One of the most positive, admirable aspects of the pet food industry, and a key source of its ongoing strength, is the incredible number of professionals comprising it — especially those with many years, even decades, of robust, in-depth experience and knowledge. (The fact that most are also very nice and pleasant to deal with is icing on the cake!)
Perusing this website offers several recent exemplars of this strong, deep roster, such as Jerry May, who just received the American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) annual Friend of Pet Food Award on January 27, 2026.
Currently the vice president of government and affairs at Freshpet, “May has worked in the global pet food industry for more than 35 years, holding leadership positions with multinational companies in nutrition, research and development and regulatory affairs,” wrote my colleague, Lisa Cleaver, adding that he has supported many innovations and helped secure approval for science-based health claims.
Knowledge, influence, connections
The Trending: Pet Food podcast, hosted by another colleague, Lindsay Beaton, aired its 100th episode in December 2025. To celebrate the milestone, Beaton invited back three previous podcast guests, each also representing years of experience and well-earned respect in the industry:
- Greg Aldrich, Ph.D., currently COO of Nulo Pet Food, has more than 30 years of experience, including several positions at pet food manufacturers and building Kansas State University’s (KSU) pet food science program from zero to a globally recognized status. Along the way, he started writing the popular Ingredient Issues column for Petfood Industry (ending up with about 200 monthly articles) and did extensive research at KSU on processing and ingredient quality.
- Marcel Blok, owner of Change Stranamics, a pet food consultancy, has spent more than 40 years in the European industry. He entered it at what he called its infancy, when commercial pet food wasn’t as common and extruded pet food was an exception, at least in Europe, where pelleted and cold-pressed products dominated. He successfully launched the Iams and Eukanuba pet food brands in Europe, and in more recent years has helped companies come into the industry and go from the drawing board to thriving businesses.
- Gail Kuhlman, Ph.D., retired a couple of years ago after a long career — more than 35 years — as a nutritionist with Mars and other major pet food companies in R&D roles. Entering the industry with no pet-specific training or background, she started when the AAFCO nutrient profiles didn’t yet exist, and only grocery and veterinary premium brands were on the market. Among her many accomplishments, she helped launch the AFIA Pet Food Council and Women in Petfood Leadership, and established the companion animal section for the American Society of Animal Science.
These experts, along with May, represent just a handful of many, many such long-term pet food professionals who have helped develop, grow and drive the industry into a bright future. I myself am approaching my 20th anniversary with Petfood Industry and Petfood Forum, yet when I interact with or read about people like them, I often still feel like a newcomer, simply because their well of knowledge, and the influence and connections they have spread within the industry, are so deep.
Building and developing the industry
What struck me most about Beaton’s interview with Aldrich, Blok and Kuhlman were their descriptions of their greatest accomplishments during their careers. Their highlights share common threads and keys to the industry’s health.
For example, Aldrich is proudest of building KSU’s program and training students, and the employment opportunities created through businesses he helped launch (along with the Ingredient Issues column). Blok said he considers putting Iams/Eukanuba on the map in Europe sustainably and helping new companies design strategies to enter and succeed in pet food his greatest accomplishments. And Kuhlman spoke of her pride in keeping companion animal nutrition in the spotlight, creating momentum for students and university programs, and grounding the industry in sound, scientific evidence-based data.
Each description includes some element of building and developing the industry, whether through training students, creating momentum for them and their academic programs or bringing in new companies. These professionals, along with so many others, recognize that one of the best paths to continued success — for themselves, their organizations and the industry — is to bring in new people and help others succeed.
Looking to the future: Caution ahead?
Which brings up a note of caution: The industry may not be replacing these experts fast enough as they start to retire. My LinkedIn feed since the beginning of the year has included at least two more retirement announcements; and while some people stay involved in the industry, like Kuhlman, it may not be enough to make up for the large gaps needing to be filled.
That’s one reason we started the Petfood Forum Student Program, working with Aldrich when he was at KSU to develop and build it. Many others have also been instrumental in its success — not least Beaton, who coordinates the program — and it’s gratifying to see the number of students from pet food-related academic programs who have, upon graduation, taken on roles in the industry or even with some of those academic programs. (Owing mainly to the education, research and guidance they received at their universities.)
We need more of these students interested in pet food, and that means better promotion of the industry as a career opportunity. “Whether it’s a particular pet food company or PFI (Pet Food Institute) or FEDIAF or any of those organizations, we need to be carving out a small portion of our funds to promote the trade, to promote the discipline, so that young people and their parents can find these places where they might find a way to connect with their own beliefs and their own desires for their future,” Aldrich said during the podcast.
The industry also needs to develop opportunities for what he calls “more seasoned folks” to enter the industry, using short courses, training programs, modules and certificate programs offered by universities and others to non-students. “We’ve got to create more of those so the employers can point some of their best and brightest that are currently working within those companies to those advanced training areas, so we can continue to foster that lifelong learning, as it were, but focused in our areas. Then I think we can sustain our human resources, our critical mass of thinkers and doers to propel this industry into the next generation.”
Aldrich also advocated for more “cross-pollination” with the food industry.
Perhaps your company is offering these types of opportunities; please share if you are. And, if you’re connected with any students or their academic programs, please help us make sure they’re aware of and able to participate in the Petfood Forum Student Program. It includes a showcase of student research each year — the call for papers for that is open now — plus deep academic registration discounts for students and faculty. Not to mention the opportunity to learn, network with pet food professionals and find out what makes this industry so special.
