Vanessa has been with Stillwater Medical for six years. She first started with us a part-time desk attendant, and from there was promoted to Desk Lead. She is now the Fitness Supervisor at Total Health, a role she’s been in for almost 2 years.
“I genuinely feel like Total Health offers something to Stillwater that they cannot get anywhere else in town. We’re more than just a gym. We provide a place for people of all ages and abilities to exercise and work toward their fitness goals in an environment that feels safe, without the intimidation that can come from more traditional gyms,” said Vanessa.
When asked about her ‘Why’, Vanessa addressed the issue of isolation and loneliness that comes with adulthood and aging, especially after retirement. “We truly have our own community here. There are members who have been here for as long as we’ve been open, almost 20 years, and seeing the friendships that they’ve made I think is really special. I think it’s important that we have this place that has become a home away from home for people, where they can sit, drink coffee, and socialize with each other after they’ve finished a class.”
Originally from East Texas, Vanessa moved to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, with her family when she was 15. She attended Oklahoma State University for undergrad, and then moved to Pittsburg, Kansas after graduating, where she spent the next 10 years. In 2017, she moved back to Stillwater with her husband. They’ve been married 14 years and have two daughters, along with two rescue dogs from the Humane Society.
What Vanessa loves most about Stillwater Medical is the people she gets to work with everyday. “Even when I was a new part-time employee, I felt like my supervisors always respected my opinions and took what I had to say seriously. I always felt like I was an important part of the team. I was given room to grow and opportunities to learn. Now that I’m in a different role, I still feel like I can always go to my supervisor or co-workers to bounce ideas off or seek advice.”
In her downtime, Vanessa likes to workout at our 12th street Total Health facility 3-4 times a week, if possible. “I always feel better, less tired, and less stressed. It’s what I do to decompress and carve out time for myself. I also like listening to podcasts (got any good suggestions?) and watching re-runs of whatever show I’m currently fixated on!”
