JoAnn Issenman

Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy is the nation’s first and largest chain of integrative pharmacies. Its roots are in the natural foods industry, which, of course, shifted the entire food culture in America. Pharmaca has redefined the context and perception of the retail pharmacy in a similar manner. Since Pharmaca’s foundation in 2000, Jo Ann Issenman has managed and grown the skincare and cosmetics category, which focuses on natural or organic products as well as Pharmaca’s own label. She introduced licensed estheticians to all Pharmaca stores and oversees a brand-based training program for the thirty plus women and men who form the skincare team.

With a degree in Urban Planning, an immersion in Montreal municipal politics and planning issues, life looked like it would involve blueprints, heated community issues and headaches. Jo Ann decided to jump career paths and began as co-owner of Montreal’s finest gourmet food store. Several years later, she joined Capers Community Markets in Vancouver, British Columbia, as Marketing Director, and was instantly immersed in organic farming issues, as well as, Canada’s successful fight to prevent the use of rBGH in milk. After Capers’ merger with Alfalfa’s, she moved to Boulder and worked in the natural products industry at Alfalfa’s and later at Wild Oats. 

Jo Ann has served on the boards of Save Montreal, Farm Folks City Folks and as the Boulder leader of Slow Food. She is author of three books on food subjects.

For more information on JoAnn, please visit www.pharmaca.com