New Hope Community is saddened to study of the passing of longtime natural merchandise trade champion Michael McGuffin, who not too long ago stepped down as American Natural Merchandise Affiliation president after 25 years on the helm. Within the weeks previous his dying, we had been engaged on story to commemorate his immeasurable impression on AHPA and all the natural merchandise commerce within the U.S. and worldwide.
For that story, we solicited enter from a spectrum of trade voices, every sharing their ideas on McGuffin’s management, laudable traits and biggest achievements. Since we hadn’t but printed that piece on the time of his passing, we repurposed their remarks right into a retrospective on his outstanding legacy on this trade and past.
Right here, a grateful natural merchandise neighborhood commemorates Michael McGuffin for …
Amber Bennett, vp of selling and engagement at AHPA
His dynamic management
“Michael’s management is outlined by his unwavering dedication, deep trade data and talent to convey individuals collectively. Certainly one of his biggest strengths is his ardour for advocacy. He doesn’t simply defend the trade; he proactively works to form insurance policies that assist accountable commerce and shopper entry to secure, high-quality natural merchandise. He’s a consensus builder, guaranteeing that various voices throughout the trade are heard and represented, and he’s prepared to take a stand when needed.
“Michael is not only a frontrunner—he’s a real champion for the natural trade. His work has set the inspiration for the longer term, and his legacy will probably be one in all dedication, strategic imaginative and prescient and unwavering advocacy.” —Amber Bennett, vp of selling and engagement at AHPA
Jim Emme, CEO of NOW Well being Group
His huge data and expertise
“Michael has been concerned within the pure merchandise trade for a lot of many years, together with retailing, product improvement and regulatory modifications. He has witnessed quite a few vital modifications in how merchandise are dropped at market, and even the modifications in how and the place merchandise are bought to shoppers. These experiences have given Michael perception and data that few possess. Michael has had a direct impression in serving to to ascertain product requirements which have helped our trade comply and acquire acceptance within the face of everchanging expectations of shoppers and regulators alike.” —Jim Emme, CEO of NOW Well being Group
Roy Upton, founder, president and govt director of American Natural Pharmacopeia
His mastery of natural merchandise
“Michael has a outstanding means to utterly digest and retain minute particulars about just about each side of a problem that impacts the pure merchandise trade. That is most evident in his understanding of all points of complement GMPs. He is aware of all-out each line and verse verbatim; is aware of the place the ambiguities, deficiencies and key factors of rivalry are; and might articulate every clearly and with a logical rationale.” —Roy Upton, founder, president and govt director of American Natural Pharmacopeia
Mark Blumenthal, founder and govt director of the American Botanical Council
His historic impression
“I’ve mentioned this many occasions: All corporations that promote herbs and botanical elements owe a debt of gratitude to Michael (and AHPA)—and they need to be supporting AHPA and Michael’s work and unparalleled legacy. When the historical past of the herb trade within the U.S. is written—50 or maybe 100 years from now—Michael will probably be on the high of the record of people that have been instrumental in constructing the fashionable herb trade.” —Mark Blumenthal, founder and govt director of the American Botanical Council
Invoice Chioffi, chief working officer at Nammex and AHPA board member
His integrity
“Nice leaders are sometimes mentioned to have related qualities, integrity being on the high of the record. In my private expertise as a member and board member of AHPA, in addition to sitting with Michael on the board of United Plant Savers for a few years, I discovered that Michael is trustworthy, clear and constant in his actions. This sort of management builds belief inside a company—and belief is without doubt one of the biggest achievements Michael has engendered in people and the natural neighborhood.” —Bill Chioffi, chief working officer at Nammex and AHPA board member
Shaheen Majeed, international CEO and managing director, Sabinsa Corp.
His assist of the little guys
“Michael has been an excellent chief as a result of he persistently championed the underrepresented voices within the natural merchandise trade. Usually in commerce teams, the very small corporations and their particular wants haven’t any champion, however defending these variations to regulatory businesses and others is without doubt one of the issues that has set AHPA aside below Michael’s management. He stood agency on ideas that prioritized integrity and greatest practices, guaranteeing that the trade not solely upheld excessive requirements but in addition remained accountable to its neighborhood. —Shaheen Majeed, international CEO and managing director, Sabinsa Corp.
Wilson Lau, CEO of Nuherbs and AHPA board member
His ardour
“Michael’s ardour for herbs and natural merchandise is unparalleled, and individuals are drawn to it and attempt to match that enthusiasm. He’s at all times engaged and has a solution prepared to fireside off, it doesn’t matter what the query is. There isn’t a state of affairs that he hasn’t seen or skilled personally whether or not it was when he was working his personal firm or AHPA. He’s my natural hero and function mannequin.” —Wilson Lau, CEO of Nuherbs and AHPA board member
Elan Sudberg, CEO of Alkemist Labs and AHPA board member
His mentorship
“I’m deeply grateful to my unimaginable good friend, colleague, mentor and chief, Michael McGuffin, for shaping a giant a part of my skilled journey. Early in my profession, I bravely spoke out in opposition to many adulterated merchandise, which sadly made me an immediate goal for these concerned. Again in my early 20s, whereas nonetheless navigating my chemistry research in school, I confronted some powerful challenges at trade committee conferences the place I shared our troubling findings. I used to be met with fierce pushback from seasoned entrepreneurs, Ph.D.’s and legal professionals defending their merchandise.
“Realizing my wrestle to seek out my voice, Michael suggested me to take my proverbial shoe off and bang it on the desk till I used to be actually heard. Since then, I have been strolling round barefoot, besides within the lab! Because of Michael, who acknowledged the trade advocate inside me and inspired it to shine, I’m nonetheless passionately preventing for our trade and for international entry to secure and efficient pure medicines, almost 30 years later. A heartfelt thanks to Michael McGuffin in your unwavering mentorship, love and assist!” —Elan Sudberg, CEO of Alkemist Labs and AHPA board member
Suzanne Shelton, founding father of The Shelton Group
His friendship
“My pricey good friend Michael and I first met within the early Nineties when the herb firm he co-founded, McZand Natural, was a shopper and he gave me a tour of their manufacturing facility … By way of the many years, we turned shut pals, usually texting one another clips of songs, photos of meals or our gardens, editorial feedback on present occasions, [check-ins] after a tough patch or a reminder of a enjoyable reminiscence.
“Certainly one of my favourite surprises has been his voice on the opposite finish of the cellphone calling to simply to compensate for every little thing. It’s very Michael to be spiky at occasions, like all of us, however he deeply loves his pals, even once they disagree. Once I consider the individuals I met by this trade who’ve enhanced my life within the final 35 years, his is without doubt one of the first faces I see in my reminiscence. —Suzanne Shelton, founding father of The Shelton Group
