Leadership Team

A major driving force behind Zija's success is our Executive Team. With over 100 combined years of industry experience, they know what it takes to create the real, sustainable growth that our Distributors and customers need to succeed.

Kenneth Brailsford

Zija Founder

Mr. Brailsford is well known as a pioneer in the nutritional supplement and network marketing industries, with over 40 years of experience in both. Considered the “Father of Herbal Encapsulation”, he was the first to commercially introduce herbs in capsule form during the 1970s. Ken is the former Co-Founder and President of Nature’s Sunshine, Founder and President of Enrich International, Founder of Botanicals, Inc., and Publisher of The Herbalist magazine. Although he has already had an immense impact on this industry, Zija is poised to be his greatest legacy.

Rodney Larsen

President and CEO

Mr. Larsen’s 20+ years of business experience include both consulting for small firms as well as negotiating multimillion-dollar deals with Fortune 500 companies. With previous experience as a Senior Executive at other network marketing companies, Rod has extensive knowledge in operations, project management, business development, and strategy. He is highly qualified to lead Zija’s Corporate Team and Independent Distributors to success.

Michael Hershberger

Vice President, Information Technology

Mr. Hershberger is a consummate IT professional with a keen sense of business acumen. He has over a decade of experience in the network marketing industry, which has prepared him for the critical role of overseeing Zija’s compensation and team organization technology.

Cathy Yeates

Vice President, New Market Development

Ms. Yeates has been involved in the management of people and processes for over twenty years. Her résumé includes operations, purchasing, customer support, and human resources management, which has left her well equipped for her role at Zija. Cathy’s energetic focus on global growth is leading Zija to new parts of the world on a daily basis, making it the most exciting company in the network marketing industry today.

John Brailsford

Vice President, Logistics and Purchasing

John Brailsford was raised in and around the health and nutrition world. After gaining experience in manufacturing and operations, he developed into a leader in Zija’s logistics department. John works tirelessly to improve quality and efficiency, keep inventory levels lean, and reduce costs.

Ryan Palmer

Vice President, Sales

Prior to joining Zija's Executive Team, Mr. Palmer directed business development for a vast, multi-state region. He is laser-focused on empowering Zija's Independent Distributors in every way possible to become successful entrepreneurs wherever they are building their businesses.

Whitney Davis

Vice President, Marketing Communications

Mrs. Davis brings to Zija 22 years of management experience in the network marketing industry. Her areas of expertise include recognition, event planning, and marketing communications. Whitney manages Zija's creative marketing team with the end goal of advancing Distributor success.

Dr. Joshua Plant, Ph.D.

Director of Research Sciences

Josh graduated at the top of his class from Harvard Medical School with a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences. He has done extensive research and been published himself on various health and nutrition topics. He works meticulously to ensure that the quality and nutritional value of Zija's products is second to none.

Jarom Dastrup

Director, North American Sales

Mr. Dastrup drives Distributor success with Zija's simple, duplicable training programs that empower individuals to accomplish their personal and team goals. Jarom comes to Zija with nearly seven years of direct sales experience and over a decade of sales experience. His ability to communicate, train and sell makes him an important part of Zija's Executive Team.