Meet the Staff

Autumn Blum - Founder of Organix-South
Autumn is a graduate of Eckerd College with a B.S. in Organic Chemistry, and minored in Environmental Geology. While working for other companies and as a consultant, she learned many intricacies of formulating cosmetics using natural ingredients. She was making natural herbal products for other companies until she began working with the little known Neem tree, and in 1998, Autumn incorporated Organix-South. She emphasizes natural ingredients, using her knowledge of Neem and other medicinal plants to create therapeutic skin care and aromatic herbal supplements which she manufactures and distributes globally under the TheraNeem, TheraVeda and other private label brands. As an alternative to the cosmetic industry's "cost-consciousness" and lack of environmental concern, Autumn offers the world a vision that embraces organics, product efficacy and company ethics over pure profit. She now serves as VP of her division, Organix-South, currently the top manufacturer world-wide of premium Neem products.

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Dr.Shrikrishna G. Phadke - Formulator and Medical Advisor
Dr. Phadke is an Ayurvedic Physician with an advanced doctorate degree. With more than forty years experience in Ayurveda, he served for 25 years as dean of one of the world's first Ayurvedic Medical Schools and is a member of the Central Council of Indian Medicine, which oversees Ayurvedic medicine in India. He is recognized as an expert and has presented numerous papers on Ayurveda at national and international conferences in India, Germany, France and Italy. Coming from a long line of Ayurvedic practitioners, he is the son of Govind A. Phadke, a noted Vaidic scholar in Ayurveda who also served as the dean of the Ayurvedic Institute and who wrote a series of well known books on Ayurvedic therapeutics and principles. The Phadke family's tradition of education continues with this new initiative integrating traditional Ayurvedic wisdom with modern science and technology.

Click here to email Dr. Phadke

Trinity Ava, Herbalist - Director of Herbal Education
With a fascination for the world of plants since childhood, Trinity Ava is an accomplished herbalist and educator. She has designed innovative herbal education programs and has led seminars across the country, giving people a better understanding of the traditions and values of herbal medicine. With over 10 years of teaching experience, Trinity’s user-friendly herbal seminars offer a beautiful synergy of Eastern and Western herbalism, Ayurvedic principles and clinical experience. In addition, she teaches at the California School of Herbal Studies and Bastyr University and is a certified clinical aromatherapist and yoga instructor. Passionate about the environment, Trinity is committed to working with farmers worldwide to support organic, fairly-traded and sustainable farming methods. Her mission is to inspire and empower individuals with the effectiveness of herbal tradition, while infusing supportive lifestyle choices that enhance one’s ability to “self care” with herbs.

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Faith Connelly - Buyer and Smooth Operator
Faith understands the business of supplements, natural health and herbal products, because she has lived it for the last 20 years. She has worked as a manager for Whole Foods and other large independent stores as well as in smaller, community based stores. While Faith has expert management, leadership and financial skills, she also knows firsthand how much each customer matters. It is these reality based personal skills, combined with her technical wisdom that makes Faith an asset and a resource to us at Organix-South, as well as to all of our customers. She has worked one on one with customers on sale day, besides having been the buyer, planning sales and setting shelves. Faith keeps things together at our company, and although she’s officially our Buyer and Purchasing Agent, she has been lovingly titled our 'Smooth Operator'.

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Jimmy Hubbard – Warehouse/Production Manager
Jimmy is our main man who keeps the products in stock and of the highest quality. He came to us from Nestle a few years back with lots of experience in high speed lean manufacturing and quality control. He is an orderly man who gives his 108% during the week and loves anything involving the outdoors or salt water on the weekends. Jimmy must have flip flops, water and a fishing pole in hand on the weekends!

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Teri Graves – Sales Coordinator
When you call and hear that bright and cheerful southern accent on the phone, that's Teri! Yes, she really is from south Florida! Teri does a little of this and a little of that, and is definitely the go to woman when you need something accomplished. She also tries to keep everyone focused and in line (her nickname here is Momma T)! Teri has more than 10 years administrative experience in Local Government. Since being with Organix-South, she has realized the importance of going organic. When a position opened in our sales department, it was with reluctant excitement that we relinquished her as office manager. Teri is now taking the same nurturing care she gave our staff to our customers. She is also active within her community and involved in other local groups. Teri is a Mom first and foremost, and loves spending time at the beach, camping, boating and just being with family and friends.

Click here to email Teri

Melissa Ash, Demo Coordinator and Consumer Accounts
Melissa began working with Organix in 2003 as our National Educator. She is a licensed aesthetician and understands many of the complex issues involving natural skin healing and support. After giving birth to her second child in 2006, she took a sabbatical and returned back to Organix in May of 2009! Melissa is working part-time from home as a mother first. She is active in the community and is loving being a stay at home mom, while still being able to share her passion for Neem and Ayurvedic herbs.

Click here to email Melissa

Jennifer Kleinman, Sales Coordinator
Jennifer is a self proclaimed “Crunchy Momma” to her beautiful boys, Kody and Jackson. Jen and her husband are raising their children in the most natural way possible. She loves to sew and knit, and in her spare time (yes, this full time Sales Coordinator and mother of two young boys actually has spare time!) enjoys making organic cotton baby wraps that she sells on ebay and etsy (www.rockerbybaby.etsy.com). Jen moved to Florida in 2004 from Cincinnati, where she worked as a sales manager for a candle company. Jen also hosts a website called www.allformommies.com - a group of amazing women all across the country that just happen to be mommies.

Click here to email Jennifer