YogaEarth’s Team
James Arthur Smith, Digital Sales Manager
James is a visionary strategist with an intimate understanding of online advertising, communications, and results-driven marketing. His unique focus, combined with an indomitable work ethic (and his dedicated Vinyasa Yoga practice) have been cornerstones of his success in developing online marketing and technology platforms. An avid surfer for over 20 years, James has explored vast stretches of the Pacific Coast line from Canada to Chile and has been known to schedule “board meetings” to coincide with the lunar calendar. Also an aspiring vintner, James recently married into a family of Northern Baja boutique wine-makers and often spends long holiday weekends ”barrel-testing” and playing in the dirt.
Ben Odell, Marketing Manager
Ben has extensive experience developing multimedia marketing and creative copywriting for ethical companies focused on superfood nutrition, yoga, wellness, and alternative energy. He combines his storytelling instincts (honed in Hollywood) with his poetic precision (developed at Harvard) to deliver clear and evocative brand messaging at every level of contact – from product packaging and rich web content to press packets and scientific white papers. He’s particularly focused on the intersection of the organic superfood market, cutting-edge nutrition science, and FDA advertising guidelines. Previous clients include EverTune, Algae Systems, Sylvatex Biofuels, Columbia Family TV, Konami Video Games, and Essential Living Foods. Ben studied English Literature and Visual Communication at Harvard College, Design at UCLA, and Yoga at YogaWorks. He’s an avid surfer, yogi, and competitive swimmer, so he can hold his breath for a long, long time.
Dan Ductor, Customer Experience Manager
A Los Angeles native, Dan is by nature a “people person”. He has worked in the consumer relations field in various capacities for over 20 years. Most recently, Dan worked for Neutrogena Corporation, where he proved to be a valuable asset, as he is always concerned about not only satisfying the consumer’s needs but also exceeding their expectations. As Neutrogena grew from a medium-sized company to an acquisition by Johnson & Johnson, Dan was integral during the implementation of a new customer database system called PowerCenter, which led to a smooth and seamless transition and increased focus on the customer. Dan analyzed consumer data utilizing two separate consumer-database-reporting systems, focusing on complaints, feedback and – more importantly – consumer insights. Dan reported periodically to the marketing department, market research, and the executive staff, which led to continual improvements in both products and services delivered to the consumer.
Daniel Cook, Founder & CEO
Daniel is an eco-preneur and explorer of good, mindful living across world cultures. His journey spans the origination and development of projects in four continents, including fly-fishing in the Bahamas, pioneering solar energy in New England, bootstrapping nonprofit management throughout the emerging markets, and six years of wine in Argentina and Chile. YogaEarth is Daniel’s newest endeavor, and if you look closely you will see the strands of his life experiences woven together: the zen of fly-casting; the entrepreneurial spirit of VC; the social innovation of his nonprofit and clean-energy work; and, the connection with the earth and food from his days in South American organic wine. Daniel received his BA from Fairfield University’s Honors Program and MBA from Harvard University. He is a P2P Eisenhower Ambassador to England, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Russia, and a Fulbright Scholar to Chile. Daniel lives on Venice Beach and sits on the board of directors for Experience Aviation and Yoga for Youth, organizations pioneering the learning of aviation and yoga in US inner cities, respectively. Recently he earned his Skipper’s license in sailing from New Zealand’s Royal Sailing Academy, and he is an avid fly fisher, with angling time logged throughout Patagonia, South Andros, New Zealand, and the American northwest.
