Join us as we embark on the Spark Change Journey with our Mission-Driven Business Community Event on September 16.
Spark Change
TM
Spark Change
Mission-Driven Business Community Event Agenda
Noon - 12:10 p.m EDT | 9:00 - 9:10 a.m. PDT
How do YOU Spark Change and support mission-driven business? Join us as we dig into this leg of the Spark Change journey. Discover mission-driven brands and products via the Product Discovery Zone, take in thought-provoking panels and presentations, and navigate the Spark Change platform to continue to make new and impactful connections.
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Welcome to Mission-Driven Business!
Tom Szaky
CEO and Founder,
TerraCycle
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Tom Szaky, CEO and founder of TerraCycle, is a mission-driven leader advancing sustainable practices, a zero-waste lifestyle, and circular economies at scale. While the pandemic may have changed many things in our world, one thing it hasn't altered is Tom's commitment to helping businesses of all sizes and types reduce and eliminate the negative effects of product packaging and materials waste.
Join us for Tom's keynote, highlighting opportunities for sustainable packaging solutions in the natural products industry. Whether you work in retail, manufacturing, distribution or directly with consumers, Tom has ideas and solutions for everyone to lessen their footprint and use business as a force for good.
12:10 - 12:40 p.m EDT | 9:10 - 9:40 a.m. PDT
Mission-Driven Business Keynote: Tom Szaky
Eric Pierce
Vice President of Business Insights, New Hope Network
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Join us for a session in which New Hope and SPINS present insights into the mission-driven business trends shaping the growth of the natural products industry.
In an industry with abundant innovation but limited shelf space, retailers need to be thoughtful about what fills their store shelves. Using the latest sales, innovation, and consumer engagement data we will help retailers identify and prioritize mission-driven products that should be on the shelf.
12:45 - 1:15 p.m EDT | 9:45 - 10:15 a.m. PDT
What's Next in Mission-Driven Business? Data & Insights from New Hope Network & SPINS
Kathryn Peters
Executive Vice President,
SPINS
The 2020s will be remembered as the decade when two history-shaping forces collided. Gen Z and Millennials, the most diverse generations in history, surged onto the scene of a centuries old crime: institutional racism, as personified by George Floyd. Their demand? Every sector of the economy, including brands in their pantries, should join the fight. During this invite-only roundtable discussion led by New Hope Network and Smoketown LLC, we’ll help brand leaders find their most powerful and authentic role in social movements. If you’d like to be a part of the conversation, please contact Jessica Rubino at jrubino@newhope.com.
12:45 - 2:00 p.m EDT | 9:45 - 11:00 a.m. PDT
Invite-only Roundtable: Consumer brands & social movements: Ignore, post or go all-in?
Claire Koch
Marketing Manager,
New Hope Network
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What makes our communities shine? The amazing brands that bring their passion and innovation through unique business models and exciting products. This tour will help you discover mission-driven brands in a fun, engaging format. Toot toot, all aboard!
1:15 - 1:30 p.m EDT | 10:15 - 10:30 a.m. PDT
Mission-Driven Business Guided Product Discovery Tour
1:30 - 2:00 p.m EDT | 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. PDT
2:15 - 2:30 p.m EDT | 11:15 - 11:30 a.m. PDT
Coffee Break
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Join us for an exciting, fast-paced pitch event, where standout entrepreneurs take to our virtual stage to share their inspiring mission-driven business stories. In just three minutes, each of these twenty brands will give you want you need to add new products to your shelves and put mission-driven products in front of consumers.
A must-attend event for retailers focused on supporting more diversity in naturals, the second half of presenting brands will specifically help retailers reach new consumers looking for BIPOC-owned brands, drive incremental sales in key growth categories, and meet company-wide targets for supplier diversity.
2:30 - 4:15 p.m EDT | 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. PDT
The Spotlight Brand Podium and BIPOC Event
2:30 - 3:30 p.m EDT | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. PDT
Invite-only Roundtable: Certifications supporting industrywide transparency
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A must-attend event for retailers focused on supporting more diversity in naturals, this event will help retailers reach new consumers looking for BIPOC-owned brands, drive incremental sales in key growth categories, and meet company-wide targets for supplier diversity.
3:30 - 4:15 p.m EDT | 12:30 - 1:15 p.m. PDT
Spotlight BIPOC Brand Podium
Perteet Spencer
Vice President, Strategic Solutions, SPINS
Co-Founder, AYO Foods
Perteet Spencer
Vice President, Strategic Solutions, SPINS
Co-Founder, AYO Foods
Perteet is an accomplished food industry professional, bringing years of sales and marketing experience and a passion for the Natural & Specialty Products Industry to her role at SPINS. As Principal, Marketing Solutions, Perteet supports SPINS’ corporate mission of increasing the presence and accessibility of natural and organic products by partnering with a wide range of clients to transform data into rich insights that fuel brand renovation and innovation. Prior to joining SPINS, Perteet held leadership roles at LEGO and General Mills.
