Sheldon Baker to Cover Brand Marketing at Nutra India Summit 2011

Sheldon Baker, senior vice president of Baker Dillon Group, the award-winning nutraceutical brand marketing firm and one of the industry’s premier advertising and public relations agency, will be one of the esteemed speakers at the 6th Nutra India Summit 2011, in Mumbai, India, at the World Trade Centre from February 15-18. The nutraceutical summit is considered India's flagship event for the nutraceutical, functional foods, supplement and health food industries.

Sheldon Baker will discuss brand marketing at Nutra India Summit.
(Michael Mustacchi Photo)

Baker, with 20 years of nutraceutical brand marketing and media experience and responsible for creating and launching the iconic CitriMax while with InterHealth, as well as several other well-known supplement ingredient and retail product brands including Ostivone, Cognizin and Versana, will focus on the importance of brand marketing and North American cultural differences in the conference segment called “Nutra markets on the growth curve – Key consumer drivers that will shape tomorrows industry,” on Wednesday, February 16.

“Many companies from India, as well as parts of Asia, who want to enter the North American supplement marketplace from abroad must recognize that there are cultural distinctions that can impact the marketing approach both short and long term,” Baker said.

“Furthermore, most companies have limited knowledge or experience about how supplement ingredients and retail products are distributed and sold in the US. In the end, a lot of time and money is invested, only to fall short of expectations on successful new marketplace expansion.”

“It is imperative for companies that say they want to be a supplement leader to take the necessary and strategic steps to position themselves correctly with the proper look and feel in order to move to the North American forefront,” says Baker.

The four-day event consists of an international conference, trade show exhibition, health professional and nutritionist forum, poster session for young researchers and CEO Summit and Nutra Awards. Event organizers expect more than 500 people to participate from the nutrition, food, pharma and science sectors.

The event is organized by CFTRI, CSIR and MM ACTIV Sci-Tech Communications and supported by leading industry associations like HADSA, Pharmexcil, OPPI, IDMA, ADMA, IDA and ABLE.

Baker, can be contacted at sbaker@bakerdillon.com or 559.325.7191.

Karena K. Dillon Appointed to City of Clovis Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Karena K. Dillon, president of the Clovis, CA-based Baker Dillon Group, the award-winning nutraceutical brand marketing firm and one of the industry’s premier advertising and public relations firms, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce.


Dillon will also serve on the Chamber’s sponsorship development committee. The City of Clovis is located northeast of Fresno in California’s agriculturally rich San Joaquin Central Valley.

Mark Blackney, Clovis Chamber of Commerce president with Karena Dillon, new Chamber director and president of Baker Dillon Group. (NutraInk Photo)

Dillon is also president of the Consultants Association for the Natural Products Industry, a non-profit group representing consulting firms doing business in the nutraceutical, functional food and food industries.

In the Central Valley, Baker Dillon Group represents Polyphenolics, the Madera-based manufacturers of MegaNatural-BP grape extracts.

The City of Clovis recently received widespread attention when former Clovis East high school drama student standout Chris Colfer and American singer and actor, best known for portraying the role of Kurt Hummel on Glee, received several Golden Globe nominations and awards from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Dillon can be contacted at Info@BakerDillon.com or 559.325.7191.

Tara Hamilton and Naomi Hendrix of Whole Farms Market visit Baker: In the City

Tara Hamilton and Naomi Hendrix, two of the founders of Whole Farms Market in Fresno, CA, visited Baker: In the City (http://www.centralvalleytalk.com/BakerIntheCity.html) Dec. 21 to discuss their approach to healthy eating and the importance of farm fresh and local organic produce and offer recipes for viewers of the popular Internet television station.

_________________________________________________________________________


"We want to provide people with healthier food options."

                                                           Tara Hamilton, Owner, Whole Farms Market
_________________________________________________________________________

Hamilton demonstrated how to make snow balls, a sweet dish made of raisins, almonds, lemon juice and coconut. Hendrix offered her version of a kale salad.

Tara Hamilton of Whole Farms Market (r) prepares snow balls with Sheldon Baker during a live segment of Baker: In the City on www.CentralValleyTalk.com. (Photo provided by Naomi Hendrix)

Whole Farms Market also offers Fresno's only organic raw food café, called Revive, providing organic raw food entrées and fresh pressed juices and desserts that are changed daily. The café serves only vegan raw food. All ingredients are organically grown and all-natural.

"We want to provide people with healthier food options," said Hamilton, whose store carries many products that are organically grown on her farm at the nearby town of Kerman. Other products are sourced and provided from local growers and producers.

Naomi Hendrix (r) makes kale salad with Sheldon Baker on the set of Baker: In the City. (Photo provided by Tara Hamilton) 

Located at 1807 Broadway St. in downtown Fresno, Whole Farms Market and Revive are open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to Noon.

Baker: In the City hosted by Sheldon Baker, NutraInk.com publisher, editor and vegetarian, airs every Tuesday from 1-2 p.m. on www.CentralValleyTalk.com.

Swede Johnson Basks in the Glory of 1950s Baseball

The Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame held its 52nd annual dinner Thursday, November 4 at the Fresno Convention Center.

Inductees this year included Dennis Janzen, coach of Fresno Pacific's five-time national champion volleyball program; his former player Tracy Ainger-Schulte, coach of Fresno City's powerhouse team in the Central Valley League; and snippets on ex-Fresno State track and field coach Red Estes; former Roosevelt High and USC hurdling star Jerry Wilson; and Bill Woodward, the long-time voice of Fresno State sports who's retired and living with wife Sheila in Lakeland Village, Wash. Other inductees were four-time NHRA drag-racing champion Gary Scelzi; and the 1950 Sanger Valley championship baseball team led by Swede Johnson, plus the 1955 Fresno City state champion basketball team.

