WIN Member Feature Meet Sandy Almendarez, Vice President Content, SupplySide!

Sandy Almendarez, Vice President Content, SupplySide

In choosing her high school electives in eighth grade, Sandy checked “Newspaper” as something that “could be fun.” Little did she know this would spark a nearly 20-year (and counting) career in journalism and content creation!

“I fell in love with reporting, writing, editing and the search for truth that comes with journalism. One Journalism and Mass Communications degree and 17 years later, I have found myself with a dream job of leading the SupplySide content team,” she said.

One of WIN’s core values is that, “we embrace diversity and inclusivity regardless of age, race, gender and ethnicity,” values reflected in Sandy’s daily work life at Informa Markets, parent company of SupplySide.

“Informa is a big corporation, and big corporate life comes with the resources to invest in DEI initiatives in a real way,” she said. Although she mentioned there are “too many to name here” she did provide examples that show up for SupplySide audiences:

●      A partnership with Diversity Org, which brings under-resourced students to SupplySide West to consider  our industry as a viable and exciting career choice.

●      Diverse Voices on Stage, a program that promotes diversity in speakers at exhibitions and events.

●      Onsite gatherings at our shows that celebrate the different cultures represented in the industry, such as the LGBTQ+ allies networking reception and a celebration at Diwali at this year’s SupplySide West.

●      The content team’s commitment to elevating DEI topics in our education sessions at SupplySide East and SupplySide West, and through our media brands Natural Products Insider and Food & Beverage Insider. 

We sat down with Sandy, virtually, to learn more about these initiatives, and why she aligned with Women In Nutraceuticals.

Why are these values important to you in your professional and personal life?

We learn the most from people who aren’t like us, and I’m a lifelong learner. Learning from a different perspective helps me to grow and evolve into a better person. And in turn, I hope that I can provide a new point of view to others, so we can collaborate to achieve innovative solutions to the big problems our world faces.

Why did you join WIN?

I joined WIN because first, I will support anything Heather Granato leads.

Second, it’s truly inspiring that women in nutraceuticals saw the need, and in a short time created an inclusive space to help people like me and the women who come after me in this industry. I’m proud to be a part of something that special.

Third, I hope to learn from, and be a resource to, others within the WIN community.

What do you do for fun?

It’s summer in Phoenix, so you can find me in the pool either floating and chatting with friends or playing “mermaids” with my kids. I also love running (even in this heat!), wandering around the botanical garden, going to live theater, reading history books and extending work trips to see a sight or two.

Sandy, thank you so much for sharing this snapshot of your life at home and in your exceptional career trajectory! Together we are empowering the global community of women in nutraceuticals to unlock their personal and professional potential!

Learn more about SupplySide here.

Learn more about Informa here.