NUTRITION CAPITAL NETWORK - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Selection Committee Member

Alex Evans, CFA, is a Managing Director in L.E.K. Consulting's Los Angeles office. Alex concentrates on consumer-facing sectors. Specifically, he focuses on a diverse set of verticals including health & wellness, direct selling, specialty retail, sports, television, film, and OTT / DTC digital services. He advises corporate and private equity clients on a range of issues, including corporate strategy, new business development, channel strategy, pricing/promotion strategy, international expansion, organizational structure, profit improvement, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to L.E.K., Alex was a member of the Corporate Strategic Planning team of The Walt Disney Company. Alex received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in economics from the University of California at Berkeley, where he graduated summa cum laude.

Job Titles:

• Event Manager

Introducing Ashley Brand, a skilled and experienced Event Manager with New Hope Network, specializing in the natural product industry. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for creating unforgettable experiences, Ashley orchestrates seamless events that connect brands, industry experts, and conscious consumers, fostering a vibrant community dedicated to sustainable living and holistic well-being. Their expertise in event planning, logistics, and stakeholder management ensures every occasion is a resounding success, leaving a lasting impact on both attendees and the industry at large.

Job Titles:

• Sponsorship Specialist at New Hope Network

Bailey Newsome is a Sponsorship Specialist at New Hope Network with expertise in project management and on-site activations. She plays a vital role in the Natural Products Events portfolio, assisting with Expo West and Expo East, while leading the sponsorship efforts at Nutrition Capital Network.

Job Titles:

• President of Olive Tree Product Development
• Selection Committee Member

Beverly Emerson is President of Olive Tree Product Development (www.olivetree-pd.com), where she helps executives develop and introduce new foods and dietary supplements to market. Both an accomplished CPG marketer and R&D Executive, Emerson integrates consumer insights with technical expertise to achieve maximum market success. For 25 years, Emerson has completed new innovation work for global food, beverage, and dietary supplement companies, as well as developed successful go-to-market strategies and benchtop formulation/scale up for start-ups. She focuses exclusively on clean label natural and organic products. Emerson started her career as a food scientist with Kraft General Foods and later moved to Nalley's (division of Pinnacle Foods). She eventually assumed position of Director of Global Consumer Health Care Marketing for Banner Pharmacaps, helping them brand new drug delivery technologies based on the softgel platform. As Director of New Product Development at Barlean's Organic Oils, she led her team in commercializing shelf stable OmegaSwirls, an innovative and award-winning emulsion delivery form of fish oil-based Omega-3s. For the past nine years, she has focused exclusively on consulting and mentoring companies through her boutique firm, Olive Tree Product Development. Emerson earned a BS in Food Science from Purdue University and an MBA from Seattle University. She is a regular contributing editor to several industry journals and an experienced industry speaker, based in Seattle.

Job Titles:

• Selection Committee Member

As a consultant since 1998, Bob Burke provides assistance in bringing natural, organic and specialty products to market across most classes of trade. This includes work in strategic planning, growth strategies, business plans, budgeting, pricing, building distribution, broker selection and management, organizational development, financing, branding, trade spending and assistance around M&A, diligence and venture strategy groups. He is also the co-author of the Natural Products Field Manual, Eighth Edition. Prior to consulting, Bob was with Stonyfield Farm Yogurt for 11 years as Vice President, Sales & Corporate Development. He received an MBA from Babson College.He currently serves as an outside director for EcoFish, Saffron Road, Orgain, All Terrain, Farwise, and King Arthur Flour. He serves on the advisory boards of Smart Flour Foods, The Chaat Co., and Thirsty Ventures. He is a former director of Stonyfield Farm, Equal Exchange, Stirrings, and FoodState/MegaFood. He is on the Selection Committee at Nutrition Capital Network. He serves on the admissions committee of the Specialty Food Association. He also serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Nutrition Business Journal. He is on the board of the non-profit Hirshberg Entrepreneurship Institute and also on the board of advisors of the Boy's and Girl's Club of Lawrence, Massachusetts.Bob was named one of the "Top 25 Business Builders of the Natural Products Industry for the last 25 years" by Natural Foods Merchandiser Magazine. He was also named an inaugural Senior Fellow at Food Sol at Babson College. Bob has delivered presentations, seminars and moderated panels at leading trade shows and conferences in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland and the UK. He also runs full day seminars and networking events on "Becoming a more Effective Sales Manager" and "Financing your Natural and Specialty Products Company". Bob lives in Andover, MA with his wife Kathy and their spoiled dog. Please see www.NaturalConsulting.com

