(March 23, 2005, Silver Spring, MD) — The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) announces the results of its 2005 Board of Trustees election. The Association's elections were held on March 17 at the annual meeting of the AHPA membership in Anaheim, California.

“AHPA’s members are truly remarkable companies, and I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work with this group of extremely gifted individuals,” said AHPA President Michael McGuffin. “They strike an excellent balance between large and small botanical manufactures and suppliers, and each should be recognized for actively serving the interests the herbal products industry.”

Beth Lambert will continue to serve as the Board Chairman. The other officers of AHPA’s Board are: James Fischer, Board Vice-Chair; Susan Trimbo, Board Treasurer; Gordon Walker, Board Secretary. Members of the executive committee are the officers and Mitchell Coven, Edward Fletcher, and Stefan Wypyszyk. Their company affiliations are noted below.

“It is an honor to serve as the Board Chair for the industry organization that most actively advances the responsible manufacture and sale of botanicals,” said Lambert. “AHPA is working on many critical activities including government relations, legislative activism, crisis management, consumer education, and more,” she added.

The following, which is also posted on the AHPA website at http://www.ahpa.org/trustees.htm, is the new AHPA Board of Trustees:

David Bunting, Herb Pharm

Lee Carroll, Standard Process/MediHerb

Mitchell Coven, Vitality Works

Ed Croom, PhD, Indena USA

Kathleen Dunn, Natrol

Staci Eisner, Botanica Bioscience

Staci Eisner, PlusPharma, Inc.

James Fischer, TRIMSPA

Edward Fletcher, Strategic Sourcing

Bob Green, Novel Ingredient Services

Byron Johnson, Access Business Group

William Keller, PhD, Nature’s Sunshine Products

Robert King, A.M. Todd Company

James Kinsinger, Hain/Celestial Group

Beth Lambert, Herbalist & Alchemist

David Litell, The Chemins Company

James Roza, NOW Foods

Susan Trimbo, General Nutrition Centers

Gordon Walker, Nature’s Way Products

Mary Beth Watkins, Botanical Laboratories

Stefan Wypyszyk, MB North America

(vacant), Draco Natural Products

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The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the national trade association and voice of the herbal supplement industry, the only trade association devoted solely to herbal issues. AHPA is the recognized leader in representing the responsible center of the botanical trade, and is comprised of the finest growers, processors, manufacturers and marketers of herbal products. AHPA’s mission is to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products. AHPA committees generate self-regulations to ensure the highest level of responsibility with respect to the way herbs are manufactured, labeled and sold. Website: www.ahpa.org

Contact:
Karen Robin, Director of Communications
Telephone:  (301) 588-1171, x-107
Email: KRobin@ahpa.org
www.ahpa.org