Guiding Stars Licensing Company
About the Company
In 2008, the Guiding Stars Licensing Company was formed to create opportunities for supermarkets, manufacturers, restaurants, food service providers, hospitals and health plans, and other organizations to make nutritious shopping simple. Guiding Stars Licensing Company is based in Scarborough, Maine.
Betts FitzGerald
Managing Director, Guiding Stars Licensing Company
Betts’ licensing industry experience can be vouched for by none other than Kermit the Frog! While steeped in 30+ years of entertainment licensing (including 26 with the Muppets), good-for-you food has always been a part of her life (including a mother who in the ‘60s followed leading nutritionist, Adelle Davis, an early advocate of whole unprocessed foods). Betts’ love of real food, fresh ingredients, and great restaurants may further explain why she made her way from NYC to Portland, ME to become a part of Guiding Stars.
John Eldredge
Director of Brand and Business Development, Guiding Stars Licensing Company
John’s 30 years of consumer products experience — ranging from General Mills to Earth’s Best organic baby food — have made him a believer in a healthy lifestyle and good-for-you products. He has enjoyed leading the charge in bringing the Guiding Stars program to a growing number of consumers and strategic partners. But call John during lunch and you’re likely to get his voicemail. He enjoys running or Nordic skiing most days at noon.
Jim McBride
Director of Operations, Guiding Stars Licensing Company
Jim is one of the founding members of the Guiding Stars program. His 24 years of investment analysis, sales budgeting and business information experience at Hannaford Supermarkets were essential in bringing the program to life. Jim designed the nutrition database and leads the data collection efforts to ensure that all product ratings are accurate. As an active outdoor enthusiast, Jim knows the importance of staying healthy with nutritious foods, but credits his family with keeping him young.
Shines and Jecker
Joyce Gauthier
Product Development Analyst, Guiding Stars Licensing Company
Joyce’s years of experience with Quality Assurance and recipe development make her a strong resource for our clients. Joyce is the direct contact for Research and Development teams and assists them with analysis of product formulations. She also works with clients on matching private label items to their National brand targets.
Katie Jones
Client Services and Implementation Specialist, Guiding Stars Licensing Company
Katie is motivated to share her passion and energy about Guiding Stars. From the time Guiding Stars was developed, she has been spreading the word about the program from school groups to government officials and beyond. Katie truly believes that Guiding Stars fulfills and enhances any food service arena looking to promote health. Katie works with dedicated clients, managing expectations and facilitating solutions. For new clients, Katie leads the implementation of the Guiding Stars program working with all members of the team to ensure a successful launch.
Scott Collins
Manager of Quality Assurance and Data Services, Guiding Stars Licensing Company
Scott ensures program integrity from the initial data collection to the client’s operational execution; he is a resource for identifying and resolving challenges in information technology, data, or other processes that may arise during program operation. Scott also provides periodic measurement and evaluation of the Guiding Stars program at client sites to help maximize the program value and ensure compliance with brand and legal standards.
Timothy E. Pike
Data Services Team Leader, Guiding Stars Licensing Company
Tim plays a key role in the data integrity of the Guiding Stars database. His primary role is to train and supervise the data collection team in the data entry process, from initial data entry through verification, algorithm selection, and final rating approval. Tim manages the ongoing task of auditing information in our database to ensure we have the most accurate and current data available. He manages a database of images of the products rated from our data team, independent photographers and vendor partners.
Paul Doucette
Systems Specialist, Guiding Stars Licensing Company
Paul is a dedicated client contact: He assists clients with the critical inventory rating process, is the liaison for our vendor partners, and assists with the photography processes during a client’s Guiding Stars implementation. In addition, Paul assists clients with access to and use of the Guiding Stars database.
Sue Till
Client Services Manager, Guiding Stars Licensing Company
Food and nutrition communications has been at the forefront of Sue's career, working on the Wild Blueberry Association of North America's antioxidant superfruit campaign, the Produce for Better Health Foundation's 5 A day the Color Way healthy eating program, as well as promotion of healthy products from Mott's and Dole. As a mom to a busy toddler, Sue can be found at the park, the beach or any place with room to run! And when it comes to family nutrition, Sue strives to make "green" and "good-for-you" foods fun!
