NATURAL PRODUCT EXPO EAST

Will Smelko is the visionary and CEO behind Ora Organic as well as a fervent foodie. Upon graduating from UC Berkeley, he dove headfirst into the world of strategy consulting for Fortune 500 healthcare and pharmaceutical companies but soon realized his calling was elsewhere. Understanding that the most promising solution to climate change involved food, and inspired by the documentary Forks Over Knives, Will began exploring plant-based nutrition. So his blog, Viva Vegan, was born. It served as a means by which to create a community surrounding veganism, with helpful dietary information, recipes, and interviews, and a way for Will to share his newfound passion. Will is a firm believer in the fact that a balanced approach is the means by which to effect a lasting change. His priority is to empower others to take charge of their own health and wellbeing by providing them with the knowledge and tools necessary to do so. This desire became a large part of the mission behind Ora Organic - a company built on family to its core. Co-founded by Will, his Berkeley roommate Ron, and Will’s fiancé Erica, Ora is ready to change the status-quo by creating nutritional products made directly from food without the artificial additives. Together with Erica and Ron, Will created Ora to reflect his own values. This is why Ora prioritizes organic farming, sustainable harvesting practices, and delicious, plant-based nutrition.