By Rachel Powers
Orange Coast Magazine, May 16, 2016
The 38-year-old CEO took over Earth Friendly Products two years ago from her father, company founder Van Vlahakis, after he died. Vlahakis-Hanks, who had worked in all facets of the business, has become a careful steward of her father’s vision. But she has made her own mark, too. Why five production facilities to make the company’s natural cleaning products? “When I deliver to the distribution centers of my local retail partners, I’m right there in their backyards. It enables us to stay carbon-neutral, and I can cross shipping off my list of costs.” ... ” Why raise your employees’ minimum wage to $17 an hour? “We’ve seen an increase in productivity since the (wage) increase, and we benefit from greater employee commitment.” The cumulative effect of all of these choices: “We’re no more expensive than the big brands, and we really shouldn’t be.” This puts Earth Friendly Products on more store shelves, including at Walmart and Costco. ...