Beyond her work at SPINS, she serves as a National Board Member for the Food Recovery Network. Perteet holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
Tom Szaky
CEO & Founder, TerraCycle
Tom Szaky is founder and CEO of TerraCycle, a global leader in collection and repurposing of complex waste streams. TerraCycle operates in 21 countries, working with some of the world’s largest brands, retailers, and manufacturers to create national platforms to recycle products and packaging that currently go to landfill or incineration.
Through TerraCycle, Tom is creating circular solutions for hundreds of waste streams such as cigarette butts, dirty diapers, and used chewing gum that otherwise have no path to be recycled. TerraCycle operates the largest supply chain for ocean plastic in the world, partnering with companies to integrate this material into their packaging.
In January 2019, TerraCycle, along with 25 top consumer products companies and retailers announced a new circular shopping platform called Loop that enables consumers to shop for household products in durable, reusable packaging. Launched in May in Paris, France and the mid-Atlantic and northeast U.S., Loop is a key step in helping to end the epidemic of waste that is caused by 'single use' consumption.
Tom and TerraCycle have received hundreds of social, environmental and business awards and recognition from a range of organizations including the United Nations, World Economic Forum, Fortune Magazine and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Mission-Driven Business Community Event
Modern Health Community Event
Organic and Regenerative Agriculture Community Event
September 16
October 7
October 28
Eric Pierce
Vice President of Business Insights,
New Hope Network
Eric J. Pierce is a strategic business leader, innovator, marketing, and market research professional, who specializes in helping businesses develop strategy and identify and prioritize opportunities. Eric brings business management and consumer behavior perspectives to the businesses he supports.
Eric’s passions lie in the intersection of consumer behavior and business strategy within the Natural Products industry. These passions are focused on helping companies navigate the dynamic and changing marketplace, helping to re-imagine brands, drive innovation, and focus business investments with an eye towards meeting the needs of the evolving marketplace.
At The New Hope Network Eric and his colleagues and sit at the forefront of the Natural Products industry, well positioned to identify the cultural forces and trends creating opportunity in this exciting and evolving marketplace. Together we help companies large and small identify, prioritize and take advantage of opportunities in the Natural Products industry.
Kathryn Peters
Executive Vice President, SPINS
Kathryn Peters has served SPINS for over 13 years across numerous key areas of the growing business. Her commitment to and passion for retail inspires her work developing and sustaining valuable retail relationships at the foundation of the SPINS ecosystem. Kathryn’s insight into helping retailers succeed with SPINS is informed by her previous vice president roles in merchandising and marketing at Ahold and BI-LO, LLC. as well as years of category management and sales experience with retailers during her time with Ralston Purina.
Save the Dates for the Spark Change Community Events
Carlotta Mast
Market Leader & SVP of Content,
New Hope Network
As market leader, Carlotta Mast sets the strategy and guides the growth and impact for New Hope Network, the leading events and information services company for the natural & organic products industry. She also leads the content strategy and team for the Informa Markets Health & Nutrition group, which includes New Hope Network. Her team produces the content and conference programming for Natural Products Expos, NBJ Summit, Nutrition Capital Network, Esca Bona, Natural Foods Merchandiser, newhope.com, Nutrition Business Journal, NEXT Forecast, SupplySide, Natural Products Insider, Vitafoods and Vitafoods Insights.
With 20 years of experience, Carlotta has her finger on the pulse of new health, wellness and natural product trends and the forces shaping consumer attitudes and behaviors. Carlotta is a frequent speaker at industry events and conferences and has been interviewed about the natural products industry, regulatory issues and market performance by media outlets including The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, NPR, ABC News, BusinessWeek and many others.
Carlotta serves on the board and is the past board president of Naturally Boulder, a 1,600-member trade group with the mission of nurturing community, leadership and innovation in the Colorado natural products industry. As Naturally Boulder’s board president, Carlotta helped bring the Naturally Boulder model to other communities and establish Naturally Bay Area, Naturally Austin, Naturally Chicago, Naturally San Diego, Naturally Los Angeles and Naturally New York City; and she now serves on the board of directors for the new Naturally Network.
In addition, Carlotta is a co-founder of the J.E.D.I Collaborative, which was created to foster justice, equity, diversity and inclusion within the natural & organic products industry, and she serves on the board of the Climate Collaborative, whose mission is to leverage the power of the natural products industry to reverse climate change.
In 2013, Carlotta co-founded a paleo snack company called Wholly Bites, which hit the market well before Whole Foods Market and other retailers began adding paleo sections to their stores. Wholly Bites was sold to 1908 Brands in 2016.
