Melanie Wildman has good cause to pinch herself.
She just has much less to pinch than in the past – and that is at the heart of her remarkable success story in both business and in personal health.
The P.E.I. native, who grew up in Milton, often reflects on how far she has come since her days of being clinically obese.
“Oh, sometimes I pinch myself,’’ says Wildman, a former Mrs. Canada and first runner up to Mrs. Universe.
“There’s not a day that I’m not grateful…and there’s not a morning I get dressed that I don’t reflect on how far I’ve come and what a blessing this has been. Not just for me, but also our whole family eats healthier and our kids have a healthier role model in me.’’
Wildman struggled with her weight most of her adult life.
When she decided to have bariatric surgery – a procedure performed on the stomach or intestines to induce weight loss – she didn’t qualify under the Canadian health care system.
She ended up going to Mexico for surgery. The credentials of the surgeon, she notes, were not as advertised.
“I had some complications, but I also really didn’t know what to do,’’ she recalls.
“I didn’t know what to eat or what was normal.’’
So Wildman started a support group in 2009 that grew into a bariatric program.
She founded WLF Medical, which has recently been rebranded as Esa Health.
Based in Saskatchewan, Esa Health is partnered with the largest private hospital network in Mexico, she says.
“So we are able to provide really almost any medical service that a Canadian would want,’’ says Wildman, who lists off reconstructive, cosmetic and plastic surgery, hip replacement, and carpal tunnel treatment among the services that can be accessed through Esa Health.
The company had about $4 million in sales during its last fiscal year.
Wildman is also enjoying, well, wild success with a second company, called Nutracelle that is based in Charlottetown.
Nutracelle products, made in P.E.I., are produced through an innovative process called cross-flow micro filtration which produces a very high concentrate of intact proteins while also preserving the full range of whey protein peptides instead of the standard process, which uses acids and chemicals which destroys many of the peptides that give whey protein its health benefits.
The company is expected to exceed $2 million in gross sales in its first year of production.
In addition to employing six people in Charlottetown, the company has nearly 1,000 consultants across North America.
Melanie’s fully self-funded venture has earned four Stevie Awards – the world’s premier business awards program – including a gold Stevie Award for Woman of the Year.
“Very strong entry, Nutracelle’s results were amazing,’’ wrote one of the judges.
“This company has grown at a rapid pace…they have the ability to exceed their own expectations.’’
Wildman credits her success to becoming fully immersed in her businesses, noting she was willing to work almost around the clock to get both WLF/Esa Health and Nutracelle off the ground.
“The number one thing is you have to be passionate about what you are doing – so it really has to be all consuming,’’ says Wildman, who maintains her health through “clean eating’’ that includes plenty of protein shakes and by being physically active.
The inspiring entrepreneur, who lives in Stratford with her husband/business partner Blair Enright, and the couple’s three children, ages 17, 14, and nine, is pleased to be operating her latest business in her home province.
“Charlottetown is our head office,’’ she notes.
“We’re proud to be an Island company. We’re proud to create jobs here.’’
Melanie Wildman has good cause to pinch herself.
She just has much less to pinch than in the past – and that is at the heart of her remarkable success story in both business and in personal health.
The P.E.I. native, who grew up in Milton, often reflects on how far she has come since her days of being clinically obese.
“Oh, sometimes I pinch myself,’’ says Wildman, a former Mrs. Canada and first runner up to Mrs. Universe.
“There’s not a day that I’m not grateful…and there’s not a morning I get dressed that I don’t reflect on how far I’ve come and what a blessing this has been. Not just for me, but also our whole family eats healthier and our kids have a healthier role model in me.’’
Wildman struggled with her weight most of her adult life.
When she decided to have bariatric surgery – a procedure performed on the stomach or intestines to induce weight loss – she didn’t qualify under the Canadian health care system.
She ended up going to Mexico for surgery. The credentials of the surgeon, she notes, were not as advertised.
“I had some complications, but I also really didn’t know what to do,’’ she recalls.
“I didn’t know what to eat or what was normal.’’
So Wildman started a support group in 2009 that grew into a bariatric program.
She founded WLF Medical, which has recently been rebranded as Esa Health.
Based in Saskatchewan, Esa Health is partnered with the largest private hospital network in Mexico, she says.
“So we are able to provide really almost any medical service that a Canadian would want,’’ says Wildman, who lists off reconstructive, cosmetic and plastic surgery, hip replacement, and carpal tunnel treatment among the services that can be accessed through Esa Health.
The company had about $4 million in sales during its last fiscal year.
Wildman is also enjoying, well, wild success with a second company, called Nutracelle that is based in Charlottetown.
Nutracelle products, made in P.E.I., are produced through an innovative process called cross-flow micro filtration which produces a very high concentrate of intact proteins while also preserving the full range of whey protein peptides instead of the standard process, which uses acids and chemicals which destroys many of the peptides that give whey protein its health benefits.
The company is expected to exceed $2 million in gross sales in its first year of production.
In addition to employing six people in Charlottetown, the company has nearly 1,000 consultants across North America.
Melanie’s fully self-funded venture has earned four Stevie Awards – the world’s premier business awards program – including a gold Stevie Award for Woman of the Year.
“Very strong entry, Nutracelle’s results were amazing,’’ wrote one of the judges.
“This company has grown at a rapid pace…they have the ability to exceed their own expectations.’’
Wildman credits her success to becoming fully immersed in her businesses, noting she was willing to work almost around the clock to get both WLF/Esa Health and Nutracelle off the ground.
“The number one thing is you have to be passionate about what you are doing – so it really has to be all consuming,’’ says Wildman, who maintains her health through “clean eating’’ that includes plenty of protein shakes and by being physically active.
The inspiring entrepreneur, who lives in Stratford with her husband/business partner Blair Enright, and the couple’s three children, ages 17, 14, and nine, is pleased to be operating her latest business in her home province.
“Charlottetown is our head office,’’ she notes.
“We’re proud to be an Island company. We’re proud to create jobs here.’’
