Experts

Sea Bags was founded in 2006 on the principles of being green in product and practice, being made in Maine, and acting as good stewards to our community and state. Sea Bags has employed over 200 people, many of whom Beth mentored and have gone on to run their own companies. Today, Sea Bags has 50 stores, a robust online business, and hundreds of wholesale accounts including Life Is Good and Ralph Lauren - along with a newly-licensed NFL collection. As Sea Bags continues to grow, Beth remains focused on the core mission of the company: being sustainable in product and process, becoming a best-in-class employer, and keeping production local. Beth also serves on the boards for the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and serves as Board Chair for the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. She co-founded the Maine Textile Consortium, actively mentors start-ups, and has been named a Woman to Watch by Maine Biz.

Ayumi Chikamoto, the trailblazing CEO and founder of TokyoTreat, challenges conventional norms in patriarchal Japan. A graduate of Waseda University, Ayumi initially honed her skills at Recruit Co., Ltd, overseeing the planning of a domestic e-commerce business. Inspired by requests from friends abroad for popular Japanese snacks, she founded TokyoTreat in 2015, driven by the global allure of Japanese treats.From humble beginnings on her living room floor, Ayumi's dedication turned TokyoTreat into a sought-after monthly subscription service for Japanese snacks. As a female CEO in a male-dominated industry, she shares her experiences and culture, leading the way for TokyoTreat subscribers worldwide.Beyond her role as a business leader, Ayumi embraces the joys and challenges of motherhood, balancing her role as a working mother of two children. Her journey shows that, even in a society where men typically hold more power, Ayumi is proof that women can succeed as CEOs.

Ayumi Chikamoto, the visionary CEO and founder of TokyoTreat & Sakuraco, is breaking barriers in a still largely patriarchal Japan. In 2015, Ayumi embarked on her journey, sharing beloved Japanese snacks globally through Sakuraco's sister brand, TokyoTreat. However, Ayumi's affinity for the cultural tradition of pairing tea with sweets fueled her desire to explore the deep roots of Japanese snack and afternoon tea culture leading her to create Sakuraco.Ayumi's mission goes beyond mere culinary delights; it bridges the gap between local makers and the global audience, supporting small businesses and fostering cultural exchange. Beyond her role as a business leader, Ayumi embraces the joys and challenges of motherhood, balancing her role as a working mother of two children. Her journey shows that, even in a society where men typically hold more power, Ayumi is proof that women can succeed as CEOs.

Ayla Barmmer, MS, RDN, LDN is the founder and CEO of FullWell, the only registered dietitian-founded and formulated reproductive health supplement brand that supports women and men at every stage. With 20+ years of experience in fertility nutrition, Ayla has taken an evidence-backed, foundational approach in developing the highest quality, effective, and thoroughly tested offering that clinicians and customers love, which has allowed her to build FullWell profitably from the start without venture backing. While currently on sabbatical from private practice, Ayla owns and operates Boston Functional Nutrition and co-founded the Women's Health Nutrition Academy in 2018. A letter from FullWell founder, Ayla Barmmer, MS, RD, LDNI founded FullWell as an adjunct to my clinical practice at Boston Functional Nutrition because I wanted to make the evidence-based, effective, and high-quality supplement we created for our clients available to the rest of the world.After almost two decades working on thousands of complex fertility cases, I’ve learned that no two are alike. In fact, fertility is arguably one of the most common yet perplexing health issues. The vast majority of people receive the most frustrating diagnosis of all: “unexplained infertility.” Popular medical interventions have notoriously poor success rates and often yield tremendous physical and emotional stress, not the mention the financial and relational impact.I synthesized decades of findings, looking at the needs that have emerged from the most straightforward to the most complex cases. My approach looks at the whole person, in the context of their environments, peeling back the layers until we grasp root issues. Over time, I've observed as many external and systemic causes of fertility issues as internal and specific concerns. For this reason, I believe in addressing our pursuit of fertility health as both an individual and collective need, carefully supporting a wide variety of inputs to build the optimal foundation for conception, pregnancy, and postpartum recovery.I'm thrilled that FullWell has garnered the enthusiastic endorsement of so many healthcare practitioners and physicians, but even more so in experiencing firsthand the satisfaction of our users. Every person who selects our prenatal formula is choosing to invest in their own health, and in the fundamental health of their baby. As both a mom and a clinician—I’m deeply honored to support them.Ayla BarmmerFounder, FullWell

As Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tamer Essentials, Ashley combines financial expertise with a deep passion for innovation, entrepreneurship, and wellness. She brings years of experience in finance and data science to her role, where she leads financial strategy, planning, and investor relations to support transformative, science-backed health products.Working alongside her father, Steve, Ashley co-founded Tamer Essentials after witnessing the life-changing effects of Coffee Tamer (which neutralizes up to 90% of the acids in coffee to provide a smoother, more comfortable coffee experience) on her parents’ health. Inspired by its potential to help millions manage acid-related discomfort without giving up coffee, food, or wine, she embraced the opportunity to build something meaningful while spending precious time working with her parents.Beyond her professional roles, Ashley is a mother of three, a wife, and a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, especially in the areas of financial literacy and pursuing one’s life purpose. She thrives at the intersection of business and mission, and is committed to helping others unlock their full potential.

Creed & Cloth is a brand founded by Arielle Stewart, a natural hair influencer whose platform centres on empowerment, positivity, and embracing authenticity, including her advocacy for going grey. Leveraging her expertise in haircare and her years of professional experience as an Assistant Buyer at Macy’s and Product Development Coordinator at Coach, Arielle built Creed & Cloth to combine quality craftsmanship with the power of self-love. Her diverse background helped her create a product that nurtures both the hair and spirit, offering something truly unique and meaningful.Drawing from her personal journey with affirmations and self-love, Arielle created Creed & Cloth to offer products that inspire and empower. The Law of Attraction scarf, the brand's flagship product, reflects her unique approach to style and self-care, blending luxurious materials with affirmations designed to uplift and transform.

Co-founder Anni Stromfeld started SIJO alongside childhood friend Jacob Xi after reconnecting and bonding over their common interest in entrepreneurship and a desire to build an ethical and sustainable business in the health/wellness area. Her vision was to transform the way consumers think and feel about the home. After working in high-stress, results-driven work environments and juggling her career and personal life, she sought to find balance in the chaos of life. The root of that: better, healthier sleep. This journey to find balance helped her (and Jacob) precisely identify the demands of the SIJO customers, using innovative fibers and materials to create the best possible products.Anni, Jacob and their team focus on creating sustainable, performance driven products that not only boast healthy benefits and unparalleled quality, but that have a simple, modern aesthetic that suits any home.

Co-founder Anni Stromfeld started SIJO alongside childhood friend Jacob Xi after reconnecting and bonding over their common interest in entrepreneurship and a desire to build an ethical and sustainable business in the health/wellness area. Her vision was to transform the way consumers think and feel about the home. After working in high-stress, results-driven work environments and juggling her career and personal life, she sought to find balance in the chaos of life. The root of that: better, healthier sleep. This journey to find balance helped her (and Jacob) precisely identify the demands of the SIJO customers, using innovative fibers and materials to create the best possible products.Anni, Jacob and their team focus on creating sustainable, performance driven products that not only boast healthy benefits and unparalleled quality, but that have a simple, modern aesthetic that suits any home.

Anil caught the entrepreneurial bug watching his immigrant parents hustle after moving to the US from Albania when he was 11. A year studying in Tokyo during college didn't just leave him fluent in Japanese - it sparked a lifelong love affair with coffee that led to founding Jaho Coffee in his hometown of Salem, MA in 2005. Since then, he's built a mini empire with seven Massachusetts locations, two Tokyo cafés, and a string of ventures including Barista Connection (before coffee folks had Instagram!), Milkboy Boba & Ice Cream, and Bagel Boys. His latest venture, Dekáf Coffee Roasters, is on a mission to prove decaf drinkers deserve the good stuff too.