According to published online reports, nearly 100 fans from Sanger were among the crowd. Several Sanger baseball team members were in attendance, including Johnson.

As I have read, the 1950 Sanger baseball team, a school of 600 and with a roster of only 15 players, won the 1950 Central Valley championship. The Apaches rallied to win the County championship against Roosevelt 11-9, then came back from an early 5-run deficit early to beat Visalia High 9-8 for the Valley title on Swede’s winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth before a crowd of 1,200 on their home field. That’s a lot of people for a high school baseball game then and now.

I recently had the chance to chat with Swede at a recent Christmas function where he and I talked about the team's big night, his high school days and sports in general in today’s world.

NutraInk.com publisher and editor Sheldon Baker (r) with Swede Johnson, former Sanger High School baseball star and recent Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. (Photo by Karena K. Dillon)

Johnson credited the entry of Japanese players into the baseball program after WW II as a key element of that championship season. He also that mentioned four members of the ‘50 baseball team signed pro contracts including Gene Green, who played seven seasons in the major leagues.

"Of course Green's contract was a lot different than it is today for professional athletes," said Johnson as he watched the Christmas Day Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat game on ABC-TV that featured all those highly paid players. Incidentally, the game also marked the introduction of a new line of basketball shoes by Lakers' start Kobe Bryant. The Laker players and many fan notables in attendance were wearing them. You can't beat co-branding on national television.

NutraInk.com learned that during the dinner, commemorative medallions were awarded to each player and survivor’s representative. The team received praise from California and U.S. legislators in the form of a framed proclamation from the U.S. House of Representatives signed by Congressman Devin Nunes, and a California Assembly Resolution commending the accomplishments of the team, signed by Assemblymen Michael Villines and Dave Cogdill.

11th Annual KNBR Radio Sports Auction

KNBR radio’s Murph & Mac, Gary Radnich and Tony Bruno, Fitz & Brooks, Damon Bruce, and Ralph & Tom broadcasted live from the Public House at AT&T Park in San Francisco for the 11th Annual KNBR Sports Auction on Friday, December 10 from 5 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.

From l to r: Ray Woodson, producer, KNBR, Ralph Barbieri, Tom Tolbert, and F.P. Santangelo, KNBR air personalities chat on-the-air during the sports auction held at the Public House in San Francisco.

The KNBR Sports Auction raises several hundreds of thousand dollars for the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, which allocates the funds to over 90 Bay Area youth sports programs each year. The day included a free breakfast buffet from courtesy of the Public House, live auction on once in a lifetime sports experience packages, silent auction with autographed sports memorabilia and gifts and special guests all day.

Apolo Ohno Greeted by Hundreds of Fans in Fresno

Apolo Ohno is the co-founder and formulator of 8zone, a dietary supplement company. But he is best known for being the most decorated American Winter Olympic athlete of all time.

Monday in Fresno, he was known for his new book, Zero Regrets: Be Greater Than Yesterday. The face of short track speed skating worldwide was greeted by hundreds of fans waiting to catch a glimpse of their favorite U.S. Olympian and have their book autographed.

  Ohno talking to Fresno media while on tour to promote his new book.

            Ohno was on the 16^th stop of his book signing bus tour that when it ends on December 4, will have covered 34 cities in nine days.

            “I’ve been living on that bus,” Ohno told Fresno media.  A bus that is adorned with Ohno’s book cover and picture of him doing what he likes to – skate.  

Ohno's touring book bus in Fresno.

             Ohno redefined the sport of short track speed skating starting in 1999, when he became the youngest athlete ever to win a World Cup event title. He won the overall World Championship in 2008, the World Cup Overall title in 2001, 2003, and 2005, and the men’s national title 12 times.

He has won eight Olympic medals and 23 World Championship medals. In October 2003 and March 2008 he was the United States Olympic Committee’s Male Athlete of the Month.

In 2007, he was also the winner of the fourth season of the popular ABC-TV television show, Dancing with the Stars. 

In Zero Regrets, Ohno shares his moving personal story behind his great success, as well as the hard-won truths and strategies he has discovered in good times and bad.

The book is much more than an account of racing competition. Zero Regrets is a captivating story of a father-and-son relationship that expanded over time and based on respect, love and unwavering faith in each other.

Former Harlem Globetrotters Nate Branch to Appear on CentralValleyTalk.com

Nate Branch, former Harlem Globetrotters will make a guest appearance on Baker: In the City, the Internet television show on CentralValleyTalk.com, Tuesday, December 7. The live phone-in interview takes place from 1-2 p.m. Pacific. Baker: In the City is hosted by Sheldon Baker, NutraInk.com publisher.

Branch attended Nebraska University and began playing with the Harlem Globetrotters in 1967. He recalled that his starting salary in 1967 was $20,000, which is quite different from present day contracts. He has been around the world six times and Branch will discuss the many memories that stand out for him.

Branch, a Palo Alto, CA resident is the musical director at his local church. He also plays four instruments, including piano.

Nate Branch at the piano.

“My purpose is to inspire to know life can be good. You can always inspire to be better. If I can reach one kid, I have reached my goal to learn all you can at any age,” he says with a smile.

“Learn all you can.”