MEET THE TEAM


MEET THE TEAM

PHILIP FREEMAN
FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Philip founded Murphy's Naturals in 2013 and serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board.

A 23-year veteran of the packaging industry, Philip worked for xpedx, a division of International Paper. Duringhis tenure, Philip worked as a consultant to manufacturers and brands, primarily in the arena of retail and CPG packaging, visual merchandising, secondary industrial packaging, packaging equipment systems, fulfillment packaging, and brand packaging ideation.

Philip grew up on a beef cattle and apple farm located in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Later Philip attended Virginia Tech, where he holds a B.A. in Communications Science with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing. Philip was an eight-year veteran of the US Navy, serving as a Surface Warfare Officer, a Deep-sea Diving Officer, and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer.

Philip loves the adventures of entrepreneurialism and understands first-hand the trials of getting a business started. He has a passion for helping those with a start-up dream and actively mentors individuals looking for guidance and inspiration to "start something." In 2016, Philip launched The Loading Dock, a coworking and cowarehouse company that lowers the hurdles to entrepreneurialism and helps make new businesses a possibility.
Murphy's Naturals was named in honor of Philip & Pam's dog, Murphy.

SHAE McCOWEN
VICE PRESIDENT, SALES

Shae joined Murphy’s Naturals as the VP of Sales. In this role, Shae is focused leading the company’s sales team, developing and executing sales strategies and driving revenue growth. Prior to joining Murphy’s, Shae worked at Clorox, CQC Home, Backcountry.com and Target.

Shae lives in Chapel Hill with his wife and one kid with two more children in college. He loves the outdoors, cycling, hiking, backpacking and skiing to pass the time and he loves good food and drinks with friends. He serves as Chairman of the Board for Restoration Project, a non-profit based in Colorado that helps men be better husbands, fathers and friends. He graduated from Northwestern University and was on the varsity swim team during his time there.

JOHN LINCOLN
VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS

John joined Murphy's Naturals as Vice President of Operations in August 2023. In this role, he is responsible for managing operations, planning resource allocation, overseeing projects, and formulating processes and procedures.

Prior to his current role, John worked at packaging companies Dillard Paper, xpedx, & Veritiv Corporation. He worked for these combined companies for 36 years, beginning in customer service and ultimately working in various operational and sales management roles.

John's extensive experience in the packaging industry has equipped him with a deep understanding of the complexities involved in managing operations. His passion for process improvement and customer satisfaction has earned him a reputation as a results-driven leader who can effectively balance the needs of various stakeholders.He is excited to leverage his skills and experience to drive growth and success at Murphy’s Naturals and looks forward to contributing to the company's purpose to “Celebrate nature and inspire good through quality natural products”.

In his free time, John enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and riding motorcycles, as well as spending time with his family and friends.

JULIA BETHUNE
VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING & INNOVATIONS

Julia joined Murphy’s Naturals as the company’s first VP of Marketing. In this role, Julia is focused on building an in- depth understanding of our consumer and developing an omnichannel demand plan that continues to grow our brand and product portfolio. She now also oversees Innovation to ensure our evolving product portfolio is always one step ahead of competition and uniquely answering consumer challenges. Prior to joining Murphy’s, Julia worked at Burt’s Bees, IBM, and abroad launching the Vivienne Westwood brand in China.

 

Julia lives in Raleigh with her husband and 3 children. She loves sleep (8:30 pm bedtime), playing outside with her children, improving her tennis game, and cooking a really good meal with an excellent glass of wine alongside. She is also an active member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. She graduated from Vanderbilt University cum laude and Fuqua School of Business with her MBA, though her children are dedicated NC State Wolfpack fans despite best efforts.

STEPHANIE PARKER
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & CULTURE

Stephanie joined Murphy’s in March 2023 as the Director of People & Culture, where she’s dedicated to creating a fair, safe, and healthy workplace. She leads all things HR, from talent development and recruitment to payroll, benefits, and fun employee appreciation events. Stephanie also collaborates with the Leadership Team on key initiatives that help the organization thrive.

Before Murphy’s, Stephanie was the Human Resources Manager at KIOTI Tractor, a major distributor of subcompact tractors across North America. Earlier in her career, she worked as the HR Coordinator for Bass Pro Shops in Cary, NC, and spent years honing her people skills in retail and restaurant management.

Stephanie lives in Wake Forest with her husband and their two children. She loves curling up with a good book (and coffee, of course!), spending time with family and friends, and enjoying the great outdoors. She’s passionate about lifelong learning and holds a B.S. in Psychology with a General Science concentration from Campbell University (2015) and an M.S. in Human Resources Management from Southern New Hampshire University (2018). Stephanie also earned her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification in 2021.

