I.R.D. Corporation Moves to Snowflake
I.R.D. (International Research and Development), a
neutraceutical and cosmeceutical company, has moved to
Snowflake, AZ from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. I.R.D.
will manufacture anti-aging creams and lotions and hormone
therapy products at the facility in Snowflake. The company
also manufactures products that protect against heart disease
and strengthen the immune system.
Arizona Department of Commerce Director, Margie A.
Emmermann welcomes this announcement, particularly in wake of
the Rodeo/Chediski fires. "The owners of this company saw
the value of living and working in this part of our state
before the damage occurred. Their decision to move forward is
a boost for this community and a signal to others that the
benefits of an Arizona lifestyle outweigh any misconception
related to media coverage of the fires."
I.R.D. President, Nikolaus Smeh said the White Mountain
Regional Development Corporation; especially Executive
Director Bob Moffett, was instrumental in bringing the company
and its employees to this location. Also Snowflake Town
Manager Joe Papa was extremely helpful in getting them settled
on Main Street. Mr. Smeh expressed his extreme thanks to both
of them for making them feel so welcome.
Having lived in Utah and California and spent time in
Nevada prior to retiring from the U.S. Department of Defense
and the Secretary of Navy’s office at the Pentagon in1999,
Smeh, and his wife Margaret decided it was time to move west.
They also decided to devote all their time to developing the
business.
Mr. Smeh says he got involved, "because of a lifetime
desire of health pursuit. It started with my
great-grandfather, an herbalist in the Austrian Alps. He often
made his own hair tonics and soaps by gathering his own herbs
and floral petals for extracts, brews and teas, to cure all
kinds of aliments."
The Smehs have been in the neutraceutical and cosmeseutical
business for 10 years. Neutraceuticals are health care
products designed for oral consumption while cosmeceuticals
are health-related products that are absorbed through the
skin. I.R.D.’s main line of products includes: Lipoflow C,
an immune system supplement; Lipo - flow, a supplement used
for cholesterol, vascular and cardiac diseases; and Kelate
Max, an anti-aging formula. Mr. Smeh has a masters degree in
physics and chemistry wrote a book in 2000 called
"Creating Your Own Cosmeceuticals – Naturally: Healing
and Rejuvenating Creams and Lotions for the New
Millennium."
The company works with doctors, naturopaths, dermatologists
and spas to create their non-prescription, natural herb based
products that are sold in health care stores and through
health care professionals.
I.R.D. presently has five employees, who moved to Snowflake
with the company. Five more are to be hired locally in the
next year with additional growth anticipated in the future.
"You can be sure that with the continued success of the
holistic health business, the corporation will grow with the
industry," says Mr. Smeh.
According to Margaret, much of their customer base comes
from their website, trade shows, medical journals and
wholesalers. For information about all the I.R.D. products
visit the web site at www.irdcorp.net.
Town of Snowflake
81 West 1st South
Snowflake, Arizona 85937
(928) 536-7103
(928) 536-2539 FAX
info@ci.snowflake.az.us
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