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Wallace Nelson, president of Benefi cial International (parent company of M'lis) 38 DAYSPA | JULY 2014 ONE ON ONE WITH... Although some people might roll their eyes at the expression, "Mother knows best," many have found it to be true. Such is the case with Wallace Nelson. The son of Benefi cial International founder and CEO and holistic health guru Dr. Linda Nelson, Wallace was immersed in skincare science at an early age, but had never considered it as a career. Instead, the fi tness enthusiast pursued a degree in nutrition while attending the American Holistic College of Nutrition in Birmingham, Alabama (now Clayton College of Natural Health). "My mother and I never discussed me joining the business," recalls Nelson. "My fi rst job out of college was as an EMT. At the time, I was thinking about becoming a doctor." However, Nelson's interest in medicine soon shifted to the holistic side of healing, which considers the mind, body and spirit. "I became interested in skin as it is active in health," he explains. "What happens on the inside is refl ected on the outside." Wallace acted on his newfound passion and received a naturopathic doctorate in 2011. And, when it came to searching for a place to put his education to good use, he didn't have to look far. "I knew my passions aligned with the mission and goals of M'lis," he explains. "I joined the company to help my mother and the team elevate the brand to the next level." And, elevate it he has. The 33-year- old company, which started out with a small line of natural formulas, has grown to include complete nutritional systems, and programs and products that address everything from weight concerns to acne. M'lis is sold in more than 2,500 spas worldwide. "M'lis believes in treating the body as a whole," Wallace summarizes. "Good health is refl ected in good skin." —Angela Melero W hat's the story behind the creation of M'lis? It all started when my mother was battling fi bromyalgia. She tried every medical avenue and was fi nally recommended a naturopathic doctor. He took her under his wing and taught her about detoxifi cation and how to heal and regenerate the body through diet and natural remedies. That was her magic bullet back to health, and she wanted to share that experience with others. She sought out schooling in holistic health, wellness and skin care and, shortly thereafter, in 1981, M'lis was born. I n addition to your mother, you also work with your sister (M'lisa Jackson). How do you like being part of a family business? It's great! We've been able to fi nd a healthy balance between our professional and personal relationships. There's an unspoken boundary between the offi ce doors and our homes. We go on vacations together and manage to keep the business affairs out of it. It's unique to fi nd that separation. I understand you and your mother are very involved in the research and development process. Have you ever had an idea that didn't fl y? We're persistent when it comes to bringing an idea to fruition. I don't think we've ever had a failure, but we've had some frustrations along the way. One was one of our most recent launches, the Daily Antioxidant Essentials powder supplement. We fell in love with the concept of super foods such as pomegranate, açai and goji berries, and the amazing effects they have on the body and skin. We wanted to create the ultimate powder-based supplement combining all these ingredients. It was extremely diffi cult to blend them into a powdered formula that could be mixed in water and was also stable enough for the long term. We hammered away at this for fi ve years, and fi nally achieved a breakthrough, allowing us to bring to market a formula that incorporates more than 20 essential super foods— and tastes fantastic! W hat do you do in your spare time? I'm passionate about physical fi tness. I'm a CrossFit guy and I also love swimming, mountain biking and participating in triathalons. I have fi ve children, so my schedule is always packed. I like to get up early and work on my fi tness, which also gives me energy and focus for the rest of the day. H ow do you manage to juggle both your family and professional lives? It's about fi nding a way to balance the demands of the day. I make sure that when I come home, I shift into family mode and keep my focus on it. That family time allows me to mentally recharge for everything else I do. W hat is your personal philosophy? I believe in treating people right and being a positive infl uence in the lives of others. Each of us has the opportunity to do that. I'm grateful that my job allows me to make a difference in people through health and wellness. We also make an effort to be good to our employees. We strive to create a fun work environment and always try to repay them for their efforts. O n e o n O n e . i n d d 3 8 One on One.indd 38 6 / 3 / 1 4 1 1 : 3 1 A M 6/3/14 11:31 AM