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Best jobs/companies for endurance athletes

bbculpbbculp Member, Rooster Endurance Member
I'm working on a story highlighting some of the best companies for endurance athletes to work for. I'm trying to include as many non-endemic companies as possible. I know most Roosters are unemployed like me, but let me know if any of you have experience working for/with companies with a culture of endurance sports.

Comments

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    KHilgendorfKHilgendorf Member, Rooster Endurance Member, POTM
    edited January 2019
    Consultant deepwater drilling engineer when oil hits $30/barrel is pretty good. I had clients going bankrupt, so I didn't bother going to work. I'd go on extended rides all day and get paid nicely. Then they stopped paying me.
    Now working a consulting gig with 90-100% travel, have 2 young kids and a third on the way. It's the opposite of training/racing friendly. But that's due to trying to be a good parent when I'm home on weekends.
    Honestly, though, energy companies have a pretty strong track record supporting employees in this type of endeavor, with tons fielding teams for MS 150 rides and having work-organized training rides.
    bbculpAaron Webstey1_Hot_PretzelCraig_D
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    GrantInSLCGrantInSLC Member, Rooster Endurance Member
    I work for a Salesforce consulting firm. Hours are extremely flexible with unlimited PTO and great bennis. While we are not an endurance-centric company, definitely outdoor activity friendly. The company is willing to sponsor teams/athletes for events.
    Aaron WebsteyNHetrokjrunninmaggieru
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    OverBiker_SamOverBiker_Sam Member, Rooster Endurance Member
    My company actually does a pretty good job of encouraging and rewarding wellness. Granted, with a company of this size there are those (like me) who take full advantage of the offerings, but the sheer volume of options means that the needle gets moved for a large population.
    - On site gyms at most offices with structured classes
    - Reimbursement for gym memberships, races, etc
    - Reimbursement for fitness trackers that can we used for higher end Garmin purchases
    - Free nutrition and wellness consulting
    - Multi day classes by our Human Performance Institute

    For a while, we sponsored the Philly TriRock - employees got free race entry and a kit, along with a huge dedicated tent at the race in exchange for raising $ for a local hospital. At the peak, we had ~800 people participating in the oly and sprint races over 2 days! I ran the training at one of the sites, and was able to run lunch meetings and training rides for new triathletes.

    My business unit also sponsors a 2 day, 200 mile bike ride from Limerick to Cork. Same sort of deal - matching kits, motorcycle escorts, very well run groups of differing speed, and entertainment and hotel accommodations for the overnight stay in return for fund raising. I'm always impressed at the people who do the ride w/ flat pedals on steel hybrid bikes. There is another business that does a 3 day sportif in Belgium on some of the classic routes with 100+ employees taking part.

    It helps that the CEO is a former Army Ranger who (rumor has it) has put a gym into the corporate jet. When I worked with him in the past, most of our discussions centered around his marathon and triathlon training. Once his knees got bad, he switched to aquabike, and won his AG at TriRock.

    I can't say that my role always allows me to train as much as I'd like, but over the years I have been able to strike a decent balance between family, work, and endurance sports. I'm happy to talk more about it 1 on 1.
    M_WarebbculpAaron WebsteyJennifer PostMattCraig_D
    Cheers,
    -Sam

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    I don't work there, but I raced with Longo Toyota when I was still in CA at the Malibut Tri. They are a sponsor and usually field a pretty huge team of individuals and relay teams. I started as a relay swimmer for them since they were short of swimmers, but they also let me compete in the individual the following year in one of their kits.

    I was really impressed - they had an onsite gym and full time trainer/nutritionist on site. They had group training events in advance of the triathlon and the trainer would create basic individual plans for the team members if they wanted. Everyone from the custodial staff, sales, finance, etc. were afforded the same opportunities.
    Jennifer PostCraig_D
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    MartinMartin Member, Rooster Endurance Member
    Start your own company for the flexibility. Work 80 hours per week. Quit sports.
    NHetroM_WareAaron WebsteyTad_MJohns622kjrunninMattrangamelidking90
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    James LangeJames Lange Member, Rooster Endurance Member
    I can't imagine that it is one of the best jobs/careers since there is no active encouragement like @OverBiker_Sam described above, but I work for a large Canadian oil and gas company and it facilitates my triathlon habit pretty well. I make good money, get 4 weeks vacation plus 10 personal days off (though 4 or 5 of them are forced at Christmas time), I get $300 a year "fitness allowance", and have good benefits including $900 a year that I can use for physio/massage.
    Aaron WebsteyTad_MJohns622Jennifer PostCraig_D


