Women in Petfood Leadership hosts development workshop at SUPERZOO 2026

Women in Petfood Leadership will hold two events during SUPERZOO 2026, offering pet food industry professionals opportunities to network and build leadership skills.

SUPERZOO 2026 is scheduled for Aug. 12–14 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

The first event, a networking mixer, is scheduled for 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, in the Social Lounge in Hall F on the SUPERZOO show floor. Attendees can meet with industry peers over coffee.

The second event, a breakfast workshop titled “The Power of Presence: Confidence, Credibility and Connection,” will run from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, in the Islander H Room at Mandalay Bay.

Leadership workshop

Sarah Rutledge

The workshop on Thursday, Aug. 13, will be led by Sarah Rutledge, leadership development partner, and Joenelle Wetzler, leader of learning and organizational development, both of Simmons Foods.

The session is designed to give participants practical tools for projecting confidence, building trust through warmth and competence cues, and creating meaningful professional connections.

Rutledge and Wetzler will draw on research-backed strategies and real-world exercises to help attendees learn to present themselves with purpose, authenticity and credibility in high-stakes situations such as leading a meeting, presenting to senior leadership, interviewing or navigating a difficult conversation.

Joenelle Wetzler

Registration for the workshop includes breakfast, a certificate of completion documenting the professional development, and access to Wednesday’s networking mixer.

Debbie Phillips-Donaldson, editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry, said the events reflect the growing focus on developing women leaders across the pet food and supplement supply chain.

“These two events give women in our industry a rare chance to build both their professional networks and their presentation skills in the same week,” Phillips-Donaldson said. “Investing in how we show up as leaders is just as important as the technical expertise we bring to the table.”