Giselle Atkinson, NASC

Gisele serves as Compliance Specialist at NASC, bringing 25 years of quality and regulatory expertise from the dietary supplement industry. Gisele holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology with a minor in Biotechnology from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. She is a Certified Quality Auditor and previously worked in quality and regulatory compliance and also serves as a voting member on NSF Standards Joint Committee, GMP for Dietary Supplements, and Joint Committee on Dietary Supplements. Gisele’s experience successfully completing NASC audits from the member side—as well as achieving zero FDA observations during a two-day FDA audit—gives her practical understanding of the challenges manufacturers and marketing distributors face and how to address them effectively. A dedicated animal lover, Gisele shares her Lakeland, Florida property with an extensive menagerie including a horse, two dogs (a Border Collie and an Australian Shepherd), five cats, two ducks, and chickens. Outside of work, Gisele enjoys caring for her animals and spending time with her family, including her two children and her parents who live on the property.

Mark Blumenthal, American Botanical Council

Mark is the Founder and Executive Director of the American Botanical Council (ABC), the leading independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to disseminating accurate, reliable, and responsible information on herbs and medicinal plants. He is the Editor/Publisher of HerbalGram, an international, peer-reviewed quarterly journal. For six years he was an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, teaching the course "Herbs and Phytomedicines in Today's Pharmacy." Mark is the Senior Editor of the English translation of The Complete German Commission E Monographs–Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines (1998), Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs (2000), The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs (2003), and co-author of Rational Phytotherapy, 5th edition (2004). He has appeared on over 400 radio and television shows and has written over 500 articles, reviews and book chapters for many major publications. In 2010 he was awarded the prestigious Tyler Prize in honor of the late Purdue Professor Varro E. Tyler from the American Society of Pharmacognosy. In 2008 he was awarded the “Natural Legacy” award from Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine and he has also been named to Natural Health Magazine’s Hall of Fame Award for “…opening America’s eye to the healing powers of herbs.” He has been a leader in the concerns for more rational regulations of herbal and natural product manufacturing, and education on plant-based medicines for nearly 40 years.

Bill Bookout, NASC

Bill is president, board chair, and a founding member of the NASC. He has been an advocate for the animal supplement industry for 25 years and is recognized as a leading expert on regulatory issues surrounding these types of products. Bill serves the American Pet Products Association as Pet Food Consultant and sits on several AAFCO committees. He was named to the Pet Age magazine Power 50 list of pet industry leaders in 2021 and 2022, has testified on behalf of the industry at FDA public meetings, was selected to serve on the Health Canada Expert Advisory Committee for Veterinary Natural Health Products, and has participated in countless educational programs, legal forums, regulatory trainings, trade events and professional meetings. Bill earned his BSc in physical sciences from the University of Wyoming and his MBA from the Pepperdine University Presidents and Key Executives program. He and his wife, Mary, divide their time between Arizona and Alaska, where they live with their two rescue cats, Marmalade and Yanaha.

Katie Brenner, NASC

Katie serves as Senior Compliance Officer at the NASC, bringing valuable regulatory expertise from her background as a former feed regulator with Idaho and Director of Regulatory Affairs for a member company. As the first feed regulator to join NASC staff, she helped advance the organization’s understanding of food labeling standards and state regulatory perspectives. Katie holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management from the University of New Hampshire. During her undergraduate studies, she spent a semester in Africa where she combined classroom learning with hands-on field work, completing a research project on the African Springhare. She later earned a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Seafood Science and Nutrition from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Ryan Cargo, NASC

Ryan serves as Chief Operating Officer at the NASC, bringing over 20 years of dedicated service. As one of the founding team members, he has been instrumental in building NASC from a startup to an industry leader serving over 300 primary suppliers and 150 preferred suppliers. Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree in information technology from the University of Phoenix and served in the United States Marine Corps, specializing in telecommunications. His technical expertise in electronics and IT systems has proven essential in developing and managing NASC’s sophisticated compliance infrastructure, including the NASC Adverse Event Reporting System (NAERS®). Ryan oversees the NASC compliance team, manages strategic partnerships with major retailers, and serves as a liaison with the FDA and state regulatory agencies. He has played a key role in developing NASC’s core programs, from audit protocols and labeling guidance documents to quality control standards and the Preferred Supplier Program. A dedicated animal advocate, Ryan lives in Washington State with his wife, daughter, and Siberian cat, Cosmo. 