Claire Koch
Marketing Manager, New Hope Network
Claire Koch is a mission-based marketing and branding leader who is passionate about bringing people together with the causes and brands that inspire them. She has 10 years of experience in marketing and brand communications, and has worked with everyone from early-stage entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 executives. She is also passionate about environmental causes and received her Masters of Legal Studies in Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Claire lives in Longmont, Colo., with her husband and two young children.
Innovation for Good Title Sponsor
Community Event
Lunch & Learn
Spark Your Day Meetup
A lot has changed in 2020. But what hasn’t changed? The natural products industry's commitment to the health of people and our planet. This shared mission has become even more important as consumers demand sustainability and integrity from the companies that they support. During this French Transit and New Hope Network Spark Change lunch & learn, we’ll share success stories and best practices in building a meaningful CSR plan. (P.S. Lunch is included!)
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EST | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
Lunch & Learn Clean.Caring.Impact – Case Studies in CSR and Using Your Business Model for Positive Impact
Paid Content
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How do YOU Spark Change? Join us in a casual networking setting every week as we partner with industry leaders and our peers to address the pressing topics of today.
In our inaugural Spark Your Day Meetup, we talk with Andy Fyfe, business development and activation leader at B Lab. B Lab is a nonprofit that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. Before heading into networking rooms, we'll plant seeds for discussion on what it means to be a mission-based business, why it's now more important than ever, and how we can all use business as a force for good to spark change in the food industry.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT | 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. PDT
Spark Your Day Meetup with B Lab
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How do YOU Spark Change? Join us in a casual networking setting every week as we partner with industry leaders and our peers to address the pressing topics of today.
This week, hear from leaders at the Naturally Network about how local communities are supporting one another and nurturing natural and organic food ecosystems. Together, we're creating a thriving national industry. Learn about what's happening in your community and how you can get involved!
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT | 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. PDT
Spark Your Day Meetup with Naturally Network
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How do YOU Spark Change? Join us in a casual networking setting every week as we partner with industry leaders and our peers to address the pressing topics of today.
This week, hear from members of the J.E.D.I. Collaborative, an organization dedicated to fostering justice, equity, diversity and inclusion within the natural products industry. Learn about resources available to you and your organization, and how we can support each other in this work that is critical to the future success of our industry and society.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT | 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. PDT
Spark Your Day Meetup with J.E.D.I. Collaborative
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It has never been more important to focus on purpose and impact in life and business. From supporting a more equitable and diverse food industry to setting bold sustainability goals, join us on this leg of the Spark Change journey as we dig into why do-good business is good business. Discover mission-driven brands, content and products via the Product Discovery Zone; take in thought-provoking panels and presentations; and navigate the Spark Change platform to continue making connections that will help you spark the change you want to see in the world.
12:00 – 5:30 p.m. EDT | 9:00 - 2:30 p.m. PDT
Mission-Driven Business Community Event
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Check out the Mission-Driven Agenda below
How do YOU Spark Change? Join us in a casual networking setting every week as we partner with industry leaders and our peers to address the pressing topics of today.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT | 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. PDT
Spark Your Day Meetup with Independent Natural Food Retailers Association & National Co+op Grocers
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When it comes to taste and convenience, frozen foods have never gone out of style. Sales of frozen foods have surged during the pandemic, bringing more consumers into this steadfast category. Getting them to stay may just be about reframing the value that frozen foods bring. It is about more than just accessibility and convenience. It’s about affordability, maintaining nutritional value, cutting down on food waste, easy balanced meals and providing varieties that fit many eating lifestyles. And of course, great taste! During this Spark Change Modern Health Lunch & Learn, we will explore the category’s latest trends and opportunities to reframe value to keep consumers coming back. And yes, lunch is on us!
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
Lunch & Learn hosted by Life Cuisine
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How do YOU Spark Change? Join us in a casual networking setting every week as we partner with industry leaders and our peers to address the pressing topics of today.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT | 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. PDT
Spark Your Day Meetup with FamilyFarmed
Add to Calendar
How do YOU Spark Change? Join us in a casual networking setting every week as we partner with industry leaders and our peers to address the pressing topics of today.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT | 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. PDT
Spark Your Day Meetup with Vitamin Angels
Add to Calendar
How do YOU Spark Change? Join us in a casual networking setting every week as we partner with industry leaders and our peers to address the pressing topics of today.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT | 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. PDT
Spark Your Day Meetup with Climate Collaborative
Add to Calendar
How do YOU Spark Change? Join us in a casual networking setting every week as we partner with industry leaders and our peers to address the pressing topics of today.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT | 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. PDT
Spark Your Day Meetup with Organic Farming Research Foundation & Rodale Institute
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How do YOU Spark Change? Join us in a casual networking setting every week as we partner with industry leaders and our peers to address the pressing topics of today.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT | 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. PDT
Spark Your Day Meetup with Organic Voices
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First came a pandemic. Then came an economic downturn. Then came … a health revolution. There’s never been a more important moment for the natural products industry to step up and lead, as consumers not only seek, they demand, safe and effective health and wellness solutions. Join us as we explore the trends, opportunities and conversations driving the modern health movement.
