Transwestern’s Gulf Coast and Mountain regions have been recognized as a Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company by the American Heart Association’s Start! Initiative. The Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Program helps companies improve their employees’ health and wellness. American employers face increasing healthcare expenses and health-related losses in productivity that cost an estimated $225.8 billion per year. Start! helps change corporate cultures by motivating employees to start walking, which has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity.

• Within Transwestern’s Gulf Coast and Mountain regions, several initiatives were taken to help achieve the certification including:
• Walking programs initiated within each city and team members were given printed materials highlighting optional measured paths around company offices and city parks;
• Fruit ordered twice weekly for team member break rooms;
• Vending machine options changed to include healthier selections such as nuts, lower calorie items, and power bars;
• Pedometers ordered and distributed to team members;
• “Lunch and learns” provided throughout the year at no charge to team members, featuring registered dieticians and nutritionists;
• Meet and greet sessions held with local health providers and athletic gear companies;
• Free biometric screenings provided to team members;
• Several “Wear your sneakers to Work days” held to promote physical activity throughout the work day. 

“Physical activity and employee wellness are important priorities at Transwestern. We are honored and excited to be recognized by the American Heart Association’s Start! movement as a Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company,” stated Chip Clarke, Transwestern president – Gulf Coast and Mountain regions. “We’re committed to providing the best workplace environment possible. This will benefit our employees’ health and produce even more positive results for our company overall.”

For more information about the Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Program and how it is helping to improve the health of Americans by focusing on an activity that is convenient, free and easy, visit startwalkingnow.org.


ABOUT TRANSWESTERN
Transwestern is a national, privately-held operating company specializing in commercial real estate services, investment and development.  The firm’s fully integrated approach delivers value to owners, investors and users of commercial real estate through innovation, penetrating market intelligence and legendary service delivered by teams of local experts.  Transwestern has product specialties in office, industrial, retail, multifamily and healthcare and is an industry leader in sustainability solutions and in market research through its affiliate, Delta Associates. 

Please visit www.transwestern.net or follow us on Twitter at @Transwestern.


ABOUT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or join us, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or any of our offices around the country, or visit heart.org.

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