Lauren DeVestern, L.E.K. Consulting

Lauren is a Managing Director in L.E.K. Consulting’s Consumer Practice. As the Head of L.E.K.’s Pet & Animal Practice in North America, she is a thought leader on all things pet/animal, has published numerous articles in the sector, and frequently participates in industry events. Lauren is also a leader in L.E.K.'s Beauty & Personal Care practice. She has extensive experience helping brands, retailers, and service providers, and has worked on many of the top beauty and personal care deals over the past decade. She advises clients on issues ranging from growth and channel/go-to-market strategy to brand positioning, and M&A support, including due diligence and portfolio value enhancement (among others). Lauren joined L.E.K. in 2010. The recipient of Consulting Magazine’s 2020 Rising Stars Award, she received a BA in economics from Barnard College.

Nick DiFranco, MEM, Gattefossé USA

Nick is the Senior Marketing Manager for the Pharmaceutical Division at Gattefossé USA, a well-established supplier of pharmaceutical excipients and drug delivery solutions. In this role, he leads the strategy and marketing efforts for the North American excipients business—seeking opportunities to expand the use of lipid excipients at innovative human and animal health companies. Nick has many years of experience coordinating multi-disciplinary teams in the pharmaceutical excipient and contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) industries. He previously led global marketing efforts for olubility/bioavailability enhancement technologies, oral drug delivery portfolios, and long-acting implantable and injectable offerings. Nick holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering (Biomaterials focus) and a Master of Engineering and Management degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Petra Erlandson, Alkemist Labs

Petra is VP of Sales, Alkemist Labs, has worked in the supplement industry since 2006 and with Alkemist since 2015.  She has extensive experience in technical sales and support of cGMP compliant analytical testing, scientifically valid methodology, and reference materials. She leads the sales, marketing, and customer service departments and is actively involved with numerous trade associations and working groups.  She is a voting joint committee member of NSF/ANSI 173 and 455.2 national standards.  She is also a member of the Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN) Board of Directors.

Jennifer Gornnert, NASC

Jennifer serves as Compliance Officer at NASC, bringing a combined 13 years of experience in regulatory compliance to NASC. She has a comprehensive background in agricultural regulation and feed oversight and holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Penn State University and an Agriculture Education Teaching Certification from Rutgers University. Prior to joining NASC, Jennifer spent six years as a high school agriculture teacher and served as Director of Regulatory Services of the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture for nine years, where she administered over a dozen programs including the Feed program. As NASC’s liaison to AAFCO, Jennifer serves on the Pet Food Committee alongside NASC President Bill Bookout. A lifelong dog owner, Jennifer and her husband currently share their Pennsylvania home with Maeby, an eight-year-old Black Mouth Cur rescue.

Lydia Gray, DVM, MA, PAS, Lydia Gray Consulting LLC

Dr. Gray is a veterinarian with a special interest in equine supplements and nutrition. She spent 16 years as the Staff Veterinarian/Research & Medical Director at SmartPak, where she developed supplements, authored educational content, delivered presentations to veterinarians and horse owners, and ensured regulatory compliance. Dr. Gray now consults for a variety of companies in the equine industry. The new editor and publisher of Driving Digest magazine, she is an active competitor in both carriage driving and dressage, as well as a licensed judge in both disciplines. Dr. Gray resides in the Chicagoland area with her husband, two cats, two horses, and one snake.

