| ISS Research, also known as Integrated Sports Science, has found it's way into the hearts and bodies of bodybuilders and athletes around the world by supplying them with high quality products along with truthful marketing. |
Editor's Note: Jay Cutler is no longer with ISS Research.
ISS Research, also known as Integrated Sports Science, has found it's way into the hearts and bodies of bodybuilders and athletes around the world by supplying them with high quality products along with truthful marketing. Rather than copying and carrying every known supplement available, ISS has consistenly released products that were different than the rest, with a focus on the best possible protein blends. A company that prides itself on quality over quantity, ISS really became the center of attention when it's icon, pro bodybuilder Jay Cutler, came out of nowhere to take a close 2nd in the 2001 Mr. Olympia. The press given to Jay Cutler led many bodybuilders to take a second look at ISS and their products. Given a chance to try (and taste) some of their products, many bodybuilders become ISS-loyal and rely on ISS only for their complete supplement needs.
Read on to learn more about how the company started, who makes up the company, and what they plan to do next! Brian Wisniewski, their head of marketing, answers our questions...
The Interview
Bodybuilding.com: When was ISS Research started?
Brian Wisniewski: ISS Research began in July 1999.
Bodybuilding.com: Why was ISS started? Who started? Tell me about their backgrounds.
Brian Wisniewski: Ron McAfee started ISS Research with a vision to create a comprehensive line of truly superior products for everyone; homemakers, bodybuilders, weekend warriors, and professional athletes.
Ron was actually Vice President of a major sports nutrition distributor at the time he decided to take on the challenge of building ISS Research into a recognizable brand in this industry.
Part Of The ISS Warehouse
The next hurdle was to assemble a top-notch management team. Dave Rose was hired for the national sales manager position. Dave has years of experience in this industry. Kevin DeHaven, who had managed a top level nutrition store for years and was the number one sales person at a major sports nutrition distributor, was an easy choice as the head of the inside sales department. Kevin is very knowledgeable and well versed in the sports-nutrition business.
These three individuals become the pillars of ISS' management team. Many companies have a good product but lacked the proper personnel and infrastructure. This is not the case with ISS.
Bodybuilding.com: What was the first product that you introduced to the market? How did it do?
 Brian Wisniewski: We had a core of products at first (Complete Albumen Power, Complete Whey Power, & Super Vitamin Pak) but our first innovative product was the Complete Effervescent Creatine Power. We then introduced our Complete Pro Power, which is still one of the cleanest, purest Meal Replacements on the market. It was the first MRP that did not contain any corn syrup solids, gums, hydrogenated oils, or aspartame. In fact, ISS Research was one of the first companies to start using sucralose in powders. We pride ourselves on the quality of ingredients and flavoring systems used in our products. We feel that they are second to none.
Bodybuilding.com: Do you have some future products in the works right now? Anything exciting that you can tell me a little about?
Brian Wisniewski: Our latest project is a new ephedra free weight management system that we have been working on called Lipovar8TM. We are very excited about Lipovar 8TM because we feel that it will usher in a new approach to weight management, a system that doesn't focus on weight loss per se, but on increasing lean body mass and stimulating fat loss. [View Kevin DeHaven's tremendous transformation while using Lipovar8TM and other ISS products].
Bodybuilding.com: What product that you currently carry are you most excited about having?
Brian Wisniewski: While we are very excited about Lipovar 8TM and our new lean mass xcelerating protein MXPRO40TM, we still get excited over ProM3TM. ProM3TM came out last October and has been a hit ever since. We are very proud of that product. It went through almost an entire year of R&D, tweaking and re-formulating the formula until we got it right. Then we turned it over to Jay Cutler who used ProM3TM exclusively. The result was that Jay added 20 lbs. of solid muscle to his already advanced frame. In our opinion ProM3TM is the best protein on the market; it is not another "me to" product. We placed the time and money into researching the proper ratios of specific proteins for proper digestion and continued muscle saturation; along with a digestive enzyme blend that increase absorption, formulating the most unique, effective protein out there.
