Meet Lisa Marie Emmitte | Corporate Wellness Consultant & Fitness Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Marie Emmitte and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa Marie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I spent a number of years working in corporate finance. During that time, I began my own personal fitness journey after a decade of battling chronic Lymes Disease. While struggling with chronic illness, I dealt with extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, and zero stamina so I was really starting my fitness journey from the ground up. When I went online trying to do research and digging through countless social media accounts, I found an overwhelming amount of incomplete and contradictory information that made it feel impossible to find any real answers. I was spending all my time after work and during lunch just trying to figure out what to do in the gym and in the kitchen. I tried to find value in corporate wellness offerings that my employers provided but found them to often be cumbersome, outdated, and ineffective. I was so frustrated that I actually got my personal training certification just so that I would know what to do for myself. Over time, I fell in love with fitness and nutrition and those around me who watched my progress began to ask me for help. When I decided to leave corporate finance to begin a career in fitness and nutrition, I thought back on the beginning of my journey and the frustration I felt, especially in the corporate wellness offerings that were available. As I talked to more and more people, including many business owners, I found just how large of a gap there currently is in impactful corporate wellness programming. With multiple fitness and nutrition certifications, a love of learning and sharing, and experience working within the corporate environment all over the country, from small businesses to global corporations, I knew I had what it took to fill that gap and provide up-to-date, scientifically-backed, big impact corporate wellness programming to companies big and small.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At Sled Dog Athletic, we are changing how companies approach Corporate Wellness. These days, the topic of corporate wellness has frequently become a box to be checked. This results in costly, underutilized, offerings such as outdated online platforms, undesirable points systems, and gym stipends or yoga classes that are only utilized by the employees who would already be purchasing them whether or not their employer pays for them. At Sled Dog Athletic, we are providing big-impact education seminars, workshops, and personalized fitness and nutrition consultations. It is so exciting to walk in to a company and provide value to such a wide range of participants. Every seminar starts at the basics of that topic and progresses to advanced content with the latest scientific research to back it up. It is so fulfilling to watch participants walk away excited about what they have learned and motivated to take action. But probably what I am most proud of are our PDF takeaway packages that provide all the material learned in our seminar, as well as workbook pages, journal prompts, and challenges to bring what they have learned into their every day life. This is what real impact looks like: educating and setting people up for success moving forward!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There is so much to see and do in and around Houston, a friend could visit for a month and still not see or do all there is in Houston. When it comes to meals, top of the list would be a special dinner at Pappas Bros Steakhouse. Not only is it the best food and drink in the city, but the best service as well (ask for Koy). I would make sure they save room for dessert. There are so many incredible bars, restaurants, and speakeasies opening up all the time, that we would probably have to find a few brand new places and try some new restaurants out together! For fun, we would check out Mala Market on West Gray, a collective retail boutique for Houston-based makers. With over 50 artists and makers, there is always something new every time you walk in the store. We would sift through vintage at Leopard Lounge, spend a day in Galveston looking at the architecture, walking the Strand, and relaxing on the beach. We would spend a wondering downtown Tomball, exploring Cherry Street Antiques and Cloud Chief & Co. We’d visit a few art museums and go for a stroll in Memorial Park.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to dedicate my shoutout to my incredible husband Michael. Yes, it probably sounds cliche to thank my husband, but his love and support is far from ordinary. From the very beginning, I would not be where I am today without his support and guidance. Not only does he work incredibly hard in his sales career to allow me to take the risk of leaving the corporate world to start my own business, but he has been my number one mentor from the moment I told him I wanted to start my own business. He has given me countless advice, jumped on calls for contract negotiations with me, and even conducted many hours of sales training with me. He’s been loving and supportive, but also honest and pushed me outside my comfort zone many times. As my loving, supportive husband, and my unofficial business partner and mentor, he deserves so much credit for where I am today.

Website: https://www.sleddogathletic.com/

Instagram: @sleddogathletic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sled-dog-athletic-llc/

Image Credits
All photos taken by me, Lisa Marie Emmitte