12:00 – 5:30 p.m. EDT | 9:00 - 2:30 p.m. PDT
Modern Health Community Event
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Check out the Community Event Agenda here
RSVP for this Lunch & Learn AND a free bag of full-size products
Applegate is a food system renegade--and needs you to join the movement! During this Spark Change lunch & learn (yes, lunch is on us) we’ll explore what a responsible, sustainable meat industry can be. Sign up early to reserve your seat.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
Lunch & Learn hosted by Applegate
Paid Content
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RSVP for this Lunch & Learn AND a free bag of full-size products
Bold goals and fierce conversations are needed to effect positive change in the world. Join Spark Change and Innovation for Good Title Sponsor Unilever for a thought-provoking session on CPG leaders and retailers can join forces to leave this planet better than we found it. This conversation is bigger than sustainability; the future lies in regeneration. Lunch is on us! Sign up early to reserve your seat.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
Lunch & Learn hosted by Unilever
Paid Content
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Today, the natural products industry is focused on rebuilding, repairing and replenishing our natural resources through ecological practices. Organic and regenerative agriculture has the power to create the future we want for generations to come, but we have to act now. Join the Spark Change community for a proactive gathering of industry influencers committed to organic growth and innovation.
12:00 – 5:30 p.m. EDT | 9:00 - 2:30 p.m. PDT
Organic & Regenerative Agriculture Community Event
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Check out the Community Event Agenda here
Carlotta Mast
Market Leader, SVP of Content, New Hope Network
Hosted by
Who's Sparking Change? New Hope Network Editors Share Their Product Picks
Adrienne Smith
Senior Food Business Reporter, New Hope Network
Amanda Hartt
Lead Market Analyst,
New Hope Network
Kira Hunter
Content Producer,
New Hope Network
Todd Runestad
Senior Editor,
Ingredients & Supplements,
New Hope Network
Zevia sparks change by helping us reduce our sugar intake and live our best lives! During this hosted experience, get ready to GET. UP. AND. GROOVE. This dance experience will get you out of your comfort zone, get your heart racing and get you to express yourself through movement. Let's dance!
2:00 - 2:15 p.m EDT | 11:00 - 11:15 a.m. PDT
Zevia Hosted Experience!
Sponsored by
Claire Koch
Marketing Manager,
New Hope Network
Betsy McGinn
CEO
McGinn eComm
Sylvia Tawse
Director of Communications, Charlotte’s Web; Founder, Fresh Ideas Group
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Sparking change in the world requires an ability to explain your mission and bring consumers along on the journey!
Join us for a session about storytelling - how you can use your brand platform, website, packaging and more to further your mission in the world.
2:30 - 3:15 p.m EDT | 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. PDT
Spark Change with Storytelling: Panel & Community Forum
Hosted by
3:15 - 3:30 p.m EDT | 12:15 - 12:30 p.m. PDT
Coffee Break
Ryan Pintado-Vertner
Principal & Founder,
Smoketown, LLC
Jessica Rubino
Senior Content Marketing Director, New Hope Network
Carlotta Mast
Market Leader, SVP of Content,
New Hope Network
Adrienne Smith
Senior Food Business Reporter, New Hope Network
Adrienne Smith is the Senior Food Business Reporter at New Hope Network, where she writes about the natural products market. Prior to this she spent more than ten years working for the Spanish Ministry of Commerce, writing about the food and beverage industry in Spain and Europe with an emphasis on helping agri-food companies develop, promote and export their products.
Amanda Hartt
Lead Market Analyst, New Hope Network
Amanda Hartt, Lead Market Analyst at New Hope’s NEXT Data & Insights. Creative and passionate researcher and insights whiz, Amanda enjoys helping brands innovate and support the creation of healthier, responsibly produced and manufactured products. She brings a personal passion for regenerative agriculture, equitable supply chains, and innovative solutions to changing how business is done. As lead analyst for New Hope’s NEXT Data & Insights, Amanda designs research programs that help businesses better understand evolving consumer trends that both support and drive the evolving natural and organic consumer products industry.
Todd Runestad
Senior Editor, Ingredients & Supplements,
New Hope Network
Todd Runestad is a senior editor covering supplements and ingredients for informa's Global Health & Nutrition Network (includes New Hope Network and Natural Products Insider). He has been covering nutrition science news and ingredient innovations for nearly 20 years. Todd has also served as editor for various publications including Nutrition Science News, Health & Nutrition Breakthroughs, Functional Foods & Nutraceuticals, and Functional Ingredients magazine.
