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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From Living Room Presentations to the House Floor: Why Direct Sales Needs a Seat at the Table
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OPINION | By Ryan D. Chamberlin, Member of the Florida House of Representatives and 30-Year Direct Sales Industry Veteran
In 1993, at the ripe old age of 19, I attended my first network marketing meeting. Like many people walking into their first presentation, I expected one of two things: either I’d discover the greatest business model ever created—or I’d learn how to politely escape a living room without making eye contact.
What I didn’t expect was that it would make perfect sense.
There was no lightning bolt. No choir singing in the background. No dramatic slow-motion handshake. Just a simple realization: this model worked. It empowered ordinary people to do extraordinary things, and it did so through relationships, initiative, and leadership—not corner offices or corporate titles.
That meeting didn’t just change my career. It changed my trajectory.
Over the next 25 years, I built teams across the country, served on corporate boards, and had the privilege of helping grow companies at the highest levels of the industry. I saw firsthand the life-changing impact direct sales could have—not just financially, but personally. Confidence was built. Leaders were formed. Families were strengthened.
But somewhere along the way, I realized something else.
Growth alone wasn’t enough.
Success without protection is like
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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