Hall of Legends 2012 honorees

Jeffrey S. Bland, PhD, FACN, FACB, Chief Science Officer, Metagenics

Jeffrey S. Bland, Metagenics' Chief Science Officer, and President of Metaproteomics, has been an internationally recognized leader in the nutritional medicine field for over 25 years. Headquartered in Gig Harbor, WA, Dr. Bland founded HealthComm International, Inc. in 1985, and served as its Chief Executive Officer until the merger with its strategic partner, Metagenics, in 2000.

As the principal visionary of HealthComm, Dr. Bland had already distinguished the company as a leader in the development of medical foods by the time of the merger. He had also established the internationally respected Institute for Functional Medicine to train health practitioners globally in the application of nutritional and functional medicine.

A nutritional biochemist and registered clinical laboratory director, Dr. Bland is a former professor of biochemistry at the University of Puget Sound, and a previous Director of Nutritional Research at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine. Dr. Bland has authored five books on nutritional medicine for the healthcare professional and five books on nutrition and health for the general public. He is also the principal author of over 100 peer-reviewed research papers on nutritional biochemistry.

Committed to advancing education in the natural health sciences, Dr. Bland was the first member of the Board of Trustees of Bastyr University in Washington State, the first federally accredited university in the United States offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in natural medicine. With his highly regarded seminar series on science-based nutrition and health, Dr. Bland continues to focus on providing practical education to healthcare professionals worldwide.

Dr. Bland holds numerous patents for nutritional products and oversees the activities of the Functional Medicine Research Center and the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Mark Blumenthal, Founder, American Botanical Council

Mark Blumenthal is the Founder and Executive Director of the American Botanical Council (ABC); an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to disseminating accurate, reliable, and responsible information on herbs and medicinal plants. He is the Editor/Publisher of HerbalGram, an international, peer-reviewed quarterly journal, the contents of which reflect the educational goals of ABC. For six years he was an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, teaching a course on herbal products in today's pharmacy. Mark has served as Co-Founder and former Vice-President of the Herb Research Foundation (HRF) and President of the Herb Trade Association, the former organization that represented the interest of the herb industry in the 1970's. He was also a founding board member of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA). Recently, his name appeared with some of the most prestigious names in the natural health movement when he was awarded Natural Health Magazine's Hall of Fame Award for "…opening America's eyes to the healing powers of herbs".

He is the senior editor of the English translation of The Complete German Commission E Monographs-Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines, a rational system for evaluating the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines. This publication was ranked second of the medical books published in 1998. Mark is the senior editor of The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs, a new reference work and continuing education module.

Mark has over 25 years' experience with herbs, medicinal plants and natural products. He has appeared on over 400 radio or television shows, written over 500 articles for such publications as Whole Foods, Health Food Business, Let's Live, Vegetarian Times, and Natural Health (formerly East West Journal). He has written chapters for natural alternative medicine encyclopedias, and was an advisor for the World Health Organization (WHO) in its adaptation of the "Guidelines for the Assessment of Herbal Medicines."

Mark is a sought-after and frequent speaker and/or panelist at conferences, universities, and pharmaceutical, natural foods, botanical and agricultural associations. In addition, he has been a leader in the concerns for more rational regulations of herbal and natural product manufacturing, and education on alternative medicines.

John Carlson, Founder, J.R. Carlson Laboratories, Inc.

A pioneer of the natural products industry, Carlson co-founded J.R. Carlson Laboratories, Inc. with his wife, Susan in 1965 and served as its president for 45 years.

John started Carlson Laboratories with his wife Susan in 1965 and played an active role in the business through the company’s 45th anniversary in 2010.

During a lifetime of dedication to the dietary supplement industry, John was an active member of many industry organizations, including the Natural Products Association, The National Institute of Nutritional Education, and The Mid American Health Organization, and was recognized for his service on many occasions. In 2009, John received the prestigious Nutrition Business Journal Summit Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing him as a pioneer that helped build the natural products industry.

Carlson was a great friend of natural products retailers; he had a great belief that nutritional supplements were an integral ingredient to good health. He made a significant impact on the Natural Products Industry and for over 45 years was dedicated to this industry like few others were.

To those who knew him, Carlson was a model for the highest of ethical standards. "He always wanted to—and always did—the right thing," stated Jack Challem, A.S.N., The Nutrition Reporter, and a former employee of Carlson's. "In the natural products industry, everyone respected his ethics and incredible sense of fairness, even his competitors (who usually said the nicest things about him). John set a standard and lived by that standard."

Pat Sardell owner of Country Vitamins, Corvallis, OR, also remembers Carlson for his high ethics. “To both businesses and to consumers, he 'brought us, and taught us': With unwavering dedication to quality and high standards, he brought superior products to the marketplace. And with the same fervor for excellence, insisting that information be validated and credible—he and his wife, Susan taught both trade and consumer sectors how to enhance and optimize personal health.”

