CEO and Senior Executive Delegation Engages Federal Policymakers Days After Department of Labor Action on Independent Contractor Standards.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A delegation of chief executives and senior industry leaders from member companies of the Direct Selling Association (DSA) met with federal policymakers and national business leaders in Washington to discuss policies affecting independent contractors, entrepreneurship, and the direct selling industry.
The meetings took place days after the U.S. Department of Labor announced a proposed rule clarifying the distinction between employees and independent contractors under federal wage-and-hour law, an issue of significant importance to the millions of Americans who participate in direct selling.
Left to right: Randall Popelka, Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Herbalife International of America; Andrew Schmidt, President, Americas Region, Amway; Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA; Nevena Srebreva, CEO, Pampered Chef; Kevin Guest, CEO, USANA Health Sciences, Inc.; Danny Lee, President & CEO, 4Life; and Dave Merriman, Executive Vice President, ACN, Inc.
Among the day’s engagements was a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith E. Sonderling, the second-highest ranking official at the U.S. Department of Labor. During the discussion, DSA leaders thanked the Department for its recent action proposing a rule grounded in long-standing economic reality principles and emphasized the importance of clear standards
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Korea Direct Selling Association Hosts Annual General Meeting, Plans For 2026 WFDSA World Congress
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The Korea Direct Selling Association held its 34th Annual General Meeting at the Cheongdam Riviera Hotel on February 11, 2026. The meeting reviewed the 2025 business and financial statements, the 2026 business plan, and the budget.
The meeting also included an opportunity to present and share the program and plans for the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) 2026 World Congress on Direct Selling, to be held in October 2026.
The meeting was attended by Chairman Park Han-gil, keynote speaker Shaila Manyam, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the WFDSA, and Incheon Tourism Organization President Yoo Ji-sang, along with representatives from member companies and partners.
Shaila Manyam, who visited Korea from the U.S. to attend the annual general meeting, said that Korea is a major market for the global direct selling industry and a place where a people-centered business culture is alive and well. She also said that even in an era where AI technology is rapidly spreading, the direct selling industry puts people at the center of success and focuses on human resource development, high ethical standards, economic growth, and sustainability based on technological prowess.
It was also emphasized that Korea is a country with significant global influence, accounting for $164
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Direct Selling Association’s Statement on U.S. Dept. of Labor Proposed Worker Classification Rule
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Announcement Comes Days Before DSA Member CEOs Meet with Senior Administration Officials
Washington, D.C. – The Direct Selling Association (DSA) welcomes the recent announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor proposing a rule to clarify the distinction between employees and independent contractors under federal wage and hour laws.
The proposal would rescind the Department’s 2024 independent contractor regulation and restore an analysis grounded in economic reality and longstanding principles recognized by federal courts.
This proposal comes at an important moment for the direct selling channel. In the coming days, DSA member company CEOs will be in Washington, D.C., meeting with federal policymakers, including senior administration officials. This is part of ongoing engagement to ensure a broad understanding of how direct selling operates and the independence that defines the model.
“The Department of Labor’s proposed rule reinforces a fundamental distinction that has long defined direct selling: individuals choose to pursue building independent businesses on their own terms,”
said Dave Grimaldi, CEO of the Direct Selling Association.
“Direct sellers are not assigned work or directed in the manner of employees. They decide whether, when, and how to engage, and their success is driven by their own initiative. Clear and consistent standards grounded in economic reality help ensure
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Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition Welcomes Aspen and Brent Emry to Board of Directors
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Sarasota, Florida – The Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition (FLDSCC) has announced the appointment of Aspen Emry and Brent Emry, co-founders of Florida-based Bravenly Global, to its Board of Directors.
The appointments follow the Coalition’s formal launch at the Florida State Capitol last week, where industry leaders, policymakers, and advocates convened to establish a coordinated framework focused on education, consumer protection, and legislative engagement for Florida’s direct selling community.
Aspen and Brent Emry are the founders of one of the emerging rapidly growing direct-selling companies in the United States. Their company, Bravenly Global, doubled in size last year, growing from approximately $50 million to over $100 million in 2025 annual revenue.
