Chairman
Cris has a long and prolific background in both business and philanthropy. In fact,
throughout her career she has always been a trailblazer.
Cris first made a name for herself in the 1970s in the world of software and IT
management. Cris set up business libraries for Continental Grain Company and Western
Union, before becoming a Systems Analyst with a Western Union subsidiary. As a sought
after Information Technology specialist and manager of computer programmers, Cris
broke new ground for women in the computing world as computers came of age. Cris
has also been a freelance software consultant during the computing boom of the 1980s.
Cris subsequently held various positions in corporate America, where she proved
herself to be an invaluable asset to the senior management team time and time again.
Her husband George was also a very successful corporate executive, serving as Vice
President and President at Western Union and as CEO of Mid Atlantic Medical Services
(MAMSI).
After very successful corporate careers, this dynamic duo opted to retire from the
world of big business and launch second careers investing in smaller companies like
Life’s Abundance and mentoring their management teams. George and Cris invested
in Life’s Abundance in 2000 and Cris became Chairman in 2012 upon George’s retirement.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Cris has served as a board member
of the Child Assault Prevention Program, the Washington Scholarship Fund, and the
American Heart Association. Cris also currently serves as Chairman of our non profit
foundation.
When not engrossed in the Life's Abundance business or the foundation, Cris can
often be found with her children and grandchildren. Cris also enjoys reading, skiing,
and walking.
President and CEO
Prior to his tenure at Life's Abundance, Lester Thornhill worked as a business consultant,
identifying and creating innovative ways for companies to save time and money as
well as increase sales. In his time here, he’s continued that tradition, helping
to chart a course for our company’s success.
Lester is equipped with a strong background in I.T. and armed with an intuitive
sense for business. Since becoming CEO of Life's Abundance, Lester has worked diligently
to implement measures to put our company on a clear path to prosperity. Those who
know him characterize him as an energetic, positive man of vision.
Over the years, many of the changes he has made have been focused around improving
the way the company services both internal and external customers. His belief is
that happier customers ultimately result in higher sales. He views improving the
customer experience as a win-win proposition, and our steadily improving sales during
his tenure have cemented that belief.
As a leader, his tireless optimism, caring and can-do attitude have encouraged the
Life's Abundance team to tackle multiple projects that have moved the company forward
in a responsible and sustainable way. His people-oriented direction continues to
win the admiration of not only his fellow employees, but also that of our extensive
network of dedicated Field Reps.
Nothing brings Lester more satisfaction or fulfillment than helping others to succeed,
not only in business but in their personal lives, too.
While some companies say that they couldn’t be in more capable hands, we truly mean
it.
Chief Financial Officer
Anyone who speaks with Anthony comes away with a clear impression of the depth of
his dedication and passion in his role as Chief Financial Officer.
With degrees in accounting and finance, and licensed as a Certified Public Accountant,
Anthony’s drive for success is unquestioned. As CFO, he has a unique vantage point
of all aspects of Life's Abundance business, which has helped him to pinpoint new
ways to streamline our finances and thus improve our financial strength and security.
He channels his competitive spirit into cooperation-oriented leadership, urging
his co-workers to consider fresh ideas for sustainable, responsible and profitable
corporate growth. He derives great satisfaction from bringing together people with
different – even opposing – ideas, to help formulate solutions that work for everyone.
Anthony’s definition of commitment differs from that of others; the dedication he
brings to the office is not one of simple or blind allegiance, but rather one of
daily conscious choice, with each day’s work built upon the foundation of his previous
accomplishments.
Concerned with the well-being and fair treatment of others, Anthony is deeply invested
in one of our company’s richest natural resources – our employees, who pour their
hearts and souls into their work at Life's Abundance. Our company has a great ally
in the commander at the helm of our financial ship, a man who is insightful, tenacious
and always evenhanded.
