Marisa Smith(formerly Puderbach)
Assistant Manager of Corporate Health at VHC Health
Marisa is the Assistant Manager of Corporate Health at VHC Health. She aids in the planning, scheduling, and implementation of the HealthWorks program. She earned her undergraduate degree from Clemson University, and her Masters of Science in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Georgia Southern University. She is also a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. She is passionate about helping people improve their lives through providing education and tools on mental and physical wellness.
Tell us something people might not know about you.
I recently got married! You’ll soon see my name change from Puderbach to Smith.
What is your favorite part of your job?
What I love about my job is being able to share my passion for wellness and prevention with others. I love being able to share and break down information so the changes someone wants to make feels more manageable. Every week offers so much variety in the services and topics I get to provide and the organizations I get to provide them for.
What is your favorite part about corporate/employee wellness?
I love hearing about the positive impact we made on someone’s life. It’s incredibly rewarding to hear that the screening we provided led to an employee being diagnosed with diabetes by their doctor, or that the webinar you presented helped someone create the next steps in their fitness journey.
What advice would you give a company to enhance their wellness culture?
To enhance the wellness culture, companies should look beyond just programs & services. It’s vital that the culture of your organization aligns with the wellness behaviors that are being promoted. Are there healthy food options at meetings/lunches? Are walking meetings or stretch breaks during long training days being encouraged? All of these together promote a culture of wellness.
What self-care activity do you find benefits you the most?
My two favorite self- care activities are walking or reading somewhere relaxing. Over the years I’ve found that I really benefit from listening to music while going on a long walk. It’s one of the few times my mind can relax and or sort through my thoughts while I enjoy the movement, music, and scenery around me. I’ve also fallen in love with reading over the past few years. I love the escape it provides while envisioning the book play out as a movie in my head as I read. Both activities help me slow down and be present in the moment.
