About Artemis Mills Foundation
Our Team
Jan A. Mills - Founder & Chair
On a business trip to eastern Europe in 1989, a pregnant Jan Mills was offered Aronia/chokeberry juice to drink by people insisting it was ‘good for the baby.’ This well-meaning offer intrigued Jan, so she decided to research whether there was any solid science within the folklore. Six years after first encountering Aronia berries, Jan brought Aronia plants from Poland back to the United States, where they had once thrived. She gave plants to universities for propagation research and began collaborating with scientists studying the health benefits of Aronia berries. “The research made me a believer,” says Jan. Shortly after, Artemis International was born.
Jan Mills, Founder/CEO of Artemis International, over the past 25 years, has grown to be a highly regarded supplier of clinically validated dark berry nutraceuticals, including extracts, fruit fibers, powders, and concentrates. “Our passion is the science of berries, and we work alongside some of the top scientists in the field of fruit and vegetable research, questioning and cross-questioning the role of dark berry compounds in overall wellness and in remediating health chronic concerns. For us, and for plant-powered wellbeing, the story continues.”
Jan is passionate about many things, such as science and philanthropic causes. In 2020, Jan brought these passions together by founding the Artemis Mills Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to support and inspire scientific research, education, and actions that guide communities to healthier food and lifestyles. Jan’s wish is to inspire others to dive into food science research; educate the marginalized about more nutritious food choices; take action by assisting organizations to feed those in need; provide institutions with funds to deliver basic emergency supplies and resources to struggling communities.
Over the years, she has served on boards of numerous non-profit organizations, including the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement, just to name a few. Currently, she serves on the founding board of Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN), where she holds the position of vice president.
Jan earned her undergraduate degree at the former General Motors Institute, now Kettering University, and her MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Besides her businesses, Jan enjoys skiing, hiking, scuba, and mountain climbing, all activities requiring focus, perseverance, and a high tolerance for pain- which has proven useful in starting a business and motherhood. She has three children which are her most successful projects to date.
Mary Ann Nation-Greenwall - Good Will Ambassador
As Good Will Ambassador, Mary Ann manages the Artemis Mills Foundation’s responsibilities for program development, grant management, community networking and collaborations, and other related tasks.
Before joining Artemis, Mary Ann was the Development Manager for the Immune Deficiency Foundation, responsible for fund development, organizing national fundraising events, meeting fundraising goals, developing volunteer programs, vendor management, and the Foundation’s communication efforts for the Walk for PI initiative. She also served as Vice President of Volunteer Services at the Pasadena Humane Society, where she managed 600 plus volunteers in the greater Pasadena area.
Mary Ann earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Goucher College and a Masters in International Policy and Public Administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
Mary Ann is very passionate about volunteerism. She has served as chair of the AFS Greater Los Angeles Area Team, Director of Marketing and Membership at the Women’s City Club of Pasadena, President of the American Women’s Club, and on the board of the Blinn House Foundation.
Today, Mary Ann enjoys spending time with her husband (John) and dog (Buddy).