Panelists

Dr. Aleksan Shanoyan

Professor - Kansas State University

Aleksan (Alex) Shanoyan is a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at KSU. His research is in the area of agribusiness economics and management with the focus on supply chain coordination, strategic management, and business development. His research projects have addressed issues across several industries ranging from dairy, meat, and vegetables to pet food, grain and biofuel in local, regional, and international contexts.

His most recent research projects examine contracting and vertical coordination strategies in beef and biofuel supply chains, resilience of agri-food systems, pet food product and marketing strategies, pet food ingredient and supply chain management, big data applications in agriculture, and facilitation of agri-food supply chains in developing economies.

Aleksan teaches courses in food and agribusiness management, marketing, and strategy at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Amy Tryon

Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs - North America, Hill's Pet Nutrition

View Bio

With 12 years in the pet food industry, including 10 in global regulatory affairs, Amy is the North America Regulatory Affairs Senior Manager at Hill’s Pet Nutrition (a Colgate-Palmolive subsidiary). She spearheads a team responsible for critical product compliance areas. This includes ensuring adherence to regulations for formulations, finished products, and packaging, alongside providing essential export and market access support for products distributed globally. Her dedication to enhancing compliance processes and demonstrating strong regulatory leadership has been recognized with multiple awards during her tenure at Hill's.

Actively engaged in shaping industry standards, Amy collaborates closely with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) on various ingredient definition workgroups and committees, fostering partnerships with state regulators and other pet food industry experts. She further contributes as a member of the American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) Pet Food Committee, serves as Vice-Chair of the Pet Food Institute’s (PFI) AAFCO subcommittee, and holds the position of Vice-President on the Pet Food Association of Canada (PFAC) Board of Directors. Before her work at Hill’s, Amy spent six years at the Kansas Department of Health & Environmental Laboratories. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management.

Dr. Eric Altom

Director - Innovation for Companion Animals; Technical Nutritionist - Balchem Animal Nutrition and Health

Dr. Eric K. Altom has built a distinguished career in companion animal nutrition, working with leading international pet and animal nutrition companies. He joined Balchem in July 2016 and currently serves as Technical Nutritionist and Director of Innovation for Companion Animals within the Animal Nutrition and Health Division.

Eric earned his B.S. in Animal Science from Tennessee Technological University, his M.S. in Nutrition from Clemson University, and his Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition from Auburn University. With more than 25 years of experience as a principal nutritionist and industry consultant, he specializes in complex formulation design, the application of new nutrients in product development, and novel ingredient qualification.

His research has centered on optimizing nutrient requirements and delivery for physiologically stressed animals. He has authored numerous scientific and trade articles, contributed to industry interviews, and delivered invited lectures at national and international conferences. In addition, he has served as a guest instructor for college-level nutrition courses.

Recognized as a trusted expert across the companion animal nutrition industry, Eric remains a highly sought-after technical resource and thought leader.

Dr. Garret Ashabranner

Scientific Review of Ingredient Submissions (SRIS) Program Manager - Kansas State University

Dr. Garret Ashabranner holds a Ph.D. in Poultry Science from the University of Georgia, along with an M.S. and B.S. in Agriculture from Stephen F. Austin State University. His professional experience includes roles as a broiler farm manager, researcher, lecturer, and regulatory animal scientist. At the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), he reviewed animal feed ingredients and provided expertise on monogastric nutrition and environmental claims. His areas of expertise span regulatory science, poultry production, manure management, and agricultural education. His research has focused on broiler management, manure utilization, and feed additive evaluation.

Currently, Dr. Ashabranner serves as Program Manager for the Scientific Review of Ingredient Submissions (SRIS)—a partnership between Kansas State University Olathe and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). In this role, he oversees the scientific review process for animal food ingredient definition submissions, acts as the primary liaison between K-State Olathe and AAFCO, coordinates a network of subject matter experts, and facilitates the timely and effective evaluation of new ingredients used in both livestock feed and pet food.

Dr. Haley Larson

Assistant Professor - Kansas State University

Dr. Haley Larson is an Assistant Professor of Animal Nutrition and Health at Kansas State University’s Olathe campus, where she focuses her research and academic initiatives on advancing animal health, nutrition, and regulatory science. Her research translates results from In vitro gastrointestinal fermentation models to live animal field trials to improve the evaluation of feed ingredients and accelerate the development of innovative nutritional solutions for companion and production animals.

Dr. Larson also plays a key role in expanding industry-academic partnerships, having helped develop graduate programs that foster collaboration across the Kansas City Metro and beyond. Her efforts to enhance laboratory capabilities at K-State Olathe support applied, translational research, and her dedication to the campus’ animal health regulatory affairs initiatives has positioned K-State as a hub for regulatory education and workforce development.

