Michael McGuffin Receives Posthumous NBJ Lifetime Achievement Award

Michael McGuffin, longtime leader of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and natural products industry expert, was honored posthumously with Nutrition Business Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the NBJ Summit in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

The award, which is presented annually, recognizes executives who go above and beyond the call of duty on behalf of the nutrition industry. McGuffin, who served as AHPA’s president for 25 years, was known as “a passionate proponent of herbs and herbal products, a tireless advocate for consumers and industry, and an unwavering voice responsible for dietary supplement regulation.”

The award was accepted on McGuffin’s behalf by Staci Eisner, AHPA trustee and his life partner, alongside Amber Bennett, AHPA’s vice president of marketing and 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, while receiving 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 shaped policies to protect access to herbal products, while promoting responsible commerce, bringing together scientists, regulators, business leaders, herbalists, and more, AHPA reported.

“Beyond his policy work, McGuffin was deeply admired for his mentorship, commitment to community, and ability to build lasting relationships,” AHPA stated. “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. Eisner, and McGuffin’s family and close friends, will hold a celebration of life in Venice, California, where McGuffin lived for decades.

AHPA will launch the Michael McGuffin Endowment Fund to honor his legacy. The fund will nurture new leaders in the botanical world, curate industry vision, increase herbal knowledge, support the botanical supply chain and botanical products industry, and sustain AHPA’s mission for future generations.