Speakers

Miles Thorson

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.

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.

George Song

Cecelia Carrera

Susan Groeneveld

Owen Ensor

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.

Toriano Sanzone

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.

Johnny Tran

Miles Swammi

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

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.

Brett Yates

Brett Yates is the Chief Executive Officer of Michelson Found Animals Foundation (MFA), an animal welfare non-profit that believes people and pets are better together. The foundation operates a range of initiatives, including grants and programs that put resources in the hands of communities in need, research that promotes pet-friendly policies, investments into pet care startups, pet-focused policy work, and more. Brett’s goal is to confront the industry's broken legacy systems and create a world where everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has access to the joy of pets. Prior to joining MFA, Brett served as chief operating officer for Taurus Processing and the Pango Group, and held senior positions at companies ranging from startup to multinational conglomerates including J2Global and CoreLogic, a division of First American.

Tai Conley

Georgette Wilson

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."