Describe your journey to Charlotte:
I am originally from St. Louis. Due to my husband’s job our family moved to Charlotte in 2012 and it immediately became home. Being from the Midwest, I particularly love that the beach is only three hours away and the mountains only two. There is also so much to do in Charlotte and we have all loved getting to know the city these last few years.
How did you get involved with CycleBar?
I am the owner and franchisee of two CycleBar fitness studios located in Midtown and Waverly. I have been cycling for ten years and when we moved to Charlotte, I just couldn’t find that perfect place to cycle so I decided to open my own. I fell in love with the national CycleBar brand – the energy, the vibe and the people who started CycleBar – everyone involved is so passionate about what they do and I am proud to be part of that brand.
What is your fitness background?
Prior to moving to Charlotte, I owned a private training studio. I have always had a passion for fitness and for sharing it with other people to help them lead healthier lives.
What are your goals for CycleBar?
To open a third studio and get my husband off the road! He travels Monday through Friday for his job and I can’t wait to have him back home. We are aiming to open a third studio in the next year so that he can work at CycleBar full-time with me and be home during the week with the kids.
What is your dream career?
Once my husband is off the road, this will be my dream career! I love being able to share my love of cycling with other people in Charlotte and want to continue to grow our fabulous community.
What challenges you in your life, work, etc?
I think having a family, career and a life is a challenge! With three kids, two studios, one husband on the road during the week and no extended family in the area, I am still learning how to juggle it all. I have learned that I am not superwoman and that I can’t do everything. This has forced me to learn how to delegate, especially to my managers at the studios, and I feel that I’ve come a long way in being able to let go of some things and lighten my load for the better.
How do you incorporate self-care into your busy life?
I start every morning with either yoga or a CycleBar ride. It is a top priority because if it doesn’t happen early, it won’t ever happen and it keeps me energized throughout the rest of my day. I also try to do something for myself, and most importantly, by myself once a week; usually a mani/pedi, massage or hair appointment. This gives me a moment to refresh, be pampered and get a broader look at everything going on.
Owning two cycling studios, do you live in your workout gear?
Fitness apparel is definitely my everyday uniform. However, I love how well fitness clothes are made these days. I can go from work to running around with the kids to dinner with friends and still look presentable. I will admit I have a bit of a legging obsession though; I recently bought my studio managers and I leggings with martini glasses on them.
Because I live in workout clothes, I probably do go overboard when I can get dressed up. I love to wear a dress, lots of jewelry and high heels! Black with a pop of color is my go-to.
Is it challenging owning a company with your husband?
We learned quickly what each other’s strengths and weaknesses are and delegated accordingly from the beginning. I enjoy the marketing and operations side of the business, while his strengths lie in the financial, real estate and construction aspects. I cannot wait until he is working with me at CycleBar full-time and we get to really work side-by-side on growing our CycleBar communities.
What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career?
In short, don’t sweat the small stuff. In whatever industry you are in, things are going to go wrong or not quite the way you planned. You just must remember that they could always be worse and to look on the bright side of the situation. For example, during the construction of the huge shopping center that houses our newest location in Waverly, there were a ton of hiccups along the way, as there is with any large-scale construction project. I had to keep telling myself that the setbacks weren’t that bad and found a way to move forward on to the next steps.
What inspires you?
I am so inspired by our clients at the studios, the #CycleFam! Whether it is a dramatic weight-loss transformation or just their drive to show up for class week after week, their enthusiasm to better themselves inspires me to keep pushing forward too.
What causes are you involved with?
Luckily, through CycleBar, I can be involved with a wide variety of charities around Charlotte and nationally. Each studio hosts CycleGiving rides where we partner with local organizations, charities or individuals to help raise proceeds that benefit their cause. At our Midtown studio, we recently raised funds for MS, the March of Dimes and the Make a Wish Foundation, among many others.
What are your social media accounts that you would like to share?
