Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda Carr.
Melinda, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve been in the health and wellness world all my life. I played sports growing up, coached volleyball while I was in college and once I graduated, I always found myself working for a company whose vision, mission and goals supported others (and myself) in leading healthier lives.
My first job in the wellness industry was at Lululemon. I started as an employee on the floor, I moved up to a key leader and then pretty quickly became the community lead for our store, which is the largest in Houston. As community lead, I worked with all the local studios and instructors, finding a studio of the month to highlight. One of my favorite parts of my role was connecting my employees to take local fitness classes at these studios, this catapulted the involvement and intentionality within our local wellness community.
From Lululemon, I moved to Denver in December of 2016 for a position at Classpass. There, I was on the customer experience team specializing in the marketing department. I supported testing for all of Classpass promotional offers for their consumers. Interestingly enough, when I was at a Classpass industry event in Denver I recognized a need for a “City Manager” in these local areas. A role that would support local events and studios. Just about three weeks later, I received a call about this exact position, but for MINDBODY. I had to stop mid-conversation; I was in shock at how ironic that conversation had been. In a way, I manifested this position before I even knew it existed.
When the Regional Marketing Manager role at MINDBODY was brought to my attention I was determined to make it my own and here I am, a year later supporting our wellness community in Denver.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It took time and a few jobs I was not passionate about to recognize what I wanted. In my past roles, I was truly trying to create the job I now have, so I can honestly say I have my dream position. With that, trying to create this job there were times of struggle, I was shot down multiple times with this idea.
Once I started in my role with MINDBODY, I hit the ground running. It was really as a team we figured out the details of my role and how I support MINDBODY marketing efforts in the Denver wellness community. There were already things MINDBODY was doing in Denver before I was officially hired, so I immediately had to adapt. For that, I am extremely grateful, having had over ten events in the first month, for consumers, local MINDBODY businesses and festivals, gave me an instant involvement in the community. Denver is an incredible city, with a mass amount of fitness and wellness offerings, therefore at times it can be a bit overwhelming – I can’t be everywhere at all times and I often want to be.
Tell us more about your business.
I’m the Denver Marketing Manager for MINDBODY. This means many things, first and foremost I am the point person for all of our Denver businesses. I’m here to humanize the brand and support our community, both our customers and our consumers. I partner, sponsor and host local events here in Denver with a focus on connection to your health and taking care of you.
MINDBODY connects people to fitness, beauty & wellness to help them lead happier, healthier lives. Through the MINDBODY app, you can easily find and book fitness classes and beauty & wellness services. I am proud to be part of a company that offers over 800 fitness, wellness and beauty services right here in Denver so that locals can easily access services that will allow them to live their best selves.
On a day to day basis my role is ultimately to offer the face of the brand and the point person for any needs tour local MINDBODY businesses. Visiting them, taking classes with them, touring their spaces and then sharing on social media with consumers. One of my main goals is for MINDBODY businesses and consumers to know that there is a local representative here for them for support. I love being able to be the point of contact for our local businesses and consumers, making sure that they feel seen and advocated for in Denver.
I am proud of the community we have created. All of the businesses know they can reach out to me personally anytime and we can figure out solutions to their problem together.
I think what sets MINDBODY apart from our competitors is that we are showing up on a deeper and more personal level. We are coming into the classes, joining them at events, bringing new consumers to their studios. The local app listing is a game-changer because it is not just their business that is being promoted but it highlights events that bring the community together.
By creating off-site free events, this allows consumers to bring their friends and community, it creates this sense of inclusion knowing that you are not walking into a new studio alone and intimidated- rather a group of like-minded individuals that want to experience wellness.
My perspective on the boutique fitness industry is that its community is so strong. People come together, support and inspire each other to take the space in. Whether for 45 minutes to an hour you can just be present and give yourself the time you deserve.
Denver specifically is this way, the community here is incredibly active. It is really easy for people to join in on the new and existing brands and businesses that are coming here. The people of Denver are truly willing to try anything and everything that you throw at them, especially when it comes to supporting their overall wellbeing.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite memories was when I was ten, becoming an older sister. I can remember everything about that day. A family friend picked me up from school, we went to their house until we got the official call from the hospital. I almost missed the birth however because our family friend kids needed to be in the “time out chair” for an entire hour (wow!)– I remember thinking we are going to miss it! Thankfully, we didn’t. We were right on time and I stood next to my older sister in the room when our youngest sister made her entrance earthside.
Becoming an older sibling really shaped the person I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mindbody.io
- Instagram: @mindbody_denver
Image Credit:
MINDBODY
Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
