Jeff & Amber Nagel: Pioneers in Plant Medicine & Formulation Science
With over 20 years of dedication to plant medicine industries, Jeff and Amber Nagel have established themselves as leaders in botanical wellness. Their journey has taken them across the globe—building successful retail, cultivation, and manufacturing operations in four states and three countries—before returning to North Carolina to cement their legacy at home.
Jeff serves as the scientific backbone of Grateful Meds. His background includes seven years as VP & Director of Medical Product Development for Apollon Formularies in the UK and Jamaica. There, he conducted extensive research integrating adaptogenic mushrooms with cannabinoids, co-inventing multiple patents for cancer and inflammation treatments. His work in pre-clinical validation has demonstrated how specific mushroom preparations (like Reishi and Turkey Tail) can work synergistically to enhance immune response.
Together, Jeff and Amber focus on “clean-label” formulations, ensuring that products like the mushroom liquid concentrates are free from unnecessary additives. Their philosophy is simple: combine rigorous formulation chemistry with natural, holistic cultivation methods to produce safe, effective solutions for mind, body, and soul.
Ken Breese: Operational Excellence & Holistic Stewardship
Ken Breese brings a decade of specialized operational expertise to Grateful Meds, ensuring that the integrity of our plant-based formulations is maintained from the lab to your door. Ken began his career in the industry with Speedweed, Los Angeles’ first cannabis delivery service, where he mastered the logistics of getting wellness products to patients efficiently.
Ken first collaborated with Jeff and Amber during his tenure at W Vapes in California, and in 2024, he reunited with them to serve as COO of Grateful Meds. Ken’s background is deeply rooted in the technical nuances of product handling; he has managed large-scale post-harvest teams and developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for award-winning producers in Massachusetts.
At Grateful Meds, Ken translates his experience in scaling multi-state operations into a holistic workflow. He oversees the process development and best practices that ensure every bottle of our mushroom extract and supplement product meets the highest standards of Farm Bill compliance and quality assurance.