Sep 13, 2019

Pet Industry Leadership Summit set for 2020

Pet industry executives will gather for the fifth annual leadership event jointly presented by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA) and the World Pet Association (WPA) on January 13-15, 2020 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, California.  The event, formerly known as the Pet Industry Leadership Conference, boasts a new name, The Summit, and a compressed schedule that gives participants maximum value in a shortened timeframe.

The Summit 2020 provides industry leaders a unique opportunity to break away from the office to enjoy a few days in a casual resort setting that encourages collaborative thinking and provides an abundance of networking opportunities.  The largest conference for pet industry executives is attended by more than 250 of the pet industry’s leading voices, including CEO’s, CFO’s, Owners, VP’s Sales and Marketing and other C-Level Executives.

“We are very pleased with the evolution of this excellent event that takes place in a relaxed, fun setting. In just a few short years, it has become one of the most important networking events of the year in the pet industry. From making key business connections, to gaining valuable insight from world-class speakers about our industry, the global business climate and business trends, The Summit is truly a one-of-a-kind experience,” said APPA CEO Steve King.

The Summit 2020 schedule features world class speakers including Rich Karlgaard, Forbes Publisher and Futurist, speaking on “Trump, Tech, Trade, Turbulence and the 2020 Election” and adventurer racer and firefighter Robyn Benincasa, who will motivate attendees in “Leading Through Change.” Participants will hear from industry leaders at the featured panel discussion, “The Omnichannel Supply Chain—Competing in a Brave New World,” and Summit favorite Brian Beaulieu returns to the keynote stage to share his insight on managing growth in an unsure economy. Breakout sessions will highlight pet trends, advocacy, transparency in the pet industry, and the myths and realities of mergers and acquisitions.

“This conference is the opportunity to step aside from the day-to-day minutia of running a business to reflect, listen, discuss and learn the trending issues of our industry,” commented Peter Reid, President & COO of Marshall Pet Products.  He continues, “It gives me the opportunity to benchmark how we as an organization are performing and where we need to improve.”

Interacting with industry peers to discuss common problems or simply getting better acquainted with another key industry contact could be the breakthrough you need for greater business success. Understanding the value and importance of such connections, organizers have dedicated time in the schedule for both formal and informal networking to reconnect with peers and forge new industry relationships. According to Trent Green, Rio Grande Service Center, “The best part of the conference is the networking opportunities with other distributors and vendors,” he adds.

This event is open to members of APPA, PIDA, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) and WPA.  Registration will open in September. The full schedule can be found online at www.pida.org/summit.