Nearly 3,500 Team Members and their families gathered in Rexburg, Idaho for Melaleuca’s annual Christmas Celebration on Thursday night. This holiday festivity was an opportunity to celebrate accomplishments and recognize Team Members who have demonstrated Melaleuca’s mission statement.
Melaleuca CEO Frank VanderSloot and other management Team Members addressed the audience in celebration of the year’s accomplishments and shared their enthusiasm for what’s to come in 2020. Additionally, they recognized Team Members’ hard work and thanked them and their families for their contributions to the company’s success.
The Melaleuca Spirit Award
As a special recognition, Melaleuca honors one Team Member every year with the Spirit Award. This award is presented to an individual who consistently strives for excellence in his or her work and whose kindness, compassion and care make a difference in many lives outside of work. The Spirit Award winner exemplifies Melaleuca’s mission of enhancing lives, and the winner receives an award plaque and a $1,000 donation to a charity of their choice.
Jorge Mena Wins 2019 Spirit Award
This year’s Spirit Award winner is Jorge Mena, Vice President of Hispanic Operations, who has worked at Melaleuca for 24 years and has actively served the community. Jorge has influenced thousands of Marketing Executives and Team Members through his hard work, infectious personality and can-do attitude.
Several years ago, Jorge started a boxing club to help troubled youth learn to channel their energy, develop new skills, and gain a knowledge of the sport of boxing. Jorge has taken several of them to competitions around the region so they can compete and feel the sense of accomplishment that comes from excelling with their new skills.
Jorge has served as a volunteer police officer for the Shelley Police Department. He has selflessly put himself in danger’s path to protect others. Perhaps his most memorable day as a police officer was when he was bitten by a person’s pet rat as he was placing them in his police car.
These are only a few examples of the many causes that Jorge supports in the community.
The Magic of Comedy
At the conclusion of the Spirit Award presentation, entertainer Tim Gabrielson took to the stage. He has performed thousands of shows in Las Vegas for 18 years, dazzling audiences with clever magic tricks and witty humor. The Melaleuca family hung on his words with laughter and amazement.
A Holiday Treat
As a special gift, everyone walked away with a Team Melaleuca jacket as well as a smoked ham or turkey.
Additionally, Melaleuca held a raffle consisting of seven grand prizes. The excitement was palpable as Team Members cheered for the winners.
Three lucky Team Members are now preparing to take vacations to the Caribbean, Universal Studios, and New York City. Four others won $2,000 gift cards to local furniture, electronic, and home goods stores.
The Christmas Celebration was a night to reflect on the spirit of the holidays. Team Members walked away with a closer connection to each other and a stronger realization of how their work fulfills Melaleuca’s mission on enhancing lives.
