PROVO — It may be an understatement to say that a lot has changed since Nedra Roney in 1984 suggested the creation of a line of skin-care products using only natural ingredients.
The first meetings of Nu Skin Enterprises were held in homes.
Now, the company has a looming high-rise overlooking Provo's Center Street.
Twenty years ago, a small corps of employees filled leftover jars with creams and lotions.
Now, Nu Skin has distribution centers throughout Asia and a new store in Provo that offers 200 products from Nu Skin's three divisions: Nu Skin, Pharmanex and Big Planet.
There isn't anything about the Utah County-based company that remains the same.
In the 20 years since its founding, all parts of the company have expanded and evolved.
And, in turn, the company helped its host city, Provo, evolve and expand.
"I like to think that we've done as much for Utah County as Provo has done for us," said Sandie Tillotson, one of Nu Skin's original five founders.
Tillotson said Nu Skin originally hoped to move its base of operations to California — something that would have negatively affected Nu Skin's international expansion.
"Here in Provo and Orem, we have the blessing of so many people who speak so many languages — Chinese, Japanese, you name it," Tillotson said. "In California, we would have been lost in a sea of businesses."
Those languages come in handy for Nu Skin. The company makes 82 percent of its annual profit in Asia. Nu Skin expects large profits from its expansion into China last year.
While Nu Skin continues to change, founder Blake Roney says that most things stay the same. "In the end, we remain dedicated to that same vision we had 20 years ago: to provide quality products," Roney said.
Roney said that he recently discovered a list of goals that Nu Skin founders had penned when the company first formed.
Among the goals: have a high-rise building in Provo, become an international company and be actively contributing to good causes.
Nu Skin met all of those goals — and then some. In total, the company has paid out $4 billion in sales commission. Some 380 men and women of the Nu Skin sales forces have became millionaires.
One of the secrets to Nu Skin's constant growth, Roney says, is a dedication to charitable causes, which range from feeding hungry children to helping indigenous cultures.
"We give back wherever we take," said Nu Skin CEO Truman Hunt. "I think that's what has helped us stay strong in Provo while so many other companies have started to look outside for help."
In the next 20 years, Roney expects Nu Skin will make more than $1 billion in annual profit.
"Things will only get better," Roney said. "It's amazing to realize that our dreams will continue to become a reality."
E-mail: lwarner@desnews.com