Country Session USA

There are an estimated 400 million pets in the United States. We will shed light on this largest and most diverse market in the world in the English-language Country Session USA.

In the presentation by Michael Johnson, Consumer Strategy Principal at BSM Partners, you will learn more about the structures and trends of the US pet market.

Doris Groot, Commercial Specialist, and Sean Timmins, Principle Commercial Officer, of the U.S. Consulate General Munich will then introduce the US Commercial Service and explain, among other things, the opportunities for investing in the US market.

Finally, Alexander Schmitt, consultant for international logistics, will present the special import and export conditions for the USA. Use the event to make contacts and expand your network.

The session will be moderated by Dr Rowena Arzt, Head of Trade Fairs ZZF e.V. and WZF GmbH. We will inform you about further speakers of the Country Session USA here shortly.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Michael Johnson, Consumer Strategy Principal at BSM Partners, is the shopper insights and trends thought-leader in the Pet Specialty industry; regularly consulting retailers, veterinarians, distributors, and manufacturers on the dynamics of the pet industry and how to best develop and position their products, brands, programs and services to connect with consumers.  Mr. Johnson brings over twenty years‘ experience in marketing, strategic planning, and consumer & market research from across the Food, Drug, Mass, Wholesale, and Pet channels. 
Mr. Johnson frequently lectures on pet trends and has been featured at events on behalf of organizations such as PIDA, PILS/PIJAC, SuperZoo, Petfood Workshop, APPA, AVMA, VMG, Pet Industry Executive Summit, as well as many retailer, veterinary, and pet distributor conferences.  In addition, his opinions and observations are frequently solicited by trade publications, and he has authored articles and/or been quoted in magazines such as Pet Business, Pet Age, Pet Product News, Veterinary Advantage, and Petfood Industry, among many others. 

Doris Groot has worked for the U.S. Commercial Service in Munich, Germany, for 30+ years, during which she promoted U.S. business interests in Germany in several industry sectors.    
She is responsible for the following industry areas: Pet Food and Supplies, Cyber Security, Environmental Technologies and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.
Doris also works closely with German companies, government organizations and trade associations in these fields to promote the U.S. Department of Commerce Select USA program. She also supports U.S. exhibitors Interzoo.

Sean Timmins is a U.S. Foreign Service Officer assigned to a four-year tour as Principal Commercial Officer managing the Commercial Section at the U.S. Consulate in Munich, Germany.  He previously served as the Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine for nearly two years and three years at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.  He joined the officer corps in 2015 after ten years as a civil servant working in various positions within the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC.  
In addition to his government experience, Sean spent two years with a small international development consulting firm where he provided home office management of USAID projects focused on economic growth, competitiveness, and anti-corruption in Southeast Europe and West Africa.  Prior to his government service, he served for four years in Slovakia as an English teacher.  
Education: BA, St. John’s University (Collegeville, Minnesota); MA, The Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University (Washington, DC).

Introducing Alexander Schmitt, an esteemed consultant specializing in logistics and events management. With a proven track record of orchestrating seamless operations and delivering unforgettable experiences on an international level, Alexander Schmitt is your go-to expert for navigating the intricacies of supply chain and event management. Whether it's coordinating and managing complex logistics or ensuring every detail of an event exceeds expectations, Alexander Schmitt brings unparalleled expertise and dedication to every project. Get ready to elevate your logistics and events.