Kira Hunter
Content Producer, New Hope Network
Kira Hunter covers the personal care channel for newhope.com in addition to supervising and producing web content, newsletters and social media for New Hope Network.
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These two sessions are designed to help you discover innovative food, beverage and supplement/personal care products from mission-driven brands. Building on trend insights from our What's Next in Mission-Driven Business? session, each dynamic presentation will feature a carefully curated lineup of products to help you navigate the PDZ based on your category focus. Choose your adventure!
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Sponsored by
Claire Koch
Marketing Manager, New Hope Network
Claire Koch is a mission-based marketing and branding leader who is passionate about bringing people together with the causes and brands that inspire them. She has 10 years of experience in marketing and brand communications, and has worked with everyone from early-stage entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 executives. She is also passionate about environmental causes and received her Masters of Legal Studies in Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Claire lives in Longmont, Colorado, with her husband and two young children.
Click to learn more and get involved
Join New Hope Network and the Gluten Intolerance Group for a gathering of the natural products industry’s leading certifiers who are providing consumers with visibility into what's in the products they purchase daily. With stakeholders from across the supply chain, we’ll explore how reputable seals are positively shaping the marketplace with an eye towards product quality and integrity—and how various organizations, including the Gluten Intolerance Group, can band together to support the values driving industrywide transparency. In a sea of labels, helping consumers understand the importance of accredited certifiers is critical to building trust.
Sponsored by
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Kim Otto
Owner, Moon
Valley Organics
Kristi Shafer
VP of Marketing,
American Licorice Company
Alyssa Harding
Operations & Packaging Collaborative Director, OSC2
Your brand is on a mission!
Join us for a panel discussion in which we explore ways to use your company platform to activate consumers, employees and your community. Decisions made in 2020 will have a lasting impact on the future of the natural products industry, so now is the time to have your voice heard and to use business as a force for good.
3:30 - 4:15 p.m EDT | 12:30 - 1:15 p.m. PDT
Spark Change with Brand Activism:
Panel & Community Forum
3:45 - 4:45 p.m EDT | 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. PDT
Invite-only Roundtable: Challenge accepted: Let’s make healthy food accessible to everyone
Hosted by
Click to learn more and get involved
Access to healthy food should be a right, not a privilege. But in order to deliver on the natural products industry’s promise to make better-for-you products widely available, it’s critical to address every aspect of supply chain and logistics in a smart, sustainable and efficient way. During this invite-only roundtable discussion led by New Hope Network and Zipline Logistics, we’ll unite industry leaders to develop solutions for improving food access and creating a healthier tomorrow for all. If you’d like to be a part of the conversation, please contact Jessica Rubino, Senior Content Director, Senior Content Director at jrubino@newhope.com.
4:15 - 4:30 p.m EDT | 12:15 - 12:30 p.m. PDT
Coffee Break
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John Pearson
CEO, French Transit
& Dapple Baby
Jay Weiner
Co-Founder,
Gentle Barn
Amy Jargo
Senior Global Category Merchant, Whole Foods
Jackie Bowen
Executive Director,
Clean Label Project
Conversation Sparkers: Discovery-Based Networking hosted by French Transit
Get to know the Spark Change community! Just because we're not meeting in person, doesn't mean we can't stay connected. Our networking breakout rooms will connect Spark Change's Product Discovery Zone innovators with top influencers and retailers.
4:30 - 5:25 p.m EDT | 1:30 -2:25 p.m. PDT
Sponsored by
Catie Wiggy
Vice President of Marketing & Product Innovation, French Transit
Catie Wiggy, a veteran in the beauty industry, is currently the Vice President of Marketing and Product Innovation for French Transit (brands MyCHELLE Dermaceuticals, Crystal Natural Deodorant, and Dapple Baby).
With over 15 years of experience as a brand educator, product formulator and Licensed Master Esthetician, Catie's one of the driving forces behind increased natural consumer awareness and the promotion of clean, natural brands.
Her passion and belief in safe, non-toxic, yet effective products, along with her deep understanding of natural ingredients and professional skincare gives her a competitive advantage and knowledge within the natural market and beauty industry.
Amy Jargo
Global Senior Category Merchant, Beauty, WFM
Amy is the Global Beauty Category Manager at Whole Foods Market where she leads the facial care, hair care, and cosmetics categories.
Prior to Whole Foods Amy spent eight years at Target Corporation where she was most recently a Senior Buyer in beauty and held other roles in merchandising and Human Resources.
Amy is personally passionate about clean and sustainable beauty and helping indie brands learn and grow.
Jay Wiener
Co-Founder, The Gentle Barn Foundation
Jay is a passionate animal welfare advocate, vegan chef, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expert.
Specializing in the rescue and rehabilitation of severely injured and abused domestic farm animals he also participates in undercover discovery and disruption of the illegal treatment of animals.
