The People at Vitamin Express, Inc.
A message from Vitamin Express President, Michael LeVesque:
- "We want you to be satisfied and pleased! We decided a long time ago to always sell at discounted prices.
- "We also to offer the finest supplements available in the marketplace. So we search for excellent products, try them ourselves, and thoroughly check them out before we sell them. We look carefully at the ingredients of the new health supplement and the company offering it.
- "Most importantly, we have a passion for health and a commitment to health freedom. Health is our primary reason for being in business, earning a living is our second goal.
- "We want to provide the finest vitamins and food supplements available for your health at the best price."
Michael LeVesque is the President and CEO of Vitamin Express, Inc. Vitamin Express received the First Place award as the Best place to buy nutritional supplements and vitamins in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was awarded by the BayList through the San Francisco Chronicle and SFGATE and is a reflection of the excellent staff, customer service, selection and pricing maintained throughout the stores.
Michael’s first health food store was in Cortez, Colorado in 1973- Cortez Health Food Center. In April 1982 Michael opened Vitamin Express in San Francisco, California with 12 shelves of supplements and herb teas. By 1996 Vitamin Express achieved the Bay Guardian's "Best Place to Buy Vitamins in the SF Bay Area".
As a child Michael had polio and except for his arms was paralyzed from the neck down. He received the Sister Kenny treatment and therefore had complete recovery without any crippling. Nevertheless, he experienced excruciating pain following any exercise. In 1971 he was introduced by his wife to calcium and magnesium powder which provided quick and complete relief from the pain.
That initiated Michael’s reading of nutrition. His library contains complete publications of many health journals, periodicals, newsletters and studies, as well as, several hundred books on nutritional health. He states he doesn’t “study” nutrition, he “reads” it.
Michael was in the US Peace Corps in Ethiopia and Eritrea from 1966 to 1968 teaching science and agriculture. Though his background is in the social science and music (Explorational Music TM 1983 – Journey to Titan), his focus has been on science and health. Initially Michael attended Colorado State University majoring in violin, then University of Colorado in economics, philosophy, history, and political science. While in the Peace Corps he studied at Allemayu College of Agriculture, Haille the First University. Returning to the US he attended Hastings School of Law and San Francisco State University studying social psychology. He then attended University of Alberta, Canada to receive a fifth year teaching credential to teach in Canada. He has spent several years teaching English as a second language in South Tucson, Arizona,- Edmonton, Alberta, and at City College in San Francisco.
He is the author of The BIG Vitamin Dictionary, published under Great Highway Productions with a third edition due out in 2010 and a new volume titled, The BIG Natural Remedy Dictionary, and a new book to be published entitled How to Double Your Life Span using nutrition, habitude, exercise and meditation.
Everyone in Michael’s family has been a part of Vitamin Express along with wonderful, dedicated managers and staff. Michael states, "The goals of Vitamin Express are to find the best nutrients available in the marketplace, share their information, and make them available at affordable prices. Our goal is health.” To email Michael, Click Here.
Teresa Manquen is the Administrative Manager and Payroll Specialist for Vitamin Express. She also manages the Mail Order Department and provides nutritional information to customers. She has been with Vitamin Express since 1988. She is especially interested in hard to find products, herbs, and overall family health.
Linda Starr manages our Irving Street storefront in San Francisco where we also stock inventory for the web business and take mail orders over the phone. Linda has a business degree and over 21 years experience in the industry ranging from product development, sales, manufacturing, teaching and management. Her passion for herbs was developed with the Sierra School of Herbs certification program. One of her career highlights has been to develop and teach a three unit semester course on Herbs and Health for the University of New Mexico Taos branch. She also loves to explore nature, do pilates, bike ride and cook.
Yvonne Whitehead, manager of the San Francisco store on Fillmore, has had a strong interest in nutritional therapies for many years. With a prior career as a licensed cosmetologist, Yvonne has a deep passion for helping people look and feel their best, and she extends this to her current position at Vitamin Express. Her desire is to help educate and inform the public about available natural alternatives, especially in the areas of joint health, natural anti-inflammatory supplements, and immune-boosting nutrient therapies. In her spare time she is an artist and enjoys roller blading, biking and yoga. To email Yvonne, Click Here.
