Nelson Williams
Vice President
Briohn Building Corp.
Brookfield
What does your daily or weekly fitness regime consist of? My weekly fitness regime involves as many outdoor activities as my work and family will allow. My favorite activity is a 2.5 mile walk with my wife, Katy, and our dog, Roxy to our neighborhood coffee shop early in the morning. In addition to that, I regularly row early in the morning with the Milwaukee Rowing Club downtown on the Milwaukee River in a double scull or in an eight-oared shell, and we race in Pittsburgh and Boston each fall. I get 30+ miles in on the road bike at least once per week. I try to run at least once per week around the Elm Grove park, and I participate in some fun 8k and longer races each year including Crazylegs, the Steve Cullen Healthy Heart run, and this weekend the Madison half-marathon. In the winter I swim and I enjoy cross country skiing at Lapham Peak and compete in the Birkebeiner ski race each year. I try to get to the gym at lunch to play basketball, but that always seems to take a backseat to client meetings. Iíve done the Ironman USA and some shorter triathlons in the past, and try to do at least one short one each year. My wife and I also enjoy playing golf, and will walk 18 holes together for more exercise.
What fitness clubs do you belong to, if any? Bluemound Elite & Highlander Elite Fitness Clubs, Milwaukee Rowing Club, Westmoor Country Club
Other than the obvious health benefits, how has being fit improved your life? Being fit improves my life by giving me more energy, improving my state of mind, and allowing me to stay connected with friends, colleagues and family. I use my workout time as a way to blow-off steam and collect my thoughts (or on a hard run, eliminate my thoughts entirely!), and after each workout Iím left feeling much better than when I started. I also find that the friends I gravitate towards are the ones I workout with, whether itís rowing, biking, skiing, golfing or playing hoops. Finally, I find that working out together with my wife is a way we can share some quality time together while burning enough calories to make room for more brats and beer.
How does personal fitness affect your work life? Fitness has improved my work life by making me more energized at work and helps me manage my time better so that I can include opportunities to workout. I have also had an opportunity to develop business by connecting with others who share my interests in fitness activities, whether itís meeting people on bike rides or basketball games or sharing a beer after a race.
How does fitness or wellness affect your overall organization? Fitness and wellness are important to all of our employees and to our organization. We find that our daily exercise session, in which most of our employees gather for 10 minutes of stretching and resistance band exercises, is a way to energize people and to promote camaraderie. Throughout the year we organize different fitness activities, including bike rides, walks and runs, which offer employees the chance to socialize and make stronger connections with each other, which strengthens our company. Finally, our wellness initiatives are designed to reduce sick days and promote a healthier workplace.
What advice do you have for other executives interested in starting either a personal fitness plan or corporate wellness initiative? Being fit is a choice, and it doesnít have to be a difficult one. Itís as simple as choosing to walk across the parking lot instead of driving, taking the stairs instead of taking the elevator, stretching or doing exercises while you watch tv, and finding something you enjoy doing that is active. I also think itís mind-over-matter when it comes to eating, because in Wisconsin there are too many great foods and beers to be entirely healthy, so baby-steps in the right direction feels right to me.
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