Jay spearheaded the “Gentle 12” program that introduces value-aligned companies to The Gentle Barn’s passionate supporters through social media engagement, onsite demonstrations, event support, and dynamic program integration.
John Pearson
CEO, French Transit & Dapple Bab
John brings 25 years of experience, including 8 as an executive in the PE space.
John worked as a marketing executive at P&G and Clorox for over a decade, during which he ran billion dollar brands and also worked on Procter’s Walmart customer team in Bentonville, AR.
John began his career as an Army Officer. He has an engineering degree from West Point and an MBA from Berkeley.
5:25 - 5:30 p.m EDT | 1:25 - 1:30 p.m. PDT
That's a Wrap on Mission-Driven Business!
That's a Wrap on Mission-Driven Business!
Thank you to our Sponsors for sparking change!
Sponsors
By Informa Markets
Innovation For Good
Title Sponsor
Jessica Rubino
Senior Director, Content Marketing
Informa Health & Nutrition
Jessica Rubino is a natural products industry expert and content strategist covering issues that are shaping today's health and wellness industry. As senior content marketing director at Informa Health & Nutrition, Jessica helps companies in the food and beverage, personal care and supplement industries tell their stories and strengthen their businesses through high-quality content, education, data and insights and events. Jessica is passionate about making healthy living a reality for all people and serves on the advisory board for Protect Our Breasts, a nonprofit that raises awareness about breast cancer prevention on high school and college campuses. She believes that a good meal, great conversation and meaningful connections are the ingredients for happiness. You can catch her running or making a mess in the kitchen.
Carlotta Mast
Market Leader & SVP of Content,
New Hope Network
As market leader, Carlotta Mast sets the strategy and guides the growth and impact for New Hope Network, the leading events and information services company for the natural & organic products industry. She also leads the content strategy and team for the Informa Markets Health & Nutrition group, which includes New Hope Network. Her team produces the content and conference programming for Natural Products Expos, NBJ Summit, Nutrition Capital Network, Esca Bona, Natural Foods Merchandiser, newhope.com, Nutrition Business Journal, NEXT Forecast, SupplySide, Natural Products Insider, Vitafoods and Vitafoods Insights.
With 20 years of experience, Carlotta has her finger on the pulse of new health, wellness and natural product trends and the forces shaping consumer attitudes and behaviors. Carlotta is a frequent speaker at industry events and conferences and has been interviewed about the natural products industry, regulatory issues and market performance by media outlets including The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, NPR, ABC News, BusinessWeek and many others.
Carlotta serves on the board and is the past board president of Naturally Boulder, a 1,600-member trade group with the mission of nurturing community, leadership and innovation in the Colorado natural products industry. As Naturally Boulder’s board president, Carlotta helped bring the Naturally Boulder model to other communities and establish Naturally Bay Area, Naturally Austin, Naturally Chicago, Naturally San Diego, Naturally Los Angeles and Naturally New York City; and she now serves on the board of directors for the new Naturally Network.
In addition, Carlotta is a co-founder of the J.E.D.I Collaborative, which was created to foster justice, equity, diversity and inclusion within the natural & organic products industry, and she serves on the board of the Climate Collaborative, whose mission is to leverage the power of the natural products industry to reverse climate change.
In 2013, Carlotta co-founded a paleo snack company called Wholly Bites, which hit the market well before Whole Foods Market and other retailers began adding paleo sections to their stores. Wholly Bites was sold to 1908 Brands in 2016.
Alyssa Harding
Operations & Packaging Collaborative Director, OSC2
Alyssa Harding is currently the Operations and Packaging Collaborative Director at OSC2, a nonprofit focused on aggregating the work of mission-driven company leaders to solve the natural products industry's most pressing social and environmental issues. Her work focuses on community building and scaling market-driven compostable packaging solutions. Previously, Alyssa was the Executive Director of the Sustainable Food Trade Association, a nonprofit trade group focused on the development of sustainable business models in the organic sector. She has an educational foundation in agricultural ecology, a pending Master's degree in Environmental Policy, and a strong personal mission to drive institutional change through sustainability. Alyssa also spent three years managing Corporate Responsibility at Justin's, a Boulder-based nut butter company, where she built the company's sustainability and philanthropic programs from the ground up. Before joining the food industry, Alyssa worked in the environmental sector for Colorado-based water conservation nonprofits, and also the solar industry, focused on developing renewable energy infrastructure and conservation standards in Denver. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for both Naturally Boulder and the Climate Collaborative, and has published articles with PowerHouse Growers, educating readers about food security and sustainable agricultural solutions.
Kristi Shafer
VP of Marketing, American Licorice Company
In her current role, Kristi has taken ALC’s corporate values and tied them to each brand’s purpose that are influencing positive change among young people in the community. Over the years she built a career and a home within the ALC family. Kristi’s current responsibility includes leading and developing the members of the Product Development, Innovation, Creative and Analytics teams. Kristi’s is also responsible for supporting ALC’s retail partners in the Ecommerce space and the company’s D2C business along with their corporate and branded sites.
