Bo's Bootcamp is Now in Session
O’Shea employees can agree on at least one thing about personal trainer Bo Bennett: his workouts are never dull.
Whether in a group workout or a personal training session, Bo brings a wealth of knowledge about health and exercise to fuel staff workouts at O’Shea.
“I started working out with him to keep me focused and to help with accountability,” says Mike Sunley, senior project manager. “I had some previous knowledge of exercising but didn’t have the experience to know good form from bad.
“Bo has been great by helping me with different training programs and being a resource for diet. He always checks in on me and has my goals in mind,” Mike adds.
Bo Bennett, with ER Fitness, meets with O’Shea employees several times a week – including early mornings, lunch hours and after work. He offers a wide variety of personal training options.
“It is a fantastic work environment to be in. The staff is dedicated to making each other better, and that shows during their workouts,” Bo says. “Even on days when they want nothing to do with the workouts I’ve written, they get the job done!”
Bo has a degree in Exercise Science from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and has been pushing O’Shea staff in the exercise gym for the last four years. He got his first personal training job during his last semester of college and never looked back.
“I’ve worked with all different types of people ranging from the ages of eight to 94, from paraplegic to college athletes,” he says.
Bo tailors his workouts to fit each person’s skill and physical fitness level.
“When I started working out a year ago, Bo was super helpful in explaining how to do all the exercises or modifying them if I wasn’t quite ready,” said Ellie Kasparie, marketing coordinator.
Consistent exercise has significant benefits for each individual, which collectively ensures a healthier workforce and workplace environment – both physically and mentally.
O’Shea has been a longtime proponent of encouraging exercise among its staff. Today, O’Shea has a modern fitness room with a variety of equipment that is open to all staff members and heavily utilized.
“Part of what makes O’Shea a great place to work is that we are focused on the whole person – not just the position someone is in,” says Tess Fyalka, director of employee development and engagement. “Creating an environment where people want to come to work, where they feel like they are part of a team, and have access to things that improve their quality of life simply represents who we are as an organization.”
Having an onsite fitness center and a professional trainer are aspects of that bigger picture. Employees can take 30 minutes at lunch or an hour before or after work to hop on the treadmill, lift weights or work out with a trainer, which improves overall quality of life and work, Tess explains.
For employees in other O’Shea offices around central Illinois, a stipend is provided for a membership at a fitness center in their community.
From offering personal training across the local area, Bo has certainly seen the positive effects within a workplace.
“Healthy coworkers lead to an increase in productivity, an increase in motivation and an overall more positive work environment,” he shares.