Who We Are
Trust Transparency Center (TTC) utilizes trust transparency as a framework to provide insights and guidance to nutritional product stakeholders in the areas of Business Growth, Strategic Intelligence and Go-To-Market Strategy, M&A, Compliance and Risk Management. TTC’s Ingredient Transparency Center identifies emerging categories of nutritional ingredients, stewarding them while identifying challenges and potential, providing education, insights and community building and preventing their exploitation.
Meet Our Team
Len Monheit
CEO
Len Monheit
CEO
A recognized industry analyst and thought leader, Len Monheit has over 20 years experience in the natural products and dietary supplement industry, with over 15 years background in digital media. Monheit has participated in dozens of speaking engagements across four continents, talking about best business practices, industry trends across the health and wellness industries, and success factors for international business development. With a background in Biopharma and biotechnology, and as General Manager of a contract research and analytical lab, Monheit, in 1999, co-founded NPIcenter, which grew over the subsequent 8 years, to be the largest online media enterprise in the North American Natural Products industry. Selling that to Penton Media’s New Hope Natural Media in 2006, Monheit joined Penton/New Hope as digital media director, ingredient portfolio manager, market leader and ultimately Executive Director of Strategic Business Development. Taking on the role of General Manager, US, with UK-based William Reed Business Media, Monheit, over three years, introduced two new annual conferences to the US (Food Vision and Probiota) and was responsible for a tradeshow launch (The Healthy & Natural Show) in Chicago in May of 2016. Monheit had responsibility for all of William Reed’s activities in the Americas, including FoodNavigator-USA, NutraIngredients-USA, as well as Pharma and Cosmetics publications, in addition to international partnerships and growth projects.
Scott Steinford
Founder
Scott Steinford
Founder
Scott Steinford is a certified M&A expert with proven executive-level success. From starting companies to facilitating their acquisition, Steinford has an extensive and award-winning track record encompassing the pharmaceutical and nutrition industries. Trust Transparency Center was founded in 2007 and has been the cornerstone for industry coaching and strategic counseling. Steinford has given keynote addresses and written or contributed to dozens of articles, firmly establishing his commitment to both organization and industry leadership. Steinford has held CEO or President roles in for-profit organizations such as ZMC-USA and Doctor’s Best as well as Executive Director and President roles in not for profit organizations. He has been an active supporter of United Natural Products Association and serves as an Editorial Advisor to Nutrition Business Journal and Nutraceutical World. Steinford is known for his role with the ingredient CoQ10. He has passionately contributed to the 15 year 20% CAGR of CoQ10 (39Mt global market in 2000 to over 700Mts in 2015). Steinford remains an authority on the CoQ10 ingredient market through leadership positions in ingredient supply, retail brand and trade association levels. Steinford is a New Hope Ambassador, providing NBJ reports and data for a comprehensive and targeted industry view at your location. Steinford has a Pre-Law from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master’s of Science Degree in Law from Champlain College.
Traci Kantowski
Communications Director
Traci Kantowski
Communications Director
Traci has more than 16 years of public relations and marketing experience, specializing in the nutraceutical and consumer packaged goods industries. Traci focuses on developing strategic traditional and non-traditional media relations programs that directly impact her clients’ business objectives. Traci has provided senior counsel for consumer brands like Nature Made, Nutrex Hawaii, Wellesse, Zarbee’s, OLAY Vitamins, PUREbar, SOYJOY, Jacuzzi, MillerCoors and Next Pharmaceuticals. She’s also led broad reaching social media initiatives that directly improved consumer engagement. Specific expertise includes media relations, strategic planning, and leveraging social media and influencer partnerships. With only a four week lead time, Traci led the effort to launch OLAY Vitamins at an on-time and under-budget New York media event that Procter & Gamble named one of their top five press events. She has driven top tier national media coverage in outlets like Good Morning America, E! News, Shape, Self, Prevention, Real Simple, Family Circle, Clean Eating, Better Nutrition, the New York Times and many others. Traci is adept and building relationships with bloggers and influencers to create social media campaigns that build buzz and awareness in a natural, organic way and creating compelling, creative news hooks to maximize PR success and position companies and brands as media resources. She has extensive experience managing experts and celebrity spokespeople. Traci earned her Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Northridge. She is a fitness enthusiast and is a Certified Health Coach, Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor. She lives in Wheaton, Ill. with her husband, two children and two dogs and is an active community volunteer.
