Organix-South is a privately owned and rapidly growing natural products company headquartered in rural central Florida. We represent people and communities, working around the planet with a common goal of creating and selling the best possible herbal products. We manufacture both TheraNeem and TheraVeda, and have built our company around the idea that the details matter It is possible to create wholesome natural products, while taking care of the planet. We are committed to organic, fair trade, whole herbs and honest business practices. Click here to read our Mission Statement and Code of Ethics.
Autumn Blum - Founder and CEO of Organix-South, Inc.
Autumn is a graduate of Eckerd College with a B.S. in Chemistry, certified by the American Chemical Society with an emphasis in Organic Chemistry, and holds a minor in Environmental Geology. While working for other companies and as a consultant, she learned many intricacies of formulating cosmetics using natural ingredients. She was making natural herbal products for other companies until she began working with the little known Neem tree, and in 1998, Autumn incorporated Organix-South. She emphasizes natural ingredients, incorporating her knowledge of Neem and other medicinal plants to create therapeutic skin care and aromatic herbal supplements which she manufactures and distributes globally under the TheraNeem, TheraVeda and other private label brands.
Working with Nisarga Biotech in Satara, India, Autumn helped develop a novel technology to encapsulate broad-spectrum supercritical extracts of Ayurvedic herbs, combined with the original whole herb powder, into vegetarian capsules. After proving the stability of the finished product, Autumn introduced TheraVeda Whole Herb supplements in mid-2005. The technology is currently in 'patent-pending' status.
As an alternative to the cosmetic industry's "cost-consciousness" and lack of environmental concern, Autumn offers the world a vision that embraces organics, product efficacy and company ethics over pure profit. She serves as president of her company, Organix-South, Inc., currently the top manufacturer world-wide of premium Neem products.
Click here to email Autumn
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We at Organix South are dedicated to promoting sustainable, organic, fairly traded and ethically wild crafted herbal dietary supplements and body care products. Our commitment to quality assurance and education for our TheraVeda® and TheraNeem® product lines is supported by our highly qualified professional team of professionals. We believe in empowering our customers with the ability to better utilize the benefits of herbal products and supporting their wellness with ongoing herbal education.
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Dr.Shrikrishna G. Phadke - Formulator and Medical Advisor
Dr. Phadke is an Ayurvedic Physician with an advanced doctorate degree. With more than forty years experience in Ayurveda, he served for 25 years as dean of one of the world's first Ayurvedic Medical Schools and is a member of the Central Council of Indian Medicine, which oversees Ayurvedic medicine in India. He is recognized as an expert and has presented numerous papers on Ayurveda at national and international conferences in India, Germany, France and Italy. Coming from a long line of Ayurvedic practitioners, he is the son of Govind A. Phadke, a noted Vaidic scholar in Ayurveda who also served as the dean of the Ayurvedic Institute and who wrote a series of well known books on Ayurvedic therapeutics and principles. The Phadke family's tradition of education continues with this new initiative integrating traditional Ayurvedic wisdom with modern science and technology.
Click here to email Dr. Phadke
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Trinity Ava Russo, Herbalist - Director of Education
With a fascination for the world of plants since childhood, Trinity Ava is an accomplished herbalist and educator. She has designed innovative herbal education programs and has led seminars across the country, giving people a better understanding of the traditions and values of herbal medicine. With over 10 years of teaching experience, Trinity's user-friendly herbal seminars offer a beautiful synergy of Eastern and Western herbalism, Ayurvedic principles and clinical experience. In addition, she teaches aromatic botanical medicine at the California School of Herbal Studies and Bastyr University. Passionate about the environment, Trinity is committed to working with farmers worldwide to support organic, fairly-traded and sustainable farming methods. Her mission is to inspire and empower individuals with the effectiveness of herbal tradition, while infusing supportive lifestyle choices that enhance one's ability to "self care" with herbs. She currently serves as Director of Education for Organix-South®, a natural products company that specializes in therapeutic products made with organically grown neem and patent-pending organic herbal dietary supplements that combine supercritical extracts with the wisdom of whole herbs.
