LAS VEGAS — When Lashonda Geffrard founded the Black Pet Business Network (BPBN) in 2021, her goal was to create a community for Black Americans in the pet care and nutrition industry to help grow their businesses and provide resources, connections and mentorship. Five years later, BPBN recognized some of the industry’s leaders in the first BPBN Industry Honors presented during SUPERZOO 2026 on Aug. 12.

“I created the Black Pet Business Network to be everything I needed,” Geffrard said. “It started as a way to build community and access, and it’s grown into a movement that supports and uplifts diverse voices across the entire pet industry.”

Six pet industry leaders were recognized for their contributions to the pet industry on the Emerging Brands Stage.

“These leaders are building brands, opening doors, creating opportunities and showing the next generation what is possible,” Geffrard said. “This is a proud and powerful moment for our community and the entire pet industry.”

The honors presented include:

• Community Icon Award — Ina Jones, president of Ava’s Pet Palace
• Next Wave Founder of the Year — Amber Stanford, founder and chief executive officer of Ambeezy’s Organic
• Impact Partner Award — Rachel Sheppard, director of Ventures at Mars Petcare and co-leader of Leap Venture Studio & Academy
• Industry Excellence Award — Kerian Adamo, assistant manager of Omnichannel at MPM Products
• Retail Changemaker Award — Crystal Fenn, founder of Splootsville Pet Boutique
• Luminary Leadership Award — Modupe Ladeji, vice president of Sales at Jinx Pet Food

Ina Jones, president of Ava's Pet Palace.

Jones was presented with the Community Icon Award by her daughter Ava Dorsey, founder and chief elevation officer of Ava’s Pet Palace, a business she started when she was 8 years old. Jones juggles her role as president of the treat brand with being a supportive mother of a young entrepreneur and a mentor to many in the industry.

“If I know something that can help somebody, I want to share it,” she said. “If I can make an introduction, open a door, answer a question, or simply make someone feel like they’re not doing this alone, I’m going to do that. Because none of us builds anything beautiful completely by ourselves.”

Stanford received the Next Wave Founder of the Year for her contributions to the community and industry as the founder of Ambeezy’s Organic, an organic pet treat brand she started in her kitchen in 2019.

“How you rise matters because the kind of leader we want to celebrate doesn’t climb and forget the people behind them,” said Kedisha Clayborne, founder of Francis and Bee’s Pets, when presenting the award to Stanford. “They reach out, they share what they’ve learned, they encourage the next founder and they understand that when one black founder success, it expands what’s possible for all of us.”

As co-leader of pet care accelerator Leap Venture Studio & Academy, Sheppard works with emerging brands to get their products off the ground. At this year’s SUPERZOO, five black woman entrepreneurs who were part of the BPBN’s Retail Inclusion and Success for Entrepreneurs (R.I.S.E.) program pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges as part of the Next Wave Pitch Competition sponsored by Leap and the World Pet Association (WPA). Sierra Obioha, founder of Raw Dawg, took home the $10,000 prize.

“I’m so proud to have played even a small role in supporting the growth of this incredible community,” Sheppard said when presented her award. “To me, impact is not just about recognition or reach, it’s about change. Because we take the time to help open doors for others or advocate for innovations, helping those being underserved.

“In pet care, the impact we should all be working toward is ultimately very simple and very meaningful: improving the lives and health of pets and supporting all the people who love and care for them,” she added. “That is the purpose that connects all of us: entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, advocates retailers and partners.”

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