Advisory Board
Gary Hirshberg
Gary Hirshberg is Co-Founder and Chief Organic Optimist of Stonyfield Farm, the world’s leading organic yogurt producer, and the author of Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World. Gary serves on several other corporate and non-profit boards, including At Last, Orgain, Peak Organic Brewing, Uncle Matt’s and Wildgood as well as Chairman of Organic Voices. He has received 12 honorary doctorates and numerous awards for corporate and environmental leadership including a 2015 Champion for Children Award from Mount Sinai Hospital’s Children’s Environmental Health Center and a Lifetime Achievement Award by the US EPA.
Corinne K. Shindelar
Corinne has nearly 40 years’ experience in the natural and organic products industry including the last 15 years as founder and former President/CEO of INFRA (Independent Natural Food Retailers Association). Her numerous awards include being named one of NBJ’s “Most Influential People in the Industry”, and Progressive Grocers “Top Executive Woman in Grocery”. In 2019, New Hope featured her as one of the 40 Unforgettable Founders of the Natural Products Industry. Corinne serves on several Boards and is a member of numerous natural products leadership initiatives, providing coaching and strategic guidance to companies who wish to make a difference in the world.
Elliot Begoun
Elliot Begoun a 30-year industry veteran, author, and the Founder of TIG, a 1:1 customized alternative accelerator focused on helping emerging natural product brands grow. TIG works with its entrepreneurs to build nimble, capital- efficient, resilient brands that become tardigrades not unicorns. Catch him at FoodBytes, the Hirshberg Entrepreneurship Institute, the Natural Products Business School, and find his articles in publications such as the Huffington Post, SmartBrief, and New Hope.
Rick Antonelli
Rick Antonelli has dedicated the majority of his professional career to United Natural Foods (Nasdaq: UNFI), the nation’s largest natural products distributor, serving as a Board Member, EVP, COO and President of Distribution for both Eastern and Western Regions, Director of Sales and also as Director of Sales for Cornucopia Natural Foods, the Company’s predecessor. Rick is currently an Executive Leader for American Flatbread Co. Prior to that, he was CEO and Chairman of Galaxy Nutritional Foods. Rick has decades of experience in Operations, Sales and Executive Leadership and has served on the Board of Directors of numerous natural products including: Zevia Beverage Company, NCG, Mary’s Gone Crackers and Healthy Living Markets and Homefree Brands.