There is an ancient proverb attributed to a wizened man who instructs a naïve young
man, “Don’t look at my finger, look at the moon”. Anthony embodies this wisdom,
asking his fellow employees – even our Field Reps – to go beyond what is within
your reach, and go after the stars. As Anthony says, “Never give up, never give
in to complacency and always hold onto your dreams”.
Co-Founders
In 1998, two visionaries decided to strike out on their own and start a new company
in the network marketing industry. That company was Trilogy International (Life's
Abundance).
After owning their own network marketing company and working as distributors for
other companies, Carol and Dennis were inspired to create an entirely new kind of
network marketing company … one that fully appreciates and rewards Field Reps for
their hard work and commitment.
Both Carol and Dennis were entrepreneurs at an early age. They applied their independent
spirits and, with a lot of hard work, became successful business owners in the 1980’s.
Later, they learned the extraordinary advantages of the network marketing business
model. While they have shared many triumphs, their personalities could not be more
different. Dennis is a big-picture guy, enjoying coming up with new ideas. Carol’s
forte is managing the logistics necessary to turn those new ideas into reality.
For the last ten years, this dynamic couple devoted just about all of their time
and energy into establishing and building Life's Abundance. Now they are directing
their talents and expertise towards expanding our network of distributors and supporting
the efforts of existing Field Reps.
Carol and Dennis find fulfillment in helping pets live longer, healthier and happier
lives. Additionally, they derive great satisfaction in showing other Field Reps
how to break free from their comfort zones and achieve prosperity.
They are so proud of the home office staff they helped to establish, describing
them as “a great team of talented and dedicated people”. For Carol and Dennis, co-founding
Life's Abundance was “one of the greatest accomplishments of our lives” and that
they “hope to continue be an inspiration and mentor to others” who seek to achieve
their own dreams for success.
Product Formulator
Dr. Jane is defined by her absolute dedication to the health and wellness of companion
animals.
Much of her career spent researching and developing premium pet products, Dr.
Jane is a nationally recognized authority on the holistic treatment of animals.
Since we opened our doors for business over a decade ago, Dr. Jane has formulated
cutting-edge products to help improve the health and longevity of companion animals.
We’re honored to have Dr. Jane on our team, creating all of our nutritious pet foods,
treats, supplements and care products.
One of the unsung heroes of alternative veterinary medicine, Dr. Jane regularly
consults with pet industry experts to ensure that Life's Abundance innovative health
formulas exceed the highest of standards for quality, effectiveness and safety.
Additionally, she closely monitors discoveries in nutritional science; once they’re
verified, she makes corresponding improvements to our formulas.
Dr. Jane has served on several professional boards, including the Cornell Feline
Health Center, and is the recipient of numerous awards and citations for excellence
in veterinary medicine and pet-related issues work. In fact, her non-profit work
has earned her the respect of many city and state leaders. Among her peers, she
is well-respected and highly regarded for her uncompromising standards for nutritional
content and quality ingredients.
Dr. Jane has authored three books promoting the responsible care and treatment of
companion animals. Her books include Revolution in Cat Nutrition (Rawson Associates,
New York, 1986), Dr. Jane’s Thirty Days to a Healthier, Happier Cat (Berkley Publishing,
New York, 1997) and Dr. Jane’s Guide to a Healthier, Happier Dog (Berkley Publishing,
New York, 1999).
In addition Dr. Jane has appeared as a veterinary expert on CBS's 48 hours, ABC's
Good Morning America, Fox's Good Morning New York, WNET's romper Room and Reading
Rainbow, CNN, PBS. Lifetime, The Discovery Channel, TV Food Network and numerous
radio stations including WABC/NY, WNBC, WNYC, WQXR and National Public Radio. Animal
Planet’s early days included Dr. Jane as the veterinary expert in frequent segments
regarding all types of animals.
