustees of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and the Board of Directors of Second Harvest Food Bank in Orange County, California. Also she is an Advisory Board member for the University of California Santa Barbara-Extension, Customer Experience Certificate Program and the executive sponsor of Nationwide’s Pet Advocacy and Wellness Support (PAWS) Associate Resource Group.

Dr. Jennifer Sperry is a companion animal veterinarian and the Veterinary Advisor for Independence Pet Group™. She assists the company by providing scientific insights and medical updates; and by sharing the perspectives and experiences of veterinary professionals in the trenches.

Dr. Sperry was attracted to her current role because she recognized an urgent need to spread awareness about financial tools that allow people to access vital but costly veterinary care. As a veterinarian practicing in general and emergency medicine for more than a decade, she has a unique understanding of the needs of pets and their people. She witnessed first-hand how difficult it can be for pet owners to both predict and overcome the cost of quality veterinary care. She also experienced how difficult it can be for veterinary team members to share the emotional burden that occurs when financial limitations adversely impact the wellbeing of pets and their owners.

Since joining the team in 2020, Dr. Sperry has shared her medical experience for internal and external educational events, claims and underwriting process improvements, and even accessible policy wording.

Gina Fortunato is a seasoned sales executive and leader with over 12 years of experience in the animal health industry. She is currently spearheading Veterinary Services and New Business Development at Independence Pet Group, focusing on increasing insured pets across North America. Gina is passionate about coaching and developing others to achieve their full potential, as well as fostering networking and cross-collaboration within the industry.

Gina holds a Master of Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace College and has enriched her leadership acumen through programs at the Wharton School of Business.

Professional Affiliations and Contributions: Gina plays an active role in shaping the pet industry. She currently serves as the Chair of CATalyst Council and has held leadership positions such as Past President of VetPartners and immediate Past President of Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary. Her ongoing commitment to these organizations reflects her dedication to improving animal welfare and healthcare access.

Personal Passion and Advocacy: With a personal menagerie including 2 horses, three indoor cats, and 2 insured barn cats, Gina has firsthand experience of the benefits of pet insurance. She is deeply committed to helping pet owners access essential care for their beloved animals.

Outside Interests: In her leisure time, Gina thrives on competition both locally and internationally in the sport of dragon boating, showcasing her dedication to teamwork and achievement beyond the professional realm.

Melissa Mitchner is Founder and CEO of The Bark Shoppe, a premier pet care company based in New York. The Bark Shoppe's flagship location and mobile grooming services build a strong sense of community with groomers, pet owners, and their pets. As an advocate for alternative education, Melissa created The New York Institute of Pet Grooming. Her mission is to provide high quality in-person and digital education and certification programs for those who aspire to join and thrive in the pet grooming industry.

Melissa has over a decade of leadership experience in supply chain management, making her a relatable and knowledgeable leader and educator in any setting. She loves what she does and is committed to bringing much needed diversity and inclusion to the pet care industry. She believes that technology, better working practices, and innovative business models make the world a great place, and she is excited about the future of the pet grooming industry.

Zach Rattner, the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder at Yembo, is a software engineer with over 15 years of experience. He has a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Virginia Tech. Yembo is the leader in AI-powered virtual surveys with over 2 million videos inspected and customers in over 20 countries.

Zach's previous projects include building a flashcard studying tool that scaled to over a million users and serving as the software lead for Qualcomm's internal innovation program, Qualcomm ImpaQt.

• Top AI voice on LinkedIn
• Top 2% of contributors on Stack Overflow
• 23 granted US patents with several more pending 

Owen is the CEO of Meatly, a leading cultivated meat company. From a single sample of cells, they can create an infinite amount of meat forever without growing an animal. Their process uses ~80% less water, 90% less land, and 60% fewer GHGs than traditional agriculture. Start two years ago Meatly has dramatically reduced costs and aims to sell product this year. Owen is a serial entrepreneur who previously scaled an insect protein company.

