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Valley Green Naturals Founder Cindy DeVore
After years of working in politics and communications in Washington, D.C., Cindy and her husband decided to leave city living and move to the Northern Virginia countryside. The couple indulged their self-sustaining attitude and began growing their own vegetables, raising chickens and enjoying life on their small hobby farm. After Arthur purchased a home soap-making kit, Cindy and Art began experimenting with various natural soap recipes using locally-sourced botanicals and honey. Friends and family served as willing test subjects for each new recipe.
At the urging of those same family members, the couple began selling the soaps locally and found that they were a huge hit. Cindy studied reports on commonly used chemicals in personal care products and their effects on the human body. Ultimately, her findings led to the creation of Valley Green Naturals, a company she founded to produce natural and organic products. Starting with a budget of only $250, Cindy and Art purchased basic ingredients to make the company’s first lotions, creams, shampoos and soaps. After many months of testing and perfecting recipes, the couple incorporated Valley Green Naturals in 2009 and launched a web site to market their products.
Since that time, the company has grown to include two additional partners, and the Valley Green Naturals line now boasts over 30 skin, hair and bath care products that are free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens and petrochemicals. Valley Green Naturals products have been featured in Washingtonian Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Health Journal, on AOL’s StyleList, the New York Examiner, LongIslandPress.com, and a variety of other media outlets.
Cindy serves as the company’s chief chemist and head of product development. She has a true passion for researching and testing the effectiveness of natural ingredients in body care — particularly those used in anti-aging products. She enjoys discussing and writing about natural ingredients and how bountiful Mother Nature really is, in meeting our everyday needs.
Arthur DeVore, CTO, Director of Development for Natural Food Division
Art’s early career began in the military, serving as a U.S. Marine for 13 years. In the early days of personal computers, Art earned a commendation for creating a program to account for fuel and ordnance expenditures of the squadron in which he served. He later was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for expanding and implementing the program for six Fighter squadrons assigned to the Marine Air Group where Art also served.
When the Marine Corps was downsized in 1993, Art chose to take limited early retirement benefits and began work as a civilian employee for Department of Defense contractors. Many years later, Art’s expertise now lies in Information Systems Security.
Married in 1982, Art and Cindy have always loved the outdoors and visiting the country. They often hiked and camped with their two children in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. A year after 9/11, Art and Cindy decided to leave city-living for good and settle in the country. They’ve never looked back since!
Art still works as a defense contractor, maintaining that the commute is well worth the rewards of country living. He also assists with the technological needs of Valley Green Naturals and serves as head of its planned natural food division. Art’s love for organic gardening, fresh foods, grass-fed meats and locally harvested vegetables makes for fantastic meals on the Valley Green Farm. His recipes using organic herbs, spices and oils have formed the basis for the company’s planned expansion into natural and organic dry food goods.
Mary Hill, Vice President, CFO
Mary’s career began in New York, working in business management. After transferring to the Northern Virginia area, Mary worked for many years as Director of Administration for a top law firm in Washington, D.C. Cindy was employed as Director of Communications for the same firm, and the two became good friends.
After leaving the firm in 2004, Mary and her husband went on to form their own corporate consulting business in communications and accounting. Mary also worked as a successful real estate agent with Long & Foster before deciding to pursue her own company’s corporate work full time. It was then when Cindy approached Mary to become a partner in Valley Green Naturals. She accepted and now serves as an essential member of the management team.
Mary serves as the Chief Financial Officer and heads the company’s production team. She also oversees all supply inventory and ordering (a daunting task!) Many days, she can be found in the Valley Green Kitchen, blending and mixing products herself and continuing to ensure production of excellent products of the highest quality.
Doug Hill, Chief Marketing Officer
Doug Hill’s extensive background in communications and social media marketing makes him
perfectly suited to direct the marketing efforts of Valley Green Naturals.
With today’s necessity for maintaining a strong presence online in so many different media outlets, Doug’s knowledge of social media marketing and customer communication has been invaluable to the company. When Doug’s wife, Mary, signed on as a partner with Valley Green Naturals, it was an obvious choice to invite Doug, with his talents, to serve as a partner in the company as well.
While Doug’s other activities include serving as the head of a book publishing company, he stays busy with travel and many other duties. We’re grateful for his enthusiastic willingness to assist Valley Green Naturals with its ongoing marketing efforts.
Jess & Nicole Malthaner work in Production
Sisters, Nicole and Jess work in the Valley Green kitchen, hand-blending ingredients and making products to fill our customers’ orders. Nicole, a rising high school senior, is planning to pursue a degree in Elementary Education in college. She loves music and sings in the award-winning top choral group at her school.
While it’s harder to pin down Jess on a “favorite” subject, she excels in both the sciences and in history. Jess has been a soccer player since she was six years old, and she loves sports.
Both girls are invaluable workers at Valley Green Naturals, and we love having them around to share their smiles and cheerful attitudes!
Michael DeVore, Shipping and Help Guru
Michael helps out regularly with our postal runs to ship the many packages that leave the Valley Green Farm each day. He’s always a willing helper to run errands and bring in the heavy boxes of supplies that are delivered to the farm house. Michael is currently studying Surgical Technology at ECPI University in Northern Virginia and has begun his on-site clinical studies. He’s looking forward to graduating with a degree in Surgical Technology in the Spring of 2012. In his “spare” time, Michael also works as a veterinary assistant at a local animal hospital.