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    doyoueventribrodoyoueventribro Member, Rooster Endurance Member, POTM
    I work for the provincial government. They're fantastic in supporting my triathlon habits insofar as they provide me a pay cheque that I use to buy bikes and register for races. That is all
    NHetroMartinAaron WebsteyTad_MJennifer PostCraig_D
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    Aaron WebsteyAaron Webstey Administrator, Rooster Endurance Member, Rooster Endurance Officers

    I work for the provincial government. They're fantastic in supporting my triathlon habits insofar as they provide me a pay cheque that I use to buy bikes and register for races. That is all

    My wife works for the province. You're lucky you don't spend all your free cash blasting rails of bootlegged Prozac.
    Tad_MJames LangeJennifer PostkjrunninCraig_Dslickfins_Ryan
    #KOAT
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    bbculpbbculp Member, Rooster Endurance Member
    I know 12 Canadians and 11 of them have government jobs.
    Aaron WebsteyMattMartinCraig_Dsimonsen77slickfins_Ryan
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    kjrunninkjrunnin Member, Rooster Endurance Member, Level 2 Supporter
    Canadian. Government job.

    Too many hours. Always worried (some days hopeful) that I'm about to get fired. But since most of the people in the building I work out of have been fired/resigned in the last 7 months, there's no one around to give a shit when I leave my office in the middle of the day with a post-it on the door that says "out for a run". Also no one around to complain if I come back too late to grab a shower and spend the afternoon in stinky run gear.

    Also since I'm old, I get 8 weeks off a year.
    Aaron WebsteyMartinCraig_DTad_Mdoyoueventribro

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    bbculp said:

    I'm working on a story highlighting some of the best companies for endurance athletes to work for. I'm trying to include as many non-endemic companies as possible. I know most Roosters are unemployed like me, but let me know if any of you have experience working for/with companies with a culture of endurance sports.

    @bbculp it seems like real estate is the way to go. I know a ton of people who have left the industry (i.e. pros, editors, people working for manufacturers) to do it. It can be crazy at times, but it seems like the overall flexibility lends itself well to training. Plus just about everyone I've talked to that has done it doubled or tripled their income.
    Aaron WebsteybbculpTad_M
    The Dude at Minimal Multisport Podcast, Blog, and YouTube.
    MY PATREON!
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    wchevronwchevron Member, POTM
    Working for your own family business works well.

    Try to get most of my workouts in before work but it's helpful to be able to periodically say, ....No I can't make the meeting at 8am, I'll be running.
    Aaron Webstey
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    Aaron WebsteyAaron Webstey Administrator, Rooster Endurance Member, Rooster Endurance Officers
    kjrunnin said:

    Canadian. Government job.

    Too many hours. Always worried (some days hopeful) that I'm about to get fired. But since most of the people in the building I work out of have been fired/resigned in the last 7 months, there's no one around to give a shit when I leave my office in the middle of the day with a post-it on the door that says "out for a run". Also no one around to complain if I come back too late to grab a shower and spend the afternoon in stinky run gear.

    Also since I'm old, I get 8 weeks off a year.

    You work for a department where people can get fired??? WTF?? I'm moving to Pitt Meadows to live in my brother's basement
    kjrunningregkMartinTad_M
    #KOAT
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    kjrunninkjrunnin Member, Rooster Endurance Member, Level 2 Supporter


    You work for a department where people can get fired??? WTF?? I'm moving to Pitt Meadows to live in my brother's basement

    Bring your bike. (No way in hell I can keep up with you running!)
    Aaron Webstey

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    maggierumaggieru Member, Pro Triathlete

    I work for a Salesforce consulting firm. Hours are extremely flexible with unlimited PTO and great bennis. While we are not an endurance-centric company, definitely outdoor activity friendly.

