This December, Pet Connect returns to Los Angeles for the 7th year running.
The Home of Pet Business and Innovation
A must attend for C-suite executives
Born from the groundbreaking Petcare Innovation Series, Pet Connect is the premier destination for those innovating and leading in Pet. Hear from the top executives in the industry, connect with investors and strategic partners and stake your claim in the future of Pet.
200+ Start-Ups, 50+ Investors and 250+ Senior Executives from all areas of Pet make up our elite audience. Hear from veterinary clinics, top pet retailers, insurers, service providers, AI tech developers, investors and more. Enjoy targeted networking opportunities with all attendees and stay ahead of the biggest opportunities, innovations and challenges presenting the pet market in 2024.
NEW FOR 2024: INNOVATION & INVESTMENT DAY
Exclusively for Start-ups and Investors, our investment pre-day is designed to faciliate premium matchmaking.
Join 40+ investment firms across angel, venture capital and private equity who will outline what they’re looking for, their remit to invest, and are committed to a day of meetings with relevant companies.
Lots of events say they do ‘matchmaking’, we’re the experts at it! Let the reverse pitch, BEGIN!**
*Must meet pre-qualifications to access this day
**CEOs and Founders only, must be registered to the event to qualify and one represenative per company
CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY
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Register Your InterestDon't miss out on registering your interest for Pet Connect USA 2024! -
Partnership OpportunitiesTake a look at our Sponsorship Prospectus to discover the opportunities available. -
View the 2023 Highlights VideoRelive the most captivating moments from our two action packed days in the heart of Los Angeles!
Speaker Hall of Fame
Lane Kent
Miles Thorson
Heidi Sirota
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.
Robert Diamond
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.
Valerie Bertle
Lashonda Geffrard
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.
