UF College of Nursing alumna Erin Danen (BSHSE 2005, BSN 2006) was recognized as a Gator100 award winner this spring. The Gator100 recognition celebrates Erin’s outstanding achievements as a business owner and entrepreneur, a testament to her education from the University of Florida.

Upon graduation, Erin worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Tampa General Hospital between 2006 to 2010. While in Tampa, her life took a notable turn when she met Tyler, who would become her husband. This personal milestone led Erin to explore new opportunities, including travel nursing in Wisconsin, where Tyler lived. She eventually joined the staff at Aurora Health Care, officially relocating from Florida to Wisconsin.

The entrepreneurial spirit within the couple led them to establish FITBENCH, an innovative fitness solution that combines multiple exercise equipment pieces into a compact bench with built-in storage. Erin managed the operational aspects of the business, while Tyler drove innovation and design. This journey began all while they maintained full-time roles in their respective fields.

FITBENCH quickly gained traction at national and international fitness conferences. By 2018, Erin and Tyler committed fully to growing FITBENCH, achieving remarkable success. Today, FITBENCH offers 21+ products distributed in 29 countries, with over 6,000 satisfied customers, all proudly made in the USA.