Sandy Almendarez, VP of Content

May 31, 2012

3 Min Read
Calling All SupplySide West Speakers

With a successful SupplySide MarketPlace behind us, it's time to look to the upcoming trip to Las Vegas in November for SupplySide West. Five months is not that far away, and if you're already planning on going, why not ensure it is more successful for you and your company by throwing your hat into the speaking role?

Becoming (or continuing to be) a speaker at SupplySide can give you the chance to show your expertise on a hot topic in the industry. The next time a potential customer is looking for an expert in your particular area, he will probably remember that great talk you gave at SupplySide West on GMPs, NDIs, sweeteners or [fit your topic of interest here].

VIRGO is currently accepting speaker applications for the SupplySide West Education Program. The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 15. Submit your application here. Remember, sessions must be educational, not promotional. Sessions are 50 minutes long, including a Q&A. SupplySide West Education will occur Nov. 6 to 8,2012, and the SupplySide West Exhibit Hall will open Nov. 7 to 8.

This year, we'll have at least four concurrent education tracks; one Natural Products INSIDER track, one Food Product Design track, one Inside Cosmeceuticals track, and one SupplySide Insights track.

The INSIDER track is closest to my heart, and I want to be sure we get great speakers on interesting topics. Along with other industry experts, the VIRGO editors outlined topics of interest for the INSIDER track to help potential speakers decide on what talks would be the most interesting.

Topics of interest for the INSIDER education track include:

GMPs

  • How to ensure a contract manufacturer is GMP compliant

  • How a company can conduct its own GMP audit

  • Training employees for GMPs

  • How to avoid FDA violations

  • How to fix violations during GMP inspections

Proposition 65 

  • A basic outline of the proposition and a discussion of recent court rulings

  • How cases are brought to California's attention; which supplements are likely to fall under the highest scrutiny and how companies can be sure to get the correct tests on their products

  • Insurance

The "Dr. Oz" Effect

  • How a company should/can respond once Dr. Oz or another health guru praises or condemns a supplement

2012 Election and Political Landscape (Remember, election day happens when we're at SupplySide West, so be sure to vote early)

  • How each administration might affect the dietary supplement industry; a prediction of what each administration might offer

  • Recent political happenings in Congress; with industry advocates such as Rep. Barton retiring and other industry stalwarts facing difficult elections, what can the industry expect if its advocates aren't re-elected?

NDIs

  • How to submit a notification

Sports Nutrition

  • The DMAA controversy; studies that show it isn't naturally derived vs. studies that show it is; studies that show health risks and anecdotal cases that show its dangers

  • The athletes-blaming-supplements-for-dirty-test-results phenomenon and marketing tips for sports nutrition companies to address the fallout after such cases

Evaluating a Research Study

  • What to look for when evaluating the level of support

Nutrition Concerns of Aging Americans

  • Distinct segments such as joint health, hearth health, bone health, energy and immunity, that exist for this wide-ranging group

If you have another topic of interest, please feel free to submit it; we just thought we've give a few ideas in case you're stuck. If you have any questions, please contact VIRGO's Education Manager, Natasha Y. Hall, J.D., at [email protected].

SupplySide West runs from Nov. 5 to 9, 2012, at The Venetian and Sands Expo, in Las Vegas. With over 10,000 attendees, 1,000 exhibiting companies and a dynamic education program, even if you aren't a speaker, you can still make great connections in the supplement, cosmeceutical and food industries.

I hope to see you there, perhaps I'll even be in the audience of your education session.

About the Author(s)

Sandy Almendarez

VP of Content, Informa

Summary

• Well-known subject matter expert within the health & nutrition industry with more than 15 years’ experience reporting on natural products.

• She cares a lot about how healthy products are made, where their ingredients are sourced and how they affect human health.

• She knows that it’s the people behind the businesses — their motivations, feelings and emotions — drive industry growth, so that’s where she looks for content opportunities.

Sandy Almendarez is VP of Content for SupplySide and an award-winning journalist. She oversees the editorial and content marketing teams for the B2B media brands Natural Products Insider and Food and Beverage Insider, the education programming for the health and nutrition trade shows SupplySide East and SupplySide West, and community engagement across the SupplySide portfolio. She is a seasoned content strategist with a passion for health, good nutrition, sustainability and inclusion. With over 15 years of experience in the health and nutrition industry, Sandy brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as a content-focused business leader. With specialization in topics ranging from product development to content engagement, creative marketing and c-suite decision making, her work is known for its engaging style and its relevance for business leaders in the health and nutrition industry.

In her free time, Sandy loves running, drinking hot tea and watching her two kids grow up. She brews her own “Sandbucha” homemade kombucha; she’s happy to share if you’re ever in Phoenix!

Awards:

Speaker credentials

Resides in

  • Phoenix, AZ

Education

  • Arizona State University

Contact:

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