Her Story
About Jennifer
Jennifer Naetzker has built a career spanning physical therapy and fitness, with 26 years in the former and 13 years in the latter. After stepping away from healthcare three and a half years ago, she transitioned to fitness full time and now serves as Personal Training Coordinator at the Shotland YMCA, a role she has held for three and a half years. In this position, she coordinates a team of 25 personal trainers while also teaching group fitness classes and Pilates Reformer sessions. Her certifications include NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Balanced Body Pilates, and multiple Les Mills programs such as Body Pump, Body Combat, and Body Balance, along with TRX, BOSU, and Trigger Point training. She earned her physical therapy degree from Damon College in 2000 after graduating high school in 1996. Jennifer attributes her success to her personal drive to help others succeed, improve quality of life, and decrease pain through proper strengthening, and she values honesty in setting achievable client goals.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jennifer
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think it's just personal drive from trying to improve people's lives and give them a better quality of life and decreased pain. So many people live with pain and oftentimes it's an easy fix with strengthening the right muscles. I want others to succeed and achieve their goals and I've always been in fields where I'm helping people and making a difference.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Honestly, it's having a job that you truly love, so it never really feels like a job.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Gain as much knowledge as you possibly can. For me it was getting my group fitness certifications, my personal training certification, Pilates. If it's something you enjoy doing and it's a passion then it's easy to incorporate that into your work schedule. You really have to be educated and on top of all the trends and knowing what's a trend and what is science.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is huge. Being able to be true to yourself, if you're true to yourself then your authentic self. Being able to be honest with yourself and with your clients and being able to give goals that are achievable. People will come in wanting to lose X amount of weight and they're desperate to have it gone fast but if you're not honest and upfront with them from the very beginning then they'll just be disappointed.
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