Terri Grow, BIS, CVNN, Cert TCM Herbology, Feline Expert, Educator, and Advocate

Terri is a trailblazer in feline health and wellness, leveraging her unique blend of experience, knowledge, and advocacy. After a decade in corporate marketing and advertising, Terri founded PetSage®, a pioneering holistic pet resource center in Northern Virginia that for 20 years successfully integrated holistic healthcare, pet owner education, advocacy, and responsible product commerce. In 2020, she transitioned to consulting, speaking, and partnering with global pet health companies — championing optimal dietary, health and welfare practices for cats. As a certified expert in Traditional Chinese Herbology and Natural Animal Nutrition, Terri is also a respected lecturer on feline nutrition at the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies. 

Todd Harrison, Esq, Venable LLP

Todd is co-chair of Venable's FDA Group, and in this role guides clients through the myriad government regulations associated with food and drug labeling and marketing. Working extensively in the areas of food and dietary supplement safety, labeling, and advertising claims, Todd helps clients in the consumer products, drug and medical device, and dietary products industries comply with government regulations. He regularly achieves favorable results in defending clients against Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advertising complaints, enforcement actions, and prosecutions, and overcoming competitor challenges in courts and other forums.

Nicole Hill, MarketPlace Branding

Nicole is the VP of Strategy and Innovation at MarketPlace Branding, a specialized strategy and brand firm that focuses exclusively on pet and human nutrition markets.    At MarketPlace, Nicole drives forward-looking strategy and innovation, leading the firm’s proprietary research platform, Nextin Research. An extension of MarketPlace’s advisory practice, Nextin transforms emerging consumer trends and market intelligence into on-demand strategic insights. With deep expertise across the pet industry, Nicole uncovers opportunities and translates them into high-growth strategies that help pet professionals stay ahead of trends.  

Shannon Landry, Packaged Facts

Shannon is the Research Director for Packaged Facts Pet, a leading authority on the U.S. pet industry and a division of the Freedonia Group. She has been researching the pet market for over a decade, covering a range of topics including pet food and treats and non-food supplies, with a focus on the US market. She is a regular contributor to PETS International magazine and VetWatch, presented at the Pet Food Association of Canada’s 2023 conference, served as a panelist at Petfood Forum 2024, and presented at GlobalPETS forum and the NASC Annual Conference in 2025.

Jennifer Lott, SGS North America

Jennifer is passionate about helping companies grow and succeed. Jennifer specializes in Food and Product Safety Management Systems; her expertise in all aspects of certification, including training and project management. Jennifer is committed to excellence and has a positive can-do attitude. She is always looking for opportunities to develop solutions to meet clients' needs. Jennifer enjoys hiking, volunteering, creating new recipes from leftovers, and spending time with her family outside of work.

Sandy Moore, Pet Advocacy Network

Sandy is President and CEO of the Pet Advocacy Network and a respected leader in the global pet and aquatics industries. With decades of executive experience, she is recognized for advancing ethical and sustainable animal trade, guiding organizations through transformation, and championing responsible stewardship across the pet sector. Formerly leading Segrest, Inc., Sandy oversaw major growth, innovation, and recovery initiatives, including implementing AI-driven efficiencies and sustainability-focused programs. A recipient of the State of Florida Woman of the Year in Agriculture (2024), she continues to be a passionate advocate for responsible pet ownership and science-based animal welfare.

Will Nordwind, Esq, Venable LLP

Will is a co-chair of Venable's Legislative and Government Affairs Group. A 15-year veteran of Capitol Hill, with in-house legal, government relations, and crisis communications experience, Will focuses his practice on government relations and congressional investigations. These are often high-profile matters at the intersection of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches and overlap with state attorney general investigations or suits. Will also analyzes public policy and political developments related to clients' commercial objectives and designs government relations strategies to align such developments and objectives. He also helps corporate, trade association, and industry-specific coalitions develop and implement government relations strategies. 