Click here to email Trinity
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Betsy B. Singh, PhD. - Senior Clinical Science Advisor
Dr. Singh is has over 20 years experience as a researcher in both epidemiological and medical departments. She has served as President of a clinical research group, and held numerous positions in academia including Senior Scientist and Dean of Research at SCU in California. Dr. Singh is currently on the board of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine and formerly was an editor. She has chaired scientific advisory boards, sat on advisory boards, and is the methodological expert for HPCUS. She has consulted with RAND and collaborated with investigators in Europe, Asia, and across the U.S. Dr. Singh leads a research team whose areas of research include chronic musculoskeletal disorders (fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic back pain; studies investigated a variety of interventions), neurological disorders, viruses, inflammation, weight loss, cholesterol, stress and depression, asthma, menopause and among others. Dr. Singh brings a sound scientific viewpoint to our herbal issues, structure function claims and is working to develop clinical research protocols for TheraNeem & TheraVeda.
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James Richards - Production and Operations
Jae has been at Autumn's side since she started this company. As a master carpenter, Jae has an extraordinary talent to make things work. During start-up, he created a powder filler out of some basic plumbing supplies and a kitchen funnel! Jae keeps all the equipment operating as it should, and enjoys keeping everyone on their toes!
Click here to email Jae
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Faith Connelly - Smooth Operator
Faith understands the business of supplements, natural health and herbal products, because she lives it. Over the years she has worked as a manager in nationally known Super stores, in large independent stores as well as in smaller community based stores. While Faith has expert management, leadership and financial skills, she also knows firsthand how much each customer matters. It is these reality based personal skills, combined with her technical wisdom that makes Faith an asset and a resource to us at Organix South, as well as to all of our customers. She has worked one on one with customers on sale day, besides having been the buyer, planning sales and setting shelves. Faith keeps things together at our company, and has been formally titled our 'Smooth Operator'.
Click here to email Faith
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Michael Hoffmann - Product Development and Merchandising Expert
Michael has more than 25 years of professional experience in the Natural Personal Care realm. During our phase of expansion and rapid growth, it is incredibly beneficial to have someone like Michael available as our guide and mentor. He was integral in the development and success of several natural products companies, including Jason®, Avalon® and Nature's Gate®. Packaging, brand management and ongoing development of new and useful natural skin care products are all sustainable, improving with the care and guidance of Michael Hoffmann.
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William Matthews (aka Billy the Tool Guy, aka Practical Neem Joker Extraordinaire)
Billy came to us from a large Pharmaceutical company. He keeps all the equipment and our building in tip top condition, while scaring the bejeezus out of half the staff with plastic spiders. And yes, the entire company has developed an inordinate fear of plastic spiders. Little girl squeeling fears even...
Click here to email William
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Tom Rasmussen - Chief Neem Seed Counter
Tom spent most of his working life in the hotel business. His career started counting money in a large Las Vegas casino while attending college at the U. of Nevada where he received a BS in business administration (we can attest to the BS...). He has managed resorts in Florida and the Bahamas (why would you ever leave there?). Tom joined Organix-South because he loves the company and the products. Tom enjoys riding Harley Davidson motorcycles and playing with his grandchildren and two German shepherds. We were thinking he would be a fatherly influence around here, but you gotta watch those neem counters! He's an instigator just like the rest of us.
Click here to email Tom
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Teri Graves - Office Executive & CSR Guru
When you call and hear that bright and cheerful southern accent on the phone, that's Teri! Teri does a little of this and a little of that, and is definitely the go to woman when you need something accomplished. She also tries to keep everyone focused! Teri has 10+ years administrative experience in Local Government. She is also the President of the Ft. Meade Junior Women's Club and involved in other local groups. Teri is a Mom first and foremost, and loves spending time camping and boating with family and friends.
