Melaleuca Founder Frank VanderSloot to Be Awarded Honorary Doctorate at ISU Spring Commencement Ceremonies

When describing his path to success, from a young boy collecting cream to sell to save for college to a young man working on the railroad, taking on the heavy labor others refused, a smile creeps across his face. 

“Other people, they hated the job. I loved the job,” he said. “It was hard work. It was fun. I was thinking, ‘all these guys are quitting. I can do this.” 

VanderSloot, who is being awarded an honorary doctorate at Idaho State University’s Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies, has led by example, working hard to build Melaleuca Wellness Company, a leading online retailer of natural health, home and personal care products with a worldwide presence. The company’s mission, unchanged in its more than 40 years in business is “to enhance the lives of those we touch by helping people reach their goals.” It’s a philosophy that VanderSloot embodies with his business model, a unique direct referral marketing approach where people can work hard and achieve their goals. Unlike a multi-level marketing approach, there is no investment or inventory required— Melaleuca members simply refer customers to the quality products to buy from the company itself. Therefore, there is no risk to the business builder.

“It can’t be about the money. It has to be about improving lives,” he said. “We built a model where the best producer wins. The hardest worker wins. And no one loses.” 

It’s this attitude that has carried through to his other business ventures as well. Although he is a nationally renowned businessman and served on the executive board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, he feels most at home in Idaho. His cattle operation, Riverbend Ranch, was built because VanderSloot wanted to offer his family a taste of the ranching life he grew up with, full of hard work and responsibility. 

“These are my people,” he said. “That’s the little guy.” 

The company VanderSloot and his team have built also embodies the idea of enhancing lives through charitable work. The Melaleuca Foundation, Melaleuca’s charitable arm, has raised millions of dollars to provide disaster relief in times of crisis, feed the hungry, honor veterans, soldiers and first responders, improve education and provide other types of humanitarian aid. 

Along with hard work, VanderSloot acknowledges his blessings- times when things seemed hard, but the kindness of others or lessons learned helped him stay on the road to success. 

“We’ve been blessed with great people who have thrown in with us,” he said. “I don’t know why these blessings happen. Success is a blessing. Failure just means you need to change your approach. ” 

It’s a message he wants Idaho State University graduates to remember. 

“Every trial, everything that looks bad, it’s right before the best thing,” he said. “When you hit the downs, there’s something great right around the corner.” 

One of VanderSloot’s greatest successes, he said, is finding his wife Belinda, and building a life filled with love and family.  

“I have the most wonderful life,” he said. ”When a man has a wife and family who love him, it’s an amazing feeling. I can’t imagine Heaven being better than this.”