Andy Nguyen, Co-Founder of MTC Global and Co-Founder and CEO of Rest®, has combined his vast professional business experience as well as deep understanding of the North American consumer to help manufacturers create new online brands for the North American market and beyond.Born in Hong Kong, Nguyen moved to Vancouver, Canada at an early age. He received his Bachelors of Commerce from the University of British Columbia specializing in marketing, logistics and accounting. In 2014 Nguyen moved back to China to experience the incredible growth of the Chinese economy. He has held various positions at large companies including PwC, and co-founded his first company Halloween Craze early on in his career. For six years in Shanghai, he worked in the digital marketing industry helping international brands such as Costa Coffee, LEGO, and HK Disneyland expand their digital footprint in China. He also worked with Chinese brands like Ecovacs to enter international markets.Through Co-Founding MTC and various brands like Rest®, he aims to bring consumers and manufacturers close together to create more robust and consumer-centric products faster and more efficiently.Nguyen lives in Shanghai, China with his family and enjoys cooking, running, traveling and staying on top of the political economy and his favorite North American sports teams. He also appreciates a good DIY project and an entertaining comic.

Andrew W Fox is an aspiring scholar and entrepreneur originally from Gastonia, North Carolina. He has pursued higher education at various prestigious institutions, including the University of Georgia, New York University, Columbia University, and Harvard University, with the goal of obtaining a degree. Andrew's entrepreneurial spirit began at a young age when he started his first business at just 13 years old, buying and selling plastic combs through the mail. While attending university, Andrew took on a new business venture, selling Karat Gold Chains to jewelry stores throughout the southeast. However, his entrepreneurial journey took an unexpected turn in 1992 when his grandparents asked him to help them for a single Christmas season in their wholesale/retail jewelry business. Despite the unexpected detour, Andrew stayed in the business for four years from 1992 until 1996, during which time he grew the business from a single showroom in Charlotte to a thriving wholesale business servicing retailers all over the eastern United States.In 1996, in a family disagreement, Andrew left and came to New York City in partnership with a global Indian diamond company, starting an importing and jewelry manufacturing business. In just 1.5 years, the business grew from zero sales to $5 million, opening relationships with numerous national and regional jewelry retailers. However, due to a massive and growing ulcer, Andrew sold his part of the company to his partner in an attempt to alleviate his stress and gain his freedom.In June of 1998, Andrew started Hansa Diamonds, a wholesale jewelry importer. Operating as a continuous start-up, Andrew kept an open mind, always adjusting the business to market forces. He moved from wholesale to 3rd party support to first party B2C, rolling with the punches and taking the best opportunity in the current market. Andrew is a known jewelry technology and ecommerce expert, having grown SuperJeweler.com from a new B2C in 1999 to a large and successful retail site with 8-figure revenue. His expertise in jewelry technology and ecommerce has been recognized by his peers in the industry, and he has been sought after as a speaker at various conferences and events.Today, Andrew is available to consult and speak on various topics, including 2023 ecommerce, end-to-end logistics, bootstrap financing, independent business growth, any jewelry topic, and the effects of Lab-Grown Diamonds on the market as a whole. He has the ability to briefly review any business entity and make simple, valuable suggestions for repair and growth. Andrew's vast experience in entrepreneurship, business management, and marketing make him a valuable resource for any business owner looking to take their venture to the next level.

Amy Zalneraitis is the Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer of We Feed Raw, a premium raw dog food company that delivers complete and balanced meals to dogs all over the country. With an extensive background in marketing, Amy has leveraged her skills in writing and creative direction to create an unforgettable brand that sets the gold standard in the raw dog food market.We Feed Raw was originally founded by Amy's sister, Alissa, a huge dog lover and advocate for all animals. After Alissa's heartbreaking passing in 2014, Amy made it her mission to keep her sister's dream and legacy alive. Today, We Feed Raw is not only the fastest-growing DTC raw dog food company out there, it is considered the premier raw dog food delivery service--it's been rated “best in class” by Forbes, People Magazine, Popular Science, The Skimm, and other top-tier publications. Amy has worked tirelessly to maintain the brand's integrity. She remains endlessly inspired by her sister's mission to provide dogs with biologically appropriate, nutritious food, and is committed to delivering health and happiness to pets across the country.