Job Titles:

• Founder and President of CJB
• Selection Committee Member

Carlos is the Founder and President of CJB and Associates, a very successful R&D Consulting firm helping companies solve product and innovation challenges. He works with several Fortune 100 companies as well as startups. Clients of CJB and Associates include Barilla, Weight Watchers, Hillshire, Walmart, Starbucks, Popchips as well as pre-revenue companies and European and Latin American companies. Previously, Carlos served for five years as the Senior Vice President-Global Research and Development (R&D) and Quality for Campbell Soup where he joined in July 2013 reporting directly to Denise Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer. He recently retired from Campbell to return to his R&D Consulting firm. Prior to starting CJB and Associates in 2009, he was Senior Vice President of R&D at PepsiCo, where he oversaw all R&D efforts for PepsiCo Foods, including Frito-Lay North America and Quaker Foods and Snacks, a $27 billion business with more than 800 R&D associates. He played a key role in driving the company's international growth by leading global new product development and sharing product technology collaboratively across regions. Carlos began his career at Procter & Gamble where he had senior R&D roles in the Foods and Paper divisions in the U.S. and Internationally.

Job Titles:

• President
• Selection Committee Member

Carlotta leads the New Hope Network Content Team, producing all content and conference programming for Natural Products Expos, NBJ Summit, Esca Bona, Nutrition Capital Network, Natural Foods Merchandiser, newhope.com, Nutrition Business Journal and the NEXT portfolio. In addition she is the chief A Colorado native, Carlotta is the president elect of Naturally Boulder, as well as a Board member, and communications co-chair. Naturally Boulder is a trade group with the mission of nurturing community, leadership and innovation in the Colorado natural products industry.

Job Titles:

• Selection Committee Member

As lead for all NPC investment activity, David is responsible for the overall direction of the organization's portfolio and the management of the individual investments within it. David works closely with the CEO and the Investment Sub Committee (ISC) of the NPC Board of Directors to lead the team in identifying high-potential opportunities in natural products. With over 20 years' experience in the innovation commercialization landscape, David is a great judge of the viability of a product or technology and its market potential. His in-depth understanding of the investment and corporate world, and exceptional attention to detail, make him a tremendous asset to both investors and entrepreneurs alike. He is a sought-after speaker at investor events and meetings, and has an extensive network of national and international corporations, investors, research institutes and innovation and economic development agencies. David oversees all aspects of the NPC investment function with a strong analytical and practical approach. He is in charge of the creation and refinement of the investment assessment process, identification, development and due diligence of opportunities with the team, and management of terms, contracts and relationships with investment partners and entrepreneurs. Armed with a PhD in plant biology, David has a wealth of business, finance, and technology transfer expertise developed through a diverse career in university research, technology commercialization and regulation, venture capital, entrepreneurship, federal government program management, not-for profit management and governance, economic development, and management consulting. In each of his roles, he has been involved in the strategy, implementation, management, and measurement of innovation and commercialization, giving him unparalleled insights into the various programs, policies, and practices that can help companies evolve from start-ups to success. He has served as Director of Business Development with Performance Plants Inc. and as Vice-President with Foragen Technologies Management Inc., which managed a national venture capital fund specialized in advanced agricultural technology investments. He was a Regional Director for the National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program, and was the Chief Executive Officer of the Entrepreneurial Foundation of Saskatchewan. He has also operated a consulting company, advising entrepreneurs on corporate strategy and financing and assistance with various regulatory requirements. David has served on a number of boards for both profit and not-for-profit organizations, including AgWest Bio Inc. and is former Chair of the Board of Directors of Genome Prairie. David was educated at Queen's University where he obtained BSc Honours (Biology), PhD (Biology), and MBA degrees.

