Clean Juice for Body & Spirit

In today's episode, The Practical Prof®, Dr. Santo D. Marabella talks with his friend (and former student), Landon Eckles, about the healthy food company he and his wife, Kat, started.

Landon Eckles found himself at a crossroads in life. After spending five years in sales and management in the pharmaceutical industry in his early career, Landon moved into a Managing Partner role for Rose Rock Group, a global investment management firm specializing in Asia specific projects, in 2012.  Although this career was exciting, the weeks of international travel required for the position was not conducive to a healthy and balanced family life he had often envisioned - especially with his wife, Kat, at home with 4 children (at the time, now 5 children).  

In 2014, while chatting about life on their family ski boat with their children and other family members, Kat and Landon officially decided to change their life's course by quitting their jobs, moving from Pennsylvania, and opening up an organic juice bar. Within a year, they opened their flagship Clean Juice store in Huntersville, NC and the rest is organic history. Currently, there are over 100 Clean Juice locations open across the country with many more in active development. Additionally, in 2020, Landon completed the acquisition of a non-toxic nail and beauty bar and rebranded the company to Freecoat nails. The first franchises have been awarded and several stores are set to open in 2021. 

Landon puts his faith first and is inspired daily by entrepreneurship, leadership, business, and team management. In late 2020, Landon was named to one of the Most Admired CEOs by the Charlotte Business Journal and is highly sought after as a public speaker.  He is also an active member of the Charlotte, NC area Vistage CEO group, his family's church in Elevation Lake Norman, and spends the rest of his time chasing his five young children. Landon graduated from Moravian College with a B.A. in Business Administration in 2007.