Whether you’re newer to industry or simply looking for a refresher on best practices, this session offers the essentials for building quality, efficacious supplement products that lead to lifelong customers. Key pillars include regulatory compliance, contract manufacturing, formulation, supply chain and market integrity. Rounding out a full roster of seasoned industry veterans will be the voice of newer players who are making their mark.
This session will:
9:05-9:30 Regulatory compliance – Andrea W. Wong, Ph.D., SVP, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Council for Responsible Nutrition
9:30-9:55 Contract manufacturing – Joy A. Joseph, President, Joys Quality Management Systems
9:55-10:20 Formulation, science and ingredients – Blake Ebersole, President / Founder, NaturPro Scientific
10:20-10:45 Supply chain, sourcing and testing/lab – Katie Banaszewski, Sr. Director of Quality, NowFoods
10:45-11:10 Market integrity, best practices and tips for success – Adel Villalobos, Founder & CEO, Lief Labs
11:10-11:35 Fireside chat with the founder of a young supplement brand – Kristie Hall, President & Owner, True Grace
11:35-12:00 Q&A
*Program subject to change
This session will:
- Unravel the mystery of some of industry’s most popular governance acronyms, including DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994), GRAS (generally recognized as safe) and cGMPs (current good manufacturing practices).
- Outline best practices, from testing to legal considerations.
- Shed light on some of the complexities of contract manufacturer relationships, such as each party’s responsibilities, the importance of contracts and finding middle ground.
- Explore product ideation, formulation basics, popular ingredients and the science behind them, today’s sourcing landscape and quality concerns.
- Provide tips and unique supplement industry insight from top mentors and those newer to the space.
9:05-9:30 Regulatory compliance – Andrea W. Wong, Ph.D., SVP, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Council for Responsible Nutrition
9:30-9:55 Contract manufacturing – Joy A. Joseph, President, Joys Quality Management Systems
9:55-10:20 Formulation, science and ingredients – Blake Ebersole, President / Founder, NaturPro Scientific
10:20-10:45 Supply chain, sourcing and testing/lab – Katie Banaszewski, Sr. Director of Quality, NowFoods
10:45-11:10 Market integrity, best practices and tips for success – Adel Villalobos, Founder & CEO, Lief Labs
11:10-11:35 Fireside chat with the founder of a young supplement brand – Kristie Hall, President & Owner, True Grace
11:35-12:00 Q&A
Date & Time
Tuesday October 24th, 2023 9:00am PDT
End Date & Time
Tuesday October 24th, 2023 12:00pm PDT
Location
Islander Ballroom H
| MODERATOR |
 Karen ButlerSenior Managing Editor, Natural Products Insider & Food and Beverage Insider, Informa Markets |
| SPEAKERS |
 Blake EbersolePresident / Founder, NaturPro Scientific Blake Ebersole has supported the incubation, startup and growth of hundreds of firms in the supplement, food/beverage and natural products industries. A chemist by training, he understands all levels of product development, quality and compliance, and applies a 360-degree, interdisciplinary approach to developing world-class products. |
 Katie BanaszewskiSr. Director of Quality, NowFoods Katie Banaszewski is a Sr.Director of Quality at NOW Foods, who strongly believes great things are never done by one person, but a team of people. Driven by curiosity and her passion for science, she joined NOW in 2013 with a plan to transform the analytical capabilities of their labs. During her tenure at NOW, she has led the development and implementation of a routine pesticide residue monitoring program and plays an integral role in growing the company’s analytical capabilities. Katie focuses on exploring new scientific approaches to analytical challenges and her areas of expertise are mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. In her current role, Katie focuses on recent issues within the dietary supplement industry and ensures NOW remains the industry leader in holding high quality standards. Prior to joining NOW, Katie spent 5 years at the Institute for Food Safety and Health, working in collaboration with the academia, industry and the FDA. Katie authored and co-authored multiple journal articles and is actively involved with the scientific community, learning and sharing her knowledge with others. Katie holds degrees in Biotechnology and Chemistry form William Paterson University of New Jersey. |
 Adel VillalobosFounder & CEO, Lief Labs Adel Villalobos is the founder and CEO of Lief Labs, a Dietary Supplement Development & Contract Manufacturing Organization based just outside Los Angeles. Adel has a B.Sc. in biochemistry and an Executive MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management as well as Courses on Artificial Intelligence – Strategies for Leading Business Transformation from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Adel has been in the industry for over 25 years with extensive experience in manufacturing, product development, regulations, and government advocacy. He founded Lief in 2008 with only 8,000sf and 10 employees. Today, Lief spans over 200,000sf and has more than 200 employees. Adel is board member of several industry trade organizations including the Natural Products Association and the Supplement Safety & Compliance Initiative. He is also a member of “The CEO Council”, a Master Mind group of over 100 of the top CEO’s and leaders in Los Angeles dedicated to bringing balance back to the state’s public policies, encouraging the economy and promoting a robust business climate. |
 Andrea W. Wong Ph.DSVP, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Council for Responsible Nutrition Andrea Wong, Ph.D., leads CRN’s scientific and regulatory affairs department, responding to emerging regulatory issues, as well as advocating for science-based nutrition. Dr. Wong provides scientific expertise in evaluating research relevant to the benefits and safety of dietary supplements, and in support of CRN’s nutrition policy activities. She also leads proactive self-regulatory initiatives, including the development of best practices and guidelines for industry on product labeling and formulation. |
 Joy A. Joseph, B.S, M.B.APresident, Joys Quality Management Systems Joy A. Joseph, B.S, M.B.A, is the President and CEO of Joy’s Quality Management Systems, Inc. (JQMS). Before founding JQMS in 2005, she spent 24 years as the Vice President of Quality, Technical Operations, Scientific Affairs, and Research & Development for a leading dietary supplement company located in Southern California, USA. She has more than 50 year experience in Quality Control Systems, Regulatory Affairs, Product Development, and Scientific Affairs both in the Pharmaceutical and Dietary Supplement industries. Her expertise also extends to Professional Education and Manufacturing Management. Mrs. Joseph also worked in the Cosmetic and Toiletries Industry for a short period as a Manufacturing Manager. Mrs. Joseph has been a member of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Expert Committee since 1994. She served on the Executive Committee of USP for the 2005- 2010 revision cycle. In this role she participated in setting standards for both pharmaceuticals and nutritional products. She is a charter member for the American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She is a member of the Counsel for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) Regulatory Affairs Committee, and has served on several Scientific Advisory Boards, including the University of California, School of Pharmacy, and the University of Illinois, Chicago and has had various journal publications in the industry. Working with the CRN and other trade associations, Mrs. Joseph played a key role in drafting the original Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines submitted to FDA for consideration in formulating the final rule for Dietary Supplements. She is a board member of the Nutrition Industry Association and the ASQ / FDA Southern California Dietary Supplement Consortium. She is a Lead Instructor for PCQI and FSVP Training under the FSPCA programs. |
| Kristie Hall President & Owner, True Grace Kristie Hall, Founder and CMO of True Grace, is passionate about health and wellness. Inspired by her father's battle with cancer and her role as a mother, she founded True Grace to create nutrient-dense supplements that improve health while caring for the planet. With a strong background in the supplement industry, including roles at Delicious Living Magazine and New Chapter, Kristie believes in addressing nutrient deficiencies through diet and regenerative agriculture. She resides in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband and two children, and enjoys outdoor activities and clean, healthy food. |
Category Education Sessions