In addition to his vast contributions to the natural industry, John Carlson is remembered for his warmth, kindness, generosity, and integrity.  A true pioneer, he was a powerful example of the true nature and soul of the Natural Products Industry.

Steve Demos, Founder, NextFoods

Steve Demos is the natural foods trailblazer and visionary behind NextFoods and its GoodBelly brand.

A progressive entrepreneur with more than 30 years experience in creating and marketing environmentally and socially-conscious foods, Demos is also the founder and former president of WhiteWave Inc. (Silk Brand), the largest producer and marketer of soy-based products in the U.S. He founded WhiteWave in 1977, where he lead all aspects of strategic planning, product conception and development, and branding until it was sold to Dean Foods in 2005 for $296 million (market value).

An avid world traveler, lifelong seeker and vegetarian, Demos was inspired to create WhiteWave following one of his first trips abroad to India. He spent several years traveling throughout Europe and Asia, and returned determined to create a sustainable business that upheld and demonstrated the values of "right livelihood," a concept that fosters responsible, mindful and profitable capitalism. Simply stated: "Good for me, good for you, good for everyone that touches it."

NextFoods is an extension of Demos' belief in "right livelihood," as the company aims to produce healthy, natural, and organic foods with a functional edge based on scientifically substantiated health benefits. The company's first brand, GoodBelly, is a line of deliciously juicy probiotic fruit drinks that help promote core digestive health, with a patented probiotic strain called Lp299v.

Demos currently serves as chairman of the board for NextFoods, although he continues to enjoy trekking the globe, visiting exotic locales, and being a true adventure seeker. Demos resides in Colorado, and also loves being a grandfather to his three grandchildren.

Annette Dickinson, PhD, President, Dickinson Consulting, LLC

Annette Dickinson is a consultant on the regulation of conventional foods and dietary supplements and is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. She worked in Washington, D.C., for over 30 years for the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association of the dietary supplement industry. During that time, she was responsible for regulatory and scientific affairs for CRN and served as the association’s President prior to her retirement and move to Minnesota in 2005.

Dr. Dickinson is the author of CRN’s publication, The Benefits of Nutritional Supplements, a comprehensive review of the evidence demonstrating the health benefits of core nutritional supplements including multivitamins. She was appointed in 2002 to serve a 3-year term on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Advisory Committee. She was appointed by President Clinton to the Commission on Dietary Supplement Labels (1995-1997) and has been a frequent witness before the U.S. Congress and at other public forums. Her expertise includes the legal and technical aspects of marketing conventional foods and dietary supplements, including provisions relating to formulation, labeling, advertising, and good manufacturing practices. She earned her Ph.D. in nutritional sciences and her M.S. in food sciences from the University of Maryland.

Norman R. Farnsworth, Ph.D., 1930-2011

Norman R. Farnsworth was a UIC Distinguished Professor, Senior University Scholar and Research Professor of Pharmacognosy in the College of Pharmacy. He had been a faculty member since 1970 and served as Head of the Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmacology from 1970-1982.

In l982 he assumed the position as Director of the Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences. He was Director of the UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research. He served on numerous committees in the University, including several years as a member of the Senate Executive Committee.

His research had been extensively funded from NIH, NSF, WHO, USDA, industry and private foundations, leading to more than 500 scientific publications and reviews.

In 2005, he was awarded the "Research Achievement Award" from the American Society of Pharmacognosy. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and was the recipient of three honorary doctorates and three honorary professorships in this country and abroad.

Honorary Doctorates:
University of Paris V (Rene Descartes)
Upsalla University, Sweden
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences
Honorary Professor:
University of Science, Peru
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Trujillo University Peru

A tribute by Dr. Guido Pauli, University of Illinois at Chicago Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy, Director of Graduate Studies in Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy:

Norman Farnsworth's self-assessment as "the big picture guy" who "never worked a day of his life" describes the essence of what it takes to live a happy life on a fulfilling mission. His vision and energy formed the basis of the extraordinary role he played in the lives of many, including myself. Norm's academic leadership resulted in, but not from, multiple doctoral degrees, and even the highest accolades were unable to distract him from being a "normal person." Capitalizing on these unique talents, he established a truly collaborative research environment in the College of Pharmacy at UIC. This style of research continues to serve as an example for contemporary academic research.

Pharmacognosy has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Norman have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Norman leaves behind an academic environment that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Pharmacognosy.
These are well considered words, to which much could be added. But like with exclusive lots of aged press juices from fruits of Vitis vinifera, they are best relished in undiluted form.

