6 minute read
BUSINESS
Atlanta-Based Genexa Is Cleaning Up the Over-TheCounter Industry
Genexa, an Atlanta-based company founded by two dads, Max Spielberg and David Johnson, has made a significant presence in the consumer pharmaceutical space by producing the first clean OTC medicine products in the industry. Using Genexa’s patented preservation system, the company’s products deliver the Genexa cofounders David Johnson (left) and same active ingredients Max Spielberg (right). (Credit: Genexa) as other OTC medicine, but for the first time ever they are without common allergens like lactose and gluten, artificial dyes, parabens, polyethylene glycol, talc and many other, potentially harmful and unnecessary inactive ingredients.
According to Genexa cofounder Spielberg, “We did not accept the feedback we got from countless manufacturers who told us that artificial binders and fillers were necessary in OTC medicines to keep them shelf stable, so we set out to bring together the leading medical experts and business minds in the industry to create a better solution.” Johnson adds, “Through the innovative products we are creating and the breakthroughs we’ve made with OTC medicines, we hope to inspire others in the industry to further our mission to clean up the medicine aisle and offer cleaner, healthier solutions for everyone.”
Last month Genexa closed a record-breaking $60 million Series A funding round, which further substantiates that a shift is under way toward clean medicine not unlike the pervasive consumer trends that have been affecting the food and beverage industry, beauty and personal care, and all other major segments over the last ten years. Some of the best-regarded venture capital firms and a large roster of A-List celebrity investors participated in the latest round of funding, and are committing to cleaning up the industry, educating consumers and making clean medicine more readily available. Today, Genexa’s products can be found at 45,000 retailers, including Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid.
Kirk Halpern and Ellen Stern Elected to Goodwill of North Georgia Board
Goodwill of North Georgia (GNG), one of the oldest and largest metro Atlanta nonprofit organizations, announced its officers board for the 2022 fiscal year. Kirk Halpern, founder and CEO of Farmers & Fishermen Purveyors, will serve as board chair and Ellen Stern, senior vice president at CBRE — and a member of The Temple — will be the board’s secretary.
Keith Parker, president and chief executive officer of GNG, announced the new appointments. Board members for 2022 were selected from a pool of community leaders and have been appointed to advance the organization’s commitment to workforce development and economic mobility. GNG serves a 45-county territory with more than 100 stores and donation centers, and operates 13 career centers to support free job training and placement services to tens of thousands of local job seekers. Through the career centers and job training programs, GNG assists veterans, people with disabilities, youth, single parents, the under-employed, people with criminal backgrounds, and anyone else looking for work.
Kirk Halpern, founder and CEO of Farmers & Fishermen Purveyors, was chosen to serve as chair of the board of Goodwill of North Georgia.
Ellen Stern, senior vice president at CBRE and member of The Temple, will serve as the board’s secretary.
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Creative Rodbell Cans Cocktails
Andrew Rodbell is “killing it” with his Post Meridiem line of canned cocktails: Margarita, Old Fashioned, Mai Tai, Gimlet and Daiquiri.
Third-generation native Atlantan Andrew Rodbell left corporate America — leadership roles include The Coca-Cola Company and Turner Broadcasting — to follow his passion for brand building, entrepreneurship and cocktails. He co-founded Post Meridiem Spirits with the ambition of making full-strength cocktails with authentic ingredients as accessible as beer and wine, with the first line of cocktails in 3.4-oz. cans. Post Meridiem is the first canned cocktail company in Georgia and the only canned cocktail made in the Southeast.
“While crafting delicious cocktails packaged in cute cans seems obvious and effortless,” Andrew said, “it was a challenging process with intentionality in every decision to develop the unique drinks.” Andrew and his business partner, Charles Sain, committed to only using real, non-engineered ingredients “just because” they taste better. They wanted to elevate the ready-to-drink category, which typically uses fake ingredients and artificial colors. Post Meridiem is the only canned cocktail that uses 100% real lime juice because it is crisper and more refreshing than lime flavoring and citric acid.
To shape the brand, they chose familiar cocktails and followed traditional recipes, hence the cocktail-appropriate size (100 ml) and strength (+50 proof). The lineup includes a Margarita, Old Fashioned, Mai Tai, Gimlet, and Daiquiri. Cans were chosen as the best container to protect the quality ingredients, and the company built their own canning line in West Midtown to ensure “hands-on” quality control.
Post Meridiem launched in Georgia in April 2019. Cocktails are available in over 300 liquor stores, hotels, country clubs and music venues across Georgia. The brand has recently expanded to South Carolina, Tennessee, and the Maryland-D.C. area, with additional states lined up. Also, their cocktails are now available for online purchase in 33 states.
According to Andrew, “Great taste, recognizable cocktails, real ingredients, novel packaging, ingredient transparency at a low price point of $3.99 per cocktail are some of the reasons Post Meridiem has been successful. I’m proud to have created a way for people to mark that time of day when work turns to play with an effortless, bar-quality cocktail anywhere, anytime. Shaking the can and pouring a cocktail over ice is the perfect ritual to mark the moment when shifting from work to play. Post Meridiem’s name spells out the “long form of p.m., as in afternoon, as in time for a drink.”
Now raising the fourth generation of Rodbells with 3 children — 9, 8, and 5 years old — of his own, Andrew is a graduate of The Westminster School, the University of Pennsylvania, and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. ì
Compiled by AJT
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In 2018, Kenny and his wife, Clarisa prayed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem (see picture to the right). They prayed for the Peace of Jerusalem and Atlanta and left their prayers in the wall.
With these prayers of peace heavy on their hearts, they came back to Atlanta and continued to invest their lives into their community and city.
Kenny is running for Mayor of Atlanta because he is tired of seeing Atlanta in a pit. Unfortunately, crime and corruption go hand-in-hand. Atlanta cannot rely on the same people who got us into this pit to get us out.
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