Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Viola in 1998 .
in which he takes ideas and makes them happen .
“ Each day , I wear a different hat ,” he says . “ I do sales , marketing , PR , logistics , social media and web development . I build the brand and put out fires . I operate at every level of the business . Over the years , however , Jenn and I have learned how to delegate better and trust our instincts . She has a business degree from Pitt and a master ’ s from IUP , so she is savvy . We work well together .” Viola admits , though , that if they both didn ’ t have a true love for fitness , the expo wouldn ’ t work . He also acknowledges their friends and family members , all of whom are the main reason the pair ’ s annual expo has been a success .
Although the first expo was well-attended , Viola says that was just scratching the surface , as it did not include the expansive amount of events that are in place today : “ After the inaugural year , we kept adding new events , then another , then another . It ’ s been a momentum thing . So what I thought was successful years ago isn ’ t quite the same as it is today . We keep setting the bar a little higher .”
The expo has grown in both size and prestige each year , and has even attracted the likes of actor Ice-T and several Pittsburgh Steelers including Lynn Swann , Franco Harris and Antonio Brown . A “ who ’ s who ” of martial artists have attended including UFC legend Royce Gracie and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle . Viola said that the organizers constantly push the envelope of what the fitness community wants to experience and expects about 12,000 visitors this year . The expo encompasses more than 100,000 square feet of health , wellness , sports , fitness and nutrition exhibits and vendors , surrounded by nearly 20 different competitions that include strongman , martial arts , body building , CrossFit , karate , grappling , jiu-jitsu , MMA , modeling , figure , teen strength , obstacle course and skill competitions .
“ It is a very high-energy atmosphere ,” Viola says . “ We have interactive challenges , classes and workouts , so people can even break a sweat while they visit . And of course we have free samples from the industry ’ s leading brands . It is important that we stay connected with the community , so we work with local companies to sample new healthy supplements and nutritional options .”
In addition , the event is an avenue to showcase the latest fitness products , exercise equipment and leading cosmetic products . Health and wellness consultations are often available with physicians , physical therapists and natural health experts .
The exposure that the Pittsburgh Fitness Expo receives extends far greater than just the surrounding communities , mainly due to the nature of the world-class competitions that take place at the event . Viola said he remembers athletes attending from Hungary , China , Mexico , Canada and England last year .
“ It has been a fun ride , but I believe we still have so much more potential ,” Viola says . “ I ’ m certainly proud of our success , but I ’ m never satisfied . My goal is to get more Pittsburghbased corporations to partner with the expo so we can reach a broader audience . Our well-being is our most valuable commodity . Preventive health should always be a hotbutton topic , and we aim to educate .”
The Violas hope that the Pittsburgh Fitness Expo will continue to provide a family-friendly atmosphere where the younger generation can learn more about physical fitness and nutrition . Though a lot of people thought the event would fail in its early stages , he is proud to say that it is still very much a part of western PA ’ s culture .
“ We are proud because we are making a difference ,” he beams .
For more information about the Pittsburgh Fitness Expo , visit PittsburghFitnessExpo . com , email Kumite at Bill @ PittsburghFitnessExpo . com , “ like ” the Facebook page at FitnessExpo or follow on Twitter @ KumiteClassic and Instagram at KumiteClassic . n
Monroeville | Summer 2016 | icmags . com 21