She currently serves as the Director and Scientific Lead for the Scientific Review of Ingredient Submissions (SRIS), a national partnership between the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and Kansas State University. In this role, Dr. Larson supports the development and maintenance of science-based regulatory frameworks essential to the safety, transparency, and continued innovation of the animal nutrition industry.

Dr. Jane Schuh

Director of Agricultural Research and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs - Kansas State University

Dr. Jane Schuh is the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University. With a distinguished background in cellular and molecular biology, she brings decades of leadership experience in research administration, faculty mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Prior to joining K-State, she held multiple leadership roles at North Dakota State University, including Vice President for Research and Creative Activity and Director of Strategic Initiatives. Dr. Schuh is a passionate advocate for the land-grant mission and is committed to advancing agricultural innovation, student engagement, and research that addresses global challenges.

Dr. Kathy Gross

Adjunct Professor - Kansas State University

Dr. Kathy Gross retired after a 32-year career at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., where she led R&D teams focused on innovations in pet nutrition research and product development. She now serves as an Adjunct Professor at Kansas State University, contributing her expertise to the pet food science and animal health programs on both the Manhattan and Olathe campuses. In addition, Dr. Gross consults on topics such as companion animal nutrition, pet food and ingredient product design, innovation, and animal health. Dr. Gross is a Professional Animal Scientist with board certification in Animal Nutrition.

Before retiring from Hill's Pet Nutrition, Dr. Gross held the role of Worldwide Director of R&D, overseeing the nutritional design, clinical studies, and global claims for all Hill’s companion animal products. Her tenure included leading product development and research departments, spearheading the pet wearables innovation team, and managing University collaborative research programs. With over 100 publications, abstracts, and book chapters to her name, and 20 patents granted, her research has spanned a diverse range of canine and feline nutritional and health topics, including probiotics, prebiotics, digestive function, cancer, urinary health, obesity, and the benefits of ingredients like L-carnitine and lipoic acid.

Dr. Gross earned her PhD in Animal Nutrition from Kansas State University, an MS in Animal Nutrition from Virginia Tech, and a BS in Animal Bioscience from Penn State University. She and her husband have two grown daughters and a son. They live on a ranch in Topeka, Kansas, where they raise Red Angus cattle and enjoy life with several horses, a dog, and a cat.

Leah Lambrakis

VP of Research & Development, Nutrition, & Scientific Affairs - Simmons Pet Food

Leah Lambrakis is the Vice President of Research & Development, Nutrition and Scientific Affairs at Simmons Pet Food and Simmons Animal Nutrition. Leading a team of over 40 scientists, together they drive innovation in pet food formulation, nutrition, process engineering, and ingredient technology. Leah has a life-long passion for nutrition, health and wellness, and innovative advances on how to feed our pets better. Throughout her 25+ year career, Leah has built deep expertise in pet food science. In addition to her leadership role at Simmons, Leah is actively involved in the industry, serving as Chair of the Pet Food Institute's (PFI) Nutrition Subcommittee, as a Board Trustee for the Morris Animal Foundation, and recently joining the Pet Food Association of Canada's Board of Directors. Leah holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Animal Science and Animal Nutrition from the University of Guelph, Canada.

Dr. Melissa Weber

Director of Technical Services - Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition

When Dr. Weber received her PhD in Meat Science from Kansas State University, she never envisioned the impactful career she would develop in the pet food industry. After five years working in the fresh meat sector at Cargill, she transitioned to pet food, contributing to innovation, new product launches, and cost-effective recipe formulations at Mars Pet Care.

Currently, Dr. Weber serves as the Director of Technical Services at Wilbur-Ellis, where she oversees R&D, lab services, and technical sales for the Pet platform. She is passionate about developing scientific talent, fostering customer partnerships, and conducting research that drives significant impact in the pet industry. Dr. Weber constantly challenges her teams to consider the "so what" to ensure that research and product development efforts address market and product challenges effectively.

Rachelle Banwart

Executive Director of Corporate Engagement - Kansas State University

A proud K-State alumna, Rachelle Banwart is an accomplished sales, marketing and brand management leader with extensive experience driving business development across numerous industries. She has built a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams, fostering strategic partnerships and delivering measurable growth for global brands throughout her career.

Her expertise encompasses market development, strategic planning and promotional execution, consistently helping brands expand their reach and adapt to evolving market trends. In her most recent role, she led high-performing sales teams and broker networks, steering product innovation and enhancing customer engagement through data-driven insights and consumer-focused strategies.

Banwart is recognized for her collaborative approach and results-oriented mindset, bringing strategic foresight and operational excellence to every endeavor. Her combination of analytical skills, leadership experience and deep understanding of market dynamics positions her as a valuable asset in driving organizational growth and success within K-State's Office of External Engagement.

Her K-State connection reinforces her commitment to excellence and her understanding of the values that drive meaningful professional relationships and sustainable business outcomes.