Agenda
12:00 pm
12:00 pm | Meet on the green: Bali Hai Golf Club outing
Bali Hai Golf Club is the only championship golf course directly on the Las Vegas Strip, providing a unique experience for all golfers.
6:00 pm
6:00 pm | Welcome drinks reception
7:45 am
7:45 am | Networking breakfast
8:45 am
8:45 am | Chair’s opening remarks
Hear from the event chair and get yourself ready for informative insights. Be sure to download the event app to maximize your conference experience.
9:00 am
9:00 am | Igniting change: Stories that inspire
Discover transformative ideas in this motivational session. Jim Abbot shares his journey, looking at how innovation and resilience can inspire in times of uncertainty.
Jim Abbott
Retired Pitcher For The Los Angeles Angels & New York Yankees
9:45 am
9:45 am | The survival guide: How to navigate the economic shifts in the agri-food sector
The global economic landscape remains unpredictable. Throughout the first half of 2025, fluctuating inflation and volatile global market has raised its head. Learn from an esteemed economist who shares insights on adapting to current conditions and thriving through 2025 and beyond.
Dr. Michael Swanson
Chief Agricultural Economist
Wells Fargo
10:30 am
10:30 am | Coffee break
Sponsored by:
11:00 am
11:00 am | The trade panel: Mastering geopolitics, tariffs, and export challenges
From shifting trade policies, to tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada, not to mention geopolitical tensions in Europe and the Middle East, our industry faces unprecedented geopolitical complexities. This panel gathers experts to decode the latest challenges and opportunities in export markets, explore lessons from past U.S. administrations and identify key barriers that could impact the industry’s future. Get the insights you need to navigate global trade and stay ahead in a turbulent landscape.
Greg Tyler
President And CEO
USA Poultry & Egg Export Council
Sam Kieffer
Vice President, Public Policy
American Farm Bureau Federation
John Baffes
Senior Agriculture Economist
World Bank
Jamie Chadwick
Managing Editor
Expana
11:50 am
11:50 am | Award ceremony
Be there to witness the top accolades of the industry as we celebrate the achievements of the animal protein sector’s best. See firsthand the innovation and leadership that will define the future of the food sector as we celebrate the winner of the Rising Star of the Year sponsored by Farm Credit.
12:15 pm
12:15 pm | Networking lunch
1:30 pm
1:30 pm | Input markets and stressors: What’s affecting your bottom line?
The cost of key inputs markets and factors like grains, packaging, weather, oil and gas puts added pressure on animal protein organizations.
Explore what is affecting input prices and how they impact our sectors, gaining the critical insights needed to navigate these unavoidable disruptors and challenges.
Marcel Goldenberg
Chief Market Reporting Officer (Food, Feed & Industrial)
Expana
1:30 pm | Sustainability and welfare: Navigating regulations and expectations
With shifting requirements coming from major buyers of poultry and eggs combined with an ever-changing state by state regulatory landscape, tracking sustainability and welfare initiatives can be an overwhelming task. That is why the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs and the International Poultry Welfare Alliance have provided a list of essential metrics for tracking sustainability and welfare performance. Since its inception, these initiatives have provided crucial data to the industry to track overall performance and communicate continuous improvement.
Ryan Bennett, Executive Director of the US-RSPE and the IPWA, will present on the findings of the organizations, how the collective industry is performing when it comes to sustainability and welfare, what the future could entail and how to improve your businesses’ imprint.
Ryan Bennett
Executive Director
U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs (US-RSPE) and the International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA)
2:15 pm
2:15 pm | Expana’s egg market insight
Gain insight into the disruptors influencing the industry. You’ll hear about emerging segment and insights into global trade and shifting consumption patterns. This session will give you the knowledge you need on the latest trends in the egg sector.
Karyn Rispoli
Managing Editor, Eggs – America
Expana
Ryan Hojnowski
Market Reporter, Eggs – America
Expana
Randy Pesciotta
Principal Reporter
Expana
Jamie Chadwick
Managing Editor
Expana
2:15 pm | Expana’s poultry and red meat insight
Expana’s analysts will break down current trends, revealing the market drivers that are shaping these industries. Discover the products gaining traction and learn how global trade dynamics are influencing pricing and demand.
Joe Muldowney
Chief Market Reporting Officer – Protein
Expana
Matt Busardo
Team Lead, North American Poultry
Expana
Dylan Hughes
Senior Market Reporter
Expana
Mason Augustino
Market Reporter
Expana
Olympia Theocharous
Content Director, Events
Expana
3:00 pm
3:00 pm | Moving from reactive to proactive: Harnessing data to navigate disruption
Is your organization simply reacting to challenges, or are you leveraging the right data to drive smarter, more strategic decisions? In today’s market, where disruptive forces are reshaping industries, the ability to make proactive, data-driven decisions is more critical than ever.
This session will equip you with the tools to transform your organization from data restricted into a forward-thinking, data-optimized operation. Learn how to harness data to not only manage risks but stay ahead of disruptors and thrive in uncertainty.
