SC20 Modern Health Agenda

Thank you to our Sponsors for sparking change!

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Kira Hunter Content Producer, New Hope Network

Todd Runestad Senior Editor, Ingredients & Supplements, New Hope Network

Amanda Hartt Lead Market Analyst, New Hope Network

Adrienne Smith Senior Food Business Reporter, New Hope Network

Who's Sparking Change? New Hope Network Editors Share Their Product Picks

These three sessions are designed to help you discover innovative food, beverage and supplement/personal care products from modern health brands. Building on trend insights from our What's Next in Modern Health? 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!

1:30 - 2:00 p.m EDT | 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. PDT

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 modern health brands in a fun, engaging format. Toot toot, all aboard!

1:15 - 1:30 p.m EDT | 10:15 - 10:30 a.m. PDT

Modern Health Guided Product Discovery Tour

12:45 - 1:45 p.m EDT | 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. PDT

Invite-only Roundtable: Practical Kids’ Health Solutions for Modern Parents with ChildLife Essentials and Fed+Fit founder Cassy Joy Garcia

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An intimate, invite-only conversation about strategies that work to keep kiddos healthy and innovations in kids’ nutrition led by ChildLife Essentials and Cassy Joy Garcia, a certified holistic nutritionist, author and founder of the Fed + Fit online community. If you'd like to join the conversation, please connect with Jessie Shafer, Director of Influence and Health Education by emailing jshafer@newhope.com

Kathryn Peters Executive Vice President, SPINS

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 modern health 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 the modern health 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 Modern Health? Data & Insights from New Hope Network & Spins

Kate Geagan, MS, RDN Principal & Founder Kate Geagan, America’s Green Nutritionist

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What does modern health mean to today's consumers? Kate Geagan, nutrition pioneer and award-winning dietitian, knows that our health and wellness are connected to many things, from the nutrient-density of what we eat, to how what we grow and consume impacts the environment.

12:10 - 12:40 p.m EDT | 9:10 - 9:40 a.m. PDT

Modern Health Keynote: Kate Geagan

Innovation for Good Title Sponsor

Julie Ward Fresh Food Alchemy Plant-based Nutritionist & ACE Certified Health Coach

Carlotta Mast Market Leader, SVP of Content, New Hope Network

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Health has never been more important, and the natural products industry is motivating consumers to embrace theirs in new ways. During our Modern Health Community Event, discover the Product Discovery Zone brands and products representing the future of wellness, take in inspiring panels and presentations that redefine the old health paradigm and set up meetings with health changemakers.

Noon - 12:10 p.m EDT | 9:00 - 9:10 a.m. PDT

Welcome to Modern Health!

Modern Health Community Event Agenda

Community Event

Lunch & Learn

Spark Your Day Meetup

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Join us as we continue on the Spark Change Journey with our Modern Health Community Event on October 7.

Spark Change

Fresh Food Alchemy

As a 100% plant-based, certified ACE health coach, Julie’s passion for plants enlivens her presentations. She helps listeners connect with the concept of a new food lifestyle. Combining her culinary wizardry with 25 years of research and personal experience, Julie demonstrates how food can be simple, fun, delectable, soulful and above-all, healing. Her wealth of first-hand experience makes her presentations personal and inspiring. As an international health speaker who overcame her own digestive issues and depression using food as medicine, Julie gives hope to those facing chronic health challenges. Educating people about how we can nurture our digestive systems stands at the forefront of her work. Emphasizing the interconnectedness of our health, Julie challenges people to connect their mental, physical and spiritual experiences. She dives into difficult-to-tackle health concerns people face, such as, “What if I’ve tried everything already?”, “How can I trust myself to follow through?”, or “I’m afraid to give up what I like to eat most.” Her presentations provide participants with a foundation of understanding and knowledge that empowers listeners to make better health choices, connect with their food, boost energy, and improve mental clarity. Julie created Fresh Food Alchemy as a life-long culmination pooling her extensive research and experience into a plant-based brand that delivers a healthier way of eating. Fresh Food Alchemy promotes the vision that food should be made to support the mind and body, without compromising taste. By approaching food in the right way, everyone can restore and enjoy health, prevent major illnesses and savor tasty, easy-to-prepare meal.

