Marquis Who's Who Honors Jess Schindler, Founder of Citizen Pilates, for Excellence in Boutique Fitness & Wellness Leadership
Press Release December 15, 2025
Jess Schindler is the founder and president of Citizen Pilates in Houston, Texas, recognized for building a multi-location boutique fitness company and redefining employment standards in the wellness industry.
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The company is widely recognized for its emotionally intelligent brand identity and for creating an environment where women experience both physical transformation and personal confidence.

HOUSTON, TX, December 15, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jess Schindler has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Schindler's professional journey reflects a sophisticated blend of executive strategy, operational leadership and entrepreneurial innovation. Since May 2015, she has served as founder and president of Citizen Pilates, an independent boutique fitness company based in Houston, Texas. Under her leadership, Citizen Pilates has grown into a multi-location organization generating more than $1 million in revenue, with three studios and four distinct P&Ls under her direct oversight. She leads a team of more than 22 employees and directs 180 weekly classes while maintaining full ownership of the brand. Her scope of responsibility includes revenue strategy, financial management, growth planning, marketing operations, systems development and leadership cultivation.

A defining achievement of Ms. Schindler's career is her decision to disrupt traditional employment models within boutique fitness. While most studios rely on 1099 contractors, she implemented a W2 employment structure that provides comprehensive salaries and benefits, including medical, dental and retirement programs. This approach has positioned Citizen Pilates as an industry leader in employee stability, professional development and cultural sustainability. The company is widely recognized for its emotionally intelligent brand identity and for creating an environment where women experience both physical transformation and personal confidence.

From April 2014 through January 2018, Ms. Schindler served as chief of staff to the chief executive officer of LoneStar Group, supporting enterprise operations across eight countries. In this role, she executed key financial functions and executive reporting, collaborating closely with the chief financial officer throughout quarterly budget meetings, board presentations and group mergers and acquisitions to maintain accurate current, historical and projected financial results. She served as the primary liaison between executive leadership, global stakeholders and the board of directors, while also orchestrating high-level leadership initiatives, including the company's annual global retreat held in the United Kingdom. Her ability to lead across the Atlantic and operate seamlessly within international business environments further strengthened her executive command and strategic discipline.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Schindler held senior analytical roles within publicly traded energy organizations. From August 2013 to April 2014, she served in the corporate reserves group at Midstates Petroleum, conducting SEC-compliant economic evaluations and guiding executive reporting. From April 2008 to July 2013, she worked as database management executive advisor for Adams Resources Exploration, overseeing enterprise data systems and delivering executive-level analytics used in strategic decision-making. Her early leadership foundation was established in property management with Greystar Management Services and AMLI Residential between 2005 and 2008.

Ms. Schindler completed formal academic coursework in psychology at The University of Texas at Austin, where she developed an early foundation in human behavior, motivation and leadership dynamics. She transitioned into the workforce at a young age to pursue real-world business opportunities, choosing applied experience over traditional academic timelines. This decision accelerated her exposure to executive operations, financial strategy and organizational leadership, shaping the results-driven approach that defines her career today.

In 2021, Ms. Schindler was selected as one of forty entrepreneurs in Houston to participate in the U.S. Small Business Administration Emerging Leaders Program. Through this intensive executive training, she developed a three-year strategic growth plan built on rigorous P&L analysis, forecasting and performance benchmarks. The program deepened her expertise in scalable systems, financial strategy and sustainable workforce development.

Beyond her business endeavors, Ms. Schindler remains active in professional mentorship and industry leadership. Since 2021, she has served as a subject matter expert with SCORE Houston, advising entrepreneurs on business formation, financial strategy and operational growth. Earlier in her career, she served as race director and board member of the Northwest Cycling Club and as a board member of the Texas Bicycle Racing Association, where she led initiatives to expand women's participation statewide.

Ms. Schindler's leadership has earned widespread recognition, including Top 10 Influential Entrepreneurs to Look Out For by MSN in 2024, Top 100 Employer by Houston Business Journal Best Places to Work in 2023, Entrepreneur Herald's Top 20 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2021, and the Mindbody Visionary Award in 2019. She has also been featured by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal for her leadership within the post-pandemic fitness industry.

In her personal life, Ms. Schindler enjoys time with her husband and dogs, reading, traveling, and engaging with fellow entrepreneurs throughout Texas. She is deeply motivated by meaningful connection, real-world mentorship and the continuous pursuit of progress.

Looking ahead, Ms. Schindler is focused on advancing Citizen Pilates toward a predominantly full-time professional workforce model. Guided by the belief that strong companies are built by well-supported people, she continues to expand her leadership framework, diversify programming and deepen the cultural foundation of the brand. Through disciplined growth and mission-driven operations, she remains committed to building organizations where individuals feel secure, empowered and positioned for long-term success.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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