We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Janice Jaicks . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Janice below.

Janice, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

I was taking a water aerobics class while I was pregnant with my second child, Tara, at the YMCA in Mesa Arizona. The instructor asked me if I wanted to teach! I trained and was mentored by her, and also learned to teach swim lessons at that Y. I quickly realized I was very good at both, and had enough of an entrepreneurial spirit (thanks Dad!) to venture out on my own. I started my own swim lesson and water aerobics business. I searched and obtained several fitness certifications and mentored from others. I became incorporated in 1990, obtained liability insurance, hired staff and grew my business through various advertising methods (no FB or IG back then! good old fashioned newspapers, and articles) and word of mouth quickly spread that we were great!
In about 1995 I started my own workshops teaching groups about aqua fitness and how to become an instructor. Shortly after a group who had a fitness conference, handed me their mailing list because they were quitting their conference company! This is when I formed my own conference, FitnessFest Conference and Expo. We started small and it was hard to attract more than just aqua, since that is what I was known for. Eventually, we figured out how to market to group fitness instructors, mind/body practitioners, and personal trainers. We now just past our 27th year as a conference provider/host! In between that I landed Native American Projects, we formed AquaCon (aqua only conferences), and I have my own aqua certification. I still teach swim lessons (that is a separate business) and manage a water aerobics business.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I believe in treating people the way I want to be treated… and the way I want my daughters and son to be treated. Listen to needs and goals, be an amazing communicator, and give them what they want and then some. What sets us apart is the culture of our company. It is a family-feel. The way our team makes everyone “feel”. Welcome, appreciated, and that they “fit in”. We have customers that return year after year for the “feel”, and “fix” of community, even when they don’t need their CECs. We get notes, emails and letters of thanks!
We are customer service driven. And what that means to us is if you need to talk to us on the phone, if you are not technical and can not register online by yourself, we will register for YOU! Things like that. We answer our phones and return emails, immediately! Always.

We solve our FitnessFest attendees the problem of obtaining their CECs, of keeping motivated so that they can inspire their clients and students, and we build a community of like- minded people. For our vendors and sponsors, we provide a space for building connections and relationships, thus allowing them to sell their products and services on site and further down the road.

In regards to working with my Native American friends, we help them plan their wellness events. Our service, it can’t be beat, in my opinion. Why? Because of being in the industry for 30 years, we have so many resources of nutritionists, group fitness instructors, trainers, chefs, and so on. And again, communicating about the needs and wants of the community, is our specialty. Putting that together in an executed plan and then delivering. Because we have planned up to 100 events, we’ve got what it takes to plan, organize and then execute.
We also have helped other fitness organizations plan their own conference. To name one of our claim to fames, a company called FAI asked us to help them form their first conference. From finding the venue, speaker arrangement including their schedules and travel plans, registration, reports, and on site assistance. Why did they choose us? Because when they held their second active aging certification at our FitnessFest we SOLD OUT for them! Since then they have annual conferences, and have certifications in dozens of countries all over the world!
I am most proud of how we make attendees, vendors, speakers and sponsors feel the love.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Of course. Covid! We had to turn our (already planned and registered attendees and sponsor money was IN) in-person event into online. First I freaked out. I just could not “pull the plug” and believe I was going to have to reschedule this event! Twice by the way!
Then I sought after advice from several trusted professionals. Never be afraid to ask for help and advice! If this person does not want to answer and help, it is not the right person. I found two trusted souls and then someone who turned our in person event completely online (technical skills! not at all my forte’).
It went very very well. Since then we do have my aqua certification “hybrid” (half online and half in person) but we are back to in-person events. I believe whole-heartily in being LIVE, and in the connections, the vibe and the energy that only in-person can bring. It has been a struggle for all of us who host fitness and wellness events to get the numbers we had pre-Covid. I seek advice of professionals, brain storm with my team, and we are working on a bit of a pivot to bring new blood to our next events.

Any advice for managing a team?

Choose wisely. Hire slow, fire fast. That is not always easy, especially these days in this economy. And, often someone can seem trustworthy and awesome, but they are not! This happened to me recently. I trusted someone to control way too many things in my business. This person turned out to be toxic. I fired too slowly. All is good now, but be leery! Keep an eye on all the things going on in your own business.

I now have (and I have in the past, but personal circumstances got in the way of these past employees and I lost them) a trusted and loyal team. I would trust them with my bank accounts.
They want me and US to succeed.

Have regular meetings (but don’t over do it and just have a meeting to have a meeting- be sure to have an agenda) and allow your team to be part of the process and to offer suggestions. I am an open book, vulnerable and honest about my wishes and my goals and my flaws. That is just my personality though. That may not be someone else’s. I offer compliments, praises and feedback. I rely on people who can be self-motivated, and do not need to be micro-managed. That is a weakness I have, so I do need to have the “right people” who can work independently and see what needs to be done. I love and respect my team’s ideas, input and often their suggestions for solutions. My team more than not has way better ideas than I do!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fitnessfest.org
• Instagram: fitnessfest.events
• Facebook: @FitnessFest
• Linkedin: Janice Jaicks
• Youtube: FitnessFest Conference and Janice Jaicks