Job Titles:

• Managing Director of Wellvest Capital
• Selection Committee Member

David T. Thibodeau is the Managing Director of Wellvest Capital, a unique, Boston-based private investment and strategic-advisory firm focused on the consumer Healthy-Living industry. He is a seasoned corporate finance executive within the health and wellness industry with a successful history of entrepreneurship, corporate strategy, international merger & acquisitions and equity raising. He was an early player in the healthy living sector where he has developed a particular expertise over the last 25 years. From 2000 through 2010 David was a senior banker at the investment bank Canaccord Genuity (formerly Adams, Harkness and Hill). As the head of the Health, Wellness and Lifestyle corporate finance group he focused on mergers, acquisitions, public and private financings. David led the evolution of the firms' Healthy Living practice into the broader and more robust Health, Wellness and Lifestyle sector. Over that time David was an advisor on many of the industry's leading and transformative M&A transactions that have defined the evolution of the emerging wellness industry. David is a frequent speaker at key industry events such as the Nutritional Capital Network, NBJ Summit, Supply Side East & West, BevNet and others.

Job Titles:

• Selection Committee Member

Dean Mosca has founded and sold various companies over the last 30 years. His most recent company that he founded was Proprietary Nutritionals Inc. which specialized in the development, marketing and sales of proprietary ingredients Globally (This company was sold in 2017.). He is also a Board Member for various for profit and not for profit Corporations and Charitable Institutions. He has a strong skill set in marketing and strategic planning with a very strong Financial Management background. He has been in the nutritional supplement industry for over 25 years having built an extensive network and is highly regarded for successfully commercializing innovative products. His knowledge, experience and leadership skills have allowed him to add significant value to management teams of companies he has worked with and mentored.

Job Titles:

• Chief Strategy Officer of MetaBrand
• Selection Committee Member

Debbie is Chief Strategy Officer of MetaBrand and a sales, marketing, and operations executive and channel strategy specialist in the consumer packaged goods industry with 30+ years' experience. She has had leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies including 7-Eleven Inc. and Tropicana North America (Pepsico). Her experience includes building start-up brands including as CEO of BAZI® Inc., a public company, FRS Healthy Energy and Sundance Juice Sparklers, a brand she helped grow to $100 million. She has also worked with leading retailers, distributors, and manufacturers, including The McLane Company, Wal-mart, Whole Foods, Target, GNC, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Safeway, Coca-Cola, and Nestlé Waters. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas and the Cornell Food Executive Program. Wildrick has served as an Executive Committee Chair of the Network of Executive Women for 10 years.

Job Titles:

• Director of Programs at ICA
• Selection Committee Member

Dianna Tremblay is the Director of Programs at ICA. She is responsible for scaling the impact of the ICA's programs and cultivating the support and capital ecosystem necessary for entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. With expertise in program design and implementation, small business support, accessing capital, and ecosystem building, Dianna strives to use these skills to increase equitable access to capital, coaching, and networks for entrepreneurs of color. Leading ICA's program work, Dianna continues to explore, test, and build programs that ultimately prepare companies to become more resilient and investment-ready. Prior to joining ICA, Dianna's professional experience included sales, corporate relationship management, and business development roles in e-commerce and textbook publishing. Dianna received a MBA from the Lorry I. Lokey School of Business and Public Policy at Mills College and a Bachelor's in English from California State University, East Bay.

Job Titles:

• Selection Committee Member

Dr. Geoffrey Margolis is an entrepreneur with 40+ years experience in invention, patent creation, product development, complex problem solving and large scale product commercialization. With a passion for health related products, his career spans food, wine, cacao, medical devices and renewable energy. He has 25+ patents and brings a blend of deep scientific knowledge and hands-on manufacturing to invention and commercialization of new products. Geoff is President & Founder of NFF Inventions (medical devices) and New Food Frontiers, in addition to being Co-founder of GoFit Foods, a brand of meat alternative products. He has developed and licensed food products to some of the largest fast food restaurant & wine companies in the United States. Geoff spent 16 years in new product & business development for Nestlé. As head of LINOR (Nestlé's largest New Product's Development Center in Switzerland), he led the development of a many commercially successful new products worldwide. With a dedicated team of 250 associates, LINOR handled the entire product development process from conception to commercialization. Before joining Nestlé in 1972, he taught for four years at M.I.T. as an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering. He holds Doctorate and Master's degrees from M.I.T. as a Fulbright Scholar.

