Lashonda Geffrard
CEO
Elevate
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.
4.30-4.55 – Meeting Slot 6
5.00-5.15 – Meeting Slot 7
5.20-5.35 – Meeting Slot 8
Networking Opportunities
Veterinary leaders are facing a triple bind: talent recruitment, declining footfall, and tech growing pains. In this interactive session, hear how top-performing practices are solving for scale—redesigning workflows, rethinking roles, and leveraging technology to boost revenue per DVM, reduce churn, and build more resilient, high-performing operations from the inside out.
Unleashing Profit Potential
Brendan Lynch
SVP, Innovation
VCA Animal Hospitals
The best campaigns don’t guess—they adapt.
Discover how leading pet brands use real-time consumer insight to guide creator strategy, stretch budgets, and break through the noise. across Instagram, YouTube, and beyond.
Listen better, spend smarter, and turn scrolls into serious traction.
Engaging Pet Parents
Shawn Pate
Head of US Pet
TikTok Shop
In today’s pet industry, brand isn’t enough. This session explores how proprietary innovation—whether product science, tech platforms, or service protocols—can drive valuation and strategic interest.
Learn what acquirers are really looking for, how to protect your edge, and how to position IP as a core asset, not an afterthought.
Scaling Smarter
Steve Garlock
Partner
Thompson Coburn
Successful exits start long before the deal. In this breakout, M&A insiders reveal how to position for acquisition—from shaping financials and forecasting performance to managing risk, brand narrative, and buyer alignment.
Learn what truly drives valuation and how run a process that protects your upside and delivers results.
Unleashing Profit Potential
Investment Opportunities
Carol Frank
Managing Director
BirdsEye Advisory Group
According to Salesforce, 62% of customers feel emotionally attached to the brands they love. Creating a lasting, positive impression can build long-term loyalty—but earning that place in your customer’s heart isn’t easy. This interactive roundtable will guide you through exercises to identify your white space and share practical tips to craft a compelling brand story that helps your brand truly stand out.
Engaging Pet Parents
Katy Briggs
Managing Director
Willoughby Design
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.
Nicole Satterwhite
Co-CEO
Willoughby Design
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.