Based in Tampa, Florida, the Emrys bring more than two decades of experience across direct selling, executive leadership, and strategic growth. Their combined expertise represents a perfect balance of visionary culture-building, field development and operational excellence.
Their participation reflects the Coalition’s intent to include active company founders who bring firsthand experience navigating both field-level realities and executive-level responsibilities.
“As founders, Brent and I have seen the impact of direct selling when it’s built the right way.
“We’ve proudly supported the Florida Coalition since the beginning and are honored to now serve on the
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Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition (FLDSCC) Launches at Florida Capitol: A New Model for Advocacy
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The Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition (FLDSCC) officially launched last week with a two-day kickoff event at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, bringing together Florida lawmakers, industry leaders, company partners, and advocacy organizations for a coordinated effort focused on protecting consumers and preserving opportunity within the direct selling channel.
Founded and led by Gordon Hester and Rep. Ryan Chamberlin (R) FL, the Coalition was formed to create a proactive, educational bridge between policymakers and the direct selling profession — one rooted in transparency, ethical standards, and an accurate understanding of how modern direct selling operates.
Direct Engagement With State Executive and Legislative Leaders
Throughout the event, Coalition leadership and participating members held in-depth discussions with Florida’s executive branch and legislative leaders, emphasizing fair regulation, consumer protection, and policies that preserve entrepreneurial opportunity without undermining legitimate business models.
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Legislators and VIPs in attendance included:
James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General
Jay Collins, Florida Lieutenant Governor
Blaise Ingoglia, Florida Chief Financial Officer
Sam Garrison, Speaker of the House Designate (2026–2028)
Mike Redondo, Speaker of the House Designate (2030–2032)
Rep. Fiona McFarland, Chair, Information Technology and Budget & Policy Subcommittee (Sarasota)
Rep. Danny Alvarez, Chair, Criminal Justice Subcommittee (Hillsborough)
Rep. Will Robinson, Chair, State Affairs Committee (Manatee)
Rep. Traci Koster, Chair, Civil
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Lawmakers Underscore Direct Seller Independence at DSA Legal + Regulatory Conference
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Federal and State Officials Highlight Growing Momentum Behind Policies That Protect Independent Work
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Direct Selling Association (DSA) convened its annual Legal + Regulatory Conference last week, bringing together bipartisan lawmakers, senior White House staff, and leading legal experts for discussions on the mounting federal and state pressures on independent work during this year’s conference.
Karalee Geiss of the White House Office of Public Liaison joined a slate of national and state leaders who met with executives from DSA member companies to discuss the administration’s focus on the modern labor landscape and the growing relevance of direct selling in today’s economy.
Karalee Geiss of the White House Office of Public Liaison joined a slate of national and state leaders who met with executives from DSA member companies.
“The legislators who joined us at the DSA Legal + Regulatory Conference – whether they sit on the Direct Selling Caucus, serve on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, or support H.R. 3495 – were unified on one point: direct sellers know exactly why they choose this channel,”
said Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA.
“The misconception among some lawmakers that direct sellers don’t understand what they’re ‘missing’ as employees simply doesn’t reflect these workers’ experience.
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WFDSA Reports: Direct Selling Remained Steady Amid Global Economic Shifts
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The World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) Releases Annual Definitive Data on Global Industry, Showing Signs of Stabilization
The World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA), the global trade association representing the direct selling industry for 47 years, released its latest STATS report, showing global stability and potential growth.
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Report Highlights
Direct selling remained around $164 billion in global retail sales, an increase of $675 million over pre-pandemic sales, with 45% of markets in the study showing increases. The number of independent representatives grew slightly over last year to 104.3 million, 72.1% of whom are women.
The Asia-Pacific region continues to be the largest by market share, fueled by emerging players like Malaysia, but the Americas grew the most in 2024. In addition, the number of “billion-dollar markets” in 2024 stayed consistent at 21. The STATS report tracked demographic shifts among independent entrepreneurs and product categories. Wellness products continue to dominate the industry along with cosmetics and personal care – including K-beauty brands.
“With its relatively low start-up costs, strong community support and high-quality products, direct selling is a resilient and appealing pathway for entrepreneurs around the world, especially women, and more men are becoming involved as well,”
noted Shaila