Washington—The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) will convene a keynote panel of legal, regulatory and legislative experts at “The Conference: CRN’s Annual Symposium for the Dietary Supplement Industry," Nov. 5 to 8 at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California. The event will also feature best-selling author and business leader Jason Jennings, who will share his five secrets of change for growth and innovation.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) and as the dietary supplement industry positions itself for what’s ahead, it’s important to reflect on how DSHEA came about and how it has impacted the industry and its consumers.
At this year’s conference, three panelists, all of whom were there for the birth of DSHEA, were among those who worked tirelessly to create, marshal, and pass the landmark legislation that the industry has lived under for the past 20 years. This session will reunite key players who will share their personal anecdotes and assessments about how and why DSHEA came about, and whether it’s still the appropriate law for the industry.
Scott Bass, partner, Sidley Austin LLP, will deliver the keynote address. Bass played a key role in shaping DSHEA as an industry representative with what was then the National Nutritional Foods Association. Following his remarks, Patricia Knight, strategic partner, FoxKiser and Kay Holcombe, senior vice president, science policy, BIO, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, will take the stage along with him as panelists. In 1994, and for many years before and after, Knight was an integral leader in the office of Sen. Orrin Hatch (D-UT)—a longtime industry champion, and one of the architects responsible for creating and passing DSHEA. Ms. Holcombe served as professional health legislative staff and senior health policy advisor to the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives under Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), and was instrumental in developing the bill and building consensus in the House.
The “DSHEA at 20" session will take place the morning of Thursday, Nov. 6.
The following afternoon, Friday, Nov. 7, Jennings will speak on his experience with innovation and change. Jennings and his research teams have studied the financial performance of more than 220,000 companies worldwide, conducting interviews with more than 11,000 CEOs, business owners and entrepreneurs in the process. He strives to help lead individuals and companies to their full economic potential. He authored the 2012 New York Times bestseller, “The Reinventors—How Great Companies Embrace Constant Radical Change," and his new book, “The High-Speed Company: Creating Urgency and Growth in a Nanosecond Culture," will debut in February 2015.
“We know we’re operating in a fast-paced business culture that requires companies to rapidly innovate and embrace new ideas in order to thrive," said Steve Mister, president and CEO, CRN. “Mr. Jennings will deliver motivational and results-based concepts to help reinvigorate your company’s approach to change."
CRN also announced two keynote speakers who will explore health care topics on Thursday, Nov. 6 at “The Conference."