Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/561254
28 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 says. "e idea behind REV is to help organizations avoid that question." Authors David F. Larcker and Brian Tayan agree. e Stanford University duo has studied executive loss extensively and wrote "Sudden Death of a CEO: Are Companies Prepared When Lightning Strikes?" ey found that approximately seven CEOs of publicly traded companies die each year. "ere is no greater test of the viability of a company's succession plan than the sudden death of its CEO," they write. e most common causes of CEO death are cancer, heart attack, and stroke. But REV is not just about reducing the risk of a catastrophic event. REV offers programs to improve health and overall fitness. Work-life balance Whether you can quantify it precisely or not, the true cost of unfit executives is steep. In response, REV provides a customized game plan to meet company leaders' individual needs and time constraints. Although it might be difficult to eliminate 50-plus-hour workweeks, any executive can—and, indeed, must—invest in their personal wellness. Moreover, as millennials continue to climb the corporate ladder, companies that want to retain them must meet their demand for strong work-life balance. Enter REV. Rather than a succession plan, the program offers a practical, preemptive action plan that provides time-starved executives something they need desperately—quality of life. It also delivers a customizable kick- start commitment to multidimensional wellness. Whether you're a gym newbie or a corporate warrior in need of better habits, the program offers a full team of wellness experts and top-notch services under one roof, with confidentiality, efficiency and impact. "is is exactly our strong suit," Tamela says. "REV represents a focused combination of everything we already do so well at the WAC—provide premium services with integrity and sensitivity." Companies that engage with REV are placing a premium on their leadership team while also giving those leaders an all-access pass to the region's best city athletic club. What was one of the first companies to make the commitment? Well … us, of course! To help launch REV and ensure excellence across the board, the WAC executive team signed up for a REV program that included eight weeks of customized training and nutritional consultation. Here's what happened. Our executive team road-tested the REV program. Here are some of the combined results. Time to energize WAC Vice President Human Resources Wendall Smith came to REV with more than a touch of reluctance. She has worked at the Club since 2008 but rarely exercised. "I had to tell myself, 'It's only eight weeks,'" she says. "It took a programmed commitment to get me to do it." Given access to a nutritionist, wellness expert, personal trainer, and the camaraderie of colleagues, Wendall experienced many benefits. An initial fitness assessment gave her a benchmark for success. Weight loss wasn't a goal, but through REV's nutritional insights and fitness gains Wendall replaced fat with seven pounds of muscle. "Most busy executives are over- stressed and under-rested," WAC Nutritionist Shana Hopkins says. "ese two things alone can lead to more eating, snacking, and cravings— and ultimately weight gain." Shana caters her recommendations to each client's specific needs but says WAC Nutritionist Shana Hopkins helps clients eat healthy at home and on the go. " It made great sense for the WAC to be the first participant in the REV program," WAC President & CEO Chuck Nelson says. "We obviously believe in the benefits of what is offered at the WAC Wellness Center and in the business case for increasing the health and wellness of our team members. Our REV results have been measurable— sustainable weight loss, better eating habits, decreased body fat, and biometric improvement."