Julie Ward

Kate Geagan, MS, RDN

Principal & Founder Kate Geagan, America’s Green Nutritionist

Kate Geagan a nutrition pioneer and award-winning dietitian who’s helped millions of eaters fall in love with foods that are better for people and planet. She is the author of Go Green Get Lean: Trim Your Waistline with the Ultimate Low-Carbon Footprint Diet (Rodale), creator of A Greener You column with Clean Eating Magazine, and co-founder of Food + Planet, a health professional global platform whose mission is to empower 1 million health professionals with sustainability by 2025. As a strategic advisor, Kate helps purpose-driven companies gain clarity at the intersection of food, health and sustainability, and to leverage those insights to drive enduring growth and impact. Kate is a currently a strategic advisor to the Drawdown Investment Fund, the Sun Valley Institute, Clif Bar, Scout Craft Cannery, American Farmland Trust, Earth’s Best Organics and New Hope’s Influencer Network. She serves on the Global Council of Directors of the True Health Initiative, has given over 1,500 interviews as a nutrition expert, and was formerly a Medical Advisory Board Member for the Emmy award winning Dr. Oz Show.

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 New Hope Network Eric and his colleagues 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.

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.

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.

Bill Puza

Category Manager, Meat, Hannaford / Ahold Delhaize Company

Bill is a third-generation meat-cutter who grew up in the family business learning all aspects of the meat industry. Bill earned his Associate’s Degree in Food Distribution Management, and Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management while working alongside relatives at multiple family-owned meat businesses and larger regional supermarkets. Bill has more than 20 years’ experience in the retail food business, and has worked in various sectors of the industry, ranging from Meat & Seafood Department Manager to Store Manager, to regional Meat & Seafood Merchandising Supervisor, and Fresh Meat Procurement Manager. Bill’s current role is Fresh Meat Category Manager (Beef, Veal & Lamb) for Hannaford Brothers, an Ahold Delhaize Company with nearly 200 retail stores located in New York and New England. Bill is responsible for category item assortment, procurement, ad planning, program development and cross-brand collaboration work with other Ahold Delhaize companies. Bill also participates in numerous critical work groups within Ahold Delhaize USA focusing on sustainability and animal-welfare initiatives.

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.

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.

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.

Julie Emmet

Senior Director, Retail Partnerships, Plant Based Foods Association

Julie Emmett is senior director, retail partnerships for the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA). Julie collaborates with retailers on behalf of PBFA members by leading a multitude of groundbreaking initiatives to grow plant-based foods, including strategic merchandising guidance, data analysis, research, and marketing. Julie previously held leadership roles with Kraft, Albertsons, MARS Advertising and SPINS. Julie earned her master’s in business administration at St. Mary’s College, is certified in nutrition education and is passionate about understanding what is driving growth within plant-based foods, which remains at the epicenter of grocery retail sales growth.

Latashia Redhouse

American Indian Foods Program Director, Intertribal Agriculture Council

Latashia Redhouse is an enrolled member of the Diné Nation and was raised in southeastern Utah. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Journalism with an emphasis in Corporate Communications at Utah State University. She has spent years supporting organizations with marketing strategies and guidance, and is excited to serve the Native American farmer-entrepreneurs and business owners. Her passion is to inspire Indigenous professionals and offer solutions to help grow their business.

