Sometimes in the corporate fitness world it can take everything a manager has to get employees working out in the facility. For Heidi Rigsbee, MS, ACSM, overcoming that obstacle simply involved her outstanding personality.
“I believe the biggest key of success for a small corporate fitness center is having a health professional on staff to encourage and motivate employees to utilize the facility,” Rigsbee explained. “I help the participants see positive results. I help them feel better and look better. Then they bring their friends from work. We strive to make fitness fun. That is the key!”
Rigsbee received her bachelor’s degree in 2004 and her master’s degree in 2006 from Arkansas State University. Both of her degrees were in the field of Exercise Science — Rigsbee obtained her instructor certification from the American College of Sports Medicine in 2003. In all of her efforts, Rigsbee has attempted to put herself in a better position to help people in health and fitness.
In 2008 Rigsbee left a five-year personal training business to head the corporate workout facility of engines, inc. located in Jonesboro, Ark. engines, inc., developed in 1979 by the Wofford family of Weiner, Ark., decided in 2007 to move to Jonesboro with the completion of a 117,000-square-foot facility.
The second-generation owners of engines, inc. desired to bring health and fitness to their facility and decided to hire Rigsbee and establish e-fitness. “When I received the job offer to join the team at engines, inc. people thought it would be a big mistake to quit my personal training job,” Rigsbee explained. “Everyone told me that it would never work. I did my own research on corporate fitness centers and found that it would in fact be a major challenge for such a small company to support its own fitness center.”
engines, inc. only has about 65 employees. “The fitness center offers its services to those 65 employees, their spouses and approved children,” Rigsbee said. “The main challenge for a facility this size is getting and keeping the employees motivated to utilize the gym.
“We have over come this challenge by offering our gym services for free. We also offer monthly incentive programs as well as competitive health and fitness related contests.”
Rigsbee works hard to stay behind everyone in the company to motivate them to use the facility. “I’m at the fitness center daily,” she said. “Our employees are able to contact me by phone or e-mail throughout the day with any questions they may have. They can also schedule a meeting with me if they would like.”
e-fitness also offers personal training sessions during regular operational hours. “I enjoy meeting our employees outside of work for a walk or run on occasion,” Rigsbee said. “I love to help people achieve and exceed their fitness goals. When I help someone lose 20, 30, 40, or even more pounds, that is the rewarding part of my job. The physical as well as mental transformation for those individuals is completely indescribable. I absolutely love my job!” -CS
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