Bret and Monica ODell, who own and operate Excel Nutrition, want to help Excelsior Springs residents improve their health, not only physical health but mental health too. Physical fitness had always been important to both Bret and Monica but they said they’ve realized that mental fitness might be even more important. “It’s a huge part of being healthy,” said Bret, “having that mindset of approaching life with joy, encouraging people, and just trying to be positive feels good.”
Before taking ownership of Excel Nutrition, Bret and Monica were already avid fitness enthusiasts, so making the transition to owning a business built around fitness wasn’t difficult for them. Bret had been working in the online health and fitness world when he reconnected with Monica who had just begun working at Excel. “She was talking about [Excel] all time, I think every day,” said Bret laughing, “When the owners started talking about maybe selling it, we thought that’d be great.” Now the couple has owned the business since April and say they’ve seen a lot of growth thanks to the help of their marketing efforts on social media. Monica said they wanted to attract a younger crowd, so they went to where their audience is.
The couple plans to launch a podcast called “Addicted to Living” in January 2023. Monica said the podcast will cover many topics and they will discuss, “how we stay positive, grow with one another in our marriage, balancing children, business, entrepreneurship and maintaining our sobriety! We hope to be a light for people who struggle to stay positive!”
Both Bret (2001) and Monica (2005) graduated from Excelsior Springs High School and both have family connections to the community. “I think the thing we were most excited about was being involved in the community especially leaving after high school, being gone a few years…, you realize it’s just such a great community,” said Monica. They said they’ve especially enjoyed being close to their families and friends. “One of the coolest things about being here is getting to see all these people that I grew up with and the changes they’re helping to make here in our town,” said Bret.
The ODells say they hope they can be an example of what a positive mindset can do. Monica said that she knows there are some locals who still carry a negative perception of the community left over from the 80s and 90s, but she hopes people can move past that. “Let’s put less of a spotlight on those negative things and put more of a spotlight on the things that are great in our town… it goes back to where’s your mindset,” she said. Growing up here they said they both knew a lot of people who couldn’t wait to move away, but they’ve seen those same people coming back and working to help make Excelsior Springs a better place. “The ones that did come back are the ones that see the potential in the town, and they trust this community enough to help build it up,” said Bret.
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A great business ran by great people, their energy and attitudes are positively courageous!
Excel nutrition is not only where I go most days for my breakfast protein shake & clean energy tea’s. It’s a place fueled by two uplifting individuals who love to encourage others. Their staff also very welcoming.