AUDREY HENDERSON
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION

Audrey joined Murphy’s Naturals in June of 2018 and currently functions as Director of Innovation. Audrey thrives on the creative process, particularly dreaming up ideas and seeing those ideas come to life, helping drive innovation behind Murphy’s products. She holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences: Cellular, Molecular, Developmental Biology from NC State. Her combination of scientific knowledge, innovative thinking, and love for the outdoors helps drive her success at Murphy’s Naturals.

Outside of work, Audrey enjoys spending time with her husband and their two Labradors, Maple & Margot, and two cats, Daisy & Catsby. She loves traveling, cooking, hiking, starting house projects, and staying active through functional strength training, lots of walking, and teaching hot yoga. She is also a big fan of fantasy books, Taylor Swift, and the Carolina Hurricanes.

 

STEWART FREEMAN JONES
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SALES

Murphy's Naturals’s Senior Director of Sales, Stewart Jones, focuses on business development and managing relationships with the company’s retail partners and customers. As one of Murphy’s earliest employees, she has spent more than 11 years wearing several different hats while helping introduce the brand to new audiences and grow partnerships across the country. She especially enjoys building relationships with retailers and sharing the Murphy’s story wherever she goes.

Stewart lives in Raleigh with her husband, two daughters, and two Labrador retrievers who keep life fun, busy, and full of energy. Outside of work, you can usually find her spending time with family and friends, chasing her girls around outdoors, or soaking up any excuse for sunshine and a spicy margarita.

MACKENZIE DONEGAN
BRAND DIRECTOR

Mackenzie joined the company in 2019. She managed the Amazon and DTC channels through the 2020 COVID pandemic and has served as a marketing lead throughout the company's growth. Today, as Brand Director, she leads the strategy and creative vision that shapes how Murphy's Naturals shows up in the world — collaborating with innovation teams to bring new products from concept to launch, driving national media campaign strategy to build awareness and connection with consumers, and overseeing all product packaging design to deliver a consistent, standout brand experience.

 
When Mackenzie is not overanalyzing all things brands, she is embracing the chaos of being a 2x boy mom and supporting the work of Redeemer Community Church alongside her husband. She is a self-proclaimed snack-sommelier and is often seen around the office with her doodle, a 4-legged fluff ball of pure attitude. She loves golf and annoying her coworkers about niche ideas in color theory.

ANDRE CURTAIN
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Andre Curtain joined Murphy’s Naturals in November 2024 and serves as the company’s Director of Operations. He is passionate about building strong teams, solving complex challenges, and creating operational excellence through collaboration, continuous improvement, and a shared commitment to success. Andre enjoys working alongside colleagues across the organization to develop practical solutions, improve processes, and achieve meaningful results that support both the company’s goals and its people.

Andre earned a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Communications and Technological Studies from North Carolina A&T State University and a Master’s degree in Project Management from Walden University. He is also a certified Lean Green Belt Champion through Lean Sensei International, reflecting his commitment to operational excellence and continuous learning.

Outside of work, Andre enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, traveling, and caring for his growing collection of indoor plants. As a lifelong enthusiast of science, technology, and innovation, he is always curious about emerging trends and enjoys exploring how new ideas can be applied to improve everyday life and business operations. Whether leading a project, supporting a team, or learning something new, Andre brings enthusiasm, curiosity, and a people-first mindset to everything he does.

TAYLOR MALLARD
DIRECTOR OF ECOMMERCE

Taylor joined Murphy’s Naturals to lead digital growth, bringing versatile CPG experience across brand management, sales planning, and eCommerce. Prior to Murphy’s, Taylor shaped eCommerce and brand strategies at Clorox, working on challenger brands and category leaders alike. Complementing her corporate background, she also brings entrepreneurial experience from her time out west in Montana, where she helped two founders scale an outdoor footwear startup from $0 to $10M.

Taylor lives on a 10-acre property in a unique Quonset hut fixer-upper with her husband and two young kids, who help her practice patience and appreciate a slower pace. She enjoys building trails on her land and carving out secret spots like "Gnome Homes" and fairy doors in the trees. While her own mountain bike is mostly parked these days, she loves chasing after her girls as they rip down the hills. The days are full, and though her property boasts incredible views of the night sky, she is usually happily asleep long before the stars come out.
 

BRENDAN BLANCHARD
DIRECTOR OF IT

Brendan (also known as "The Wizard") brings an extensive technical background to Murphy's. After joining in 2023, he became responsible for all systems, cybersecurity standards, automations, and high-level company success for the IT world. With over 10 years in the field, Brendan brings experience as a Software Engineer and Manager: Fusing efficiency, complexity, and continuity with core business strategies. Brendan also executes on guidance for all departments in all technical hurdles as new software becomes accessible for the broader team.
 
In his free time, Brendan spends time working on his cars or traveling. Both are great for enjoying life outdoors!