UNPA Annual Retreat
2026
Nearly 30 years ago, Loren Israelsen walked into our lab—a back room in my father’s chiropractic clinic.
He’s been in our corner ever since.
An ally. A champion. One of my biggest supporters. A “work dad,” which is quite an accomplishment considering I already worked with my actual dad.
This final UNPA retreat in Moab hit differently as Loren prepares for a well-earned blend of sabbatical and retirement.
I was at the first retreat and nearly every one since. The exceptions involved the births of my children. Apparently, they had scheduling priorities of their own.
For nearly 11 years, we’ve turned these retreats into family vacations. My kids have grown up around this community. What started as an industry gathering became part of our family’s story.
And Loren has been central to both.
As one of the architects of DSHEA, he helped pave the road so many of us have built our businesses on. A grandfather of this industry, and a mentor whose impact goes far beyond legislation.
Now he’s passing the botanical baton. Honestly, I don’t think there’s one person who can take it.
Maybe that’s the point. It will take many of us.
AHPA and NPA remain strong voices carrying this work forward. Those of us who benefited from Loren’s leadership have a responsibility to do our part, too.
But it won’t be the same.
You gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, and know when to walk away. I think Loren got the timing just right.
Thank you, Loren, for believing in a little lab in the back of a chiropractic clinic. For supporting the man I was becoming. And for making room for my family along the way.
Enjoy this next chapter. You’ve helped write enough of ours. 🌿
2025
Elan shares his observations on the UNPA Annual Retreat:
This year’s UNPA Annual Members’ Retreat brought us back to beautiful Asheville, North Carolina, at the nearly incomprehensible Biltmore Estate. Somehow, it felt even more special than it did when we gathered there 11 years ago.
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, which devastated the region, we were deeply moved by Jesse Dean, founder of Asheville Tea Company. She shared the heartbreaking story of watching her life’s work float away—split by a telephone pole in the floodwaters. Her courage and grace reminded us how fragile our plans can be, and how powerful the choice is to keep going.
I’ve been fortunate to attend these retreats since the very first one in Moab, and back then I dreamed of the day I could bring my future family along. Nearly every year since, that dream has become real. Michelle, Mazzy, and Zev joined me again this year, and we wrapped the retreat with horseback riding, hiking, and a little time to just breathe. The kids have grown up around this community and somehow seem to have more friends here than I do—which might be my favorite part.
As always, Loren and the entire UNPA team outdid themselves with another world-class event filled with meaningful topics and even better people. And for the record—I walked away with a new kind of friend this year: a bitter one. Dr. Giovanni Appendino’s keynote on the science and art of bitters was thrilling. I love bitters!
