President & CEO
202-204-7676 / smister@crnusa.org
Steve Mister serves as President & CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association representing the dietary supplement and functional food industry. Since assuming the role in 2005, he has guided CRN through nearly two decades of growth, influence, and modernization, strengthening its reputation as the authoritative voice of responsible supplement companies in Washington and beyond.
With a strong background in law, legislative affairs and communication strategy, Mister brings both legal acumen and policy insight to his leadership. Before joining CRN, he directed the state and federal government relations strategy for another trade association, practiced with a Washington, D.C. law firm and worked on Capitol Hill, experiences that provided him with deep familiarity with the regulatory, ethical, and political frameworks that shape the health products marketplace, and the communications skills to articulate and implement those initiatives.
At CRN, Mister has driven several hallmark initiatives that reflect his belief in proactive industry self-regulation and transparency. He oversaw the development of The Supplement OWL, an industry-run online registry of dietary supplement labels to enhance accountability and public trust. He has championed consumer education campaigns designed to increase awareness of the role supplements play in wellness and preventive health, and he has led the association’s efforts to engage constructively with regulators and lawmakers to ensure that supplement products remain both safe and accessible to consumers. Under his direction, CRN supported the establishment of mandatory adverse-event reporting for supplements and helped block legislative proposals that would have unduly restricted consumer access.
Mister’s academic background includes a Juris Doctor, a Master’s degree in Political Communication, and a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication—training that informs his nuanced understanding of the intersection between law, policy, and public dialogue. He is also a Certified Association Executive (CAE), a credential that underscores his commitment to high professional standards within the association community.
Beyond CRN, Mister is active in national leadership circles, serving on key association governance bodies and contributing to collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening regulatory compliance and responsible industry practices. His peers frequently cite his ability to balance advocacy with accountability—advancing the supplement sector’s interests while reinforcing its obligations to science, safety, and the consumer.
Throughout his tenure, Mister has emphasized that credible self-regulation, consumer education, and evidence-based advocacy are vital to maintaining public trust and advancing sound nutrition policy.