Lisa Davis and Ava Anderson – A Perfect Balance

Lisa Davis and family.

In the fall of 2013, Lisa Davis made a life change. After a skin cancer scare, Davis decided to detoxify her home and become more conscious about the personal care products she and her family were using. She turned to the wellness company Ava Anderson Non Toxic. Davis became a representative for the company, and quickly became an executive, now managing a team of 35 representatives across the country.

Ava Anderson Non Toxic was started in Rhode Island by then 15-year-old Ava Anderson and her mother Kim in 2009. Based in Warren, the small, direct sales business started with just six skincare products and an idea to provide the safest, healthiest, natural and nontoxic products in the country.

In the past month, they have moved to the American Tourister Building in Warren, where about one-third of the 90 products in the line are formulated and manufactured. The company now has more than 8,500 representatives throughout the U.S. Ava Anderson comprises many different lines, including skin care, hair care, essential oils, body care, sunscreen, bug spray, makeup, pet care, children’s products, baby care and housecleaning products.

Within Ava Anderson, Davis has found more than just a job – she’s found her passion. She is driven to share the important health message behind the company and quotes Ava herself, “We do not share this message about toxic chemicals to sell products. We created the products to share the message.” She shares this idea at all of her avaHOURS. “An avaHOUR is just that – an hour in which someone hosts some friends and family members, and I share the health message. I do a presentation with wonderful products that everyone gets to try,” says Davis.

In her avaHOURS, she also has the opportunity to put her teaching certification to good use by teaching guests how to become “ingredient detectives.” Davis explains, “I teach people what to look for in their labels and what to avoid … the idea is that you are trying to lessen your toxic burden by reducing your lifetime exposure to harmful chemicals, which have been linked to endocrine disruption and many serious health issues.”

Davis combines her passion for Ava’s health message with her other passion – giving back. Some of the proceeds of many of her avaHOURS  go to charities such as the Autism Society or the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She also feels that being able to make a difference in the lives of women and their families is another way to give back. “Women really make the purchasing decisions for their homes, so if I can reach these women and young moms and explain the issues with the personal care products they’re buying and how it affects the health of their families over time, and show them that even small changes can make a big difference, I know that I’m helping them.”

Davis also is very involved with the Rhode Island Jewish community, meshing her own philanthropic ideals and the “Ava Culture,” which includes philanthropy, trust and respect. “I’ve always wanted to have a Jewish connection wherever we lived … even though we live here in the suburbs of Barrington … we go to our synagogue in Providence, our kids know they’re Jewish, they’re all going to Hebrew school, Sunday school, they’re all being raised as Jews … I think it’s also important to give to the community that you’re part of.” Davis has been volunteering at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island for more than 20 years. She and her husband Larry are part of the newly formed Double Chai Society, and she is currently chairing the Jaffa/Pomegranate Division of the 2016 Annual Campaign. She is on the Sisterhood board at Temple Beth-El and on the social action committee. “I have met some of my best friends through volunteering,” Davis said.

She said is trying to instill her philanthropic ideals in her children. She has been busy helping with her children’s Bar Mitzvah projects, and Davis remarked that her middle son is starting to understand the importance of philanthropy. “I think he can see that you can enjoy yourself, you can give to others, you can do something for other people, but you can actually have fun while doing it and be part of something bigger than just yourself.” She wants her children to see her as an empowered woman running a business and giving back to the community of which they are a part. “It’s just such a nice balance for me. It’s a little hectic, but … this really works for me.”

Lisa Davis – a strong, empowered, Jewish woman in business with a philanthropic mind. How does she do it? “…for me it’s all about staying positive, sharing the health message, and giving back to the community. It’s the perfect balance for me and my family.”

For more information on Ava Anderson Non Toxic, you can contact Lisa at ldavis@avaandersonnontoxic.com or visit her website avaandersonnontoxic.com/lisa

HILLARY SCHULMAN is a development associate at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.