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Save The Date
Save The Date

2025 Global Pet Expo
Welcome Letter

Dear Global Pet Expo Attendees, 

On behalf of the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), we are thrilled to welcome you to the 2025 Global Pet Expo! This year’s event promises to be more exciting and enriching than ever, and we are delighted to have you with us as we explore all the incredible opportunities ahead. 

Our team has worked hard to bring you a dynamic lineup of new features, and we encourage you to take full advantage of everything this year’s show has to offer. 

For the first time ever, Global Pet Expo will kick off with a captivating keynote session featuring Bert Jacobs (Life is Good®) on Wednesday at 9 a.m., followed by an insightful keynote panel of industry leaders moderated by Tyler Mathisen (CNBC) on Thursday at 8 a.m. These powerful sessions will set the tone for an impactful event. Join us in the session room and enjoy complimentary coffee and grab-and-go breakfast items. Seating is limited, so be sure to arrive early to secure your spot! 

The Tails of Joy Experience, presented by APPA and PIDA, will spotlight organizations that make a positive social impact on both people and pets. We are proud to showcase our partnerships with incredible organizations such as the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), Joybound People & Pets, Pets in the Classroom, the Animal Policy Group, and the Pet Advocacy Network. Be sure to visit the Tails of Joy Theater and hear firsthand stories of how these collaborations are changing lives. 

This year, we are excited to introduce the Catalyst Stage in the Supplier Pavilion, serving as a hub for thought leadership and networking throughout the show. The Catalyst Stage will also be home to 3 different Start Up Pitch Sessions. These fast past exciting presentations are a preview of what’s to come in the pet industry. Then head over to the Startup Specialty Area, to learn more about these 18 innovative products and their creators—your chance to discover the next big thing in the pet industry! 

As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, you’ll notice a variety of eco-friendly features throughout the event. Global Pet Expo is taking steps to reduce our environmental impact, from an all-digital exhibit hall map to the new Sustainability Pavilion in partnership with the Pet Sustainability Coalition, and a composting program in the dining areas. 

Finally, we’re excited to invite you to the Unleashed Welcome Party, where we’ll be leveling up in a big way—literally! Brought to you by Global Pet Expo and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, this year’s party will take place on the 3rd floor at the Main Stage (S320). There will be plenty of food, drinks, entertainment, and games, a chance to win $100,000 and other amazing prizes, plus a chance to get your hands on our latest collectible Complimentary Unleashed T-Shirt.  

We are so excited to have you here and can’t wait for you to experience everything that Global Pet Expo has to offer. Whether you’re here to network, learn, or have fun, we’re confident that Global Pet Expo 2025 will exceed your expectations. 

Welcome to the show! 

Warm regards, 

Peter Scott, APPA President & CEO and Celeste Powers, PIDA President

Pete Scott, APPA

Pete Scott

President & CEO, APPA
Peter Scott is a proven leader with over 25 years of experience in growing global non-profit... [read more]

Peter Scott is a proven leader with over 25 years of experience in growing global non-profit organizations and individuals specializing in creating partnerships that increase engagement, drive revenue, and amplify the organization’s impact.  
 
Pete's ability to merge creative strategy, business acumen and board governance consulting has earned him the ear of those at some of the world’s largest organizations, including Microsoft, Wyndham, Hershey, Ford, Swiss Army, Kraft and others  His efforts have received recognition from media outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, The Wall Street Journal, Associations Now, Internal Auditor Magazine and Compliance Week.

As an award-winning author of four books, he has trained thousands of people worldwide on social media governance, risk and compliance from such organizations as the Federal Reserve Bank, FINRA,  PWC, Deloitte, Nielsen, The Federal Reserve Bank, The Canadian House of Commons, Saudi Arabian Capital Markets Authority and others. Peter gained recognition for his efforts by receiving the PRSA Silver Anvil and Radiance Awards, Brand Hall Excellence in eLearning Award, multiple Forbes Best of Web, Webby Awards, as well as the Technology and Learning Magazine's Award of Excellence. Pete was also named as one of the CEOs of the Year by the Orlando Business Journal in 2021.

Taberi is Pete’s better half, and together, they obsess about their dog, Tucker. 

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Celeste Powers

President, PIDA
Celeste Powers, CAE, has been president of the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), a... [read more]
Celeste Powers, CAE, has been president of the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), a co-sponsor of Global Pet Expo, since 2019. A pet industry newcomer at the time, she brought with her 30 years of non-profit association management — more than 20 of them in CEO roles. With longtime experience building strong volunteer/staff teams, improving member services to increase the bottom line, and strategic planning to optimize the effectiveness of various organizations, she quickly established herself as a relationship builder and champion of the industry as a whole.
 
Celeste played an essential role in the reimaging and growth of the Pet Industry Leadership Summit, the industry’s premier event for top-level executives from every segment of the pet care community. In 2021, along with the APPA leadership team, she worked to overhaul the education portion of Global Pet Expo. This led to the launch of the Global Learning Series, which has since grown to more than 50 free sessions for retailers, distributors and manufacturers. She also led the launch of Pet Store Pro’s all-new website in 2024, making employee training faster and easier for independent retailers. 
 
An active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Celeste was awarded ASAE's Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 1999. She graduated from Gettysburg College, where she earned a BA in political science.
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