As an extension to our Women in Naturals feature, our participants responded to a question about the passions they bring to their posts and to the industry.
VR: What are you most passionate about regarding the natural products industry?
Lucille Perreault, President, Rene’s Naturals, Inc., Florida: From my own health challenges and working in the natural health industry, I feel if we do not possess good health, we possess nothing of value. What drives me in this industry is the ability to help people take control of their health, rather than rely on others. When I attend events with retailers, and I hear how Essiac helped them or a loved one, these stories reinforce that I made the right decision to be involved in this industry.
Ramona Billingslea, marketing manager/educator, Betsy’s Health Foods Inc., Texas: The naturals industry is one of our last strongholds of control over our own bodies. I love being an informed consumer when it comes to the foods I eat, the nutrients I put in my body, and especially the medical decisions I may have to make. I enjoy even more helping others gain the knowledge that will help them live healthier and hopefully longer lives.
I love hearing customers come into our store in gratitude because of the change in their lives that the products they purchased from us have helped make. I love that we have customers who have shopped with us for decades, some of them going so far back that they shopped with my mother-in-law when she worked as manager for another health food store before opening her own. I believe that supplements help people live better, so acting on that belief is what fuels my passion for the health foods industry.
Ellen Schutt, Executive Director, GOED: When I started in the industry in 1998, I was struck by the energy around the natural products industry and the belief by those in the business about the importance of what they were doing for public health. I’ve spent the last 10 years at GOED and being immersed in the omega-3 industry, I’ve seen even more deeply the passion that the omega-3 industry has for the work they are doing and the willingness – even of competitors – to work together for the good of the whole industry.
Cheryl Myers, chief of scientific affairs and education for EuroPharma, Inc. (Terry Naturally), Wisconsin: I have always been drawn to the helping professions and believe there is so much more we could be doing to help people achieve their ultimate health goals. I don’t believe that one system or another is superior — there is good to be found in all fields of medicine, both natural and mainstream. The best health solutions occur when we intelligently select from a variety of clinically validated options and weave them together into an effective health plan.
Tori Hudson, ND, medical director, A Woman’s Time, and cofounder/co-owner of Vitanica, Oregon: My primary focus is that quality health care be available to women, including high-quality herbal and nutraceutical supplements based on the best of the scientific evidence in natural medicine and the best of historical botanical traditions. Providing quality health care to women also involves educating health care providers about natural medicine which is definitely a consistent passion of mine.
Annie Eng, CEO, HP Ingredients, Florida: I am very passionate about diving into studies and working with researchers to reveal the power of the herbs and their constituents. I have always liked the quote from Francis Bacon: “Knowledge is power.” In our case as a botanical ingredient specialist, this knowledge helps brands formulate safe and effective products. Also, I love to caretake the caretakers; those indigenous people who tend and cultivate the herb and plant we use to create our ingredients. We support those people and their communities.
Suzanne Shelton, Founder, The Shelton Group, Illinois: All my clients are champions of best practices, which means I get to be too. For example, working with NOW to highlight the severe quality problems with products by the “brands none of us ever heard of” on Amazon; working with Alkemist Labs on stepping up product testing and being transparent about it; with Sabinsa to safeguard IP and highlight adulterated product risks; with Nuherbs to help the industry better maneuver the complicated supply chain, and with Nammex to differentiate between actual mushrooms and ingredients that just pretend to be, is incredibly satisfying. I love the passion for herbs in the people I interact with through my AHPA membership. I also love playing a role in helping people make decisions to better support their own health. Most of all I love the people, so many of which have become and remain dear friends.
Beth Lambert, CEO, Herbalist & Alchemist, New Jersey: Earning a right-livelihood while making products that are good for people and good for the planet is my passion. As the first herbal products certified B Corporation, we are committed to using organically grown and sustainably harvested botanicals and minimizing our environmental impact. Working with others in the industry to set quality standards for herbal products, promote responsible botanical education and research in sustainable harvest methods are part of this passion.
Kylen Ribeiro, CEO Lightbody, Florida: It is my mission to limit my toxin exposure as much as possible, leading me to create dietary supplements to improve the body’s resiliency. Because our children now are growing up in a world filled with more toxins than ever before, including digital signals, I am passionate about education surrounding this topic for parents today. My hope is that parents will learn tools to teach their children safe ways to use technology and to limit their exposure to the negative effects technology can have on the body and mind, as children are the most susceptible of us all.
Michelle Klein, COO, Lightbody, Florida: With a journalism background, I am passionate about informing and raising public awareness on issues relevant in our society today. I am also extremely passionate about health and wellness and was able to merge my two passions with DefenderShield, and now Lightbody Supplements. Many people aren’t aware of things that can affect their health, and helping people become more mindful of their digital wellness is something that has quickly become an important part of my life.
Linda Boardman, Chief Executive Officer, Bragg Live Food Products LLC, California: I am devoted to helping people find manageable ways to improve health, supporting organic agriculture to sustain our environment, and working to bring science and age-old traditional wisdom to support health.
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