Click here to email Teri
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Davita Greer-Ferguson - Shipping & Receiving Diva
Davita (Dee to us) joined our team when we relocated to Bowling Green in November 2006. Before joining us, Dee put in her time as a restaurateur for 15 years. Whenever we need a little creative flow around here, Dee always has ideas to offer. From creating a MySpace page for the company to spearheading the donation of factory seconds to our troops abroad, Dee is ready and willing to jump in head first. When she isn't hanging out at Organix (you call this work???), Dee enjoys reading anything and everything, spending time with her family and planning her upcoming wedding!!
Click here to email Davita
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Jason Edwards - Brand Manager
Jason Edwards has traveled the world, enjoying and learning from the cultures that bring us our most incredible botanical discoveries. His passion for natural healing has driven him to seek out the true nature of plants and how they interact with the physiology of our amazing bodies. He compulsively researches herbs and herbal processing to more completely understand the products that he believes will heal the world. Jason also has a deep personal love for the Natural Product Industry that stems from his ten years of military service. After serving his country for a decade Jason was diagnosed with an environmental allergy, specifically an allergy to petroleum products. This should have come as no surprise because his job in the military was petroleum supply and storage. Once diagnosed, he was medically discharged and left to his own devices to try and overcome this malady. It was only through the love and wisdom of healers in the natural product industry that his condition was reversed and his body healed. Jason has been dedicated to promoting natural products and healthy living ever since.
Click here to email Jason
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Delora Ford - Accounts Receivable
Delora comes to us from the big city looking for some peace and quiet in the country. She now shares five acres with three kids, two horses, a dog, and a guinea pig. She's been a Girl Scout co-leader for 3 years and likes teaching girls about outside fun and camping. She's fascinated by the organic process and hopes to learn as much about neem as possible through reading and product sampling.
Here at Organix-South she organizes the accounting department, keeping accounts receivable and payable neat and tidy. She also helps out shipping & receiving with their paperwork too.
When Delora's at play, she quilts and hangs out with friends and family by the pool. Her philosophy is "Life is too short not to have fun."
Click here to email Delora
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Kate Goldrick - Account Executive
Kate stumbled into the natural products industry purely by accident - her first exposure was as a temp entering orders for a supplement company in Vermont. The more she learned, the more knowledge she craved. Five years and two companies later, Kate brings to Organix-South her passion for organics, her love of herbs and her devotion to her customers. When not healing the world, she enjoys a quiet existence with her husband, their five organic cats and a small organic garden.
Click here to email Kate
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Krystal Carter - Account Executive
Krystal has worked in various unrelated fields over the years and stumbled into the Organix family that she now calls home. Having always had a tendency toward the holistic side, she is a certificated massage therapist . Occasionally, she will bring in her chair for office tension relief (which is most appreciated at Organix!). Krystal has 2 two children and enjoys a great laugh. Krystal swears Autumn finally helped her to find her "niche," as it is here where she belongs, and is excited to have found her way into this industry.
Click here to email Krystal
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Sally Lynn- Account Executive
Sally has been in the sales industry for many years, dealing primarily in the mass market with major national brands. After her move to Florida in 2002, she decided to have a second childhood and went back to school, eventually graduating from the Aveda Institute as a licensed Cosmetologist. With her new knowledge, she realized natural products were the way to go and on a fluke Autumn Blum became one of her first private clients (her hair really needed some help!). Tides change, doors open, and now she is fully entrenched in her life at Organix-South. Sally feels that her primary job is to enrich our customers thru education of our products. Sally brings the winning combination of her cosmetology expertise combined with her passion for Organix South Inc. natural products. Anyone who speaks with Sally will hear her 5 bird, 4 cats, or dog on any given day, unless she leaves her home office for the social interaction of the corporate headquarters!
Click here to email Sally
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Melissa Ash - Educator & Aesthetician
Melissa has been working with Organix since 2003 helping to educate staff and customers about the healing properties of Neem. Melissa is a licensed aesthetician and understands many of the complex issues involving natural skin healing and support. Melissa gave birth to beautiful Baby Neemo (aka Mackenzie) in 2005, and has been working part-time from home as a mother first, educator second. She is active in the community and is loving being a mom.
Click here to email Melissa
