Silver Spring, MD, Nov. 4, 2020 -- The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) today announced Amber Bennett’s promotion to Vice President of Marketing and Engagement, a new position that reflects AHPA’s expectation for continued growth and its ongoing commitment to finding more and better ways to serve its membership.
Bennett, who joined AHPA as Director of Membership in July 2015, will continue to oversee AHPA’s Membership department, and with this promotion will also now supervise Communications and Marketing as well as Education.
According to AHPA President Michael McGuffin, “Amber’s success in growing our membership demonstrates that she understands AHPA’s value to the herbal products and dietary supplement communities. She already works closely with Natasha Weaver, AHPA’s Director of Education, most recently partnering on the highly successful inaugural AHPA Sports Nutrition Congress. That continued collaboration will further strengthen AHPA’s reputation as a content-driven educational leader for the industry.”
McGuffin added, “Amber will synergize AHPA’s initiatives, communicating more broadly to additional stakeholders and wider audiences as she reimagines public relations and marketing efforts. Her enthusiasm, energy and can-do attitude make her someone who is invaluable to our members and respected by her peers. Quite simply, Amber knows how to get things done. This is a well-deserved promotion.”
Since joining AHPA, she expanded the association’s membership (including more than doubling the number of Hemp/CBD companies brought on-board in 2019 alone) and increased incoming sponsorship support for AHPA’s initiatives across the board. Before joining AHPA, Bennett spent nearly six years at VIRGO (now Informa), starting as Strategic Account Director and quickly promoted to Associate Publisher. Prior to that, she worked for just over two years at Consumer Source Holdings, a real estate rental platform for consumers, during which time she was promoted from Sales Manager—Phoenix Market to Publisher—Tucson Market. She graduated from Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, with a bachelor’s degree in Advertising. A native of Tucson, Ariz. and a current resident of Dallas, Texas, she is also a mom of two young boys.
“I am both honored and exhilarated by this opportunity,” said Bennett. “Since day one, I have felt that AHPA was my second home, my work family, so to speak. I am filled with ideas about how to build on our association’s heritage and strengths and to grow our footprint in the herbal and dietary supplements industries as a means to best support our membership. I will continue to work closely with, and rely on, my AHPA colleagues and our engaged member companies.”
Said McGuffin, “As AHPA grows, we recognize the need to streamline efficiencies and strengthen our bench. Further, AHPA’s Board recognizes that maintaining and attracting top talent is key to AHPA’s success.”
In August of this year, AHPA added a dedicated staff position to strengthen its already high-level regulatory expertise, hiring Robert Marriott as Director of Regulatory Affairs, a new position. Marriott has a Juris Doctor degree from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Arts degree in Communication Science from the same university. His duties include reporting to AHPA members on legislation and regulations that could impact the herbal products and dietary supplements industries; representing AHPA positions with regulatory agencies; and serving as a resource to members regarding regulatory issues.
Rachel Haas, who joined AHPA in January 2020 as an administrative assistant, was promoted to Member Services Manager in August, a recognition not only of her good work but of AHPA’s desire to provide increased support to its members.
For media requests, please contact Rachel Haas.
About AHPA
Founded in 1982, the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the national trade association and voice of the herbal products industry. AHPA is comprised of more than 450 member companies, consisting primarily of domestic and foreign companies doing business as growers, processors, manufacturers and marketers of herbs and herbal products as foods, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and non-prescription drugs, and also including companies that provide expert services to the herbal trade. AHPA's mission is to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products to ensure that consumers continue to enjoy informed access to a wide variety of herbal goods. More at ahpa.org.