Zoe Georgouses
Project Specialist
Zoe Georgouses
Project Specialist
Zoe is the newest member of Trust Transparency Center, having joined TTC in early 2021 as a Project pecialist. She graduated Wittenberg University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. After graduating, she worked in real estate development and market research with her main focus being project management and building client relationships. Zoe has always had a passion for all things health and wellness and in her free time loves learning and trying new products in this space.
Nathan Gray
Science & Technical Director
Nathan Gray
Science & Technical Director
Nathan Gray is an industry analyst and consultant with more than a decade of experience in the food and nutrition space and more than 15 years in media and science communication.
An experienced communicator and strategic connector, Nathan brings with a wealth of experience and expertise in food technology, nutrition science and wellness trends. As an industry thought leader, he is passionate about innovation and scientific discovery in nutrition – and in particular the microbiome and sports nutrition categories. Nathan has a BSc Human Biosciences from the University of Plymouth, UK, where he specialised in exercise nutrition, immunology and science communication. After this he gained a postgraduate certification in Science and Environmental Journalism at the University of Lincoln, UK, where he worked on radio and TV productions in addition to online and print journalism. Alongside his work with Trust Transparency Center and the Global Prebiotic Association, Nathan runs European consultancy Nutraceutic. He was previously Senior Editor at NutraIngredients – covering the functional food, supplements, and wellness space, and co-ran the European content team for William Reed’s Global Brands Division. Between 2010 and 2020, Nathan worked in a various roles and regions within William Reed, including managing NutraIngredients and FoodNavigator in Europe, managing and overseeing the development of BeverageDaily and DairyReporter globally, helping to launch NutraIngredients-Asia, and driving the creation and long-term development of industry-leading events like Probiota, Food Vision, Sports Nutrition Summit and the NutraIngredients Awards.
Pam Hilpert
Controller
Pam Hilpert
Controller
Pam Hilpert, Controller was a founding member of Trust Transparency Consulting and has worked with Scott Steinford in various capacities since 2007. TTC continues to benefit from Pam’s more than 17 years’ experience in the field of accounting with 12 of those years being in multiple channels within the nutritional industry. Pam is a proud graduate of Sam Houston State University-Go Bearkats! She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in Accounting as well as her Master of Business Administration. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching her daughter play soccer, live music and reading a good book. She is a beginner quilter and enjoys volunteering at her church.
Caiti Dowden
Data Analyst
Caiti Dowden
Data Analyst
Caiti brings a distinct wealth of knowledge as our Data Analyst. Caiti joined Trust Transparency Center in 2018 and has since become a very valuable resource in securing survey and data to support TTC content. A Sam Houston University graduate and former elementary school teacher, Caiti brings many skills and attributes to the team. Caiti first entered the nutraceutical industry in 2010 and has become adept at identifying and analyzing emerging industry trends. In her free time, Caiti enjoys spending time with her family, enjoying a good Netflix binge, and supporting her Houston sports teams.
Carla Ooyen
Research Director
Carla Ooyen
Research Director
Carla Ooyen is an independent market research consultant focusing on the natural products industry, including natural and organic food and personal care, supplements, functional food, and pet products. She has also conducted research in the nascent cannabis and hemp industries. Prior to founding Ooyen Research, LLC in 2014, Carla spent six years honing her market research skills with Nutrition Business Journal and New Hope Natural Media. Carla has worked with suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, investors, and everyone else involved in the value chain to determine market potential and future strategy based on quantitative and qualitative inputs. Carla holds an MBA from the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business. Before becoming a market researcher, she still analyzed data and trends as an architectural engineer.
Glynnda Steinford
Director of Customer Relations
Glynnda Steinford
Director of Customer Relations
Glynnda is Director of Customer Relations at Trust Transparency Center where Glynnda networks, develops and builds long term relationships. Glynnda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration. Glynnda has more than 40 years in the field of healthcare including administrator of a busy allergy group, marketing representative for a major hospice corporation, marketing for a busy imaging facility, 25 years in pharmaceutical sales representative for a major company and 9 years in nutraceuticals.
Glynnda enjoys cats, cooking, her family and friends as well as beginning golf.