At 10 a.m. on a weekday, most people are settling into meetings or answering emails. Kevin Merriweather is on a pickleball court, laughing with friends as the Florida sun climbs higher. The game ends, hands are shaken, and Kevin’s pickleball partner lingers.
“I see you on social media,” the man says. “I need to know more about what you do.”
Kevin smiles. “Yeah, I’d love to tell you about it sometime.”
“Call me,” the man says as he heads off the court.
It’s Monday. By Thursday, that partner will be at an in-home presentation, hearing stories, touching products, and seeing firsthand how a word-of-mouth business turned weekday mornings into moments of freedom for Kevin and his family.
“For me, Melaleuca’s appeal is simple: opportunity,” Kevin says. When Kevin first came to Melaleuca, he was struck when Melaleuca Founder and Executive Chairman Frank VanderSloot said that Melaleuca was built for the little guy. “Melaleuca is for everyone—including average Joes like me,” Kevin says. “I didn’t do so well in school, but I found this company, and it’s given me the chance to soar with eagles and help others do the same.”
Before Kevin found the flexibility to play pickleball on Monday mornings, there were long days and even longer nights on the road. For 20 years, he drove for UPS, hauling freight in big rigs, the hours stretching late and quiet. That life taught Kevin endurance and discipline—skills that now help him as he drives over seven hours across state lines to make Melaleuca Overview presentations for his team. That commitment paid off in 2025 when Kevin helped propel a couple he was mentoring to Senior Director by hosting four in-home presentations at their house.
“That’s why I believe so deeply in in-homes,” he says. “When people walk into a home, Melaleuca becomes tangible. They see and touch products, smell them, taste them, and hear in-person, real-life experiences from individuals who are building a business and winning. What once felt abstract starts to feel attainable.”
Watching others succeed, Kevin says, never gets old. But his real goal has always been freedom: the freedom to build a house, which Kevin and Stephanie did four years ago; the freedom to choose how they spend their days; and the freedom to pay it forward. “We want as many families as possible to experience self-determination,” he says. “Everyone deserves to wake up and have options.”
By late morning, the pickleball courts begin to empty as players head back to their obligations. Kevin packs up his paddle slowly, unhurried. This is the life he set out to build—not one without work, but one full of choice.
“Let’s go build a business so we have time to play pickleball,” Kevin laughs, half joking but also serious.