We Don’t Just Consult on US Product Launches
We’re Entrepreneurs and Executives, Like You
The Ragold team is a group of experts in the US food and nutritional products industry. We’re consultants, but we’re also business owners and leaders, active in the market every day.
We cover the core specialities you need to launch in the States, including:
- Regulatory & Labeling
- Product Manufacturing & Packaging
- Branding & Marketing
- Sales & Distribution
- Legal & Accounting
- CBD Consulting & Management Know-how
Need some of our expertise, but not all? We’re flexible like that. Fill the gaps in your team with the experts on ours. No exclusivity required.
Sure, We Get Business Done, But You’ll Like Us, Too
We get that choosing a partner is as much about what we’re like, as what we know.
Everyone wants to work with good people; people who build lasting relationships; who have your back; who get excited about your wins. Heck, that’s who we want to work with. And that’s who we are. Each of the Ragold experts was hand-picked because they’ve passed the Upstanding Human Test, and we think you’ll like them.
What else? You can count on us to always be:
- Nimble, so you can get your business moving quicker.
- Up-to-date, so you can access reliable information.
- Connected, so you can tap into our network of fully-vetted US partners.
- Utterly reliable, so you can bring us into the inner fold where real decisions are made.
- Multilingual, with fluencies in English, German, and Spanish.
And Now, The Ragold Team
Rainer Schindler, Ragold Connect Founder and Chief US Traction Expert
- 25+ years launching and growing food and nutritional brands in the US
- Extensive experience developing new and innovative FDA regulated products
- In Executive Sales, Marketing and Operations, grew revenues by millions in each role
- Multilingual with business relationships across the US, Europe, Asia and Africa
- European regulatory understanding
Mandy Marquardt, Sports Marketing
- USA Cycling National Team Member and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Hopeful
- 18-time USA Cycling National Champion
- 6-time Pan American Championship Medalist
- Spokesperson for diabetes awareness & living a positive, healthy lifestyle
Ginny Garner, Executive Recruiting
- Over 19 years of executive search consulting experience
- Specialty in Regulatory Affairs & Quality Practice
- OTC & Dietary Supplements Industry Recruiting
- Food & Beverage Industry Executive Recruitment
Anne-Marie Roerink, Market Research & Strategic Planning
- 20+ years of research and marketing strategies with a specialty in food retailing
- Excellent perspective on the ever-changing wants and needs of the grocery shopper in a one-size-fits no-one world
- Deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in grocery retailing today and the drivers of success tomorrow
- International trends and insights speaker in all areas of food retailing
Scott Langston, Quality & Regulatory Pro
- 30+ years of quality and regulatory wisdom in foods and dietary supplements
- Extensive experience with powdered food ingredients, sauces, baked goods, confections, dietary supplements
- Knowledgable in SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, NSF Dietary Supplement cGMP audits
- Able to explain FDA regulations in plain English
Antonio Ghines, Finance
- Directs all financial transactions recorded in the accounting system, to develop and maintain a robust cost accounting system and reporting tools
- Supports department level conduct of operations – in accordance with corporate policies and procedures, generally accepted accounting principles and applicable laws
Franz Capraro, Global Accounting
- Prominent figure in the world of Certified Public Accounting
- Tax partner who handles general tax practice
- Expertise in international transactions
Irina Balyurko. Amazon Solutions Specialist
- E-commerce strategist who helps product-based brands launch and thrive on the Amazon platform
- Helped hundreds of brands generate millions of dollars in sales on Amazon, & achieve exceptional results
- Blends her analytical corporate experience with her Amazon expertise to help brands craft and implement effective launch and growth strategies
Sean Cline, Walmart Solutions Specialist
- Establish optimized strategic approach to Omni-Channel buyer. How do you “sell” to the new buyer…
- Help create tactics that will ensure success in launch, maintenance, and product end of life (if need be)
- Keep you and your team pointed in the right direction to ensure that you keep the shelf real estate – both in-store and virtual – that you’ve secured. Order #1 is just the starting point! Orders 2 through infinity really count.
- Supply chain optimization consultation. This is often overlooked but a very high priority.
Jim Sedgeley, Distributor Sales
- Accomplished and integrity-driven Sales professional who has demonstrated expertise in the consumer packed goods and non-packed good industry for over 25 plus years.
- In addition to personally managing headquarter calls, his success has been due to the implementation of value –added business strategies. Enhanced by his abilities to coordinate, build and lead both direct and broker sales.
- As a detail oriented, self-starter, he utilizes his solid analytical skills to identify profitable opportunities.
- Knowledge of the food industry has helped him grow business to exceed annual quotes.
- Contacts throughout the U.S. Markets and knows how to get distribution.
