THE HEALTH AND FITNESS ENTREPRENEUR

Growing up, Markus Kaulius’ family didn’t always have access to nutritional food. During his teen years, he went through a sudden growth spurt and his tall, skinny frame made him an easy target for bullies. Embarrassed of who he was and lacking self-esteem, he turned to the gym and discovered a lifelong passion for health and fitness.

“That was a very tough time in my life,” he says. “But I was so fortunate because through the gym, I transformed very quickly. And I'm not even talking about the physical changes; mentally I gained self-esteem and self-worth, and I recognized at a young age that I’m passionate about helping people live happier and healthier lives through fitness and health.”

Another turning point in his life was when his mom went back to school to support the family. That school was KPU. Years later, he followed in her footsteps and graduated from KPU with a bachelor of business administration focused on entrepreneurial leadership. At KPU, he says, he gained the skills to launch a business helping others attain the same physical and mental results he did by committing to personal health.

Kaulius is founder and CEO of Magnum Nutraceuticals, a company he launched in 2005 with the concept of being dedicated to integrity in producing the highest quality sports nutrition supplements. Understanding the importance of nutrition to his own training, he envisioned creating supplements that would meet his own needs while helping others. But much like his fitness journey, his path to creating Magnum began with baby steps.

The formation of his business began when Kaulius started selling sports nutrition supplements out of his home. “I had like a shop set up in my place and my buddies would come by, learn about supplements, buy some and they'd bring their buddies next time,” he explains. “I'd say I dipped my toe in the business world through that.”

Then came the opportunity to start his first retail location, which was such a success it grew into three outlets. It wasn’t long before Kaulius saw there was a gap in the market for a company that would be known as a premium brand of supplements.

“Here we are almost 18 years later, and we’re focused on exactly what we were on day one: integrity,” he says. “It’s what's given us a great brand name in this industry, and a lot of people trust us because of it.”

Today, Magnum Nutraceuticals has sold more than $100 million of product and can be found in over 100 countries. Magnum’s 30 employees work with several local and international charities, from volunteering in the Cloverdale Community Kitchen to funding the education, medical and dental expenses of 80 school-aged kids in Haiti. Kaulius says his team shares his commitment to seeing the world become a healthier, happier place.

“One of the most remarkable things about this business is our culture,” he says. “Everybody in this building truly cares about our clients. We know a lot of people are suffering from poor health and poor mental health. We truly are a family who cares about each other and cares about the community we live in.”

Kaulius measures his success in the lives he’s impacted as much as through his business’s earnings. A lot of his accomplishments, he says, were made possible through his education and the financial support he received at KPU.

“Receiving my first scholarship was a really spectacular moment,” he recalls. “I don't think a lot of people know how awesome the scholarship programs are at KPU. Because of that, I was able to get my education without debt, and what a leg up that gave me in entering the real world.”

Looking back, he says the small classroom environment and the quality of the professors at KPU also helped bring out his personal best.

“I knew I was getting the best education hands down,” he says. “I had the confidence I needed to start my own business, I learned how to speak to clients more confidently and I got tons of practice speaking in public. I’m very grateful to KPU”

Kaulius is continuing to grow Magnum Nutraceuticals and is taking his message of the importance of physical and mental health out into the world through public speaking engagements and through his mentoring business. He’s writing his first book, which will give readers key tips on how to change their mindset to change their life. His goal, he says, is to inspire and motivate others to become the best versions of themselves.

“That stuff lights me up,” says Kaulius. “I've helped people across the globe lose over two million pounds of fat. There's a lot of people who I’ve watched start living much more incredible lives because they take fitness and health more seriously. That’s a great feeling for me.” 