Events & Education
Natural Products Expo East education and events provide opportunities to learn and explore new ideas, industry trends and practical solutions to improve business practices and broaden industry knowledge, and to network with your industry peers. Sessions and events are included with your registration fee, unless otherwise noted in the description.
Events
Community Celebration
Thursday, September 22, 2011, 5:30-7:00 - BCC, Charles Street Lobby
This kick-off event to Expo East will feature live entertainment from Kickin' Grass bluegrass band, delicious treats sourced from local farms, and beverages giving you a great opportunity to connect with your colleagues and peers in the natural products community.
An Evening with eTown - live radio taping featuring
Moby & Suzanne Vega
Thursday, September 22, 2011, 7:30 - 10:00 pm- Hippodrome Theater
eTown, the internationally-syndicated radio variety program heard by a million listeners each week, returns to Expo East to host musical guests Moby and Suzanne Vega for a special 'on-the-road' live radio show taping at the Hippodrome Theater. This unique live entertainment event will feature intimate musical performances and up-close-and-personal interviews with each of the visiting artists. eTown, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, is celebrating 20 years of creating independently-produced, socially and environmentally conscious programming. eTown’s mission is: To educate, entertain and inspire a diverse audience, through music and conversation, to create a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable world. After party following the show in the Hippodrome Lobby with music provided by DJ Mark Brown.
Cost: $31.50 www.expoeast.com/register
Celebrating Family Farmers with Farm Aid
Friday, September 23, 2011, 6:00 - 9:00 pm at the Pratt Street Ale House (across from the Baltimore Convention Center)
Help support Farm Aid's mission to keep family farmers on their land, growing our food; while tempting your taste buds with locally farmed foods. Enjoy a frosty beverage while grooving to live entertainment.
Admission: $30 All proceeds to benefit Farm Aid.
Celebration of Angels
Friday, September 23 2011, 6:00pm - 9:30 pm - American Visionary Arts Museum
Please join Vitamin Angels and the visionary leaders from the industry supporting their mission for an inspiring and celebratory dinner event.
Ticket Price: $125 before September 1st, $250 starting September 1st
GET TICKETS
Awards
Each year at Expo East, awards are presented to show participants and exhibitors recognizing excellence in the industry. Learn more about past winners, and check back soon for announcements about this year's award presentations.
Education
The education program is taking shape. Please come back for updates as more sessions and speakers are added!
Keynote Speaker Daniel H. Pink
Friday, September 23, 2011, 8:30 – 10:00 am
Could you use new motivation techniques for yourself and your staff? Daniel H. Pink is the author of four provocative books about changing the world of work--including the New York Times bestsellers, A Whole New Mind and Drive, which together have been translated into 31 languages. His latest is Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, which uses 50 years of behavioral science to overturn the conventional wisdom about human motivation and offer a more effective path to high performance.
Featured Speaker, Dr. Patch Adams - "Medicine for Fun, Not Funds"
Thursday, September 22, 2011, 1:00 - 2:00 pm
Patch Adams, MD, divulges the history, philosophy and future of the Gesundheit! Institute, and helps audience members explore and put their own dreams into action.
How Values, Service and Heart Drive Financial Success
Thursday, September 22, 2011, 8:30 - 10:00 am
If your organization is like the majority of natural products businesses operating today, it was founded and operates as a mission-driven business. Being a mission-based company can drive financial success, but it can also create challenges when it comes to hiring, sourcing, manufacturing and attracting capital to grow.
This session—featuring KeHE Distributors CEO Brandon Barnholt and a panel of seasoned natural products leaders—will explore how mission-driven companies can maintain and foster their values, even in the face of growth pressures and tough economic times. By the time you leave this engaging panel discussion, you will have actionable insights for how you can start, grow and strengthen your own mission-driven organization while staying true to your vision and values.
Featured Speaker, Mayor John Fetterman – “Urban America and Braddock, PA”
Friday, September 23, 2011, 3:00pm-4:00pm.
Since becoming mayor of depressed Braddock, PA in 2005, Mayor John Fetterman has made a measurable impact. His motivational story showcases his efforts to improve the lives of local children, increase community access to fresh foods and nutrition education with Braddock’s community gardening project, and attract revitalizing energy from artistic, creative, and urbanist communities. His efforts have infused Braddock with possibility, opportunity, and a powerful sense of identity.
Featured Speaker, Author and Activist Laurie David- "The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect With Your Kids, One Meal at a Time"
Saturday, September 24, 2011, 9:00 - 10:00 am.
Laurie David wants to help America’s overwhelmed families sit down to dinner. Join us for her talk her new book, chock-full of her practical, green, fun, and inspirational tips for the most important hour in a family’s day.
Good Manufacturing Practices for Dietary Supplements
Wednesday, September 21st 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Thursday, September 22nd 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Is your company GMP compliant? Take an advanced course on the FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Dietary Supplements [21 CFR 111]. The seminar will review FDA’s top 5 hot button issues, what to expect during a GMP inspection, FDA warning letters and recent enforcement activities. Speakers are industry experts with more than 35+ years combined experience. Brought to you by Natural Products Association (NPA), the industry leader in dietary supplement GMPs.
$745 for NPA Members; $995 for Non-NPA Members
Pre-registration recommended, class size limited.
Retailer Workshop
The Retailer Workshop provides intensive education and training to educate retailers about current and cutting-edge topics. Build your natural products retailer community at the keynote presentation, retailer lunch (included), and concluding wrap-up session.
$105 ($85 NPA East Members) Pre-registration recommended, class size limited.
Enjoyed the workshop, or want to preview the kinds of topics covered?
Product-to-Shelf Workshop
Learn the fundamental knowledge necessary for launching a new brand, product, or private label in the naturals industry. Manufacturers, international companies entering the U.S. market, retailers, and entrepreneurs will receive essential business advice on topics from branding and marketing to distribution and financing, plus tips for success.
$105 ($85 Exhibitors) Pre-registration recommended, class size limited.
Content Library: Listen to Sessions Online
Session proceedings from past Natural Products Expos are archived for your learning pleasure. Share what you learned with your staff and preview the quality of sessions you’ll find at future events.
Proceedings (presentations and audio recordings) of select sessions from our education program are available at no charge in the Content Library.
To purchase access to audio recordings and view presentations from our paid workshops, please click here.
Co-located Conferences
Healthy Baking Seminar 
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Providing bakers and food manufacturers in-depth presentations on formulating healthful bakery foods, including case studies, trends, sourcing tips and more. Brought to you by Baking Management and Modern Baking magazines. To register, please visit www.bakingconferences.com. Additional fees apply.
The Organic Summit 
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
The Organic Summit is a forum for in-depth discussion and learning for all stakeholder groups within the organic industry.
From family farmers to large scale manufacturers, co-ops to big box, NGOs to academics, the Organic Summit provides a singular opportunity for all groups to come together and have equal voice and participate in the discussion shaping the future of organic. Click here to learn more about the Organic Summit.
Additional registration fee required.
Exhibitor-Hosted Events
Looking for additional educational and networking opportunities outside show floor hours? Enhance your 2011 Natural Products Expo East experience by attending Exhibitor-Hosted Events. View the up-to-date list of meetings, seminars and networking events brought to you exclusively by Expo East Exhibitors.