We recently connected with Jocelyn Sheppard and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jocelyn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

In 2018, I started a company that would soon hire local people to grow lavender on reclaimed coal mine land in West Virginia. While I knew lavender would do well in this soil, and I knew local people needed work, I didn’t know how it would all come together at scale. I had to rely on other people for technical know-how, to supervise the farm crew, and to provide the majority of the capital needed to fund the business. Six years later, we’ve spun off the farm as a nonprofit entity and we’re focused now on making and selling value-added aromatherapy and body care products (that still use the essential oil and hydrosol from the lavender grown nearby). The vision of creating something of value in and for a local community is still alive and well — how we’re doing has just changed a bit.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I trained to become a college English professor and along the way picked up a library science degree. I used both skill sets as a technology transfer project and program manager before hanging out my shingle as an independent consultant. I worked with inventors, high tech startups and nonprofits because I loved working with people with passion and a deep knowledge who wanted to explore new opportunities and avenues. As a consultant, I co-wrote a grant for a project to demonstrate that lavender would grow well on post-use coal mine land. The grant was funded and I stayed on the team as a writer and planner. When the grant was over and the team had split up, I was convinced that there was a commercial opportunity there. I put together the team starting in 2018, started growing lavender in 2019, and started making and selling products in 2020. I am proud to have a company that produces world-class aromatherapy, body care and beard care products using high quality botanical essential oils and extracts–all of it made in the US. We ship DTC in all 50 states. Our products are also available in a wide variety of grocery stores, wellness centers and boutiques. Consumers and retailers compliment our product quality, presentation, and packaging. Most of all, I’m proud that we also create economic opportunity and positive community impact. We provide “second chance” jobs that enable individuals to overcome barriers to traditional employment in the heart of Appalachia.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I met my partner (now wife) in graduate school. When we saw married friends of ours get jobs that forced them to live far apart, we decided that we would move to wherever one of us got a tenure-track job. My wife got the job and I pivoted, first to become an academic librarian (5 years), then to become a project manager and analyst at a NASA-funded organization (6 years), and then to become an independent consultant (20+ years) before starting Appalachian Botanical Co in 2018. In each phase of my career I’ve been able to apply what I learned in school and in prior jobs.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

We combine a great back story — growing lavender on reclaimed coal mine land and providing second-chance jobs to local residents — with custom-formulated products made with high quality ingredients. We’re proud to say “Appalachian” on our labels — and we’re especially happy when customers from across the country write to tell us about their ties to West Virginia and Appalachia, how much they enjoy our products, and how they appreciate what we’re doing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://appalachianbotanical.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/appalachianbotanicalco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/appalachianbotanicalco
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/appalachian-botanical-co-/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@appalachianbotanicalco.4767

Image Credits

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