Christina Heberer recently earned her master’s degree in Wellness Management from Ball State University. After a semester-long internship with the Wellness Council of Indiana, Christina was hired as the full-time program coordinator. The Wellness Council is an affiliated program of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
Indiana INTERNnet: How did you become interested in wellness management?
Christina Heberer: I get asked this question a lot since many people have not heard of this field! I was attracted to wellness management because of its blend between health and business and thought this would give me a solid foundation for impacting the health and wellbeing of employees. I was also drawn to the wellness management program at Ball State because they looked beyond exercise and physical nutrition and indicators of health and considered how an individual’s community, financial situation, social support systems, and life’s purpose impact a person’s wellbeing.
IIN: Why is health and wellness something that is personally important to you?
Heberer: When we are healthy, happy and well, we are better able to experience and enjoy life. I am fortunate to have grown up understanding the importance of taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, financially, and socially and I want to help others reach their full potential in the workplace, at home, and in the community. Wellbeing is not a “luxury” that only a few can afford – everyone can take simple steps to improve themselves. I also believe that a county/state/country that understands and promotes health and wellbeing will be a better place to live, work and play.
IIN: What are your new responsibilities?
Heberer: Since my supervisor and I are the only full-time employees of the WCI, I have many diverse responsibilities as program coordinator.
Mostly, I am responsible for the day-to-day administration and support of the Council including member relations, sponsor relations, renewals, and the development of programs and resources. Many times, I am the first point of contact clients have with the Wellness Council of Indiana, so it is important that I help them understand how we can help them.
Another big part of my job is navigating member organizations through the 3, 4, and 5 Star AchieveWELL processes (our workplace wellness recognition program.)
In addition, I coordinate quarterly Board of Advisor meetings, organize health and wellness events throughout the state, and maintain the organization’s online presence and troubleshoot member questions.
IIN: You had a couple good internship opportunities prior to the Chamber. How have internships helped you develop your skill set?
Heberer: I’ve been fortunate enough to have internship opportunities that have helped me develop personally and professionally. At my internship at Open Door Health Services in Muncie, I learned that wellness programs are not one-size-fits-all. Having a successful wellness program requires careful planning, execution, and evaluation. At the Wellness Council of Indiana, I have stretched my understanding of how well-being can be used as a tool for economic development.
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I am excited by how the Wellness Council positively influences so many people. While our primary focus is influencing healthier lifestyles in the employee population, we just launched the Indiana Healthy Community initiative and hope to inspire community members and leaders to take an active role in improving health and well-being among all Indiana residents. This way, we can promote health and well-being at work and at home.
-Christina Heberer
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IIN: What are your long-term career goals?
Heberer: Workplace wellness consulting interests me. I have always enjoyed the strategic planning aspect of this field and it would be rewarding to help companies plan, implement and evolve their wellness programs. This way, I can work with many different companies and understand the components of a successful and sustainable wellness program in various industries.
IIN: What advice would you give current students/interns looking to get into the health and wellness field?
Heberer: Learning how to speak the “language of business” can help tremendously. Practitioners often have to make the “business case” for why health and wellness is important in the organization, specifically how wellness can improve a company’s return on investment or value, employee health care costs, and employee performance. My graduate program required a business minor, which I believe will help me a great deal in the long-run in this field.
IIN: Did I see you were in a production of The Nutcracker?
Heberer: Yes, I was a part of my undergrad’s annual production of The Nutcracker! I am nowhere close to being a dancer, but no experience was needed to audition so I decided to give it a try. I was a soldier my first and second year and Mother Ginger my third year. It was rewarding to get out of my comfort zone and try something new – it was certainly one of the highlights of my college experience.