She is a co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Council and has been a member and contributor to the CFBAI, AMA, ANA and the Candy Alliance.
Kim Otto
Owner, Moon Valley Organics
Kim Otto, an herbalist, farmer and entrepreneur is the co-founder of the organic skin care company Moon Valley Organics. Together with her partner, Aaron Otto, she manages a 10-acre herb farm and apiary, as well as overseeing the production facility located in the beautiful Acme Valley WA, where they produce the entire body care line for Moon Valley Organics as well as private label soaps and lip balms for other companies. Her main job is to run all aspects of the day to day business, but what she enjoys the most is the research and development side of things. As a mother, wife, business owner, beekeeper & herbalist, Kim utilizes her knowledge in all these fields to educate consumers to support the organic movement and to help save pollinators. She is an advocate for sustainable practices in business & teaches future farmers about organic farming and beekeeping by hosting volunteers from the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.
Spark Change
TM
Organic and Regenerative Agriculture Community Event
October 28
Modern Health Community Event
October 7
Mission-Driven Business Community Event
September 16
Thank you to our Sponsors for sparking change!
Sponsors
By Informa Markets
Innovation For Good
Title Sponsor
Claire Koch
Marketing Manager, New Hope Network
Claire Koch is a mission-based marketing and branding leader who is passionate about bringing people together with the causes and brands that inspire them. She has 10 years of experience in marketing and brand communications, and has worked with everyone from early-stage entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 executives. She is also passionate about environmental causes and received her Masters of Legal Studies in Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Claire lives in Longmont, Colorado, with her husband and two young children.
Carlotta Mast
Market Leader & SVP of Content,
New Hope Network
As market leader, Carlotta Mast sets the strategy and guides the growth and impact for New Hope Network, the leading events and information services company for the natural & organic products industry. She also leads the content strategy and team for the Informa Markets Health & Nutrition group, which includes New Hope Network. Her team produces the content and conference programming for Natural Products Expos, NBJ Summit, Nutrition Capital Network, Esca Bona, Natural Foods Merchandiser, newhope.com, Nutrition Business Journal, NEXT Forecast, SupplySide, Natural Products Insider, Vitafoods and Vitafoods Insights.
With 20 years of experience, Carlotta has her finger on the pulse of new health, wellness and natural product trends and the forces shaping consumer attitudes and behaviors. Carlotta is a frequent speaker at industry events and conferences and has been interviewed about the natural products industry, regulatory issues and market performance by media outlets including The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, NPR, ABC News, BusinessWeek and many others.
Carlotta serves on the board and is the past board president of Naturally Boulder, a 1,600-member trade group with the mission of nurturing community, leadership and innovation in the Colorado natural products industry. As Naturally Boulder’s board president, Carlotta helped bring the Naturally Boulder model to other communities and establish Naturally Bay Area, Naturally Austin, Naturally Chicago, Naturally San Diego, Naturally Los Angeles and Naturally New York City; and she now serves on the board of directors for the new Naturally Network.
In addition, Carlotta is a co-founder of the J.E.D.I Collaborative, which was created to foster justice, equity, diversity and inclusion within the natural & organic products industry, and she serves on the board of the Climate Collaborative, whose mission is to leverage the power of the natural products industry to reverse climate change.
In 2013, Carlotta co-founded a paleo snack company called Wholly Bites, which hit the market well before Whole Foods Market and other retailers began adding paleo sections to their stores. Wholly Bites was sold to 1908 Brands in 2016.
Ryan Pintado-Vertner
Principal & Founder,
Smoketown, LLC
Ryan Pintado-Vertner is the Founder & Principal at Smoketown Consulting, a growth shop that helps visionaries build brands with more traction, fewer pivots, and stronger ROI. Smoketown combines strategy, design, storytelling and grit to give entrepreneurs and investors an end-to-end partner in category disruption.
In addition to leading Smoketown, Ryan is a fifth generation innovator with a knack for uncovering extraordinary ideas. His 20-year track record spans the social impact and CPG sectors, including 12 years leading brands at Fortune 500 companies like The Clorox Company and Conagra Brands. Most recently, he was director of disruptive innovation for the Hillshire Farm portfolio at Tyson Foods.
Tom is the author of four books, Revolution in a Bottle (2009), Outsmart Waste (2014), Make Garbage Great (2015) and The Future of Packaging (2019). Tom created, produced and starred in TerraCycle’s reality show, “Human Resources” which aired on Pivot from 2014-2016 and is syndicated in more than 20 foreign markets on Amazon and iTunes.
Betsy McGinn
CEO, McGinn eComm
Betsy is the co-author of The Amazon Roadmap: How Innovative Brands are Reinventing the Path to Market, the quintessential start-to-finish guide for brands who want to launch, recalibrate, or optimize their business on Amazon and ensure continued growth on this powerful platform.