Jane Phelps, Know Agency

Jane Phelps is the CEO and co-founder of Know Agency, a leading digital marketing firm specializing in organic and paid search marketing for the health and wellness industries. Since founding the agency in 2010 with a focus on nutritional supplements, Jane has built a reputation for providing strategic leadership and hands-on expertise. Under her guidance, Know Agency has become a trusted partner for both enterprise-level brands and innovative ‘early stage’ wellness brands. Jane and her team leverage their proprietary, client-centric approach and over eighty years of combined digital marketing experience to accelerate comprehensive digital strategies. She is a forward-thinking leader who understands how to strategically integrate AI for both search engine visibility and enhanced on-site user experience. As a sought-after public speaker and conference presenter, Jane shares her keen insights on search, digital marketing, and the strategic application of AI. She is consistently invited to speak on international stages, providing expertise on optimizing Google and other search platforms, as well as leveraging AI and digital tools for website optimization across various industries. Jane’s deep expertise and commitment to the health and wellness sector enable her to devise, execute, and accelerate digital strategies that drive client success. She is an authority on using AI to not only improve search rankings but also to enhance website performance and achieve measurable business outcomes.

Sara J. Phillips, FoodScience LLC

Sara is the Vice President of Global Pet Business for FoodScience® LLC, where she currently leads a strong international business unit, an exploding contract manufacturing business, and is a leader of support teams for the branded business. Throughout Sara’s 17 years with FoodScience, she has held several management positions, driving success for all pet brands, private label, and contract manufacturing business units under the FoodScience umbrella. This scope now includes leading the strategic and business operations of Pet Tech Labs, acquired by FoodScience in September 2021, and acting as an executive sponsor of integrations - including the recent acquisition of Natural Dog Company. Sara was first elected to the NASC Board of Directors in 2022 and re-elected in 2024. She is a visionary leader known for investing in talent within her team and encouraging innovation. A deep love of pets as well as her commitment to health and wellness contributes to Sara’s natural drive in the space of pet supplements.

Shahin Rothermel, Esq, Venable LLP

Shahin is an experienced counselor and defender who helps advertisers, retailers, merchants, and marketers advance their business goals while reducing legal and regulatory risks. Shahin provides clients with up-to-date, practical insights into the constantly evolving advertising, marketing, and e-commerce regulations, which allows her clients to make informed decisions. She has achieved successful resolutions, dismissals, and full walkaways in court, saving clients millions of dollars. She takes a pragmatic approach as a counselor, considering the implications of her advice for her clients' marketing campaigns and their bottom lines.

Timothy C Schell, PhD, FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Schell is the Director for the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. CVM regulates animal food, drugs, and devices, including those intended for pets as well as the animals that produce the meat, milk and eggs for human consumption. Most recently, Dr. Schell led CVM’s Office of Surveillance and Compliance. Dr. Schell joined CVM in 2000 as a reviewer of new animal drugs for swine and poultry. Over the course of his tenure, he held increasingly more challenging and higher profile positions throughout CVM that solidified his expertise in animal food and drugs, as well as applied research. He held the position of deputy director of the Division of Animal Feeds from 2009-2014, and also served in leadership roles as director and deputy for more than a year at CVM’s Office of Research. Between 2015 and 2019, Dr. Schell was at Elanco Animal Health where he led regulatory affairs strategies in several different areas, expanding the firm’s global initiatives in animal drugs and feed additives. Dr. Schell earned his Master of Science and Ph.D. in animal nutrition at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. He completed his undergraduate degree in animal and dairy sciences at Auburn University.

Ravi Sheth, PhD, Kingdom

Dr. Sheth is Co-founder and Chief Science Officer at Kingdom, a leading supplier of clinically validated postbiotics for pet brands headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. Ravi received his PhD as an NSF and Hertz fellow at Columbia University, and his work on genomics tools to understand the ecology of microbiomes has been published in top scientific journals, including Science and Nature Biotechnology. Ravi also spent time at the Gates Foundation advancing new microbiome directed interventions to combat malnutrition. 

Natalia Steele, Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease LLP

Natalia is a partner in the nationally recognized Vorys eControl group, where she advises leading brands on building and protecting value across complex digital and distribution channels. She specializes in developing authorized seller programs, pricing policies, and enforcement strategies that safeguard brand integrity and support compliant growth. With extensive experience in the pet and animal health industries, Natalia helps manufacturers navigate recalls, marketplace disruption, and regulatory challenges. She has guided hundreds of companies in implementing scalable, legally sound frameworks to achieve lasting control and measurable business impact.