Michael Funk, Chair and Co-Founder, United Natural Foods, Inc.

Michael Funk, has been involved with promoting and distributing organic foods for over 35 years. As one of the key pioneers of the natural food industry, he founded Mountain Peoples Warehouse in 1976 and built his company into the leading natural food wholesaler in the Western region. In 1996, he co-founded and took public United Natural Foods (Nasdaq: UNFI) to form a natural food distributor that he led to become the largest in the world.

As President and CEO of UNFI, Funk grew the company at an average growth rate of 20% per year, and he stepped down as CEO in 2008. UNFI has annual sales of over 5 billion and Funk continues to serve as the Chairman of the Board.

Michael Funk is a board member of numerous non-profit groups, including serving as Board President of The Non-Gmo Project. Funk serves as a director of The Organic Center, a non-profit dedicated to scientific research on organic food. In early 2010, Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, selected Funk to represent the organic and non-gmo perspective on the USDA's Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture.

Funk lives with his family in a solar-powered home along the Yuba River, in Nevada City, California. As past President of Syrcl, the South Yuba River Citizen's League, he continues to be active in the restoration of native salmon runs to the Yuba River. The Organic Trade Association recently recognized Funk by awarding him their highest honor, The 2011 Leadership Award for Growing the Organic Industry.

Sandy Gooch, Founder, Mrs. Gooch’s

After a near death experience in 1974 induced by reactions to refined over processed foods, Sandy Gooch's experience led to the birth of an industry. She went on to create Mrs. Gooch's Natural Food Markets, pioneering concepts of quality and marketing that continue to shape the way Americans buy food. “She is literally the creator of what we now know as the natural food market that has become such an important part of so many communities in the United States as the place where you go when you're really concerned about how you live your life, when you're looking for quality, safety and honesty. She created a culture,” says Loren Israelsen, Executive Director of the United Natural Products Alliance and a 25-year industry veteran. Sandy’s standards defined an industry. Her creativity splashed Technicolor onto the black-and-white world of food shopping. Her heart inspired an unsurpassed level of devotion among those she worked with and a dedication to naturals across the country.

Gary Hirshberg, Co-Founder, Stonyfield Farm

Gary Hirshberg is the husband of writer Meg Hirshberg and the father of three yogurt eaters.  He is Co-Founder and Chairman of Stonyfield Farm, the world's leading organic yogurt producer, and the author of Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World (Hyperion, 2008).  Gary frequently speaks on topics including sustainability, organic agriculture and the profitability of green business.

Since 1983, Gary has overseen Stonyfield's growth, from its infancy as a seven-cow organic farming school to its current $360 million in annual sales. Stonyfield has enjoyed a compounded annual growth rate of over 23% over 21 years, by consistently producing great-tasting products and using innovative marketing that blends the company's social, environmental, and financial missions. Stonyfield entered into a partnership with Danone in 2001, and Gary is now Managing Director of Stonyfield Europe, with organic brands in Canada, Ireland, and France.

Gary serves on several corporate and non-profit boards including Applegate Farms, Honest Tea, Peak Organic Brewing, The Full Yield, Climate Counts, SweetGreen, RAMp Sports, Glenisk, and the Danone Communities Fund.  He is the chairman and co-founder of Stonyfield Café, a natural fast food restaurant firm.  In 2011, President Obama appointed Gary to serve on the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.  He is also co-chair of AGree an agricultural policy initiative formed by the Ford, Gates, Kellogg, Rockefeller, Walton Family and other leading foundations.

Recently, he has helped to lead the consumer drive to require genetically engineered foods to be labeled.  He is a founding Partner of Just Label It, We Have the Right to Know, the national campaign dedicated to labeling genetically engineered foods, and is co-author of Label It Now—What You Need to Know About Genetically Engineered Foods (New Word City, 2012), the first consumer guide to foods that have been genetically altered. All proceeds from the electronic book benefit Just Label It.

Gary has received nine honorary doctorates and numerous awards for corporate and environmental leadership. He was named a Gordon Grand Fellow at Yale, one of “America's Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs” by Business Week and one of the top ten, “most inspiring people in sustainable food.” by Fast Company.  Gary was also featured in the successful 2009 documentary film, "Food, Inc."  And you can see him in the “Just Eat Organic” Rap Video he wrote and performed on YouTube.
Stonyfield has garnered several prestigious awards over the past few years including  EPA Clean Air Excellence (2009), “Business of the Decade – Manufacturing & Technology” (Business NH Magazine), “2010 Top 10 Leaders of Change Award” (The Foundation for Social Change and UN Office for Partnerships), “One of the Five Best Large Companies to Work for in New Hampshire” (Business NH Magazine & NH Businesses for Social Responsibility, 2010), “Best Environmentally Friendly/'Green' Business (New Hampshire Business Review, 2011), and the Institute of Packaging Professionals AmeriStar Award for Stonyfield's Plant-based Yogurt Cup (2011).