Co-founder and CEO of hiPets, a startup dedicated to bridging the supply-demand gap in veterinary care. hiPets is a SaaS scheduling system for veterinary clinics that features an inbuilt AI pet diagnostic tool, enhancing clinic capacity by 15% - same hands, same time, less stress. A serial entrepreneur and certified business trainer, she holds a PhD in Microelectronics and an MBA in Business Psychology. Dorota brings 24 years of expertise in sales and management from global firms, with a successful track record of managing culturally diverse teams across five continents.

Toriano Sanzone is the founder of DOT DOG Consulting a firm that manages Business Development, Sales and Marketing for varios Pet Companies (Everything Pet, Calmr Dog and Wolfkeeper University) Toriano is also a Director for Black Pet Business Network a Non Profit who’s mission is to make the Pet Industry more inclusive of African American Pet Companies. Mr. Sanzone also owns a Dog Training Facility in Chicago and New Orleans and is Third Generation Dog Trainer. DOT DOG is also working on the Future of Dog Training and Ai Tecnology. Mr. Sanzone is also Co-Owner of a Global Pet Transportation Company called Pawsitively Precious Cargo.

Toriano Sanzone is a Graduate of

Gustavus Adolphus is based in St. Peter, originally from Minnesota, where he received his Bachelors Degree in Speech Communicstion-Marketing and is currently based in New Orleans, where he dedicates his free time to music production.

Miles Swammi is Sr. Principal - Business Development for 301 Inc.  Miles is a 12-year veteran at General Mills, serving in finance roles in Private Equity investments, R&D, Sales, and most recently leading venture strategy for Disruptive Growth.  Miles is a fan of pets, with a particular bias for Pomeranians.

Chad Bellin is President of Insurance Services at Independence Pet Group (IPG), one of North America’s largest pet insurance and services companies. At IPG, Chad is responsible for all facets of insurance operations, including implementation and management of partnerships, broker and employee benefits sales, as well as direct-to-consumer inbound sales, claims, and customer service.

Before joining IPG, Chad was the Vice President of Operations at LTCG, the industry-leading long-term care insurance TPA. Early in his career, he spent eight years at Target Corporation in various management and leadership roles in-store operations. 

Chad is driven by his desire to support and develop others. He believes that to create a world-class enterprise, every employee must be invested in the company’s mission, and the company must be invested in the employee’s career. He understands the importance of empowering others.

Chad is a University Wisconsin-Eau Claire graduate with a B.S. in Management and a Minor in Human Resource Management.

He lives in the Indianapolis area with his wife, Jamie, and has three children.

Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Georgette Wilson received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania and DVM from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, NY. Shortly after graduating from vet school, Dr. Wilson completed a one-year small animal internship at the University of Tennessee. She practiced in the greater New York City area for 11 years prior to entering the veterinary industry. Dr. Wilson currently serves as the Chief Veterinary Officer for MyPetGo, a company that offers smart monitors that track pet health and wellness, in addition to practicing veterinary medicine part-time. In her spare time. Dr. Wilson enjoys international travel with her family."

Nancy Hassel is the founder and President of American Pet Professionals, an award winning business networking, educational and multimedia organization for the pet industry since 2009.  Leading over 125 in-person educational networking events, seminars, fundraisers and online events for pet industry professionals. A Public Relations specialist for the pet industry, Nancy works with pet companies in many aspects of PR, event planning, media relations and training for pet professionals.  Nancy also co-hosts the boutique B2B trade-show, NYC Re-Tails & Sales Pet Expo, with Dana Humphrey every spring.  Also, Nancy is a speaker at various pet industry conferences, a writer for pet trade and consumer magazines, blogger, avid photographer, and was a TV producer and production coordinator for 10+ years.  Nancy created a Responsible Dog Ownership program and taught over 2,500 pet parents in a 5-year period. Recently awarded the 2018 Women of Influence by Pet Age Magazine and her American Pet Professionals was voted Best Networking organization three years in a row by LI Press newspaper.  Nancy resides on Long Island, NY and is the proud pet parent of Cody, a rescued American Pit Bull Terrier. 

Connect socially: @AmericanPetPros on Twitter and Instagram

Andrew is currently serving as the head of Gold Medal Ventures, the growth equity investment arm of General Mills. In 12 years at the company, Andrew has led portfolio shaping efforts across the globe with execution responsibility that spans from emerging brands up to large scale transformational transactions. Prior to General Mills, Andrew spent time in private equity and investment banking.

