For the last 6 years we have developed, constructed and operated The Villages Grown. This company is the result of a legacy among my team and peers, but coupled with an amazing leadership team at The Villages that truly cares about their community. We are changing the world with a Food-as-Medicine Approach backed by the largest, Hyper-Local Food System we have created in Central FL. How did I get
here? I have been a strategic business planner in the LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health & Sustainability) industry for 22 years and entered the Eco-Sustainable industry as a marketing specialist for an innovative project focusing on a sustainable, commercial, hydroponic watering system. This led me to become a Global Marketing Manager for Antelco Corporation, an international manufacturer specializing in water conservation technology, while working with producers, growers and irrigation specialists. During this time, I was responsible for new product development for the hydroponics division for this OEM. This experience led to consulting opportunities for both controlled environment agriculture and retail consumer hydroponic growing systems. The utilizations of these systems incorporated the growing of ingredients and inputs derived for the manufacturing of natural foods and/or products that were considered ‘beyond organic’. Hence, I followed my passion into the world of hyper-local, organic, whole food produce, branded natural products, and services. This experience has been leveraged by an understanding of the entire process for developing natural products from the growing of whole food produce and botanical plant ingredients, to the sustainable processing and manufacturing of these finished products. As a strategic consultant, my background in multiple business disciplines has allowed me to fulfill outsourced Executive Management duties for small or expanding companies. I have consistently led large market projects focused on Controlled Environment Agriculture, sustainable whole food produce products, consumer products and wellness technologies such as skincare, personal care, fashion, high-tech sustainable technologies, and nutraceutical and functional food & beverage product suites. Specialties: Controlled Environment Agriculture, Local Food Systems, Food As Medicine Programming (B2C, B2B -- including Medical Networks), Strategic Business Planning, Sales, Marketing, New Business Development, Event Planning, Grant Writing and Corporate Development. - Jennifer Waxman