Previously, he directed the Rural Education Center, the small organic farming school from which Stonyfield was spawned and Executive Director of The New Alchemy Institute – a research and education center dedicated to organic farming, aquaculture, and renewable energy.  Before that he was a water-pumping windmill specialist and an environmental education director with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He also authored books on wind-power and organic gardening.

Loren D. Israelsen, Executive Director, UNPA

Loren Israelsen began his career in the natural products industry in 1979. He is still at it today some 33 years later with no end yet in sight. He started at Nature’s Way Products where he was Vice President/General Counsel and eventually President. He was involved in the founding of the American Herbal Products Association, the European American Phytomedicine Coalition, International Alliance of Dietary Supplement Associations, the Natural Products Quality Assurance Alliance and, most importantly, SMQAA. In 1992, he founded the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) to work on troubling problems between the supplement industry and FDA. Through UNPA, he was deeply engaged in the development and passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), and since then he has worked on a range of efforts to realize the full potential of this law. Along the way, he has written several hundred articles, book chapters and a lot of e-mails about the regulation of dietary supplements. He continues to serve as the Executive Director of UNPA today.

Always a fearful flyer, he nevertheless has traveled to over 30 countries doing his job, met a lot of great people, been nearly eaten alive by chiggers in the Panamanian Rain Forest, filled up four passports and has eaten as much unagi (eel) as he could get his chopsticks on.

His three kids are now grown and living wonderful lives as a Mom (Lindsay), a soldier (Johnny) and a pediatric oncology nurse (Annie). His wife, Corinne, is from Paris, which means French food and language are leading the list of graceful aging projects for Loren. He dreams of the day when vinyl records are once again regarded as the only way to listen to music and where no one uses cell phones in restaurants.

Bob MacLeod and Steve Byckiewicz, Founders, Kiss My Face

Bob MacLeod was a talent agent and Steve Byckiewicz a flight attendant when they ditched city life for a farmhouse and a fresh start. Unlikely entrepreneurs, they were mostly interested in gardening and entertaining.

It was the dawn of the 1980's. A couple of (very) young vegetarians are living happily in an ancient house on an organic farm that was used as a hospital during the Revolutionary war. One night in front of a crackling fire, a light goes off and the two modestly decide to revolutionize the cosmetic industry. Lofty plans with loads of creativity and style are created. The Kiss My Face natural body care company is born, starting with some big, ugly, green bars of soap from Greece. But there is absolutely no money...the stage is set for a business disaster.

Bob and Steve load the soap and some organic squash from their garden into their aging VW and head to NYC, all the way hoping the proverbial door won't be slammed in their faces...it isn't! Retailers offer overwhelming support, think the olive soaps are beautiful, buy the squash and even buy them lunch occasionally. The boys are smiling.

Fast forward to today. The VW was traded in for a hybrid but their youthful enthusiasm persists. Now, with a successful line of over 200 bath and body products sold in over 19 countries worldwide, KISS has become a respected leader in natural body care and has helped to revolutionize the way we take care of our bodies. As Bob and Steve like to say - They have us covered from head to toe...with a few stops in between!

They are an inspiration to all budding natural products entrepreneurs.

El Richard, Founder & Chairman of the Board, NHG

Trained as a chemist and expecting his career to be in the world of science, El Richard's life took a different turn when he and his brothers inherited the family business, Fearn Soya Foods. His experience as a businessman in charge of Fearn Soya and a scientist who was extremely interested in health helped El when he went out on his own and began NOW Foods.

El had already established a successful health food store and was trying to figure out ways to supply health retailers with food items that could compete in cost with grocery stores. NOW Foods was formed to purchase healthy foods and supplements in bulk quantities while maintaining low overhead. This was primarily helpful to Elwood's own stores, but soon other health food stores saw the value in purchasing from NOW.

Although value is a primary concern in the NOW philosophy, Elwood never cut corners at the expense of quality. NOW has a sophisticated lab and several PhD.'s on staff because El has never been satisfied with basic levels of quality and research. Elwood has always been an advocate for standards in the health industry and as soon as Good Manufacturing Practices were established by the NNFA, NOW received the highest rating a company can achieve.

Elwood Richard founded NOW Foods in 1968 and successfully guided the company as president until his retirement in 2005.

Even though El has retired he remains involved with NOW and the health food industry. He continues to stress value and quality at NOW and preaches a healthy lifestyle to all who will listen. Now in his seventies El is still very active. He rides his bike in the warmer months and plays basketball in the winter. He is an inspiration to many to lead a healthy life.