Julia Sosa is an Experience & Design leader whose lifelong love of animals led to her passion and focus in the pet care and veterinary industries. As a founding member and Chief Experience Officer of Pumpkin, one of the fastest-growing pet insurance companies in the United States, Julia leads user research, experience strategy, and product and brand design for their pet owner and veterinary partnerships. Julia is an active member of the rescue and shelter community, a devoted foster and adoption counselor for the NYC Animal Care Center, and works as an advisor and volunteer for multiple pet welfare organizations. She is the proud pet mom to 2 small dogs, 2 very large cats, and over 92+ foster kittens (and counting).

Architecturally trained and creatively entrepreneurial by nature, Ali Ganjavian has co-founded a design-driven business that collaborates with Fortune 500 companies globally, as well as a consumer lifestyle brand that creates innovative products designed to enhance rest and well-being in everyday life. A passion for pushing boundaries and a lifelong love for animals, has led Ali to build his latest venture, Moggie, a data company dedicated to improving the lives of cats and making a positive impact in animal health.

Mariel Devesa has over 15 years of transformative experience across legacy and startup companies both domestically and internationally.  She has developed and lead multiple industry first initiatives and is renowned for her knack for innovation and forging strategic partnerships.  She currently leads Strategic Partnerships for Independence Pet Holdings and calls Los Angeles home.

With more than 20 years of experience in the Animal Health industry, Kevin DeWalt has committed his career to promoting the wellbeing of pets around the world. As President of CASCO Pet USA, he has played a key role in fostering the company’s growth and innovation. Prior to this, Kevin has served as Managing Director and Vice President of Sales, where he developed his skills in strategic planning and customer engagement. His dedication to enhancing pet health continues to drive his leadership and commitment to excellence at CASCO Pet USA.

Matthew Bubear is CEO and Chief Vision Officer of CASCO Pet, a leading manufacturer of world class animal habitats and veterinary kennelling. A disruptive innovator and entrepreneur, he has over 30 years of experience – with his passion for animal wellness at the heart of everything he does. Outside of expanding the company’s operations and seeing its products and services winning awards, Matthew enjoys competitive cycling, rewilding and advocating for environmental causes.

In her role as Managing Director, Katy is focused on guiding brand strategy and uncovering consumer insights that lead to big ideas.  Katy's career has been driven by developing a keen understanding of the human behavior that drives purchasing decisions. She has worked with world-class brands like Hallmark, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Helzberg Diamonds and Kohl’s. At her core, Katy is a problem solver and a storyteller. As a strong collaborator and thoughtful writer, Katy leads teams through the strategic process to simplify the complex and deliver succinct brand systems.

As co-CEO and owner of the agency, Nicole has guided the creative process for a large portfolio of clients including the Kansas City Current, The Hershey Company, Georgia Pacific and Panera. With more than 25 years in the design industry, Nicole has extensive experience overseeing large-scale projects, brand identity creation, major civic initiatives, environmental installations and stand-out packaging innovations. Her critical eye and expertise mean she can visualize the big picture without neglecting the details.

Richard is a co-founder and Partner of Triangle Capital and has been an investment banker for over 35 years. Richard has a great deal of experience advising clients in merchandising businesses, particularly in the Retail & Consumer sector. Richard is an often-quoted expert on the retail and merchandising industries. He is a Contributor to Forbes.com where he writes a regular blog about trends in retail and consumer product businesses. He also appears regularly in print and other media as well as industry panels and speaking programs.

Before co-founding Triangle, Richard was a Managing Director at a boutique investment banking firm called Financo, Inc. While at Financo, Richard was responsible for a majority of the firm’s apparel industry transactions. Prior to joining Financo, Richard was a Partner and First Vice President at Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc. At Drexel, Richard was responsible for a group of 14 professionals doing middle-market mergers and acquisitions around the world.

Richard is the co-author of three books on finance and computer programming. He is formerly an Adjunct Assistant Professor of International Business at the graduate program of the Stern School of Business at York University.

Richard received a BS in Accounting from New York University and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from Harvard University. Richard is married and lives in New York.

Click here to read Richard’s blog and follow him on Forbes.com.