Job Titles:

• Managing Director of CPL Business Consultants

Dr. Robert Harwood is Managing Director of CPL Business Consultants, a specialist boutique consultancy in B2B ingredients, established in 1987 and operating internationally. He has 21 years of experience consulting in food ingredients and related areas, helping global companies bring new innovations to market, scouting for new innovations and assessing new technologies for corporate venture funds. Dr. Harwood is experienced in technical and commercial due diligence, working with strategics and PE/VC funds. He has acted as an assessor for research funding schemes and as a judge for a conference awards. Robert is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology and a member of the IFT Trend Setting Workgroup.

Job Titles:

• Managing Partner at Nutrition Business Advisors LLC
• Selection Committee Member

Edward Hauck is Managing Partner at Nutrition Business Advisors LLC, a strategic advisory firm focused on the nutrition industry and a Principal of the Nutrition Capital. During his 20 years in the natural products industry, Ed has been a senior executive at multiple industry-leading organizations, including President of Healthy Directions, Chief Executive Officer of ProThera/Klaire, Chief Operating Officer at Stop Aging Now, and Executive Vice President at Great HealthWorks. Edward has led the successful sale process for three companies in the Natural Health industry that generated above-market multiples. He was the Co-Founder and Managing Director of a business incubator for Internet companies, Vector Development. Ed received an MBA from the JL Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and a BA in Business and Economics from Wittenberg University.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• Principal

Grant Ferrier is CEO and Principal of Nutrition Capital Network and Co-Chair of NCN Investor Meetings. Grant founded Nutrition Business Journal in 1996, serving as Publisher, Editor-in-Chief and manager of the research team for more than a decade before selling the business to Penton Media. The NBJ segmentation and quantification of the nutrition industry has been cited by a wide range of government and private sources. Grant is also President and CEO of Environmental Business International Inc., a research and publishing firm he founded in 1988, and the publisher of Climate Change Business Journal and Environmental Business Journal. He has served as a lead consultant or principal advisor on proprietary consulting, research, and strategy development assignments in the both the nutrition and environmental industries, in addition to acting as a third-party advisor to several financing and M&A transactions and acting as an independent investor and/or board member in five companies besides his own. Grant has represented the nutrition and environmental industries in many government and business forums, testifying before three Congressional Subcommittees and serving on advisory committees for the United Nations, OECD, U.S. EPA and U.S. DOC. Grant has degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Conservation & Resource Studies from the University of California, Berkeley.

Job Titles:

