Company: Vemma Nutrition Company, Tempe, AZ
Company Description: Founded in 2004 by BK Boreyko and his two sisters Karen and Lauren, Vemma Nutrition Company is a the premier industry leader specializing in premium liquid nutrition. Every month, thousands of new customers experience the positive difference of the clinically studied Vemma formula. The Vemma brands include the clinically studied Verve healthy energy drink and Bod-e, a weight loss line.
Nomination Category: Management Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Executive of the Year - Health Products & Services

Nomination Title: BK Boreyko, Founder and CEO

Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2013 (up to 525 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Thanks largely to Vemma Founder and CEO BK Boreyko’s innovative thinking, Vemma Nutrition Company experienced 89% growth in US sales from the previous year, growing from $117 million in 2012 to $221 million in 2013. Key to the company’s growth are Boreyko’s multifaceted efforts to understand and meet the needs of millennials (ages 18-29), who have been leading the company in sales, sign ups, and rank advancements.

Vemma launched three new products in the last year specifically targeting millennials: Verve ParTea (an iced tea), Verve MoJoe (an iced coffee), and Verve Bold (a healthy energy drink). Record-breaking sales of these products have established Verve as the top-selling brand in the company.

One challenge Boreyko faced was getting millennials to participate in training events. Company-wide trainings that worked with an older demographic did not attract or interest millennials. However, Boreyko knew that these young people still needed training to become successful. After speaking with many young leaders, Boreyko created Verve Leadership Academy (VLA) training events specifically designed for this demographic. Developed in conjunction with SUCCESS Magazine, VLA events provide young Vemma leaders with a dynamic, engaging program, which has resulted in increased company sales and record-breaking rank advancements among millennials.

In another innovative move, Boreyko changed the Vemma structure from multi-level marketing to a more customer-focused, affiliate marketing model, which millennials relate to better. “We've always done things a bit differently than a typical MLM/network marketing company,” Boreyko explained. “Our leaders like to do business in transparent and progressive ways. If your goal is to become a household brand, it only makes sense to make a few changes to support this. With this change, our business will be more like Amazon.com and less like Amway. This gives our potential customers and Affiliates a better, more modern and transparent description of how we do business.”

This big change piqued the interest of publications such as The New York Post, Rolling Stone magazine, CNBC and Direct Selling News who all interviewed Boreyko about this change.

BK Boreyko’s Additional Achievements from January 2013-April 2014
•Moved the corporate staff into a 51,000-square-foot smart building
•Kept older customers excited with the launch of the company’s first beauty product
•Maintained a high social media profile with over 52,000 personal and 160,000 company fans and followers
•Vemma Ranked in top 100 direct selling companies worldwide
•Named the 10th fastest growing private company in Arizona at Arizona Corporate Excellence Awards
•Ranked in the top 50 private companies in AZ (by revenue)
•Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist – BK Boreyko was chosen as a finalist in the Desert Mountain Region for 2014

Boreyko has overcome many obstacles as he led his company through the past year, resulting in unprecedented success. Vemma’s 2012 to 2013 sales growth was 89%, which nearly doubled the 2011 to 2012 sales growth of 46%. The three-year growth for Vemma has been 189%; current forecasted sales for 2014 are at $400 million. By reaching out to millennials with the right products and a new affiliate marketing model, Boreyko has led his company into its most profitable year ever.

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Provide a brief (up to 125 words) biography about the nominee:

Vemma Founder and CEO BK Boreyko is a man on a mission. His drive for wellness stems from losing both parents to cancer and heart disease. Turning that pain into passion fueled his success in making a positive difference in the lives of others through efficacious and innovative wellness products.

BK relishes every moment as a proud father of six children. He serves on the board of Canyonville Christian Academy, the Leadership Board of the Cleveland Clinic's Wellness Institute and the Advisory Board for HealthCorps®. BK also supports charitable organizations including Operation Smile, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® and the Salvation Army.