Leadership

President and Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Wolf joined NAI in February 2008 as Chief Financial Officer, was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in June 2010 and has served as NAI’s President since October 2015. Mr. Wolf is responsible for design and implementation of NAI’s long-term strategic plans and oversight of all areas within the company. He possesses over 26 years of senior financial management experience in both publicly traded and privately held companies, with the prior 21 years associated with consumer products manufacturing companies.

 

Mr. Wolf received his Certified Public Accountant license from the State of California and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Accounting from California State University in Fresno, California.

Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Fortin joined NAI in April 2008 as Director of Accounting and SEC Reporting and earned his appointment to Chief Financial Officer in October 2015. With over 18 years of accounting and finance experience working in Big 4 public accounting and private industry, Mr. Fortin is a steadfast, strategic leader responsible for driving financial and business results.

 

Mr. Fortin received his Certified Public Accountant license from the State of California and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Accounting from San Diego State University, California.

Vice President, Global Quality

Andrea Lester is the Vice President of Global Quality for Natural Alternatives International, Inc. (NAI). Ms. Lester joined NAI’s Quality Unit in 2005. In her current role, Ms. Lester is responsible for the development, implementation, and enforcement of the firm’s Quality Management Systems to ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices, regulatory requirements, and customer specifications across the firm’s North American and European operations. Ms. Lester oversees all aspects of Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Document Control, Validation, and Quality Systems.

 

Ms. Lester is a member of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Division. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Nutrition Industry Association-West (NIA) and is a member of the benchmarking committee for the Supplement Safety and Compliance Initiative (SSCI). In addition, Ms. Lester is a member of the organizing committee for the Southern California Dietary Supplement Consortium, formerly the Quality Leadership Network (QLN), a collaborative workgroup sponsored by the FDA and ASQ which brings FDA, Industry, and Academia together to enhance transparency and improve product quality and compliance. During her role as co-chair of the Dietary Supplement division of the QLN, she was among the recipients of the FDA Office of Regulatory Affairs’ Leveraging and Collaboration Honors Award.

 

Ms. Lester is a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) and is HACCP certified. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Concord University, Athens, West Virginia.

Vice President, Operations

James Gause is the Global Operations Vice President with responsibility for North American and European operations. His current focus is on improving conversion efficiencies, driving competitive advantages by improving input sourcing value, landing capacity to support growth, and leveraging talent on both continents. Prior to joining NAI, Mr. Gause gained over 25 years of experience in the food and beverage industries.

 

Mr. Gause holds bachelor’s degrees in Industrial and Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Vice President, Global Research & Development

Dr. Nancy Steely, Vice President of Global Research & Development joined NAI in September 2020. She brought a wealth of experience to NAI, and quickly became an integral member in executing on NAI’s overall research and development vision. She has influenced NAI’s technical strategy, driving its development by moving scientific-based concepts into pipeline products for customers. Dr. Steely possesses the ability to bridge science and research with business acumen, employing her experience in developing industry leading products, while developing and sustaining a culture of passion, hard-work, and innovation that will make NAI the place to be for anyone interested in developing next generation nutraceutical solutions.

 

Prior to NAI, Dr. Steely was a naturopathic physician and seasoned R&D, quality and regulatory executive. She has spent 20 years interacting with leading nationally and internationally renowned nutraceutical companies. Her vast background includes distinguished positions in Olly PBC, Arbonne International, Forever Living International, Usana Health Sciences, and Bio Concepts in Australia. Her current role at NAI involves collaborating with new and existing clients to develop and launch innovative, science-based and compliant products.

Vice President, CarnoSyn^® Brands

Aaron Starr was appointed Vice President of CarnoSyn^® Brands in April 2022. Mr. Starr is responsible for the leadership of business teams and for overseeing operational performance and the advancement of CarnoSyn^® Brands. Prior to the appointment, Mr. Starr directly managed customer relationships and operations, bolstering sales for NAI and CarnoSyn^® Brands. As Vice President of CarnoSyn^® Brands, Mr. Starr oversees overall operating performance and business objectives for the division. Responsibilities include management of P&L, short and long-term strategic planning, sales and marketing management and new product introductions. He leads internal teams including sales, marketing, customer service, operations and science, and drives performance through development and management of strategies to yield profitable performance and exceptional customer service.

 

Mr. Starr has a wealth of sales, marketing, and operations management experience, most recently as Senior Account Manager and Operations Manager at NAI and CarnoSyn^® Brands. His previous work experience also includes roles as an Executive Editor, a Marketing Director, and as a Managing Partner at a financial firm. Mr. Starr earned an MBA in Financial Management, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree, Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology.

Vice President, Global Sales

Shane Conti joined NAI as Vice President of Global Sales in July 2023. He assumed the role with a rich knowledge of the company, having worked as Senior Business Development Manager for NAI from 2016 to 2021. His leadership, wealth of experience and network of global contacts help to accelerate NAI’s new business objectives while strengthening existing customer relationships. Mr. Conti directly oversees the development and implementation of sales strategies and leads the sales team and client service departments to meet or exceed sales revenue, sales profitability, and budgetary objectives.

 

Over the course of his 25-plus year career in the domestic and international nutritional supplement industry, Mr. Conti has established a proven track record of success in building new business within multiple markets. Mr. Conti holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management from Guilford College.