Amy Maggio, Public Relations & Communications
- A marketing, public relations, and development professional in a variety of positions in the field of health care, Amy has worked in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors.
- Brings passion, commitment, and creativity to her health-care practice and community service.
Adolfo Graubard, Contract Manufacturing
- 27 years in the supplement industry makes me an experienced member
- Entrepreneur and risk taker who likes to be in the forefront of new developments and technologies
- Expert in the Latin American Supplement market
K. A. Ahlers, Global Strategies
- Experience in market entry, communications strategy, delegations and more in the US and Europe
- Intercultural coaching to help prepare successful market entry into the USA
- Facilitates the integration of employees and reduce barriers to success for
European companies in the US
Joseph Van de Bogart, Attorney
- Experience at all levels of litigation in state and federal court
- Trial and appellate practice primarily in Business Law, Creditor’s Rights, Bankruptcy, and Construction
- Utilizes a comprehensive and focused approach to each clients’ legal matter, no matter size or scope
Roger McEldowney, FDM Expert
- Supply Chain Management (ability to create and scale operation to fit customer)
- Domestic and International Sourcing of Packaging/Products/Services
- Family Succession Experience
- Identifying and Executing Cost Savings that Increase the Bottom Line
Anna Bolton, Copy & Content Marketing Pro
- Extensive experience in print and digital copywriting
- Portfolio of work for mass market natural health brands
- Brand-driven, positioning-first approach
- Advisor on content and digital marketing strategies
David Gray, Global Strategies
- Transformational, Six Sigma trained CEO, driving impact through best-in-class people, performance improvement, and lean & agile processes to enhance profitability
- Leader & strategic partner in acquisitions, due diligence, assessing new investments, & providing strategic and technical counsel to clients,companies, & partners
- Senior leader to meet organizational goals, push continuous improvement initiatives in areas of culture, innovation, value-creation, transformation & growth
Edith Gorecki, MD, Clinical Specialist
- 8 + years of conducting pharmaceutical and nutraceutical clinical trials in the US, Canada, and EU (Phase I – IV)
- Medical therapeutic areas of expertise include internal medicine, pediatrics, dermatology and OB/GYN
- Extensive experience working with Key opinion leaders in the Cannabis field
- Experience governing regulatory bodies for drug, Medical device, and NHP approval
Paul Schlayer, Logo Design
- Experienced logo designer with over100 company logos, product logos, &
brand systems to his credit - Systematic, imaginative, patient approach to find the optimal solution:
distinctive logos that will be remembered - Revision of existing logos, support you in finding a name and combining several
logos into a closed brand system
Tim Welch, Slick Web Design Guru
- Expert front-end developer and WordPress expert
- Backed by a team of technical and creative staff
- Flexible, detailed, high-impact web design
- Experience with start-up, small business and corporate websites
Chris Driscoll, Retail Strategy
- Senior sales and business development leader with core expertise and demonstrated ability in sales management, business strategy and planning, partner development & operational management
- Managed $50,000,000+ in business at CVS over the past 15 years
- Broker Manager for several manufacturers in confections, snacks, grocery, general merchandise and import categories
- Exprerience in the Food Industry sdating back to 1988
- Strong understanding of B2C product launches
Tim Michaely, Warehousing, Imports & Logistics
- 20+ years of experience in warehousing, customs, transportation, and customer service to achieve the best service
- Able to work with you to meet any of the needs of your company no matter how big or small
- Provides competitive pricing and quality service through long-standing strategic business relationships
Marty Cline, Incentive Sourcing & Trade Show Expert
- Provides marketing managers, product managers and event planners expertise and passion in the development of innovative marketing solutions.
- Creates creative trade show merchandise which includes large format print and retractable banners.
- Administers event management that allows clients to concentrate on what they do best and assists them with their onsite needs.
- Custom overseas manufacturing: with our manufacturing partners overseas, our capabilities across a wide range of product offerings support our clients with efficiency & consistency as well as shorter lead times and minimum requirements.
Denise Michalik, Research & Development
- A builder of new business, evolving brands, & identifying opportunities throughout the entire product life cycle
- Connecting science, technology & regulatory compliance to marketing meeting consumer needs
- Experienced category & product manager with strong hands on cross-functional leadership & analytic interpreter from idea to commercialization; “end to end”
- Developed actionable plans that increased brand penetration working with all stakeholders through the process of feasibility, product line positioning, & product launch
Brian Hill, Military Sales
- Extensive Experience Leading Government Research and Development Organizations
- Development, Strategy and Integration of Food Products for Government and Military Systems
- Humanitarian and Emergency Ready-to-Eat and Specialty Item Development and Sales