DECEMBER 7, 2023
Powers to lead association marketing, member experience strategy as department head
WASHINGTON — CRN (Council for Responsible Nutrition), the leading trade association representing the dietary supplement and functional food industry, today announced updates to its membership development and member experience programs, following the retirement of former longtime team lead Carl Hyland. Dietary supplement industry veteran Ed Wyszumiala has joined the CRN team as senior director of membership development. Longtime CRN staffer Gretchen Powers, who most recently served as vice president, marketing and membership experience as part of the communications team, will now oversee CRN’s membership department, with even greater focus on elevating the experience of the association’s growing community of dietary supplement and functional food industry executive members.
“As we recognize all that Carl Hyland achieved for CRN, coming to the close of our 50th anniversary year, we also look forward to the growth and enhanced member engagement that Gretchen and Ed’s collaboration will produce,” said Steve Mister, CRN President and CEO. “Educating more companies in the dietary supplement and functional food space about the value of the seat at the table that CRN membership provides and identifying member needs in developing the association’s programming are among the team’s priorities.”
Powers has been a member of the CRN communications team for more than a decade, following a stint as a consultant to the association from 2007–2013, after beginning her career with the dietary supplement industry as a communications coordinator for CRN in 1999. She has played a leadership role in member communications project management and content development, including work on an array of industry-wide events, educational programs, and initiatives. In her updated role, she will lead CRN’s membership development and retention strategy, reporting directly to Mister.
Wyszumiala brings more than 20 years of experience in the dietary supplement and pharmaceutical industries to his role at CRN. Most recently, he was director of market development and verification programs for USP (the U.S. Pharmacopeia), and has held previous roles at Vitamin Shoppe, NAXA (Natural Algae Asthaxanthin Association), NSF International and Graminex LLC. Wyzumiala will drive new member recruitment and contribute to member service and retention efforts.
For information on membership in CRN, please see: www.crnusa.org/join.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 200+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. Follow us on Twitter @CRN_Supplements and LinkedIn.