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Pet Age Magazine 2015 |
Four
PIJAC Canada member companies can now boast that they have a Top 40 under 40
winner on their team. Pet Age Magazine has announced their annual list of 40 amazing young leaders in our industry. Congratulations to
Plato Pet Treats, All Star Dogs, Coastal Pet Products, Midwest Homes for
Pets and to all the winners on the 2016 list.
(Excerpts from Pet Age)
AARON
MERRELL (35), CEO,
Company description:
High-quality, all-natural pet treat company based in the San Joaquin Valley.
Plato prides itself on sourcing local ingredients to create these treats in our
own quality-controlled facility.
What inspired you to get into the pet
industry? - I grew up in the pet industry; I started working on the production
floor of an industry supplier since high school. After college, I saw a huge
opportunity and loved the industry, so it was a perfect fit.
ELAN
OVADIA (31) Vice President, Sales,
Company description: All Star
Dogs, a proud U.S. manufacturer, holds the license for over 300 collegiate and
professional sports teams. Our extensive catalog includes nearly two dozen
styles of pet apparel and accessories for every team.
What inspired you to get into the pet
industry? - My father. He started the company with my uncle 15 years ago in three
storage units and has built it into a healthy growing business. His work ethic
and dedication is admirable. He sets a strong example for all our employees –
most of all, me. Working with your dad every day is not always a walk in the
park, but we challenge each other and make each other better. We strive to
improve our business operations a little bit every single day.
KATIE
PUSATERI (27) Director of Marketing,
Company description: Coastal Pet
Products is committed to enriching the interactions between pets and people by
providing high-quality, lifestyle products that support the care and safety of
dogs and cats.
What inspired you to get into the pet
industry? - Two of my greatest passions are marketing and pets. The fact that I’m
able to combine the two is very rewarding.
NEIL
SMITH (29) Key Accounts Manager,
Company description: MidWest
Homes for Pets designs and manufactures a variety of containment products and
accessories for dogs, cats, birds and small animals.
What inspired you to get into the pet
industry? I grew up with multiple pets and thought it would be a rewarding
experience to make a career in an industry that I am passionate about.
Read about all the Top 40 Under 40 in Pet Age Magazine's latest edition!