It is our mission to provide a seamless customer experience through innovative collaborations, highest-quality products, and unparalleled service.
We envision ourselves to be the most innovative and iconic wellness company driven by the talents of our people.
Adel Villalobos founded Lief Labs in 2008 with the dream of becoming an industry leader in quality, innovation, and technology. Now, with over 25 years of experience in the dietary and nutritional supplement industry, Adel is very active in the industry and community. He is a founding member of the Nutrition Industry Association and a board member of several industry and community organizations, including the Supplement Safety and Compliance Initiative, the Natural Products Association (NPA), Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Center and the Biotech Program at LA Mission College. He is also a member of the NPA’s Committee for Industry Product and Label Integrity, Young Presidents Organization (YPO), and the Los Angeles CEO Council.
Adel built his business and reputation on the concept of “helping others.” Once a start-up itself, Lief Labs has made efforts to support entrepreneurial brands make their start and guide them through the industry. Adel also mentors aspiring businesspeople and young students through his affiliations with local colleges and universities. He works closely with other community leaders to establish institutions that benefit underprivileged youth and provide access to resources for extracurricular activities and sports. Adel serves as a member and supporter of nonprofit foundations, such as Heart of the Brain and Vitamin Angels.
Adel graduated from the California State University at Northridge with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and completed the Executive Management Program at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. He has furthered his educational achievements by completing multiple courses on Artificial Intelligence – Strategies for Leading Business Transformation from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Adel Villalobos was born in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. It was there that his hard-working parents raised him and his siblings and where he developed a love for baseball, which he attributes to his passion for discipline, teamwork, mentorship, and community. Adel is inspired by his daughter and son with their zest for life, learning, and curiosity – to be a part of their growth and maturity is a gift he says he will always cherish.
Steve is a senior executive with 20+ years of experience helping businesses drive sustainable improvements in long-term value. His background is a blend of corporate and consulting roles with a focus on privately-held and PE-owned companies. Through all of his roles, Steve has focused on creating organizational alignment so individuals at all levels make decisions that are consistent with the strategy and create value.
He is currently the President of Lief Labs and a member of Lief’s Board of Advisors. Prior to Lief, his experience in the supplement industry includes 7 years as EVP and CFO at Pharmavite LLC, the makers of Nature Made vitamins, President of Corr-Jensen (now Performix), and COO and CFO at Bragg Live Foods.
On the consulting side, his experience includes senior roles at L.E.K. Consulting and Stern Stewart & Co. Steve has also served as an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University where he taught courses on valuation and mergers and acquisitions.
Steve holds an undergraduate degree in Finance from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California and an MBA in Finance and Business Strategy from Indiana University. Additionally, Steve co-wrote a book, “Every Second Counts: An Introduction to Football Clock Management,” with his son, Matt.
Shabir Rahim is a senior executive with over 20 years of extensive experience in finance and operations. He is recognized for his ability to drive financial strategy and operational excellence in dynamic business environments.
As the Chief Financial Officer at Lief Labs, Shabir plays a pivotal role in shaping financial strategies that support the company’s growth objectives and enhance overall value. His expertise in capital and treasury management, financial reporting and forecasting, and strategic planning enables Lief Labs to effectively navigate the complexities of the rapidly evolving health and wellness market.
Shabir has a proven track record of implementing robust financial controls and enhancing reporting accuracy, fostering informed decision-making and operational efficiencies. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration and mentorship, empowering high-performing finance teams to achieve ambitious goals while serving as strategic partners to other areas of the organization.
He holds an MBA from the University of Southern California, as well as both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Shabir is known for his ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders and drive initiatives that promote innovation and growth.
In his free time, Shabir cherishes quality moments with friends and family, particularly enjoying rounds of golf with his two kids and supporting them in their extracurricular activities. He also has a passion for international travel and loves exploring new restaurants throughout the Los Angeles area, always eager to discover new flavors and experiences.
Thomas has over 20 years of extensive end-to-end cross-functional and operations management experience gained through his time at PepsiCo, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Nestle Skin Health, The Hackett Group, and most recently, Erin Condren Design, where he served as SVP of Operations. As a consultant, Thomas spent 2 years specializing in working capital optimization across various companies and industries. His track record of optimizing processes, enhancing efficiency, and driving cost-effective solutions aligns perfectly with Lief’s commitment to excellence, ensuring Lief is providing industry-leading service and quality to our customers.
Thomas received his Bachelors of Science degree in Supply Chain & Logistics Management from the University of North Texas, and he also holds his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
As a member of Lief’s Executive Leadership Team, his strategic leadership and tactical operations experience helps guide Lief’s operations, including manufacturing, engineering, IT, customer operations, sales, marketing, logistics, inventory, and strategic sourcing capabilities to new heights.
Dr. Chioma Ikonte is an accomplished, global technical and business executive with over 20 years of experience in nutritional supplements, including vitamins/minerals, prebiotics/probiotics, proteins, botanicals, and food supplements across multi dosage forms in multinational healthcare and consumer products industries. She is recognized for her strategic thinking, implementation of scientific research programs, building front end innovation pipeline and new product execution, which deliver nutritional benefits, increase market penetration, and the deployment of continuous improvement initiatives while controlling costs.
As the Chief Science Officer at Lief Labs, Dr Ikonte plays a pivotal role in developing, driving and delivering innovation, scientific research and product development initiatives that deliver growth and excellence to the organization and our brand partners while maintaining the highest quality standards. Her extensive background in the nutritional industry, delivering product development excellence, innovation and her passion for Quality by Design enables Lief Labs to strengthen its position as an iconic product development and manufacturing partner.
