Pedigree Peptides and the Cookeville Entrepreneurs Behind It

How Two Cookeville Professionals Combined Their Backgrounds in Wellness, Research and Education to Launch Pedigree Peptides.

When Cookeville Realtor Seth Melton first met licensed massage therapist Justin Ryan, it wasn’t through business. It was in the gym.

Training had been a constant in Seth’s life for more than two decades. While building a successful career in real estate after spending fourteen years in the restaurant industry, he also made fitness and recovery a priority. That’s what led him to Justin, whose diagnostic approach to massage therapy helped Seth stay proactive about recovery and overall wellness.

Justin’s background extends beyond massage therapy. Before becoming a licensed massage therapist, he worked in a laboratory interpreting bloodwork, an experience that sparked a deeper interest in understanding how the body functions. Today, his massage practice focuses on identifying the source of pain rather than simply treating symptoms.

As the two spent more time discussing health, recovery and emerging research, they realized they shared the same curiosity and desire to help others better understand their options.

That shared passion eventually became Pedigree Peptides.

“We built this business around one simple question,” Seth explained. “How can we help?”

Today, Pedigree Peptides serves as a locally owned resource for people interested in learning more about peptide research and the growing science behind it, while both owners continue to lead successful careers in their respective professions.

Built From Personal Experience

The idea for Pedigree Peptides grew from the founders’ own experiences navigating today’s healthcare system.

After suffering an injury, Seth found that the physical therapy he believed would help wasn’t covered by insurance. That experience led him to begin researching alternatives and asking more questions about proactive wellness.

Justin’s background in diagnostic massage therapy and laboratory science naturally complemented that search. Together, they spent years researching peptides, evaluating published studies and learning from firsthand experience before deciding to share what they had learned with others.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the same building blocks that make up proteins. Their size and specificity have made them an increasing area of interest in research involving cellular signaling, tissue repair, metabolic function and recovery. Justin and Seth say growing public interest has also been fueled by a broader shift toward proactive wellness, more accessible lab testing and an expanding body of published research.

Pedigree Peptides offers a broad catalog of research compounds spanning areas such as recovery, metabolic research, cognitive function, sleep cycles and general wellness. Their customers range from fellow researchers and friends from the gym to people simply interested in exploring research and better understanding the information available to them.

Still, the founders emphasize education over promises. Rather than telling people what to think, they strive to provide information, answer questions and encourage informed decision-making.

Education and Service First

Although Pedigree Peptides has grown steadily, neither owner has stepped away from the career that first established them in the community.

Seth continues helping families buy and sell homes throughout the Upper Cumberland as a Realtor, while Justin continues working with massage therapy clients, helping them better understand and address the underlying causes of pain and dysfunction.

That same people-first philosophy carries into Pedigree Peptides.

“We try to understand before being understood,” Justin shared of their approach. “That starts with listening, then breaking a complicated topic into terms people can actually picture.”

Justin and Seth are quick to clarify that they are not physicians or other licensed medical providers. Instead, they see themselves as educators committed to studying research and explaining complex topics in ways people can easily understand. They also say they are actively looking to build a relationship with the right licensed practitioner as the company grows.

For the pair, however, growth isn’t about becoming the biggest company in the industry. They want to remain accessible, responsive and rooted in the community that helped build their individual careers.

That commitment is something they don’t plan to sacrifice as interest in peptide research continues to grow.

“We’d rather stay the local, trusted option than the biggest name in the room,” Seth said.

For Justin and Seth, the most rewarding part of building Pedigree Peptides has been connecting with people who feel their questions haven’t been heard. Their goal is to listen first, share what they have learned and help people better understand the research available to them.

And if readers remember only one thing about Pedigree Peptides, they hope it is something much simpler than the science behind the products.

“Simply, we care,” Justin. “Every conversation, every text answered late at night, comes from that. If Pedigree Peptides is known for one thing, we’d want it to be that: a local business that actually listens.”

Written by Chelsea Dartez | Photography by Olivia Merritt

For more information or to get in touch with Pedigree Peptides, visit their website.