Michelle Shaw, Cofounder - President
"When we founded Shaw Treatment, we had no idea that it would grab the attention of so many people. We set a lofty mission to improve the world in which we live and share. Creating a quality product line and developing a steadfast business plan were at the forefront of our minds. Now here we are a few years in and taking the leap from a small to mid-sized business. Shaw Treatment is about change! Changing the industry, changing minds and changing the world. We know that collectively we have the ability and power to change the world and make it a better place."
Michelle Shaw, Cofounder and President of Shaw Treatment, Inc. began suffering with eczema, a common skin condition, when she was quite young. Years of medically approved skin creams had little affect. Enough was enough and at the age of 30, Michelle set out to learn more. Armed with her M. Sc. in wildlife nutrition and having scored her dream job as one of a very select group of Zoo Nutritionists, she began applying her knowledge of nutrition to skin and began studying her skin problem from the inside out. After consulting human nutritionists, and product formulation experts, Michelle's simple body care line began to develop. Together with her husband and company Cofounder, Brad Arsenault, the team began designing a business model that could market the products that friends and family had already begun enjoying and raving about.
Shaw Treatment was born on Earth Day in 2004 and slowly began marketing its new product line shortly after that. Michelle tirelessly continues to develop products, manage the day to day operations of Shaw Treatment, and source grass-roots charities in need in Africa.
Brad Arsenault, Cofounder - Vice President
"The entire process of forming Shaw Treatment, from product development to the idea of creating a social enterprise business model has been an exhilarating and exciting notion right from the start. We have the 'WOW' factor on our side and it never fails no matter where we go, when we tell people that we make body care products, and we donate profits to charities we always get the 'WOW' response."
Brad Arsenault, Cofounder and Vice President of Shaw Treatment, Inc. studied business at the University of Guelph and has been influenced, encouraged and intrigued since a young age by entrepreneurial spirit and creativity.
As a boy in elementary school, Brad was greatly influenced by his grade six teacher, Mr. Tobin, a South African born man who emigrated to escape Apartheid. The seed had been planted and would later flourish as Brad came to realize that Shaw Treatment could be a source for change.
Today South Africa and neighboring Sub-Saharan countries face a variety of new and old threats alike including, the spread of HIV/AIDS, cholera, famine, drought, malaria, tuberculosis, and even diabetes an epidemic also being experienced in North America. Let’s not forget Kenya or the plague of disasters that have struck the Darfur region of Sudan.
Africa is a continent in need but it is also a continent filled with great people, and thus great hope. The political stage is set and governments have finally taken notice. But there is still a long way to go.
As a footnote to my story above, Mr. Tobin, passed away (in 2006) , I never had the chance to thank him - his inspiration and story lives on and continues to guide me. -Brad