Her work to promote the betterment of the companion animal community was the inspiration
for our very own foundation, which is why it proudly bears her name. The Dr. Jane
Foundation is dedicated to the promotion, maintenance and management of America’s
small animal rescues, each of which are committed to saving abused and neglected
animals from the desperations of homelessness. Dr. Jane serves as a board member
and the guiding force behind the good work of this much-needed foundation.
Executive Vice President
Stephen Berardi’s business management style embodies two distinct approaches – big
picture thinking and finely honed attention to detail – and both perspectives have
contributed to his success as a Life's Abundance Executive Vice President.
Stephen’s devotion to significant prep work prior to starting projects is spurred
on by a singular and worthwhile goal – to do things right the first time. From developing
protocols, to managing inventories, to overseeing daily operations, to implementing
safety procedures, to creating data-tracking spreadsheets, Stephen has played a
pivotal role in practically every aspect of Life's Abundance business.
His operational knowledge helped to build the bridge from our past – since the first
days with only a handful of employees – to the present day with dozens of employees
and three warehouses nationwide. Thanks in large part to Stephen’s business acuity,
Life's Abundance enjoys a resilient infrastructure that has weathered both the boom
times and the worst financial crisis in several generations.
And yet, in spite of his continual efforts and multiple achievements, Stephen remains
humble regarding his success, preferring to shun personal credit and redirect the
spotlight of attention to the work of the Life's Abundance team as a whole.
In a moment of frankness, Stephen admitted that the old adage for success – “love
what you do” –doesn’t really apply to everyone. In fact, his advice to new Field
Reps and others seeking prosperity lies in the recognition of three concepts: (1)
you’ll never find out what you can accomplish unless you try, (2) each failure,
no matter the context, always represents a teachable moment, and (3) perseverance
is the foundation of attainable dreams.
Coming from a man who takes quiet pride in his ability to accurately plan for the
future, we’re certain others may find his recommendation a reliable recipe for success.
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Linda has a long and distinguished career that spans over 35 years. She got her
start with Publishers Clearing House (PCH), which was one of the largest direct
sales companies in the U.S. There she reported directly to the CEO, working on many
strategic initiatives including planning and communications. After 15 years at PCH,
she moved to Florida and sharpened her marketing and communications skills working
for a consulting company called Applied Biometrics. There she helped successfully
launch and market products for the National Honey Board, The North Carolina Sweet
Potato Commission, the U.S. Sweet Potato Commission, Florida Crystals and GNC.
Linda came to Life's Abundance in 1999. At Life's Abundance, Linda manages a team
of talented marketing professionals dedicated to creating promotional materials,
sales aids and training for Field Reps. Over the years at Life's Abundance, she
has really connected with Field Representatives, who she says, “are the heart and
soul of the industry”. Linda really understands network marketing, and counts it
as a great professional privilege to be a part of something that is so special and
pivotal in the lives of thousands of people in the field. Linda and her husband,
Brian, are the happy pet parents of a beautiful black cat named Lucky Boy.
Staff Veterinarian
A member of our veterinary expert team, Dr. Jessica Vogelsang is an amazing veterinarian,
prolific author, popular on-air personality, worldwide traveler and self-professed “big time dog person”.
Known to her fans as “Dr. V”, Jessica is one of the most widely read veterinarians on the web.
She’s a graduate of the prestigious UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, specializing in
both emergency and general practice. Dr. V started her award-winning website, Pawcurious, in
2009 as a way to share her love of animals with the world. Quickly recognized as an entertaining
and informative voice in the pet world, Dr. V has become a much sought-after contributor in print,
video and radio. Not only that, but Dr. V is one of a small group of veterinary and journalism
experts to have earned the title of Certified Veterinary Journalist through the American Society
of Veterinary Journalists. Some will instantly recognize her from her work on the series “Animals
Gone Wild” on Nat Geo Wild, where she helps explain the behaviors of multiple species.
Dr. V provides content for our company blog, where she shares her personal and professional insights
on better living for two-footers and four-footers alike!