Frank L. VanderSloot (born August 14, 1948) is an American entrepreneur, radio network owner and cattle rancher. He is chief executive officer of Melaleuca, Inc., an Idaho Falls, Idaho,-headquartered multi-level marketing company that sells home goods and health-related products.^[1][2] VanderSloot is one of thirteen national finance co-chairs for the 2012 Mitt Romney presidential campaign.^[3]

Early life and education

Born to a Dutch immigrant family, VanderSloot grew up on a small farm in rural Idaho. His father worked as a railroad laborer.^{[citation needed]} VanderSloot graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Business Administration.^[4]

Career

Prior to Melaleuca, VanderSloot served as a Regional Vice President for Automatic Data Processing (ADP), then later as Vice President for Cox Communications.^[5]

Tenure as CEO of Melaleuca

VanderSloot was offered the helm of a startup business (Oil of Melaleuca, Inc.) by Roger and Allen Ball in Idaho Falls, Idaho.^[6] Finding that company’s business model was untenable, VanderSloot closed the original company and reopening later the same year as Melaleuca Inc.^[2] The current company is a manufacturer and distributor of health products, consumer goods, and cosmetics. Melaleuca operates internationally, with U.S. operations centered in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Knoxville, Tennessee.^[7] Melaleuca was recognized as an Inc. 500 Hall of Fame business in 2000.^[2] Gross sales for 2011 were more than one billion dollars.^[8] Melaleuca is a member of the United States Direct Selling Association.^[9]

Other business ventures

VanderSloot owns Riverbend Ranch, a business he began as a means of teaching his children about the value of hard work. It has grown into one of the largest in the United States for both purebred cattle operations and commercial cattle operations.^[10][11] He also owns Fort Ranch Quarter Horses in Promontory, Utah.^[12]

VanderSloot also owns Riverbend Communications, a group of radio broadcast stations in Eastern Idaho that he purchased from Bonneville Communications in 2006. Riverbend Communications operates KLCE Classy 97, KCVI Kbear 101, KTHK 105.5 The Hawk, KFTZ Z103, and KBLI News-Talk AM 690 - 1260.^{[citation needed]}

Public activity

United States Chamber of Commerce

VanderSloot sits on the board of directors for the United States Chamber of Commerce and is on the Executive Committee for that group.^[13] He is an advocate of the free enterprise system and immigration law reform.^{[citation needed]}

Romney Campaign National Finance Co-Chair

VanderSloot serves as a national finance co-chair for the Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign. VanderSloot’s companies contributed a total of $1 million to the Restore Our Future political action committee, a group that supports Romney for President.^[14]

LGBT issues

VanderSloot has been criticized by the Human Rights Campaign for his public opposition to a 1999 PBS documentary on homosexuality and his wife's $100,000 donation to the Proposition 8 initiative to rescind gay marriage in California.^[15] VanderSloot responded online: “Our company has thousands of gay customers, independent marketing executives, and employees. I believe they feel welcome and valued. I believe that people deserve freedom, respect, and privacy in their own lives.” ^[16]

VanderSloot, in a newspaper advertisement, devoted several paragraphs to establishing that the reporter who had written articles about pedophiles being permitted to work with Boy Scouts in the Grand Teton Council was gay.^[17]

Response to critics

VanderSloot has been accused by Rachel Maddow and others of threatening defamation lawsuits, copyright infringement and other legal action against critics and outlets that have published critical voices, including Maddow herself, Forbes magazine, lawyer Glenn Greenwald, Mother Jones Magazine, and Idaho journalist Jody May-Chang.^[18][19]

Philanthropy

VanderSloot created the Melaleuca Foundation in 2001 to help victims of the September 11th attacks. The Melaleuca Foundation has been the primary financial supporter of the Santa Lucia Children's Home in Quito, Ecuador to help orphaned and abused children,^[20] and it won the 2007 Salvation Army “Others Award” for helping with relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina.^[21] The foundation provided aid to Japan after the 2011 tsunami.^{[22][failed verification]}

Each year since 1992, Melaleuca has organized the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration, in Idaho Falls. The event is billed as the largest Independence Day fireworks display west of the Mississippi.^[23]

Personal life

VanderSloot and his wife, Belinda, live in Idaho Falls. VanderSloot is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.^[24]

See Also

• Melaleuca, Inc. v. Hansen— Melaleuca was determined not to be an "Internet service provider".

References

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