Get the Scoop on Global Pet Expo 2016!

Michelle Fern, host of Best Bets for Pets talks to Andy Darmohraj, Senior Vice President of the American Pet Products Association (APPA) about this year's Global Pet Expo 2016 in Orlando, FL. 

Global Pet Expo, the pet industry’s largest annual trade show, is presented by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA). The 2015 Show featured 1,051 exhibiting companies, 3,113 booths and more than 3,000 new product launches. Additionally, 6,061 pet product buyers from 82 countries attended.


BIO:

Andrew Darmohraj, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of the American Pet Products Association (APPA) leads the Association’s trade show department. At APPA, Darmohraj oversees all aspects of The Association’s day-to-day operations including membership, accounting and marketing efforts as well as oversight of the world’s largest annual pet products tradeshow, Global Pet Expo.   

Since Darmohraj joined the APPA team in 1997, booth space at Global Pet Expo has more than doubled in size and show attendance is up 250%. As a result, Darmohraj has gained a lot of attention from the trade show industry and has been asked to conduct seminars for numerous organizations on the topics of association marketing and trade show-related issues.  

Under Darmohraj’s direction, Global Pet Expo was ranked #102 in the most recent Tradeshow Week 200 Show, and Tradeshow Week named Global Pet Expo one of its “Fastest 50,” an award for the top 50 fastest growing trade shows, for two consecutive years. In 2015, Global Pet Expo was named Trade Show Executive’s Greatest Show on Earth.

Darmohraj also oversees APPA’s marketing communications and public relations department which promotes APPA, its members and the pet product industry. Under Andy’s direction, the Department refocused to tout members, their products and the mission of APPA—the many wonderful aspects of responsible pet ownership. As a result, APPA has garnered millions of impressions in media coverage with such prestigious media outlets as The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNNFN, MSNBC, ABC World News Tonight, The View, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and The New York Times.   

A Certified Association Executive (CAE), Darmohraj has more than 20 years experience in association management and trade show production. Prior to joining the APPA staff, he worked in management positions for association-owned trade shows in the hospitality and gift industries. Darmohraj is past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the New York Society of Association Executives (NYSAE).  He is also an active member of the International Association for Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), and serves on the board of the NY chapter of IAEE.  

Darmohraj earned a M.S. in secondary education from St. John’s University, and a B.A. in English from Hunter College of the City University of New York.  

Andy lives in Pleasantville, New York with his wife, sons and their dog, Lola.  

Joey Herrick Founded Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc. (alternate name: Natural Balance Pet Foods®, Inc.) in 1989 and serves as its President.