Retrofit hires Chelsea Katz to manage business development from Denver

Chicago-based Retrofit, which targets professionals with its data-driven weight loss program, has hired Chelsea Katz as Business Development Manager. She is the fourth Retrofit employee in the Denver area. 

Katz moved from Chicago to Denver's Cheesman Park neighborhood last year to launch Fresh Takes Kitchen with Saloni Doshi, a classmate from the Kellogg MBA program at Northwestern University.

"She convinced me to come out here and said Denver was a great place to launch a health company," says Katz. "It was."

While Fresh Takes Kitchen had success, the effort was put on hold, leading Katz to Retrofit. "This is a great transition, because of the relationships I started to develop," she says. "It was a natural progression."

Retrofit markets its weight-loss programs to both individuals and businesses. The latter can subsidize the program or have participating employees cover costs.

"We have such great data on our outcomes," says Katz, noting that 90 percent of customers lose weight and tend to keep it off much better than traditional diet plans. Programs start at about $100 a month.

"Colorado's the healthiest state in the country, but 56 percent of our residents are overweight or obese," says Katz. "There's definitely a need."

Contact Confluence Denver Innovation & Jobs News Editor Eric Peterson with tips and leads for future stories at eric@confluence-denver.com.