James D. White, chairman, president, and CEO of Jamba, led a delegation of company executives to the nation’s capitol last week visiting several senior Obama administration officials.
The meetings were organized to promote the company’s long-standing commitment to promoting healthy, active lifestyles and small business entrepreneurship, and to building healthier communities and schools across America. White also joined a chorus of American companies pledging their support for the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
Jamba’s itinerary included meetings with senior officials of the Let’s Move campaign, First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative to combat the nation’s growing childhood obesity epidemic. They also met with staff at the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN); and executives at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the organization that manages broad-based community service efforts in education, health care, recreation, and the environment.
Company executives also met with the White House Chef, where they highlighted their partnership with the National Gardening Association (NGA) and the Jamba's National School Lunch Program which includes all-fruit and fruit and vegetables smoothies
Jamba continues to help lead the industry in developing nutritious specialty smoothies made with whole fruit and 100 percent fruit and vegetables juices, with zero grams trans fat, no HFCS, no artificial preservatives, and no artificial flavors.
The company has helped lead the way in the state of California in promoting healthier eating and physical fitness in schools and surrounding communities. In February 2010, Jamba and CAHPERD broke the Guinness Book of World Records by organizing 88,000 children and adults to jump or skip rope across California.
Their work in promoting healthy lifestyles and partnerships with like-minded organizations, such as the WNBA, NGA, and National
Other meetings included an extended visit with U.S. Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke; Deputy U.S. Trade Ambassador, Demetrios Marantis; and senior advisors at the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“Jamba Juice is at a very critical place in both the U.S. and global market place. Jamba has been a leader in providing customers with solutions to help simplify and inspire healthy, active living, for more than 20 years. With the obesity crisis facing our nation and the global focus on health and wellness, that mission has never been more relevant, White says.
“We were delighted to meet with members of the President’s team to discuss innovative ways we can help promote healthier living, especially for the nation’s youth.”
In his meeting at the Commerce Department, White briefed the Secretary and senior advisors on the company’s domestic operations and Jamba’s long-standing commitment to summer youth employment. He also urged Secretary Locke to promote policies encouraging franchising as a viable option to entrepreneurship and small business development in urban communities across the country.
During his meeting at SBA, White applauded the agency for increasing its borrowing limits for small businesses and committed to assist in raising the awareness of franchising opportunities for women and minorities.
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“I was honored to have the opportunity to visit with Secretary Locke, SBA officials, and the Deputy Ambassador for Trade,” White says. “The level of access we were given and substance of the dialogue, I think, further demonstrates the steadfast commitment the President and his Administration have for the country's economic growth.”
