What position do you hold within the company, and what do you love most about your role?
I am the Director of Retail Operations at McConnell Heart Health Center and the Neuroscience Wellness Center with OhioHealth. I love being able to witness the work that our teams do to help people truly improve their quality of life. I enjoy planning for the future and how we can continue to evolve with the fitness industry and be a center where anyone can feel welcome, comfortable, and empowered to change their lives.
Tell us a little about yourself! What are some of your hobbies and interests? What are you most passionate about?
Well, I definitely practice what I preach and am an avid exerciser. I will say during the early stages of Covid, I realized the mental benefit I was getting from exercise, not just physical. I love sports and am a huge Ohio State Buckeyes, Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds fan. I enjoy being active with my son, who is 7, and coaching his baseball team. I also love music of various kinds, and enjoy going to concerts and hanging out with friends.
How did you get into the fitness industry?
I’ve always been active through sports and while in college, I observed Cardiac Rehab and was instantly intrigued on how I could pursue a career in fitness, while being even further involved in healthcare and the overall continuum of care for patients.
What has been the driving force to get you where you are today?
My parents always encouraged me to pursue whatever I wanted and to never stop chasing what I love. I watched my parents work very hard in their careers and I feel that has been instilled in me since day one.
How have you seen the inclusion of women in our industry change throughout your career?
I feel fortunate and proud to say I’ve continued to see the presence of women in the fitness industry and leadership continuing to grow throughout my career. It feels like we are just getting started.
How can we get more women in our industry?
Honestly, I think by sharing our own stories like this. Females need to see themselves in other female leaders. They need to know they can get there and they owe it to themselves to believe they can grow into leadership in the fitness and wellness industry too.
What advice have you received from, or would you give to, other women in our industry?
Always know that you belong at any table and recognize what you bring to that table. A former boss told me that years ago and it has stuck with me throughout my career. Continue to push boundaries and speak up for what you are passionate about and never make yourself smaller in the presence of others.
Looking into the future, what things are you most excited about regarding the fitness industry?
The fitness industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace and I love seeing how the definition of “fitness” continues to change. There are so many options and opportunities for our communities to become engaged in fitness in a way they can actually enjoy….fitness isn’t cookie cutter and I think that is even more apparent today. Also, the utilization of technology continues to emerge in so many facets of fitness and I look forward to seeing that continue.
