Turning Passion into Profit: Stories from Niche Fitness Entrepreneurs

Ruben Mejia, executive vice president for SportsArt Americas, has five years of experience in the fitness industry, previously holding the title of chief technology officer. Prior to his work at SportsArt, Mejia held executive roles within the technology and ecommerce spaces. In 2000, after four years of active deployment in the military, Mejia began working in the corporate IT and telecommunication fields for the U.S. Army, launching his career and interest in the technology industry as a whole.  

Jenna is a dynamic leader who offers education for your brain, body and business through professional coaching, movement experiences, writing, and speaking.  The balanced alignment of this trifecta is the platform from which Jenna helps hundreds of fitness and wellness professionals access mindset shifts, physical resiliency and empowered individuality in their business practices.   Jenna is a seasoned Pilates Teacher Educator, a Small Business Coach, and a Certified Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.

Carlos is a veteran of the health & fitness industry and has extensive experience as a Wellness Coach & Certified Personal Trainer, and over the past thirty five years has been fortunate enough to work with a diverse group of individuals whose goals were just as diverse, such as, weight loss, weight gain, body reshaping, and post-injury fitness & rehabilitation. What he is most proud of are the long standing relationships that he has established with many of his clients, and more importantly, the trust and confidence that they have placed in his abilities over the years, the decades, and their different life stages in helping them stay healthy and well — and to continue to perform at a high level into their 60’s, 70’s, & 80’s. Carlos currently works with 50+ active individuals who want to combat the aging process in the most efficient and effective way. His unique approach to fitness focuses on the practical, the possible, and the productive with a holistic approach that addresses total-well-being, including lifestyle, longterm health, and independence. Carlos is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength & Conditioning Association, the Functional Aging Institute, and the WellCoaches Corporation.

Marie Neuhaus had always been active. Growing up a dancer, she assumed she'd always be fit, but that wasn't the case. In high school & college, she worked hard, but partied equally as hard. When she stopped dancing in college, it was inevitable that the unhealthy lifestyle would catch up with her. After college, she held various management & sales roles but never felt like she was fulfilling her potential, personally or professionally. It was only after preparing for the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate Program that she found her love of health & fitness.

Christina D. Wright is a seasoned wellness professional and educator with more than 25
years of experience helping people build strength, resilience, and healthy habits. She
holds certifications as a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer and ACE Behavior Change
Specialist, and currently leads the 12-week Wellness Program at MAPS Integrated
Wellness in Fernandina Beach, FL—guiding both individual clients and small groups
through tailored exercise and lifestyle-modification plans.