Tammie Umbel, Founder and CEO

Woman on a Mission

Some little girls dream to become fairy princesses. Some dream to ballet in the Nutcraker or become cow girls riding off on the prairie. But one little girl dreamed of creating jobs for

starving people in far off lands, and this little girl's dream came true for many needy Africans. Tammie Umbel, CEO and Founder of Shea Terra Organics, was no typical girl. While

others watched cartoons, she was absorbed by Feed the Children, thinking up ways to permanently alleviate the suffering, while watching the footage of neglected children in

danger of starvation. An innocent question that only a child could ask, "Why don't they just give them jobs?" would become her life's mission.

 

"For as long as I can remember I have wanted to change the world" save the animals, create jobs for the disadvantaged, preserve the environment. When I created Shea Terra Organics, I could have never imagined how successful it would become, but our most important goal

from the start has always been to support Africa through self-empowerment and environmental programs, and bring awareness about the continent's diversity, reources and beauty."

At the age of eighteen Tammie started a textile company receiving her first hands-on business experience. It fulfilled some of her creative needs but not her desire to reach out to others and improve the world we share. After she closed her textile company, Tammie discovered the amazing healing abilities of shea butter. She was sold not only on the fact that shea butter

could heal eczema, psoriasis and burns, but that shea is sustainable and provides income for

thousands of women in Africa. She researched the few shea butter products that were

available at the time and decided to create a superior shea butter line that was affordable

and natural, without sulfates, parabens, fillers and artificial fragrances or colors. To compliment the shea butter Tammie decided to incorporate rare, indigenous, healing herbs and oils well known to natives for their anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.

While researching Africa's ancient healing resources, Tammie experienced the extreme poverty and destruction of Africa. Profoundly affected, she vowed that Shea Terra Organics would offer significant long-term assistance to effective programs that provide African families with employment and education. A portion of the proceeds for each Shea Terra Organics' product

are donated to self-empowerment and environmental programs. She purchases many rare ingredients from communities throughout Africa with Fair Trade practices, providing significant income and employment to these areas.

Tammie has also pioneered a successful program in the Miombo Rainforest. Shea Terra Organics pays inhabitants fair trade wages for sustainable resources, as opposed to selling lots of trees

for a one time fee, which contributes to deforestation and economic devastation. This

successful program has helped preserve the forest as well as the culture of local villages and families.

Tammie also co-founded the Otuke Shea Butter Project, to offer compensation three to five

time the amount given to women in West Africa for producing shea butter. The women

involved in the coop fled their villages with their children due to increasing violence in war torn Northern Uganda. Shea Terra Organics joined leagues with a similar successful project making jewelry to extend opportunity to these women to sell their shea butter to the American market

at prices that will help them buy housing, schooling and afford healthcare.  Shea Terra Organics is also involved with an apiary project in Uganda, which offers training and hives to natives.

 

Tammie lives in Leesburg, VA, with her husband and 12 children, and enjoys working with her family on her organic farm that includes organic orchards and animals of all kinds.