FinGym On The Road with The Community Spirit Vodka
This month begins a three-month-long effort for me and The Financial Gym team to connect again in person with our community. In partnership with Community Spirit Vodka, we’ll be touring 9 cities and bringing our community together for the first time in almost three years. It’s an exciting time for us and I wanted to spend this month on the podcast talking about community and the importance of it. Today, I’m talking to a representative of our co-sponsor of this road trip, Ashley Eldrefri is a Community Spirit Vodka Brand Ambassador who is joining me to talk more about this incredible spirits company and why they believe so strongly in the mission of supporting the communities they serve. A few notes before this show starts, I shortened the company name and referenced their parent company in an event Financial Gym participated in. All references belong to the Community Spirit Vodka brand; and I want to thank them for this epic opportunity to partner together.
What are we drinking?
Ashley - Community Spirit Vodka, Orange Juice, with Topo Chico.
Shannon - Bloody Mary made with Community Spirit Vodka (the secret to Shannon’s Bloody Mary is a splash of pickle juice)
Podcast Notes
Ashley has been working in the hospitality industry for years and recently transitioned into the role of brand ambassador for Community Spirit Vodka.
Clear spirits and the hospitality industry are near and dear to Shannon’s heart, which is why she’s so thrilled they’re partnering together for this upcoming road trip.
Founded in July 2021, Community Spirit Vodka’s mission is community-based, which is what Ashley was the most excited about before she joined as a brand ambassador. They use every aspect of their brand to better the communities around them.
They create top-shelf vodka, but their main mission is to support communities. While hospitality is a focus, they aim to give a platform to folks doing important work.
When Ashley looks for folks to collaborate with, she starts locally. She finds the local bars and restaurants they think are aligned with their mission. Community Spirit is about the people who make cocktails, delicious food, and amazing experiences. It’s about celebrating and enjoying their work.
Community Spirit focuses on actually doing the work, beyond the surface level or performative activism.
We have the ability to make choices and create change with how we spend money. Shannon spoke at length about this with Tanja Hester, the author of Wallet Activism. Community Spirit is an amazing example of a company doing real work in communities.
The Road Trip:
In 2020, The Financial Gym had to close down its physical locations. The community and gathering together is a huge aspect of the Financial Gym magic. The physical locations were designed to be safe and supportive for having money conversations. The doors may have closed, but Shannon didn’t want to lose the physical community. It’s what inspired this road trip. When she emailed the greater Financial Gym community, Community Spirit wanted to collaborate.
The Financial Gym will be visiting nine different cities, partnering with Community Spirit Vodka. There will be themed cocktails, and hosting events to bring attention to local businesses.
Taking away the shame around anxiety and finances is one of the missions of The Financial Gym. This road trip is an opportunity to do this in person after years of virtual community.
During the day, the Financial Gym team is going to provide 1-1 coaching with the staff where the events are being hosted.
These events will also be amazing networking opportunities. It’s great to connect with like-minded people also working towards financial fitness.
Hospitality Careers and Finance:
Money is one of the most taboo topics, and this is no different in the hospitality industry. The first Financial Gym location was directly across the street from The Museum of Sex, yet The Gym was the most taboo kid on the block.
Each paycheck can be very different, and that uncertainty has only increased throughout the last few years.
A number of people live paycheck to paycheck and it can take up to two weeks to get that next check. Now more than ever, it’s important to teach everyone how to be financially healthy.
Becoming financially fit provides options. It allows you to consider going to school, starting a business, switching careers, leveling up in the industry, or planning your future in the position you’re in.
Financial literacy is a language. It is not something you’ll master overnight, but it can be learned, and there are people here to teach you! Everything with finances is fixable.
Shannon will be at every city and location on this road trip.
Takeaway: My biggest takeaway is that in a world where we have so many choices about the products we utilize, it’s important for us to spend our money on products that align with our mission and purpose. I love vodka, but I love it, even more, when it comes from a company like Community Spirit Vodka that truly lives by the importance of its name.
Random Three Questions
What is your favorite vodka cocktail?
What is something you’re binging right now?
If this was your last meal on earth, what would it be?
Connect with Community Spirit Vodka
Follow us here for the latest details on Shannon’s Roadtrip!
If you have any topics you would like me to cover on this podcast, or if you’d like to get in the financially naked hot seat, I encourage you to email me at Shannon@fingyms.com, or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group, and let me know what you want to hear.
My biggest goal for The Financial Gym right now is to grow our Certified Financial Trainer Licensing Program. This program is built off of over 10 years of working with tens of thousands of people getting them financially healthy. My goal is that every financial advisor, planner or coach has our certification. Our approach to financial wellness is revolutionary and it’s important for me and my team that anyone who plans to work with people around their finances understands the important lessons we’ve learned along the way. I always say the problems are the same, the zeros are different. If you’re a personal finance nerd with a passion for helping others, this is the course for you. If you’re a financial professional helping others, this is the course for you. If you’re working with a financial professional, you should insist that they get this designation so that they can become more holistic in their financial planning. So head over or send friends to financialgym.com and under our services, you’ll find more on the certification program.