• Selection Committee Member

Ian Newton was born and received his education in New Zealand, graduating from the University of New Zealand with Honors Science Degrees in Botany and Zoology, and then completed additional postgraduate research before immigrating to North America. Ian was employed by Rohm and Haas Canada and responsible for sales and marketing activities and product development for agricultural and industrial chemicals and supported the launch of rapeseed and cereal products. In 1970 he became employed by Fisons Canada Ltd., marketers of crop and animal products, rising to the position of Manager Agricultural Division, he was then relocated to the USA where he was responsible for sales, marketing and launching new pesticides. Ian joined Hoffmann-La Roche Canada in 1979 holding various positions including Director Agricultural Division; Director Chemical Marketing; and Group Director, Human Nutrition. In 1996 he relocated to Roche Vitamins Inc. USA, (now DSM Nutrition Products), and rose to the position of Director of Business Development and Regulatory Affairs for North America. Ian was responsible for the development of various nutrients; polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, carotenoids and newly developed ingredients used by the food and dietary supplement industries and became widely recognized as an industry expert. Ian also directed an extensive public information programs for vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids as a resource for health professionals, academics and the media, in both Canada and the United States. He has published on the nutritional aspects of vitamins, long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and nutraceuticals in a variety of scientific and trade journals and is a key speaker at national and international nutrition conferences and symposia. Now retired from DSM, Ian manages his own consulting business, Ceres Consulting, based in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada, specializing in business and product development in the health and nutrition sector. He also consults internationally for governments and global organizations, and presents at international nutrition meetings and symposia. Ceres Consulting is active in regulatory filings with Health Canada for health ingredients for use in foods and supplements, as well as food additives on behalf of food and nutrition companies. Ian continues to actively participate in many areas of human nutrition and is a member of International Society for the Study of Fats and Lipids, (ISSFAL), American Oil Chemists Society, (AOCS), a Selection Cttee. Member in Nutrition Capital Network, where he continues to mentor emerging companies seeking funding and strategic direction. Ian was a Founding member of the highly regarded trade association, GOED, for omega-3 fatty acids in health and nutrition and continues in the Communication and Regulatory Cttees. Ian is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Nutrition Business Journal (New Hope), he has held several boards of director's positions in health orientated companies and organizations, such as Richardson Centre for Functional Foods, AgWest Bio Saskatoon, Planet Organic Health, BioPharmacopea Inc, (now owned by Solutex Group Spain; Maresins), and Radient Technologies Inc. Current Responsibilities Listing:Advisory Boards; Nutrition Business Journal, Nutrition Capital Network Associations:American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS), Health and Nutrition Division. International Society for the Study of Fats and Lipids, (ISSFAL) Global Organization for EPA and DHA, Founding Member. (GOED)

Job Titles:

• Director of Community & Conference Content

In her role as Sr. Director of Community & Conference Content, Jenna is passionate about using education and relationship building to empower and connect individuals in the natural products industry. With a background in environmental studies and public policy, she focuses on opportunities to use business as a global force for good and is delighted to be part of a conference team that champions inspirational leaders, mission-driven and inclusive investment, organic and regenerative ingredient supply, and increased access to healthy and nutritious foods.

Job Titles:

• Founder and CEO at Nlumn LLC
• Selection Committee Member

Dr. Anthony is Founder and CEO at Nlumn LLC, a consulting company that helps companies create personalized products with benefits people want.

Job Titles:

• Marketing Specialist

Megan is enthusiastic about her role as Marketing Specialist at New Hope Network, providing support for Nutrition Capital Network and Nutrition Business Journal. With her background in marketing spanning across a variety of industries, she's able to provide a modern approach to support continual growth and opportunities for Nutrition Capital Network.

Job Titles:

• Executive Director
• Executive Director, Content

Mike serves as Executive Director of Nutrition Capital Network, providing strategic guidance and preparing participating companies for NCN Investor Conferences. Since NCN's inception in 2007, Mike has worked with presenting companies on their business plans, pitch presentations and overall strategy to best position them for growth and investment. He also identifies and introduces potential investors and strategic partners to companies before, during and after the investor meetings. He has worked with entrepreneurs on their business strategy, capital raising, market opportunity assessment, value proposition and partnership development.

Job Titles:

• Client Services Manager
• Client Services Manager for the Customer Success Team for Informa Markets
• Client Services Specialist

Robert Decker is the Client Services Manager for the Customer Success Team for Informa Markets. Robert assists with client inquires for the Global Health and Nutrition, Engineering, and Construction Portfolios within the division.

Job Titles:

• Digital Sponsorship Specialist at New Hope Network

Troy Cushman is a Digital Sponsorship Specialist at New Hope Network, bringing 3 years of experience in sales operations and sponsorship. Currently assisting in sponsorship initiatives, Troy utilizes his expertise in diverse digital channels and platforms to support Nutrition Capital Network's mission of connecting health and nutrition companies with investors.

Job Titles:

• Account Manager
• NCN Sponsorship Lead
• Sales Leader at New Hope

Zachary Watson has been a proven sales leader at New Hope for over a decade. He is the partnerships lead for the Service Provider Vertical at New Hope and NCN. He is a proven expert in account management, with experience in selling various media, content marketing, digital, and trade show solutions for over 17 years. Passion for helping brands and clients align on goals and execution. Most of his experience is in the Natural Products Industry, with former experience in the Outdoor Industry.