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Michael McGuffin honored posthumously with NBJ Lifetime Achievement Award
August 7, 2025
Amber Bennett (left), with Nutrition Business Journal and NBJ Summit Co-Founder Tom Aarts, and Staci Eisner
Last week, longtime American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) leader and natural products industry champion Michael McGuffin (1951-2025) was honored posthumously with the Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ) Lifetime Achievement Award at the NBJ Summit in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
Presented annually, the NBJ Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes accomplished executives who go above and beyond the call of duty on behalf of the nutrition industry. McGuffin, who served as AHPA President for 25 years, was widely known as a passionate proponent of herbs and herbal products, a tireless advocate for consumers and industry, and an unwavering voice for responsible dietary supplement regulation.
The award was accepted on McGuffin's behalf by Staci Eisner, AHPA Trustee and his life partner, alongside Amber Bennett, AHPA Vice President of Marketing & Engagement and close friend.
“I know that most of you knew Michael in a professional capacity — as a tremendous leader in the industry and a tremendous leader of AHPA — but I want you to know what a tremendous human being he was in his personal life,” said Eisner in her acceptance of the award. “He was the most kind, generous, giving, selfless person that I've ever seen. He could find the good and see the value in every human being that he met and he spent his life trying to help other people.”
As AHPA President, McGuffin played a central role in shaping policies that protected access to herbal products while promoting responsible commerce. His collaborative approach brought together scientists, regulators, business leaders, herbalists, and more, and established AHPA as a trusted authority and prominent voice in the dietary supplement industry.
Beyond his policy work, McGuffin was deeply admired for his mentorship, commitment to community, and ability to build lasting relationships. AHPA and its members remain dedicated to advancing the mission and values he championed — honoring the plants, people, and principles that defined his life's work.
AHPA honored McGuffin's life and legacy at the association's annual member meeting at Natural Products Expo West earlier this year. A celebration of life, hosted by Eisner along with family and close friends, will take place on August 31 in Venice, California — the beloved place McGuffin called home for decades.
To carry forward his extraordinary legacy, AHPA will also soon launch the Michael McGuffin Endowment Fund. The fund is intended to nurture new leaders in the botanical world, curate inspired industry vision, increase knowledge in the realm of herbs, support the viability and sustainability of the botanical supply chain and botanical products industry, and sustain the mission of AHPA for future generations. More details about the Michael McGuffin Endowment Fund, including how to contribute, will be shared soon.
