Advisory Committee

Supported by Leading Athletes, Scientists, Doctors, and other Professionals

SummaForte is committed to developing high-quality, science-backed products that meet specific health and performance needs of our customers and that comply with the regulatory environment in which we operate. We are fortunate to have support and guidance from leading experts across a range of topics critical to achieving this commitment.

Meet Our Advisors

Leading doctors and scientists help SummaForte stay at the forefront of science and medical developments so that we can deliver on our commitment to quality. They advise us on product development as well as potential markets and uses where SummaForte can raise the bar for performance and recovery.

Dr. Kevin E. Elder MD

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Leading Sports Medicine Doctor

Dr. Elder is founder of the Sports Medicine Clinic in Tampa. He spent five years as team physician for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Currently, he’s a team physician for the U.S. Soccer and U.S. Ski teams and serves as an assistant team physician for University of South Florida (USF) Athletics. He is also a sports medicine consultant for the Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL), the Tampa Bay Rays (MLB), and Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL).

Dr. Andrea Holmes PhD.

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Leading Cannabinoid Researcher

Dr. Andrea Holmes supports SummaForte with specially-designed formulations utilizing CBD, minor cannabinoids, terpenes and other botanical nutrients. She is widely recognized for her research in cannabis chemistry. Dr. Holmes has received up to $5 million in grants from National Institute of Health and also was awarded the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award, the US government’s highest honor given to scientists who “show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of knowledge.”

Dr. Peter Grinspoon MD

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Hemp & Cannabis Expert

Peter Grinspoon, M.D. is a primary care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, an Instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, and an expert on the fields of physicians and addiction and medical cannabis. He is a certified health and wellness coach. He is an authority on virtually all aspects of cannabis, including recreational and medical usages, as well as political issues and social history. In the cannabis industry, he has served as an expert witness, as a consultant, and as a medical and scientific advisor.

Dr. Thomas Klein MD

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Leading Orthopedic Doctor

Dr. Thomas (“Tom”) Klein’s areas of expertise include sports injuries and prevention where he has treated athletes from the professional level to the average weekend warrior. Tom is a founding member of Commonwealth Orthopedics which merged into OrthoVirginia, the state's largest provider of advanced orthopedic care and physical therapy. Tom has been regularly recognized in the Washingtonian Magazine as one of the top orthopedic doctors in the Washington, D.C. region.

Dr. Lindsey Migliore DO

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Leading Esports Doctor

Dr. Lindsey Migliore (“GamerDoc”) is a licensed medical doctor in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. She is a Faculty Associate in the NYIT Center for Sports Medicine, an editor of the Annals of Esports Medicine, and content contributor for Ezone and Learn2Esport. She serves as Director of Performance at Evil Geniuses (a leading professional esports organization) and co-authored The Handbook of Esports Medicine – Clinical Aspects of Competitive Video Gaming, published in 2021.
This panel of experts includes leaders in mass retail, the cannabis industry, financial structures and regulatory compliance. They provide valuable insights that support SummaForte in areas that are fundamental to our growth as an innovative, trustworthy brand.
Testy McTesterson

Jeanne M. Sullivan (“Coach J”)

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Hemp & Cannabis Industry Expert

Jeanne’s deep experience in the cannabis industry bring significant value to SummaForte. Known to the SummaForte team as “Coach J,” her insights, creativity, and network help SummaForte position itself as a leader in offering tailor-made cannabinoid-enhanced solutions that improve both performance and health of its customers. Forbes cited Jeanne as “one of the women VCs changing the world” and the New York Hall of Science honored her for her work inspiring girls and women in science, technology (STEM) sectors.

Michael I. Arnolt

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Co-Founder & Former President of Graston Technique®

Michael was a co-founder and former President of Graston Technique®, one of the leading soft-tissue treatments worldwide. He is well-known and respected in the chiropractic and physical therapy markets, and brings to SummaForte tremendous insights across the broader health and wellness sector.
Testy McTesterson

Dennis Ratner

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Entrepreneur, Founder of Hair Cuttery

Dennis is an American entrepreneur who has specialized in the beauty and wellness industry for over 50 years. Starting with 1 store and growing to 1,000, he created the largest privately owned salon chain in the world. He attributes his success largely to a culture of leadership and love that put people first. SummaForte benefits from his experience growing a company from startup to an industry leader, and from his understanding of mass retail having carried several products in his retail outlets.

John Venardos

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Compliance Expert

John is one of the leading regulatory and government affairs advisors in the world of dietary supplements. He brings clear-eyed guidance to SummaForte in an otherwise murky regulatory environment. John’s experience ranges from assisting startups with navigating complex regulatory environments to working with Fortune 500 companies in their interactions with a wide range of regulatory bodies including the FDA, FTC, USTR and DOC in the US and similar entities in countries around the world.
Testy McTesterson

Elizabeth Whitmore

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Financing Strategy Expert

Elizabeth advises SummaForte on its financing strategy including early-stage valuation. She is a founding partner of Jackson Partners, a private investment firm focused on advising, investing in, and acquiring companies across the United States. Prior to joining Jackson Partners, Elizabeth spent five years in mezzanine and late-stage venture investing. 

Dr. Jeremy Maddox, PT, DPT, MTC, CSCS

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Leading Physical Therapist

Dr. Maddox is a physical therapist with some of the highest-level athletes in the world, including serving as physical therapy consultant to the New York Yankees the past 14 seasons. Jeremy is certified in manual therapy and strength and conditioning and is the owner of Optimal Performance and Physical Therapies, which has become the largest therapist-owned Outpatient Physical Therapy provider in Central Florida.

Kevin Pillifant, ATC

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Leading Athletic Trainer

Kevin has worked over 20 years with top-tier athletes across a range of sports from professional baseball, golf and soccer to summer and winter Olympians to extreme athletes competing in X Games. Kevin’s passion is helping people become their very best by bringing an integrative and progressive approach to the practice of sports medicine and strength and conditioning. Kevin believes in SummaForte’s credo that “quality recovery” is an indispensable part of “peak performance.”

Fred Funk

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Professional Golfer

Fred is a professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. Earlier in his career, on the PGA Tour, he was an eight-time tournament winner including the Players Championship in 2005. He has also recorded 93 top-ten finishes. Fred is an enthusiastic user of all SummaForte products which he says help keep him playing, recovering, and sleeping better!

Dr. Barbara Kapas, PT, DPT, COMPT, CIDN

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Expert in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Dr. Barbara Kapas is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and has the distinction of being a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMPT), and is Certified in Integrated Dry Needling (CIDN). Barbara has advanced training in Kinesiology Taping, Graston Technique, Yoga for rehab, and other Certifications/ Barbara is a Subject Matter Expert in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.

Karen Popovich, OTR/L, CHT

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Leading Occupational Therapist & Certified Hand Therapist

Karen Popovich has over 25 years’ experience as an Occupational Therapist. She is also a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). Karen has extensive knowledge and experience in the fabrication of custom static and dynamic splinting, kinesiology taping, Graston Technique, as well as cupping.