Page 22 - The Holiday Issue San Diego Woman Magazine

Women of Distinction

Kimberly Spreen-Glick

LEADING THE INSPIRED LIFE

By Judith A. Habert

later when a phone call from continued taking classes known as ‘the healthy way
family brought her to the until she could make it of life company.’ I began
small town of Waverly, Ohio through the entire class. working there as a personal
near where her parents had Within a few months, she trainer teaching a couple
moved. "It was a devas- went from being the least of group fitness classes a
tating call at the time. My likely person to working week. A few months into
mom had a heart attack, in the health and fitness that, I stepped into a group
and I decided to pack up industry to obtaining a job fitness management role,
and go to her first to help working for Bally's Fitness, then was asked to move to
take care of her and then to making less money than she Dallas Texas where I became
become her personal train- did at the bank, but feeling a Regional Training Special-
er. I thought, how could I better than she had in her ist.” In 2006, Kimberly’s star
do what I do for a living and entire life. The change for continued to rise as she was
let my mom’s health fail 500 Kimberly was so profound asked to step into the role of
miles away?” that she decided to pursue a National Director of Group
Growing up for Kimberly career as a personal trainer. Fitness and Yoga across
hadn’t always been easy. By the time Kimberly's North America for the com-
Overweight as a child, she mom had her heart attack in pany. This position took her
was ridiculed often which 1998, Kimberly had become to Minneapolis Minnesota.
led to a long-term battle a very successful, sought-af- “It was a great position, and
with Anorexia and Bulimia ter personal trainer and I loved what I was doing. I
ITHIN THE FIRST FIVE starting at the age of 11. group fitness instructor. learned the corporate side
Wminutes of speaking After graduating high She was eager to help her of the business as well as
with Kimberly Spreen-Glick, school, Kimberly obtained mom get back to a healthy the creative side. I spent half
I knew she was someone a job with Citizens Bank existence, and she accom- of my time in meetings with
special. The more we talked of Maryland. A co-work- plished this goal for Mom in the executive team creating
about her life and experi- er at the time decided to about a year. "This was one spreadsheets and business
ences the more this initial take her under her wing. of the best years of my life, I plans but was still able to
feeling was confirmed. She knew that Kimberly’s had the opportunity to live express myself creatively
Kimberly is one of those few parents were out of State with my older brother, Mi- developing curriculum in
people capable of making and seeing how unhealthy chael, and we became closer professional development
you feel better about your- Kimberly appeared, sug- than ever while I helped my training for our instructors.
self and your situation, even gested she attend her mom recuperate.” In addition to this position, I
if she doesn't even know daughter’s Jazzercise® class. Now that Mom was traveled across North Ameri-
you very well. She declined several times back on her feet, Kimberly ca as well as to Australia,
Born and raised in the until she finally decided to decided not to return to China, and the UK present-
D.C./Baltimore area in give it a try. “I only made it Baltimore, but to move to a ing at hundreds of profes-
Maryland, Kimberly spent through the first 19 mins of city close to her family, but sional fitness conferences. I
her first 25 years on the the hour-long class. Some- not as rural as Waverly. "I continue to present here in
East Coast. Her parents thing clicked with Kimberly chose Columbus Ohio, and the US today, over 15 years
relocated when Kimberly though, and even though it was here that my career later.” Pretty good for the
graduated high school, but she ached from the work- would take off. The year girl that the kids had earlier
she opted to stay behind out, she had fallen in love was 1999, and I started with ridiculed.
and not move along with with the energy, the music, a company known as Life In 2011, Kimberly relo-
them. It was only a few years and the movement. She Time Fitness. They’re now cated to Orange County,

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