—Mark Blumenthal, Randi Neiner, and Carolyn Sabatini receive Apple Awards—
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 4, 2007 — Mark Blumenthal of the American Botanical Council, Randi Neiner of the Shaklee Corporation, and Carolyn Sabatini of Pharmavite LLC were today awarded the prestigious “CRN Apple Awards” at the Council for Responsible Nutrition’s (CRN) 2007 annual conference on dietary supplements at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, AZ.
The “CRN Apple” award, a Steuben crystal apple, is presented annually to individuals who have shown a long-term commitment and service to both CRN and the dietary supplement industry.
Mr. Blumenthal is the founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council (ABC), a nonprofit research and education organization focusing on the responsible use of herbs and medicinal plants. With over 25 years of expertise in herbs, medicinal plants and natural products, Mr. Blumenthal also serves as the editor/publisher of HerbalGram, an international, peer-reviewed quarterly journal. He has authored over 400 articles for publications such as Whole Foods, Health Food Business, and Vegetarian Times. Mr. Blumenthal has served as a consultant for CRN on issues relating to scientific studies on botanicals, and many CRN members support his organizations’ educational efforts.
Ms. Neiner works as the director of market research for the Shaklee Corporation where she is responsible for managing competitive intelligence reporting and delivering fact-based relevant and actionable research results. She began working for Shaklee in 1979 and has been actively involved with CRN since the 1980s, currently as the association’s chairperson for the Industry Research Sub-Committee, responsible for CRN’s annual consumer confidence survey.
Ms. Sabatini has worked at Pharmavite LLC for the past 17 years, and is currently the director of government and corporate relations. She has held various positions at the company including one in the Marketing Department, where she successfully launched Chewable Vitamin C tablets. Ms. Sabatini has been actively involved in CRN activities, having served as the chair of the Government Relations Committee for four years, during which time the Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act became law.
During the ceremony, Steve Mister, CRN’s president and CEO, and Marjorie Fine, chairperson, CRN Board of Directors and executive vice president, general counsel and secretary, Shaklee Corporation, thanked the recipients for their dedication and efforts on behalf of the supplement industry. CRN also thanked and acknowledged John P. Venardos, Herbalife International of America, Inc., who successfully chaired the 2007 and 2006 CRN annual conferences.
Recent past CRN Apple Award winners include: 2006 winners: Gail Becker of GBA Health Communications; Patricia Knight, chief of staff to Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT); and Eugene Lambert of the Covington & Burling law firm; 2005 winners: Joy Joseph, formerly of Pharmavite LLC; Ed Croom, Ph.D., of Indena USA; and John Hathcock, Ph.D. of CRN; 2004 winners: Marjorie Fine, Shaklee Corporation; and Peter Barton Hutt, Covington & Burling.
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