The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) announced today that it has promoted Amber Bennett to the position of vice president of Marketing and Engagement, a position that was newly created as the trade association continues to grow and seeks out new ways to serve its membership.
 
Bennett first joined AHPA as Director of Membership in July 2015, and the new promotion will reflect her responsibilities in the areas of communications, marketing, and education.
 
“Amber’s success in growing our membership demonstrates that she understands AHPA’s value to the herbal products and dietary supplement communities,” AHPA president Michael McGuffin said. “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. 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.”
 
“As AHPA grows, we recognize the need to streamline efficiencies and strengthen our bench,” McGuffin continued. Further, AHPA’s Board recognizes that maintaining and attracting top talent is key to AHPA’s success.”
 
AHPA reports that, since she joined the company in 2015, Bennett has expanded the association’s membership across the board, including more than doubling the number of Hemp/CBD member companies. Prior to joining AHPA, Bennett spent nearly six years at VIRO (now called Informa), where she started as a strategic director before being promoted to associate publisher. Prior, she worked for over two years at Consumer Source Holdings, a real estate rental platform for consumers as a sales manager from the markets of Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.
 
“I am both honored and exhilarated by this opportunity,” Bennett said. “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.”
 
Other recent staff announcements at AHPA include the hiring of Robert Marriott as director of regulatory affairs, which was also a new position, in August of this year. 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 on regulatory issues.