This Summer, my Kenan Fellows internship will be with Gaia Herbs, an herbal supplement company based out of Brevard, NC. This company has approximately 300 employees spread over four locations in the western North Carolina region. The company was founded in the late ’90s by Rick Scalzo out of his Massachusetts garage. Today, the company ships to several countries around the world and has a supply chain that comes from 6 of the 7 continents, including the farm on their main property. There are over 200 different products that Gaia produces, with several new supplements currently in the works. Gaia’s newest project centers on growing hemp and creating a full-spectrum hemp product, all while researching the chemical compositions and effects of cannabinoids as they enter the CBD market.
While my official mentor is Human Resources Director, Jennifer Lynch, I will be shadowing several departments including quality control/assurance, the farm, and production. I look forward to learning about the role that each of these departments plays in helping Gaia move their products from seed to shelf!