Bodybuilding.com: How is the sponsorship with Jay Cutler going? When did you start sponsoring him? How much longer is his current contract?
Brian Wisniewski: Jay signed with ISS in November 2000 to a three year deal and both parties have been very pleased with the outcome. Jay is currently signing a five year extension to his current contract, amounting to a six year deal. He has not been shy in stating that he will retire with ISS!
Bodybuilding.com: What are your feelings about Jay not competing in the 2002 Olympia? He could really do some promoting for ISS this year if he competed in it!
Brian Wisniewski: It doesn't matter to us if Jay competes in the Mr. O or not. Jay is an intelligent business man and ISS stands behind any decisions that he makes. Jay is extremely busy traveling with his guest appearances and representing ISS. Jay has a plan, and the 2002 Mr. O doesn't fit into those plans.
Sr. (operations manager) & Terry (warehouse manager) looking over current inventory reports or cooking the books?
Bodybuilding.com: Did you expect Jay to skyrocket to the top of the bodybuilding world? Why do you believe he has been so successful?
Brian Wisniewski: We knew Jay would skyrocket to the top and become the best. We had the privilege of working with Jay on a number of occasions before we signed him. Nobody, and I mean nobody, has the work ethic of Jay. He is the most consistent professional in the business. No one trains, eats, and approaches this sport quite like Jay does on a daily basis.
Bodybuilding.com: Has your sponsorship of Jay helped grow your company a lot or a little?
Brian Wisniewski: Having Jay as the top gun of the Team ISS arsenal of athletes has definitely helped us. When you have an athlete that actually uses the products that he endorses, that actually has valuable input on new product development, it's a great asset to any company. Jay doesn't just collect a check. He is working hard to better ISS Research.
Bodybuilding.com: ISS also sponsors many top baseball players. Do the top marketing guys at ISS love baseball or what? Not many other companies do this in this industry. Where do you think you get your most promotion... through Jay Cutler or through the other athletes?
Brian Wisniewski: While Jay is our most recognizable face in this industry (and the only athlete of Team ISS with a contract), people are surprised to hear how deep our stable of athletes go. Who else uses ISS religiously? How about Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Joe Gibbs Racing, Blake Brockermeyer, Robert Pocher, and JD Drew just to drop a few names. We have athletes in the NFL, MLB, PGA, LPGA, NASCAR and even some top professional wrestlers in the major organizations that use our products. All of these athletes lend credibility to ISS and what we are trying to accomplish.
On The ISS Walls
Bodybuilding.com: Why has ISS been so successful when many other companies have failed?
Brian Wisniewski: In the three years that we have been around, many companies have come and gone. I believe our success lies in the fact that we are building a brand. We are not built on one product that is hot today, gone tomorrow. Our branding strength lies in the fact that we are a solid sports nutrition company, focusing on the quality and taste of our products. We don't rely on outrageous claims and ads to sell our products. We'd rather put our money into the actual product, not the over blown hype ads that are so prevalent in today's bodybuilding magazines. However, if we do make claims about a particular product, then you can trust that it is the truth, with the results being accomplished by the athletes who use our product.
Bodybuilding.com: Anything else you want to say about ISS that people would be interested in?
Brian Wisniewski: I hope that if people haven't seen it yet, to check out the transformation of our own Kevin DeHaven exclusively on Bodybuilding.com. He came a long way in a short period of time. Definitely check out www.issresearch.com for the latest updates on new product development and the 411 on our athletes. And make sure to stop by our booth when you see us at the shows. We would like the opportunity to met and talk with all of our loyal consumers.
 
Kevin DeHaven - Head Of Inside Sales Dept. Kim - Inside Sales Consultant
Also, we just want to say thank you to Bodybuilding.com for not only giving us this opportunity to let their readers learn more about ISS Research, but for their continued support as well.
Contact ISS
You can contact Kevin at kevin@issresearch.com with any questions you may have about their company or their products. Just let them know that Bodybuilding.com sent ya!
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