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This is the only blog that will be so focused on me, but I want to share a little more about why I am motivated to dedicate my career to the natural foods industry, and what you can expect.

When I was growing up, my mom was a teacher and librarian. I didn’t appreciate it when all of my spelling questions were answered with an enthusiastic “let’s get the dictionary!” But now, as an adult, I realize it is one of the best gifts she could have given me – a natural curiosity to get answers to questions, a love of learning and a sense of wonder about the world around me.

My mom also taught me that if you aren’t part of the solution, you are part of the problem…fast forward and as an adult now that advice has often motivated me to take action, even when a challenge has seemed insurmountable.

I started my career in brand management at Kraft Foods in Glenview, IL, working in the Cheese Division (fitting for a girl from Wisconsin!) on a variety of Natural Cheese brands and Philadelphia Cream Cheese. I wouldn’t trade those years for anything, however, I have found my place as an independent branding and marketing strategy consultant working with local and natural food companies. This is more than a job to me.  I am passionate about making a positive impact on our food system, starting with helping local and natural food companies become category leaders – in both philosophy and growth.

Based on personal experience, I truly believe we are what we eat and that food is medicine. I’m concerned about the food choices that fill most grocery store shelves and lunch rooms, and the negative impact they are having on obesity, behavior, our environment and more. So, given my passion and expertise I believe that if I’m not part of the solution, I’m part of the problem. It is inspiring to see the growing number of natural food options on store shelves, but we have a ways to go before these options are accessible on  a mass scale.

I love to learn and ask a lot of questions…you could say they are my “natural wonders.”  In talking with people at all levels of engagement in the natural products world, I find others are often wondering the same things. As Maya Angelou said “when we know better, we do better” and with this blog My intent is to spread some knowledge from myself and others to help us do better, together, in order to make natural products the mainstream.

To help me answer these questions, I will be working with industry experts and founders of local and natural food and beverage companies or related companies in order to hear straight from these change makers. I can’t wait to share more of what’s to come.

Whether you are a food company founder, investor, supplier, influencer, food blogger or just have a sense of natural wonder, I hope you find these posts interesting and inspiring.

I’d love to hear from you — what questions do you have about marketing and branding in the natural food industry?

Katie has 15+ years of experience in brand management and marketing across a range of popular brands from Fortune 500 consumer package goods companies to local startups. She has degrees in Marketing & Management from the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Business and now, as an independent consultant, she is dedicated to helping local and natural food brands become category leaders in both philosophy and growth.

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