ROCKFORD, ILL. — Specialty dog and cat treat manufacturer Phelps Pet Products announced three personnel promotions. 

“While the headlines often highlight executives moving from one company to another, these three individuals are great examples of the many experienced, capable and caring team members that we have at Phelps,” said Rick Ruffolo, president and chief executive officer of Phelps. “We are committed to attracting the best and keeping them by providing the opportunity for new skill development, internal career growth, and the opportunity to make a difference in helping our customers find success. Their longevity at Phelps, their commitment to our customers, and their intimate knowledge of the industry enable Phelps to provide invaluable insights and proven trusted performance to our customers.”

Tedd Ellis has been promoted to senior vice president of sales and marketing. Ellis has been with Phelps for 10 years and is a long-time pet industry veteran. 

“Tedd is well-recognized as a ‘customer-first’ executive, and his ability to build strong working relationships with our customers has been key to our growth and to the ongoing success of our customers,” Ruffolo said.

Chris Evans was promoted to vice president of quality, regulatory and innovation after spending four years with the company. According to Phelps, Evans’ work at the company has elevated its quality and regulatory performance, including helping it achieve its recent SQF (Safe Quality Food) scores of 95 and 96. 

“Chris brought a deep background in human food manufacturing and innovation with him to Phelps four years ago,” Ruffolo shared, “His ability to creatively bring the best human food trends and techniques to our products and production practices help our customers differentiate their products in the marketplace.”

Additionally, Laura Aten was recognized for her contributions to the company over the past seven years, receiving additional responsibilities and staffing at Phelps. Aten serves as head of production planning. 

“Laura’s role as head of production planning does not begin to describe the many ‘hats’ she wears and the impact she has throughout the Phelps organization,” Ruffolo detailed. “Laura and her team work closely with all of our vendor partners to provide the highest quality, cost-effective and timely products to our customers.”   

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.