Sapna Punjabi-Gupta, RDN

Culinary Wellness Expert & Ayurvedic Practitioner, beSPICED

Sapna Punjabi-Gupta is a Culinary Wellness Expert, Registered Dietitian, Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and the creative force behind beSPICED (www.bespiced.com). She connects her Indian roots with her western training to empower others with skills for easy effortless cooking and find wellness through everyday food and spices. Sapna combines her years of clinical experience with a lifelong personal practice of vegetarianism, and expertise in Ayurvedic studies to spread awareness of the healing power of food and spices, seasonal eating and the profound effects they have on our body, mind and soul. Sapna's wellness workshops and cooking classes, now offered online, are hugely popular along with her vibrant YouTube channel that celebrates food, life, and all things spice. She is an engaging speaker, educator and advocate in the field of culinary wellness. Her work has been featured in both national and international print media. Sapna's boundless energy, unique blend of strong eastern roots and western dietetics expertise enables Sapna to connect to her audience both in person and digitally via a growing following on multiple social platforms.

Jennifer Jacobs

Retail Partnership Manager, Plant Based Foods Association

Jen Jacobs is the retail partnership manager for the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA). Jen came to us in late March from a leadership role in Whole Foods Market and has been growing plant-based foods sales through education, event creation, marketing and merchandising initiatives. Jen led Whole Foods Market's digital & paid media marketing campaigns among other areas of global marketing programs, education and led omni-channel marketing efforts. Jen has become our resident e-Commerce expert as well. Jennifer earned her bachelor’s in advertising and public relations at University of Central Florida and is certified in nutrition education and personal training.

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.

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.

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

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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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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 the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association (INFRA) and National Co+op Grocers (NCG) about how collaboration and working together can spark change and make a difference in the world. Discover examples for how INFRA and NCG are supporting members and the community, and ways that you can too!

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT | 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. PDT

Spark Your Day Meetup with INFRA & NCG

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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, preparing 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 change the value proposition and 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: Reframing the Value of Frozen Foods

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How do YOU Spark Change? Join us in a casual networking setting as we partner with industry leaders to address the pressing topics of today: How to lead a mission-driven business, create products that fit modern health needs, and practice agricultural methods that are healing to the earth. Discover partners and peers every week that can help you on your Spark Change journey. This week, hear from FamilyFarmed about how they support a nutritious, delicious, inclusive and robust local food system. Through programs like the Good Food Accelerator, they support entrepreneurs with capacity building and connect them with industry-leading mentors, potential customers and investors. As the nation’s first accelerator focused on building supply chains for sustainable local food, the Good Food Accelerator can help us all build a more resilient and diverse food system.

11:00am – 12:00pm EDT | 8:00 – 9:00am PDT

Spark Your Day Meetup the Good Food Accelerator

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How do YOU Spark Change? Join us in a casual networking setting as we partner with industry leaders to address the pressing topics of today: How to lead a mission-driven business, create products that fit modern health needs, and practice agricultural methods that are healing to the earth. Discover partners and peers every week that can help you on your Spark Change journey. This week, join The Vitamin Shoppe and Vitamin Angels to learn about what it means to be a purpose-driven company. We'll discuss how they have built a successful cause-marketing partnership over the last 13 years that engages vendors, employees, and customers. We will also hear about how they have navigated this challenging year, creating new and exciting opportunities through bi-annual fundraising campaigns.

11:00am – 12:00pm EDT | 8:00 – 9:00am PDT

Spark Your Day Meetup with Vitamin Angels

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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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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 Climate Collaborative about what's next in climate action. This next year will be critical for building a comprehensive global climate response, responding to COVID-19 and planning for an interrelated economic recovery. Join this session to hear updates from the Climate Collaborative and leading companies on how you can get involved in solutions and share experiences with climate leadership.

11:00am – 12:00pm EDT | 8:00 – 9:00am PDT

Spark Your Day Meetup with Climate Collaborative

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Join cookbook author and former Gourmet magazine editor Kate Winslow as she creates an all organic lunch, followed by a panel discussion featuring leading voices in the organic and regenerative agriculture community. Gina Asoudegan, Applegate vice president of mission and regenerative agriculture, Dr. Jessica Shade, director of science Programs at The Organic Center and Diana Rodgers, founder of the Sustainable Dish and co-author of Sacred Cow, will discuss how organic and regenerative agriculture can lead the way in building better health for people and the planet.