Chioma has a proven track record of implementing efficient product development processes that build quality into the system and deliver novel innovative products with excellence. Her leadership style fosters collaboration, building leaders at every level and empowering high-performing teams to maximize their potentials.
Dr. Ikonte holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles where she studied the transport and metabolism of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in cancer cells. Her extensive experience in research & development includes leadership roles at Pharmavite, Nutrilite, Herbalife, Metagenics, SmartyPants Vitamins, and most recently Vice President of R&D at Melaleuca prior to joining Lief Labs.
Dr. Ikonte holds several patents in product development and has authored peer-reviewed publications.
Bardia Eslami is an executive serving as the Vice President of Operations at Lief Labs. With a background in Chemical Engineering, he has been instrumental in driving the company’s operational success since joining in 2017.
Graduating from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Bardia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, a foundation that has provided him with a solid understanding of complex systems and processes, essential for his role in overseeing operations at Lief Labs. Bardia started his career as an intern at Lief immediately after college and has developed through overseeing multiple departments/functions like Supply Chain and Production.
Throughout his tenure at Lief Labs, Bardia has spearheaded several pivotal projects that have significantly contributed to the company’s growth and operational efficiency. Notable among these projects is his leadership in the construction and transition of two 120,000 square foot facilities and the development and creation of the Engineering and Tech Ops departments/functions. Additionally, Bardia played a crucial role in the implementation of the SAP ERP System, a milestone initiative that streamlined Lief Labs’ internal processes and supported growth across various departments.
Nathan is a senior executive with 10+ years of experience in the dietary supplement industry with an emphasis around sales, marketing, and product development. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications Advertising and an Associate’s degree in Fire Technology where he graduated the Fire Fighter Academy in 2008. This background led him down the path of fitness and health where he became heavily involved in dietary supplements.
Nathan has formulated and produced thousands of products throughout his dietary supplement career and helped brands go from start up to 9 figure acquisitions. He has successfully launched new divisions at Lief Labs and helped build sustainable long-term infrastructure and business strategies that have led to the overall success of the organization.
Mary L. Landin is a seasoned HR professional with 16 years of experience in driving organizational success through strategic human capital management primarily in the Space and Defense sector. Currently serving as the Director of Human Resources at Lief Labs, she leverages a comprehensive understanding of HR principles and practices to foster a dynamic and inclusive workplace culture.
Mary implements innovative recruitment strategies to attract talent and build high-performing teams that align with the company’s objectives. She directs initiatives to optimize employee engagement, retention, and development, recognizing that a motivated workforce is instrumental in achieving business goals.
Mary is adept at navigating complex employment regulations and compliance requirements, ensuring that the organization operates ethically and legally in all HR-related matters. She also plays a pivotal role in designing and implementing fair and effective compensation and benefits programs that reward employees equitably while aligning with budgetary constraints.
With a passion for fostering a culture of continuous improvement, Mary champions initiatives to enhance organizational effectiveness, streamline HR processes, and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workplace. She is committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best. She is recognized for her leadership, strategic mindset, and dedication to driving HR excellence in support of organizational success.
Dan Connors joined Lief Labs in October 2023, bringing over 25 years of operations leadership experience, including 15 years in the nutraceutical industry. As Director of Operations, Dan oversees all aspects of manufacturing and logistics, including blending, encapsulation, packaging, scheduling, warehousing, and distribution. Since joining the team, Dan has led a strategic transformation of operational workflows—streamlining processes, reducing waste, and enhancing overall efficiency. Under his leadership, the operations team has launched several initiatives focused on improving safety, product quality, and employee engagement through collaboration and continuous improvement.
Before joining Lief Labs, Dan spent 13 years at Pharmavite, LLC, where he held key leadership roles in distribution, packaging, soft gel manufacturing, and facilities management. He is known for his passion for people and process and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).
With 18 years of experience in the nutraceutical industry, Jeohvan Montoya has gained a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the business. Over the past 13 years at Lief Labs, he has held various leadership roles, excelling in procurement, sourcing, inventory management, logistics, product development, R&D, and operations optimization. This broad range of experience allows him to streamline processes, reduce costs, and ensure efficient, seamless operations across the organization.
Jeohvan places a strong focus on building key supplier relationships to drive efficiency and long-term success. As Director of Supply Chain, he is dedicated to fostering continuous improvement, mentoring talent, and preparing the next generation of professionals to tackle the evolving challenges of the nutraceutical industry. Always staying ahead of industry trends, Jeohvan is committed to implementing best practices that support both operational success and sustainable growth.
Adel Villalobos
DJ Lipke
David Wood
Leo Fernandez
Sachin Gupta
Sanjeev Krishnan
Sean McNally
Steve Chopp
Roberto Medrano
Ross Christianson
At Lief, we love contributing to organizations that are making a positive impact all over the world.
Lief is a proud sponsor of What’s Up With Supps events. The What’s Up With Supps board is made up of dynamic industry leaders that are passionate about supplements and keeping the industry strong. Their mission is to be the catalyst for creating connections in the Health & Wellness industry and together we promote unity, growth & innovation through networking, mentoring and professional development.
Lief Labs Headquarters is home to our production, packaging, shipping, and administrative operations.
It is our mission to provide a seamless customer experience through innovative collaborations, highest-quality products, and unparalleled service. Get started today with a free quote.
It is our mission to provide a seamless customer experience through innovative collaborations, highest-quality products, and unparalleled service. Get started today with a free quote.
It is our mission to provide a seamless customer experience through innovative collaborations, highest-quality products, and unparalleled service. Get started today with a free quote.
28903 Avenue Paine
Valencia, CA 91355 USA
Main Headquarters Hours
Monday - Friday 8AM to 5PM
Shipping & Receiving Warehouse Hours
Monday - Friday 8AM to 2:30PM
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