Natural Products Association Leadership

Gay was most recently senior vice president, government affairs and public policy, for the National Restaurant Association. While there, he was responsible for establishing and leading industry coalitions dealing with a range of issues, including the adoption of a national standard for nutrition information on restaurant menus. He was also responsible for the association's political and fundraising programs, and oversaw one of the largest political action committees in the country.

Gay, who was recently recognized by The Hill newspaper as one of the "best in the business for America's business sectors," has worked in Washington on policy issues for nearly 25 years. He has led government affairs activities for the International Franchise Association and served on the staff of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. In addition to his non-profit experience, he spent 10 years representing international trade interests with Arthur Andersen. Gay has also worked on Capitol Hill for a U.S. Senator, where he began his government relations career.

A graduate of the University of Virginia, Gay holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in American Government. He has also earned the IOM designation from the Institute for Organization Management. Gay is originally from Atlanta, Ga., and now lives in Arlington, Va., with his wife and two children.

Pat Sardell is the co-owner and operator of Country Vitamins, an independent retail store in Corvallis, Oregon.  Sustaining and growing her business since 1982, she was an active participant in the efforts to pass the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), and is committed to protecting that important legislation.  

She has served on the Natural Products Association board of directors since 2000. A long-time NPA member, Sardell began her term as association president in 2009 and will continue to serve in that capacity through June 2011.   Her national experience includes Representative for the Northwest Region to the national board, Retailer at Large for 4 years, and two terms as Retail Council Chairperson.  She served simultaneously as a member of the board of directors for Northwest Region from 1999 through 2006, and as an executive officer and chair of numerous committees.

She is also locally active in her community, serving on the board of directors for the Corvallis Independent Business Alliance (CIBA), which promotes locally owned family businesses, and volunteers for various business committees and civic advisory groups.

Sardell is committed to expanding and strengthening collaborative efforts to protect the natural products industry; for the consumer to have access to those products, retailers' opportunity to sell them, and manufacturers to produce them. She is also passionate about promoting the success of small independent businesses, which serve as an important springboard for grassroots movements, and new and innovative products.

She is married, with three children and three grandchildren.

For over 10 years, Short has served on the Natural Products Association (formerly National Nutritional Foods Association) regional and national boards of directors. As a member of the association's Southwest Region Board of Directors, she served as president for two years and past president for one year. She has also served on the Natural Products Association's national board for a number of years. While a membr of the national board, Short has served on several Natural Products Association committees and task forces, including two terms as the Retail Council chair. In 2006 she was elected president-elect of the Natural Products Association's national board and took the reins of the organization for a two-year term as president in July of 2007. Short has been a long-time champion of small, independent retailers, advocating for the critical role they continue to play in growing and sustaining the natural products industry.