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT

Lunch & Learn: Organic and regenerative agriculture: The pathway to a healthier you and planet

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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.

11:00am – 12:00pm EDT | 8:00 – 9:00am PDT

Spark Your Day Meetup with OFRF & Rodale

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RSVP for this Lunch & Learn AND a free bag of full-size products

Today, CPGs have a much greater responsibility than selling products. But what does it take to get consumers to buy into your vision … and take action? We’re in one of the most important moments in history and every consumer deserves to have a voice in democratizing health. Join New Hope Network and Unilever as we explore how human health and environmental health are intimately intertwined and why climate is a fundamental human rights issue that requires action now. This session will motivate you to mobilize your customers around supporting regenerative practices and proactive policy, and the next steps needed for us to collectively spark change in 2020—and beyond.

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT

Lunch & Learn: Mobilizing consumers around climate action

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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.

11:00am – 12:00pm EDT | 8:00 – 9:00am PDT

Spark Your Day Meetup with Organic Voices

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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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Spark Change

We’ve come a long, long way together! Save the date and join us as we celebrate the Spark Change Journey with community activations, networking and New Hope Network’s notorious Pitch Slam event. On day one of our Spark Celebration, you’ll hear from some of the industry’s most innovative emerging entrepreneurs and our captivating keynote speaker, plus we’ll recognize industry leaders and changemakers who are proof of the power of positivity and have made 2020 a transformative year.

12:00-5:30 p.m. EDT | 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. PDT

Spark Celebration Culminating Event Day 1

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Jessie Shafer RD Director of Influence & Health Education, New Hope Network

Jessie Shafer RD

Director of Influence & Health Education, New Hope Network

Jessie is a registered dietitian and the Director of Influence & Health Education at New Hope Network. For the last two decades, Jessie has worked in food and health publishing, holding the roles of editor-in-chief of Delicious Living magazine and senior nutrition editor for Diabetic Living magazine, and during which time she has managed the creation of more than 200 cookbooks, magazines, special-interest publications and nutrition articles. Jessie is a frequent contributing writer for national health publications, such as Oxygen and Clean Eating, and she writes nutrition- and product-based analysis for New Hope Network. Jessie earned her journalism degree from Northwestern University and her RD credentials through Kansas State University and the Wellness Workdays Dietetic Internship. Jessie and her husband love to ride their bikes around Colorado—now with two kids in tow—and share a deep appreciation for good food.

MIssion-Driven Video will have 9.9

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.

Jessie Shafer RD Director of Influence & Health Education, New Hope Network

Chris McGurrin Manager, Influencer Programs, New Hope Network

Chris McGurrin

Manager, Influencer Programs

Working to inspire health for people and planet, Chris manages New Hope Network's influencer programs. In his role, he provides natural products industry-supportive content, resources and brand partnership opportunities for responsible health and wellness influencers and supports brands in their pursuit of strong influencer relationships. Chris also manages the NEXTY Awards, an industry-facing awards program which recognizes the most innovating, inspiring, integrity and impact-driven brands and products. On New Hope Network's content team, Chris also produces sustainability-focused content on topics such as organic and regenerative agriculture, upcycling and sustainable packaging. This includes Informa Health and Nutrition’s Sustainable Packaging Toolkit, a comprehensive resource designed to support brands in their pursuit of sustainable packaging. In his free time, you can find Chris cooking in the kitchen or running, climbing, biking and skiing in the mountains.

Jessie Shafer RD

Director of Influence & Health Education, New Hope Network

Spark Celebration Culminating Event

November 12 & 13

And the winner is ... On day two of the Spark Celebration, we’ll announce our Pitch Slam winner! Plus, stay tuned for some surprises we have in store for our Spark community as we wrap up the year’s activations—and look ahead to 2021.

12:00-2:00 p.m. EDT | 9:00-11:00 a.m. PDT

Spark Celebration Culminating Event Day 2

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Spark Change

Community Event

Lunch & Learn

Spark Your Day Meetup

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Thank you to our Sponsors for sparking change!