(PRESS RELEASE)WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pet Food Institute (PFI), whose members make the vast majority of dog and cat food and treats in the United States, announces that Betsy Flores joined the association as the new senior vice president of public policy. Flores, a seasoned policy expert in U.S. agriculture, will guide PFI’s legislative, regulatory, trade and market access strategies, as well as manage the association’s government relations and regulatory staff.
“I am pleased to join PFI in a new capacity and play an active role in developing and executing the policy strategies that support U.S. pet food makers,” said Flores. “Pets are an important part of the household for families both across the country and around the world, and I look forward to leveraging my experience within agriculture to serve this important sector.”
Flores brings more than 20 years of experience, including within the public and private sectors. She most recently served as the director of research and promotion programs for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), where she was responsible for directing and managing the full range of activities for oversight of six checkoff programs for the Livestock and Poultry Program. She also worked as a deputy director in the office of agricultural affairs at the United States Trade Representative, where she was involved in issues such as biotechnology, new technologies, the WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement and technical barriers to trade. Prior to joining the public sector in 2014 at USDA, Flores served as the vice president of animal care at the National Milk Producers Federation, where she represented and advocated for dairy producers on regulatory issues impacting the U.S. dairy industry in front of federal and global officials.
“Betsy has a proven track record of leading successful teams, finding consensus on challenging issues and working with stakeholders across industries,” said Dana Brooks, president and CEO of PFI. “We are pleased she will bring her experience and leadership from both USDA, USTR and the private sector to lead PFI’s active policy team and promote a sound policy environment for U.S. pet food makers.”
Flores holds a master’s degree from John Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from the State University of West Georgia. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and dog. Beyond work, Flores and her husband foster dogs and kittens through the Wolf Trap Animal Rescue.