As Seventh Generation’s first eCommerce channel director, Betsy pioneered the company’s innovative eComm strategy and created a thriving multimillion-dollar partnership with Amazon and other key online retailers.
Since founding McGinn eComm in 2014, Betsy has worked with hundreds of natural and specialty brands to establish and strengthen their presence on Amazon. From product development and profitability analysis to guiding organizational change, McGinn eComm leads clients through every step of this complex channel, helping to ensure a successful and profitable online businesses.
With more than a decade of eCommerce experience, Betsy is a thought-leader and regular speaker at workshops and conferences globally.
Betsy McGinn
CEO
McGinn eComm
Molly Renaldo
Partnerships Manager,
Fair Trade USA
Molly Renaldo
Partnerships Manager, Fair Trade USA
Molly Renaldo is a Partnerships Manager at Fair Trade USA, the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in North America. In this role, she leads business development across various food commodities and account strategy with brand partners sourcing Fair Trade Certified ingredients for their products. Through her work, she strives to promote the Fair Trade movement and expand impact, by educating the market and consumers about challenges faced by the farmers and workers throughout the world that create the products we use every day. Molly has presented at the G7 Agricultural Summit, and most recently, the World Coconut Congress, as well as been published in various international food journals. She holds a Master’s degree in Food Culture and Communication, with an specialization in the Marketing and Sustainability of High-Quality Products, from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy.
Watch on-demand
Sylvia Tawse
Director of Communications, Charlotte’s Web;
Founder, Fresh Ideas Group
FIG founder Sylvia R. Tawse has conducted national campaigns for dozens of brands. Her “healthier-living-for-all” commitment is evident in her nonprofit work, from Chef Ann Cooper’s LunchBox.org and Salad Bar Project, to years of work for the Boulder County Farmers Market. Sylvia was an instrumental force in the “Keep Organic Organic” public awareness campaign for the Organic Trade Association, which resulted in the highest number of letters received by the USDA, all 280,000+ of them. Sylvia has firsthand knowledge of the food industry, from the ground up.
Most recently, Sylvia joined Charlotte’s Web, a leading CBD and hemp brand, as Director of Communications.
She and her husband also own Pastures of Plenty Farm, a 32-acre organic farm in Longmont, Colorado.
Allie McElwee
Marketing Director,
4505 Meats
Laurie Buckle
CEO & Founder,
Cookit Media
Allie McElwee
Marketing Director, 4505 Meats
Allie is the Marketing Director at 4505 Meats, based in San Francisco. She joined 4505 in 2014 as the Sales Coordinator for their wholesale sausage line and now nationally distributed chicharrones. She’s held a variety of positions for both the company’s restaurant (4505 Burgers & BBQ) and cpg side (4505 Meats), with social media and marketing being the common thread. She has an affinity for community building through social media and has grown 4505 Meat’s instagram following from 4k to over 35k. Before joining Team 4505, Allie interned with the Good Food Awards where she started their Instagram account. She’s since remained involved with the Good Food Awards as a Committee Member, Committee Chair, and now Judge. A fascination with sustainably raised & tasty food has been the driving force behind most of her academic and career decisions. She has a degree in Environmental Analysis from Claremont Mckenna College where she did her thesis on school lunch programs in America. In her spare time she enjoys spin classes, running, cooking, admiring other people’s dogs, trying new restaurants, and most other activities related to food and drink.
Laurie Buckle
CEO & Founder, Cookit Media
CookIt Media specializes in brand strategy, influencer marketing and content creation. We work with both brands and influencers, bringing our expertise as editors, marketers, content creators and social media pros to the work of building brands, shaping partnerships and creating content.
We like to think of ourselves as outliers in the industry, taking a holistic view of the business of influencer marketing. Every day, we strive to elevate both the brand and the influencer, confident that truly aligned partnerships will succeed where others fall flat. As a team, we share a goal to rethink the existing agency model, providing support, strategy and expertise along the way.
We’re especially proud to be a member of the 2020 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America!
Catie Wiggy
Vice President of Marketing & Product Innovation, French Transit
Catie Wiggy
Vice President of Marketing & Product Innovation, French Transit
Catie Wiggy, a veteran in the beauty industry, is currently the Vice President of Marketing and Product Innovation for French Transit (brands MyCHELLE Dermaceuticals, Crystal Natural Deodorant, and Dapple Baby).
With over 15 years of experience as a brand educator, product formulator and Licensed Master Esthetician, Catie's one of the driving forces behind increased natural consumer awareness and the promotion of clean, natural brands.
Her passion and belief in safe, non-toxic, yet effective products, along with her deep understanding of natural ingredients and professional skincare gives her a competitive advantage and knowledge within the natural market and beauty industry.