Luana Clapis
Chief Data Officer
Expana
Vinay Kapoor
Chief Product Officer
Expana
6:00 pm
6:00 pm | Evening drink reception
7:30 am
7:30 am | Networking breakfast
8:30 am
8:30 am | Industry leaders panel: Charting the course for animal protein’s future
This forward-looking panel will bring together C-suite executives from across the animal protein value chain to share their perspectives on the current state of the industry, their journey in leadership, and the strategies needed to strengthen our industry long-term. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from the visionaries shaping the future of animal protein.
Jamie Chadwick
Managing Editor
Expana
James Butler
SVP & Chief Supply Chain And Corporate Strategy Officer
Brinker International
Pat Meehan
Chief Executive Officer
Kreher Eggs
Josh Cobb
Executive Vice President, Food And Packaging
Wendy’s Quality Supply Chain Co-Op
Tom Healey
Food Industry Consultant, Fmr VP, International Supply Chain
International Dairy Queen
9:15 am
9:15 am | Inside the mind of the consumer: What are they really looking for?
What are buyers currently prioritizing at the grocery store? What will they want next? Will trends like weight loss drugs have a long-term effect on global consumption?
Explore shifting preferences around health, sustainability and affordability with a consumer trends expert. This session uncovers how to adapt to evolving demands to ensure you are meeting the needs of the consumer of the future.
Jonna Parker
Team Lead, Fresh Foods Group
Circana
9:15 am | The evolving landscape of animal feed: What you need to know
Feed costs are a major contributor to the expenses of raising poultry and livestock, with disruptions causing shifts in animal protein markets.
This panel, featuring key stakeholders from across the feed sector, will dive into the latest developments and disruptors shaping the feed industry, so you can understand how animal protein markets could be influenced in the future.
Marcel Goldenberg
Chief Market Reporting Officer (Food, Feed & Industrial)
Expana
Steve Lerner
Senior Scientific And Business Advisor – North America
Novonesis
Jerry Rodgers
Sr. Director Of Procurement – Feed Ingredients
Wayne Sanderson
Lauren Nolan, Ph.D.
US Poultry Research And Technical Lead
Alltech
10:00 am
10:00 am | Coffee break
Sponsored by:
10:30 am
10:30 am | Expana forecasting: Next moves in animal protein
Expana’s forecasting experts will discuss the geopolitical, economic and market factors that will influence the animal protein sector in the coming months.
Gain a clear picture of what to expect and how to plan for the future. Don’t miss this chance to gain the insights needed to make smarter, more informed decisions for your business.
Tom Bundgaard
VP Price Forecasting
Expana
Amanda Rastovic
Senior Forecast Analyst
Expana
11:20 am
11:20 am | Financial risk management strategies for animal protein
Market volatility poses constant challenges, but smart financial risk management can turn uncertainty into opportunity. Gain the practical tools, strategies for implementation and real-world examples of success in risk management. Learn how to safeguard your business and stay resilient in a shifting landscape.
Clive Furness
Chief Executive Officer
Contango Markets Limited
Rami Fakhouri
Risk Management Consultant
StoneX
Anne Krema
Director Of Research And Product Development
CME Group
12:00 pm
12:00 pm | Networking lunch
1:00 pm
1:00 pm | Animal epidemics panel: The disease disruptors to watch and their impact on markets
Join our expert panel as we explore how different livestock epidemics are disrupting global markets, impacting supply and causing trade issues. Gain valuable insights into the global economic impact of different disease outbreaks to keep you ahead of market developments.
Dustin Pendell
Professor And Director
WOAH Collaborating Center for the Economics of Animal Health
Dave Juday
Founder And Principal
The Juday Group
Brian Earnest
Lead Economist – Animal Protein
Cobank
Russ Whitman
Director Market Reporting – Americas
Expana
1:45 pm
1:45 pm | Panel discussion: Engaging and meeting the needs of tomorrow’s consumers
With consumers more discerning than ever, developing and marketing your products in the most effective way to meet their expectations is critical. Join our expert panel to explore strategies for attracting younger demographics, and crafting messaging that resonates with future consumers.
Michele Murray
Senior Vice President – Food, Agriculture And Ingredient
Ketchum
Leslee Oden
President And CEO
National Turkey Federation
Jerry Shen
VP Of Marketing
Dave's Hot Chicken
Jamie Chadwick
Managing Editor
Expana
2:30 pm
2:30 pm | Harnessing AI to tackle disruption: Smart solutions for the future of food and agriculture
This session explores how advanced technology is helping the food industry navigate a complex landscape of supply chain disruptions, from avian influenza to trade tariffs. We’ll dive into where the industry is struggling and how emerging technologies like sensor data and precision farming can drive smarter decision-making, and how AI will continue to reshape the sector for years to come. For those leaders in the sector reacting to market disruptors, this session will showcase how advancing technology can lead you to proactivity.
Johanna Ballesteros
LATAM Sales & Business Development Manager
SWARM Engineering