Lindsay Sumners, PhD, ADM Pet & Animal Wellbeing

Dr. Sumners has nearly a decade of experience working in the pet industry, providing formulation expertise and leading product development.  She holds a M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal & Poultry Sciences from Virginia Tech, where she focused on immunology and molecular nutrition research.  Currently, she is responsible for supporting the creation, design, and development of new products and providing technical support and ingredient application science expertise within ADM’s Pet & Animal Wellbeing segment.

Kelly Vineyard, MS, PhD, EquiVine PhD Nutrition

Dr. Vineyard is an Equine Nutritionist and founder of EquiVine PhD Nutrition, a consultancy committed to advancing science-based equine nutrition principles to enhance horse health and performance. With over 16 years of experience in the equine feed industry, Dr. Vineyard excels in translating cutting-edge nutrition research into practical solutions. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal and Dairy Sciences from Auburn University, and her Master of Science and Doctorate in Animal Sciences, with a focus on Equine Nutrition, from the University of Florida. Her doctoral research specifically focused on the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on immune function in horses. A lifelong equestrian, Dr. Vineyard is a United States Dressage Federation Bronze and Silver Medalist.

Asa Waldstein, Apex Compliance

Asa is a principal of Apex Compliance, a marketing compliance software company that helps brands identify and address potential compliance issues across websites, social media, existing content, and pre-published materials. Waldstein is celebrating 25 years in the supplement industry, has helped oversee three FDA GMP inspections with no 483s, and writes the weekly Warning Letter Wednesday post, where he's been exploring interesting enforcement trends for 250+ weeks. He also chairs the American Herbal Products Association’s (AHPA) AI and Technology Innovation Committee.

Keith Weingardt, DVM

Dr. Weingardt is an integrative veterinarian, educator, and formulator with over 25 years of clinical experience. A graduate of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, he blends modern science with traditional healing, specializing in acupuncture, Chinese and Western herbalism, nutrition and judicious supplementation. Dr. Weingardt has worked with ThorneVet in research, development, and formulation, and has lectured nationally on Integrative Medicine, Herbal Medicine, Longevity Medicine, and Ashwagandha. He shares his expertise on botanical therapeutics, targeted supplementation, and preventative care. A passionate herbalist based in the Pacific Northwest, he is committed to advancing veterinary medicine through scientific innovation and education.

Miriam Wood, NASC

With over 20 years of experience in animal food regulation, Miriam brings extensive expertise in regulatory affairs, facility inspections, and industry compliance to her role at the NASC. Miriam holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from North Carolina State University with minors in nutrition and agricultural business management. She is also currently pursuing a master’s certificate in Feed Mill Science. Prior to joining the NASC, Miriam spent 18 years with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services where she supervised inspection and compliance programs. During that time, she was also actively involved with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), serving as committee chair for both the Inspection Sampling Committee and Feed Labeling Committee, and helped train inspectors nationwide through AAFCO’s inspector training programs. Outside of work, Miriam enjoys spending time with her animals, including her horse Sonny, 6 cats, and Australian cattle dog named Bell. As an experienced equestrian and member of the American Quarter Horse Association, Miriam competes in the hunt seat discipline but has dabbled in western pleasure, barrel racing, and fox hunting.

Kelli Younker, NASC

Kelli grew up on a ranch in northern New Mexico, where she could ride a horse before she could walk. Kelli earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agriculture and Extension Education from New Mexico State University, where she also competed on the NCAA equestrian team in Western disciplines at the national level. Before joining the NASC, Kelli spent over two decades building expertise in animal health and regulatory affairs. She served as a veterinary technician for 14 years before transitioning to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, where she worked as a feed specialist for over six years. As an accomplished competitor in her free time, Kelli has qualified for and competed at the American Quarter Horse Association World Show and the Ranch Horse Versatility World Show, earning numerous awards, saddles, and belt buckles throughout her career. She also trains and competes with her dog in agility competitions. For Kelli, working with animals isn’t just a career – it’s a way of life that connects her family traditions with her professional mission to ensure the highest standards in animal health and nutrition.