WASHINGTON — Career paths aren’t always clear and certain — no one knows this better than Dana Brooks. A career that began with a focus on agriculture led her to a role in which she could channel her passion for pets with her desire to advocate and support the industry. As the president and chief executive officer of the Pet Food Institute (PFI), Brooks gets to spearhead the organization’s mission to provide valuable information about pet food and treat safety and nutrition to pet lovers, while advocating for the needs of those who make the food to feed the pets we love.
“PFI’s mission is personal to me and is my ‘why,’” she said. “We are committed to helping dogs and cats live long and healthy lives.”
In the following Q&A, Brooks shares how her desire to communicate important and valuable information to pet lovers is guiding her work as the leader of PFI, and offers valuable advice to other women in the industry.
PFP: How did you get your start in the pet industry, and how did that experience lead you to where you are now?
Brooks: Nearly all of my career has been focused on the agricultural industry, whether as a grain inspector, merchandizer, advocate or policy drafter. In 1996, I lost my dad in a fatal farm accident. That was truly a tipping point in my life. I moved to Washington, DC, in 2000 to be a legislative assistant focused on farm policy for a member of Congress from my home state. I wanted to do everything I could to support US farmers, ranchers and growers.
“I witnessed the unconditional love and importance of the human-animal bond during my mother’s extreme grief,” said Dana Brooks, PFI.
After my dad passed away, my mother’s companion became a chihuahua. I witnessed the unconditional love and importance of the human-animal bond during my mother’s extreme grief. Therefore, PFI’s mission is personal to me and is my “why” — we are committed to helping dogs and cats live long and healthy lives. And as the voice of US pet food makers, we provide factual information about pet food safety and nutrition to pet lovers, and advocate for a transparent, science-based regulatory environment for our members.
PFP: What has been your biggest challenge — personal or professional — related to your work in the pet industry?
Brooks: The biggest challenge for all of us is how quickly misinformation can spread on social media. Even after the correct information has been disseminated and generally accepted, an old or resolved issue can resurface, giving life back to the misinformation. Social media acts like the directions on a shampoo bottle — wash, rinse and repeat. The fact that our space is highly emotive, and more than two-thirds of every US household has a pet, makes it exceedingly difficult to get ahead of social media reporting and reposting.
In July, PFI made the strategic decision to shift some of our website content from a manufacturing focus to a greater focus on consumer information. We want to provide fact-based information on pet food safety and nutritional needs for dogs and cats, hoping to be the guiding resource that is at the top of pet enthusiasts’ Google searches.
PFP: Tell me about a professional accomplishment in the pet industry that you are proud of.
Brooks: I am immensely proud of the high-quality and professional team we have at PFI. We are more initiative-taking than reactive than ever before in the history of the Pet Food Institute.
One example of action that PFI is leading is the Petfood Uniform Regulatory Reform Act or the PURR Act, which was introduced in the US Congress this year. This campaign to modernize the regulatory framework is one of the most consequential undertaken by PFI in its 65-year history. We must modernize the system to ensure it provides uniformity and transparency for people, pets and pet food makers. The current patchwork of regulations results in inconsistent interpretations of ingredients, label reviews and claims from state to state.
We are looking toward the future of the industry for pet food makers that will benefit pet owners, as well.
PFP: What is top of mind for you and/or your business in the industry right now?
Brooks: PFI’s top priorities fall into three buckets that support the best food safety, nutrition and market access measures for pet food makers and the pets we serve.
I have already mentioned the PURR Act as one of the biggest legislative campaigns we have ever proactively led at PFI. Additionally, we have dedicated staff who act as the liaison between member companies, US officials and international governments to improve domestic and international market access. We also advocate and engage when state legislative and regulatory actions add unnecessary costs, such as taxes or fees or restrictions on packaging and ingredients.
PFP: If you could pick some trends influencing the industry today, which are the most important and why?
Brooks: One trend that is most concerning is that some pet owners believe homemade pet food — whether raw or cooked — is better or safer for their pets than buying complete-and-balanced pet food. We have been told by veterinarians that they are seeing more pets deficient in essential vitamins and minerals causing serious health implications due to home-cooked diets.
In addition, more and more Americans are concerned about climate change and prioritize product sustainability in their purchasing decisions. To appeal to consumers, pet food makers will need to focus on sustainability in their operations, increase the recyclability of packaging, and use innovative ingredients that require fewer natural resources to produce.
PFP: What is something about the pet industry that people outside of the industry may not realize?
Brooks: We are pet owners and dog and cat lovers. We care about our pets, our extended family’s pets, and our friends’ pets. We take our job to create complete-and-balanced nutrition seriously and know how important it is to provide dogs and cats with the best nutrition and safest food that they require and prefer within our own price point.
PFP: What advice would you give to other women in this industry?
Brooks: Know your “why” and strive to work in jobs or have a career that inspires you to give the best of yourself every day. Do not be discouraged when you think you are following your dreams only to discover that it does not fill you with purpose or passion. Those experiences may be part of the journey that leads you to fulfillment. Do not be afraid to take a leap of faith or try something different. And, never stop feeding your mind, body and soul well.
PFP Just for fun, do you consider yourself a dog person or a cat person? Or, if you have pets of your own, tell us a little bit about them.
Brooks' dog Camille.
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Source: Dana Brooks
Brooks: I am a dog person, but I am not cat adverse. However, I prefer the energy and personality of an active dog. I am a bit hyper and easily excitable myself, so I enjoy being able to run, walk, paddle board, play ball and be goofy with our family rescue dog, Camille. Camille is a pocket or petite German Shorthair Pointer (GPS) mostly. She is ball-obsessed and loves to run on the beach, swim in the bay, chase squirrels and hunt lizards. We adopted her during COVID-19 when we were working from home. Fortunately, she gets to go to work with my stepdaughter almost every day now at the scuba diving store. She is very well-behaved in a social setting and loves to go to the brewery with my husband, where everybody knows her name.
In her current role as president and chief executive officer of Pet Food Institute, Dana Brooks leads the institute in its mission to advocate for legislation and regulation that supports pet food production, promote pet food safety innovation in manufacturing, and deliver information about issues impacting pet food makers and their suppliers. Brooks earned her Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and Master of Science degree in agribusiness and agricultural business operations from Kansas State University.
Continue reading about other female leaders featured in our Women in the Pet Industry series.
