Today we’d like to introduce you to Lee Ackerley.
Hi Lee, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The genesis of Swift Fit Events came from the difficulty I experienced with certain aspects of my previous job. I had been working at a Fintech startup here in Austin that primarily served the banking industry, and my job involved a lot of travel. Most trips I took were specific to banking conferences and other large industry events where we could ‘network’ with bankers. This ‘networking’ usually took the form of hanging out in the lobby bar with clients until 3AM, and then waking up to a full day of sitting, eating, and sitting indoors; only to repeat again that night when event attendees would once again gravitate to the open bar to socialize after an extravagant meal. These conferences were important touchpoints for us to keep up with current clients, prospect new ones, and try to absorb the latest trends and regulations in the banking industry; yet many attendees would appear flat and exhausted after a couple of days at the event. It became apparent that every conference I attended centered around alcohol and bar culture for socialization while omitting any physical activity or any attempt at stress-mitigation that wasn’t food or alcohol-related. After having multiple Groundhog Day experiences of boarding a plane back to Austin; exhausted, hungover, and fifteen pounds heavier – I kept thinking of how outdated and uninspiring these events were.
During these years working for this startup, I had a side hustle operating a business called City Running Tours Austin that would take tourists out and show them the city while running. We offered a variety of 5k running tours that would highlight music, history, hauntings and other interesting Austin points of interest. While leading these tours, I would see how powerful of a socializing tool exercise can be, with perfect strangers becoming friends by the end of the run, as well the afterglow effects where people were generally happier and more energized after the group activity. Soon we started getting requests from corporate teams to organize 5k fun runs and guided running tours. The first companies to approach us were all in high-stress industries like finance, legal and medical and they all seemed ahead of the curve in recognizing the need for employee physical and mental health. Soon these companies began asking us if we could provide other services like yoga, cardio workouts, or meditation practices for their attendees and all could think is “Why do these companies get it but the majority don’t?”
Having seen the growing demand for fitness and wellness services in these large corporate settings, coupled with my own experience of attending life-draining banking conferences – I had the thought that I’m sure crosses anyone’s mind who wants to start a new business “I think we can improve on the old model”.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We launched an events company two months before the pandemic lockdown began – so our timing was not great. What seemed like a promising start in those first two months quickly gave way to a harsh reality when a deluge of cancellations began to pour in and I quickly became very familiar with the force-majeure clause held in almost all contracts. Projected revenue went to 0 and my co-founder who had worked at the same startup with me returned to the safety of a salaried job with health insurance while I wrestled with whether this was something I could do on my own.
Thankfully three things happened that gave me some hope that this concept could survive pandemic. 1. Companies were now interested in remote fitness and wellness options and were willing to spend money to help their employee’s mental and physical health, 2. Hotels and other businesses that had to cut staff down to skeleton crews began using our company to offer amenities and services to their customers that they no longer had staff for. 3. I brought on a new team member, Jackie Klusmeyer, that was able to shoulder some of the burden from losing my co-founder, and this person would help keep the company going.
Now that events are slowly coming back and people are beginning to reconnect again, we’re seeing a more acute need for our services and are finally beginning to realize our original goal of bringing health and wellness to an underserved demographic.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Swift Fit Events is a fast-growing startup that brings fitness and wellness programming to both corporate and public settings.
We aim to create comprehensive and personalized corporate wellness programs that strengthen, replenish and enliven teams to maintain resilience and adaptability through challenging times. Offering a variety of fitness classes, wellness seminars and team-building exercises, Swift Fit Events programming empowers employees to practice self-care and commit to healthy habit formation.
Our main goal has always been to meet our clients where they are in terms of comfortability and enhance the experience from there.
We think everyone may have a different definition of what it means to be “well”. Maybe it’s going to spin class once a week and drinking black coffee. Or you might think green juice and a zumba class is the key to happiness. For some, it means getting outside. Or maybe it’s about connecting with others. Texas has its own definition of wellness: it’s a combination of getting outside, building strength, working up a sweat, being with others, and, of course, occasionally keeping it a little alternative – especially in Austin. At Swift Fit Events, we invite you and your team to experience wellness, Texas Style. Run a 5K through a new city, try your downward dog on a paddleboard, lift some kettlebells, or experience a guided meditation: however you define wellness, Texas has something for you to experience with your team.
Swift Fit Events offers event production in Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas; while offering virtual options for remote workforces. In addition to programming wellness and fitness experiences at conferences and large corporate events, Swift Fit Events also hosts a calendar of public events with community partners at beloved locations throughout the capitol city. Activities range from taco tour 5ks, farm yoga flows to rooftop sunset sound baths overlooking all of downtown and Austin’s iconic West Lake Hills. Participate with other locals and visitors alike with the best trainers while we take care of the rest!
By offering unique experiences and activities with a local twist, we integrate city landmarks, history and culture into our events and offer attendees a fresh perspective of the city they’re visiting. We elevate experiences by employing the highest quality instructors and guides to lead our events. All of our veteran leaders possess experience, both in working with professional clientele and working in corporate settings. Swift Fit Events offers a dependable, white-glove experience which includes working closely with client requests, providing custom solutions and delivering first-rate events. Whether it’s our equipment, amenities or personnel – we aim to offer the best!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think the pandemic and the remote working environment has definitely forced companies to take notice of employee’s mental and physical health in a more urgent way than ever. In an increasingly complex corporate work environment, employees need better resources to access and practice health and wellness. The lack of predictability and the rise of hyper-connectivity in the workplace presents a level of stress that employees previously didn’t have to contend with. There is also still very much a stigma in society of associating someone talking about their mental health as an admission of mental illness or weakness. It would be nice to see us evolve from “it’s ok to talk about” mental health issues mindset to an “I’m stronger because I talk about my mental health” mentality. Along with some substantial changes to the way society thinks, it would be amazing to see mental health industry gain acceptance on a level similar to physical healthcare, where companies consider it to be a directly relevant service provider. Acknowledgment and acceptance of mental health initiatives continue to percolate through every industry and sector, finding willingness wherever companies are seeing employee turnover and burnout.
We recently did a fitness and wellness event with the American Trucking Association – not really a group you’d assume would be into yoga and mindfulness practice. Yet their drivers are part of the most stressed and overworked workforce in the country, and now the leaders in their industry are coming to realize that offering mindfulness and stress mitigation techniques not only benefits their drivers but also has a positive effect on their bottom line as well. So it is encouraging to see the variety of industries waking up to the multilateral benefits of prioritizing employee mental and physical health and hopefully that continues.
Pricing:
- Swift Fit Event Admission $25-$30
- Swift Fit Private Event – $750
- Swift Fit Wellness Box – $75
Contact Info:
- Email: info@swiftfitevents.com
- Website: swiftfitevents.com
- Instagram: @swiftfitevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swiftfitevents
Image Credits:
Swift Fit Events
