Rebecca Peoples is the Collegiate Recreation East Region director at Matrix Fitness. Here she shares about her five years since joining Matrix and the keys to the company’s success.
How did you get your start in the campus rec industry?
Rebecca Peoples: My path is a bit unconventional in that I was a longtime college coach before finding myself with Matrix. Shortly after working for our top dealer, Matrix created a specific role to handle the eastern part of the nation for college recreation. Believing it might be a natural fit, Marc Loomer gave me the nod. I have been with Matrix for five years.
What has surprised you most about campus rec?
RP: Just the overall collaborative effort. Whether it be within the department, cross-campus, statewide, conference-wide, nationally, etc. Our network has an unmatched level of sharing. Leaders in campus recreation are unifiers with a service mentality. Having the good fortune to grow up in a small farming and ranching community, I learned firsthand the importance of teamwork and culture. Campus rec is teamwork. Campus rec is culture.
What are the keys to Matrix’s success?
RP: It’s the people and longevity of our tenure coupled with a focus on solutions. The approach seems to come down to being a family-owned business. There’s an idea here at Matrix that no one employee is more important than the other — I am really proud of that. For the college recreation sector, I think it is clear our purpose-driven values are closely aligned to those of campus rec.
How does your company differentiate from competitors in the industry?
RP: The Matrix story is building from a once small foundry that produced weight plates into a major global fitness manufacturer. Our designers and engineers are allowed to get creative and they go outside the box. Our biggest differentiators are in educational opportunities and programming.
What is your vision for the future of Matrix in the campus rec industry?
RP: Research. I am inspired by the many studies universities currently have specific to Gen Z. Matrix will continue its strong dedication of resources toward mental health research. My vision is to create a grand research intersection connecting our college partners and Matrix.
