NinjaZone and Wright's Gymnastics :: Casey Wright in the Momlight
Spoiler alert: theCityMoms love moms. And everything local. And supporting mompreneurs. So it only felt natural that this month's Momlight peek behind the amazing curtain that is Casey Wright of NinjaZone {and Wright's FUNdamentals, and so much more!}. And although NinjaZone is a sponsor of theCityMoms, we just wanted you to know that had zero bearing on this piece. We just HAD to feature Casey for all that she's doing. Read on, reader...
She's a world class athlete. An entrepreneur. A mother. A wife. The Small Business Person of the Year. And most importantly....a ninja! Needless to say, Casey Wright defies expectation. While many new mothers struggle to balance work and life, she thrived. While many women face prejudice in the workplace, she never noticed it. And while many entrepreneurs struggle to keep the passion for their business, Casey’s seems to keep growing!
Casey Wright has earned the title of CEO of Wright’s Gymnastics Corporation, but she comes by her passion naturally.
The daughter of two coaches, Casey was raised in the gym. She excelled at gymnastics and was crowned Indiana’s youngest state champion. Despite this impressive feat, Casey insists, “I knew I was a much better coach than I was a gymnast.” If the leap from gymnast to coach was seamless, the leap from coach to business owner was even more so for Casey. According to her, business leadership is coaching at its heart.In 2005, Casey bought her first gym, Center Grove Wright’s Gymnastics Academy, from her parents, and just four years later in 2009 she opened FUNdamental Center Grove, which focused on recreational gymnastics. In addition to building her business, Casey was building her family. She owned two gyms before she got pregnant, but she didn’t let having children slow her down. In 2013, Casey added to her growing gymnastics empire and opened Fundamental Southeast.
WE LOVE SHINING THE LIGHT ON MOMS. FROM OUR JUNE FEATURE:
Heather Tallman is making a big impact with Indiana Grown.
The next chapter of building her business was a little unconventional. Casey said, “I found myself as a single mom with two little babies, and I took a big leap of faith, one of the hardest things I have ever done, and I went on Match.com, and honestly that is where I learned business. I went on coffee dates, and I listened as men tried to impress me with their business knowledge. I like to say my method was ‘MBA by Match.com.’”
Casey’s method worked, and her business continued to grow, but it wasn’t always easy. She said, “It was definitely one of the hardest times of my life. My work was my survival. It kept me focused and grounded.” Instead of buckling under the pressure and stress, Casey rose to the challenge. She said, “NinjaZone and my third gym came out of a really tough time in my life. My focus was to create and survive.”
Life began looking quite different for Casey. She remarried and added two bonus children to her own two children. She moved across town.
And she opened NinjaZone, a gym that set out to change the way people looked at recreation.
Casey wants NinjaZone to appeal to the whole child: martial arts teaches discipline, gymnastics develops coordination, and Parkour appeals to a new generation of athletes. Casey thought to herself, “What would a mom want for her little guy or little girl? I want to help them move and build their character, exactly what I would want for my own kids.”
Casey’s approach to business is refreshing.
She says, “I loved what I did, and I never felt like I was working.” She prides herself on finding creative ways to empower the people around her, and she has always focused on “just doing my thing.” As much as she has prioritized growing her business, Casey has always insisted on “being really present in every moment” with her family. She and her husband, optometrist Jeremy Ciano, are raising Alex, 13; Bella, 12; Scarlet, 9; and Leo, 7. Casey also makes sure that exercise, meditation, and nutrition are priorities in her life. When it comes to so-called work-life balance, Casey simply says, “I know when my kids need me more, and I know when my business needs me more.”
YOU KNOW KIDS NEED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. But let's break down some of the benefits.
While Casey’s accolades are already impressive - landing her on the 2018 Forty Under 40 list from the IBJ and named as the 2019 Small Business Person of the Year - she shows no signs of resting on her own laurels anytime soon. Casey is very excited about the next phase of her globally successful program, what she excitedly refers to as NinjaZone 2.0. Casey and her team are building a freestanding gym and children’s enrichment center which will feature the namesake NinjaZone classes, gymnastics, dance, and even an active preschool.
Casey swears she simply started a business “to support my coaching hobby,” and she jokes that she “was an entrepreneur way before it was cool,” but it’s clear that Casey has gotten so many things right on her journey to start a successful business, raise a family, and to get kids all over Indiana (and the world) searching for their inner-ninja.
PRO TIP: New to NinjaZone? Casey recommends that newcomers take classes in August, as enrollment tends to be a little lower due to back to school prep!
MORE INFO: NinjaZone is owned by the same corporate entity, 3E!, which operates four area Wright’s Gymnastics facilities, two NinjaZone Academy locations, Ninja Sports International and NinjaZone LLC. NinjaZone works to create a space to engage children’s bodies and minds though focus classes and challenge sessions. Classes are reported to help children improve their focus and attention span, while improving moods, and developing increased levels of self-esteem. NinjaZone has 9 locations in the Indianapolis area and offers classes babies through teens. Learn more at their website. BONUS: Members of theCityMoms receive a 20% discount on classes with NinjaZone. Learn more by joining theCityMoms today.
