St. Puppy’s Day is the event that celebrates you and what you do. This year we have an excellent lineup of pet care community experts, including:
Dr. Elise Kelly graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in zoology and a minor in chemistry. She earned her DVM degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, then practiced in Blue Springs, MO for nine years before joining Elanco 2015 as a Regional Consulting Veterinarian. In her nine years of practice, her special interests included dermatology, small exotics, and reproductive medicine, attaining a certification in canine AI in 2012. Since joining Elanco, Dr. Kelly has had the opportunity to train intensively and speak on topics including parasitology, pain management and immunology. She has given over 250 presentations and spoken at continuing education events including Kansas City’s Frostbite and the annual Missouri Veterinary Medical Association Conference. Dr. Kelly is Fear Free Elite and compassion fatigue certified.
She supports and works with Elanco sales representatives throughout the Midwest. She is a member of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association and Women in Leadership and Management in Animal Health.
She currently resides in Independence, Missouri with her husband, two children, Sheepadoodle puppy, cat, and three goats. In her spare time you might find her cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals or the Kansas City Chiefs, boating, hiking or traveling with her family.
Brandon Sinn D.V.M. is a 2010 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. He has a diversified background in both large and small animal medicine.
Prior to Lambert Vet Supply, Dr. Sinn practiced in western Nebraska for 2 years emphasizing in purebred cow/calf operations and bull producers as well as in a small animal clinic. He then broadened his veterinary perspective practicing in a mixed animal practice in Kansas that included equine, cow/calf as well as small animals where he focused on surgeries.
Dr. Sinn actively promotes the health and wellbeing of all animals by providing excellent client education and resources. His mobile health clinic has tested over 3,500 dogs since starting the spring of 2017. A native Nebraskan, Dr. Sinn was raised in a rural area on a diversified farm raising cattle and hogs as well as crops. Outside of work, Dr. Sinn enjoys spending time with his wife and three sons. He is an avid outdoorsman, enjoys woodworking and is proud to have made much of the furniture in his home. Dr. Sinn is also the Staff Veterinarian for Main Street Animal Clinic.
Mike Bober joined the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC), the industry’s legislative and regulatory trade association, as the Vice President of Government Affairs in 2013 and has overseen the Council’s legislative and regulatory efforts throughout his time with the Council. Last January, he was named President and Chief Executive Officer of PIJAC.
Previously, Mike worked with numerous Congressional candidates and incumbents to raise money for their campaigns and leadership funds. Most recently, he served as the Coalitions Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee, where he acted as the primary liaison between the Committee and the Washington community and developed local coalitions of supporters in key Congressional races.
Mike’s specialties include legislative analysis, testimony and advocacy; coalition-building and outreach; and strategic communications.
He received the 2008 Rising Star Award from Campaigns & Elections’ Politics magazine and was named one of the pet industry’s “Forty Under 40” by Pet Age in 2016. In his spare time, Mike likes to cook and judge competition barbecue on the Kansas City Barbecue Society circuit. He lives in Virginia with his wife, his two daughters, and his thirteen year-old Cocker spaniel, Murphy.
BScot Dutcher is a native of Colorado and lives on a farm in Weld County Colorado, one of the largest agriculture producing counties in the nation. He brings over 40 years of experience in animal agriculture to his current role as owner of AgNav Consulting. Scot was Chief of the Bureau of Animal Protection (BAP) for the Colorado Department of Agriculture for roughly 15 years, where he oversaw and provided training for 130 agents and law enforcement agencies that conduct animal neglect investigations. Training includes animal nutrition, body condition scoring, animal behavior, animal identification, case preparation, among other things. Scot assisted BAP agents and local authorities with thousands of criminal and civil animal mistreatment and neglect investigations involving all species including livestock. He gained a sound understanding of extreme animal rights groups, their strategies, tactics, and goals. Scot believes there is a clear difference between animal welfare and animal rights and is a well-known resource for the livestock industry as it relates to animal welfare and animal rights issues and farm security. Scot also has experience with legislation crisis response and emergency management relating to animal agriculture and animal welfare issues.
Scot is Beef Quality Assurance Certified and spent many years in the beef industry including experience in the cow/calf, feedstock, and feedlot segments. He is a founding and current Board Member of the Colorado Unwanted Horse Alliance, sits on the Board of Directors for the Animal Welfare Council, is a Local Field Director for the Sportsmen’s Alliance and is a former Board Member of the Colorado Horse Council. He is well connected to leaders in Colorado agriculture and is passionate about promoting animal agriculture and the products they produce.
In his free time Scot likes to spend time with his family going camping and doing outdoor sports like hunting and fishing. They also show cattle and enjoy teaching the kids all of the responsibility, coping and problem-solving skills involved in being successful in and out of the show ring.
Dr. Harvey Kent was born and raised in Arkansas. After earning his Bachelor of Science at Henderson State University (Arkadelphia, AR), he completed veterinary school at LSU (Louisiana State University) and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2005.
Upon completion of veterinary school, his first job after vet school was at a private practice in Ozark, MO. After 4 years he purchased a practice in Billings MO. While a veterinarian in private practice he served as the Attending Veterinarian for several USDA licensees. In 2015 he took a position as a VMO with FSIS in Norfolk, NE then with ARS in Ames, IA and in 2019 with APHIS Animal Care in St. Charles, MO., where he has worked until the present.
Mark Dunn is the American Kennel Club’s Executive Vice President and is a Board Member and Managing Director of AKC Reunite. Among other things, he leads AKC’s Registration and Customer Development Division, a team focused on meeting the needs of breeders and dog owners across the United States. He also works with pet industry leaders and international registry organizations to do good things for dogs and the people who love them around the world. Previously, he was Director of Engineering and Quality at Eastman Kodak and has more than 20 years of experience leading operations, engineering and business development teams.
Vanessa Skou is the American Kennel Club (AKC) Executive, Breeder Development and has been with the AKC for over 6 years ago. During her time at AKC, Vanessa has been the Program Manager for the Retail Program, Special Projects Manager and responsible for new project development as an Internal Consultant within AKC. A third-generation breeder, Vanessa came to the USA from New Zealand as a teenager to learn about the profession of dog show handling. Graduating from college with a B.S. in Marketing and a B.S. in Studio Art, Vanessa worked with dogs during this time, afterwards becoming a professional dog handler specializing in hard-coated breeds.
Meet the speakers (the experts in the industry)
Silent Auction Cash Giveaways CEU’s (Continuing Education Credits) Vendor Discounts Great Speakers Industry fellowship and camaraderie Meeting Pinnacle Pet’s friendly staff Meet the Pinnacle Pet team Meet up with breeders share ideas and experiences 
