Welcome to The Pour Over—our casual coffee chat series where we sit down with the people behind Wodify to share real stories, business insights, and a little caffeine-fueled wisdom.
Wearing All the Hats — and Then Some

If you’re in the fitness industry, you know the hustle. You’re programming workouts, managing staff, answering emails, onboarding new members, chasing payments, and trying to show up for your family—while somehow keeping your own health and wellness intact.

It’s no wonder why you feel like you’re pouring from an empty cup.

That’s exactly why Keri Tait resonates with so many of the gym owners she supports. As Wodify’s Manager of Customer Success—and someone who’s supported her brother’s gym, Stellar Athletics—she understands the chaos, the passion, and the pressure of building something meaningful that lasts.

“I’ve been on the other side. I don’t just empathize with our customers—I understand them.”

How Cheerleading Led Keri Tait to CrossFit

Keri’s fitness roots run deep. She spent her early years as a competitive cheerleader and later coached youth and high school athletes, learning how to communicate, lead and bring out the best in people.

Eventually, she discovered CrossFit, earned her L1 certification and quickly realized how naturally her cheer background translated to the sport.

“In cheer, you’re literally throwing humans up and down. In CrossFit, you get to pick something heavy up and slam it down—it has that same high-energy, full-body intensity.”

That blend of body control, awareness, and power made CrossFit feel like a natural next chapter—and that passion led her to help her brother launch Stellar Athletics in New Jersey.

Building a Gym in the Middle of a Crisis

Launching Stellar in 2020 was anything but a straightforward path. With physical spaces shut down and the world in turmoil, Keri and the team had to get creative—running workouts on football fields, leaning hard on social media and building a brand without four walls.

That scrappy approach paid off. Stellar has since evolved into a thriving community hub with a huge training space, youth and adult programs, recovery offerings, and a holistic philosophy that goes far beyond the hour in the gym.

“Steller was way ahead of the curve—focusing on what happens outside the gym, not just inside it. It wasn’t just about how hard you could push for 60 minutes. It was, ‘What are you doing in the other 23 hours of your day? How are you recovering? What are you putting in your body, who are you surrounding yourself with?’ That holistic approach is what truly sets Stellar apart.”

Bringing Real-World Experience to Wodify

When her twins started school, Keri joined Wodify part-time in social media, then moved into the onboarding team before rising to lead Customer Success.

Her experience at Stellar shapes everything she does. She knows what it’s like to be on the other side of the screen—navigating tech andjuggling tasks, while trying to stay connected to the “why” behind it all.

“It’s not just saying, ‘Here’s how you should do this.’ It’s, ‘Here’s what I do—and here’s what actually works.’ I get to speak from experience, not theory. I’ve been in their shoes, running payroll, onboarding coaches, navigating the same challenges. That’s what builds trust with our customers—knowing I’m not just advising them, I’m walking alongside them.”

Finding Balance in the Chaos

On top of supporting hundreds of Wodify customers, Keri is raising seven-year-old twins and still finds time to stay connected to Stellar. Her secret? Ruthless prioritization.

“My boss once told me: you only get so many spoons a day. If you need more for work, you have to take them from somewhere else.”

Some days, that means leaning into work. Other days, it means unplugging and being mom first. It’s not perfect—but it’s sustainable.

Advice for Gym Owners

Keri’s biggest advice to anyone building a fitness business:

  • Invest in your tech stack early. The less time you spend buried in admin, the more you can spend connecting with your members.
  • Be fearless. Don’t let fear of failure stop you from trying.
  • Reconnect to your why. Remember why you opened your gym in the first place—and build systems that give you space to live that mission.

“If you’re chained to a computer, you’re forgetting your why.”

What’s Next

These days, Keri is happy with her balance between family, work, and fitness—but she’s itching to get back on the coaching floor at Stellar. Until then, she’s focused on helping gym owners get their time back, so they can reconnect with their purpose, too.

Because thriving in this industry isn’t just about growth. It’s about remembering why you started—and making space to live it out.