    Do we work for the same company? Anyway, same here—Salesforce Consultant, mostly remote though some travel and onsite client work. "Unlimited PTO" with a focus on flexible hours as long as you bill 38-40hrs/week and most of the workers are athletes/skiers/bikers so get it if you show up a little late or duck out a little bit early as long as you are picking up the slack some other time (e.g. evenings or weekends). That might also just be a Colorado thing.
    Tad_M
    insta: @magrusch
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    MattMatt Member, Administrator, Rooster Endurance Member
    Canadian. Non-government (technically Government since I'm funemployed)
    Starting a new gig in 2 weeks, still in the sporting goods industry.
    M_WareAaron Webstey
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    Brew_TriBrew_Tri Member, Rooster Endurance Member
    Working for a small business that does international sales/service is not exactly ideal. The other perks of free alcohol and almost no health insurance are nice too!
    maggieruAaron WebsteygregkMattCraig_D
    Yay Sports! :#
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    GasBombGasBomb Member, Rooster Endurance Member, Level 2 Supporter, POTM
    Gasway Insurance Services, Inc. My boss is the best!!! I show up whenever I want and leave whenever I want. He even lets me check out TriRoost during work hours. He's even closing the office for 2 days just because I want to go to the Sworry Trials in Michigan. I just can't praise him enough!
    wchevronMartinkjrunninBrew_TriJennifer PostAaron WebsteyTad_MCraig_D

    Clay Richard Gasway
    King of all Mediocrity
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    NHetroNHetro Member, Rooster Endurance Member
    http://articles.dailyamerican.com/2012-11-18/news/35191267_1_ironman-competition-guy-berkebile-long-distance-triathlons

    I wish I worked for Guy Berkebile, CEO of Guy Chemicals in Harrisburg, PA. Great athlete and motivated business guy. You just need to forgive him for being a trump supporter, though. He was on Fox News for meeting him with Trump and thanking him for the tax cuts to businesses. But he truly will use that money to reinvest into his business. I'd trust him over other CEOs.
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    Might be worth looking into some of the tech companies out here in the Bay Area, depending on the full breadth of what you're looking to get for detail. I'm at Twitter - they have a monthly "wellness" benefit that can go to gym memberships or race entries, have a solid number of employees that are runners/triathletes/cyclists, organize for the JP Morgan races every year, and I did the swim leg of Escape from Alcatraz a few years back as part of a corporate relay team. Chris Mocko, who just finished second at Bandera 100K and AQ'ed for Western States was working out of the Boulder office up until pretty recently.

    Others in the area:
    • Strava --- might be considered endemic, but EVERYONE in that office is an athlete
    • Facebook / Instagram --- I've been passed by many a corporate kit on rides/races. One of the product higher-ups at Insta is a former Twitter guy that runs ultras (Kevin Weil). His wife is a VC and crazy ultra runner, too.
    • Google --- they kick the shit out of people in the JP Morgan Corporate race every year

    I'm sure there are others, but a couple starting points at least.
    bbculpAaron WebsteyCraig_D

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    Jennifer PostJennifer Post Member, Rooster Endurance Member, Level 2 Supporter
    I know a gal that might be interesting for you to chat with for your article. She worked at Starbucks HQ and Microsoft up here in PNW and moved to SF Bay Area two years ago to work at Pinterest and just started a new job at Strava this week. She’s on Team Betty and she’s kept up her racing while working for all these companies. Not sure if she would say she’s had good work/training balance at any of them but she does have an interesting mix of well-known employers for an interesting perspective. Happy to introduce you if needed.
    M_WareAaron Webstey
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    bbculpbbculp Member, Rooster Endurance Member
    Thanks for all the info, guys!

    I'm keeping Strava out of this article because that story has been told and I'm trying to find less endemic brands. It sounds like I should definitely include the Canadian government though.
    Aaron Webstey
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    Aaron WebsteyAaron Webstey Administrator, Rooster Endurance Member, Rooster Endurance Officers
    I do a lot of lunchtime workouts and there's a shower in the building, so yeah you could say I got it made
    #KOAT
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    bbculpbbculp Member, Rooster Endurance Member
    edited January 2019
    I hope the guy who goes in the shower after you wears sandals.
    Tad_MAaron WebsteyMattCraig_Dsimonsen77
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    Tad_MTad_M Member, Rooster Endurance Member, Level 2 Supporter, POTM
    Matt said:

    Canadian. Non-government (technically Government since I'm funemployed)
    Starting a new gig in 2 weeks, still in the sporting goods industry.

    Please be crossfit supplies @Matt , please!
    Aaron WebsteyMartinMattCraig_DJennifer Post
    visit Michigan July 19th to 24th 2023 - The Sworry Trials Impossibleman and Ode to Laz
    https://www.facebook.com/sworrytrials/
    https://www.facebook.com/OdetoLaz/

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