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Spot’s Integrations & Ops Analyst, Lacey Rivette, is not one to shy away from a challenge. A registered dietician, former competitive acrobatic gymnast, avid mountain biker, aspiring ice skater, and data enthusiast, Lacey is at her best when her mind and body are in motion.
She admits that she never thought she’d work in insurance—but her love of numbers, must-execute mentality and sense of adventure is what led her to dive headfirst into tech at Spot, where her remote setup, along with her Ford Transit Mid Roof van, gives her endless opportunities to pack up and pursue adventure.
We recently caught up with Lacey to talk van life, her transition from dietician to data and her go-to trail running shoes.
Where’s home?
Colorado Springs, CO.
Were you always adventurous and outdoorsy?
Yep! As a kid I was a total tomboy. I was always outside riding four wheelers, hunting, fishing and wakeboarding. I also vividly recall my dad having to put rope and tape over a tree to stop me from climbing it (it didn’t work).
What outdoor activity is taking up most of your time right now?
Cycling has always been my main sport, but in the winter I like to cross-country ski, so I’ve been doing that on the weekends lately. I also started weight lifting and have been enjoying hitting up the gym after work.
What else keeps you busy?
In the summer I spend a lot of time camping, hiking 14’ers and taking my van to some of my favorite places to ride—like Breckenridge, Fruita, Grand Junction, etc. I’ve also started to do a lot of DIY projects on our house.
What motivates you to stay active?
The biggest motivation for me is that it positively impacts my mental health. I have dealt with anxiety since I was a kid, and early on I realized that expending that energy outside is a great way to manage it. I'm also a big fan of challenges, and in sports there's always a way to push your limits!
Let’s pivot to your 9-5. Can you explain your role as Integrations & Ops Analyst at Spot?
There are a lot of tasks that I juggle on a day-to-day basis, but most of my time is spent working with internal and external teams to implement new partner integrations, automate data ingestion and ensure accuracy in the data we receive. I love it because I'm quite sociable, but I'm also a data enthusiast, and this role lets me embrace both aspects.
How do you balance work and your time playing outside?
I make time on the weekends and before and after work—though morning workouts are my favorite! On the weekends I like to be outside as long as possible, especially in the summer and fall.
You’re also a registered dietician… what sparked your interest in that?
I was a competitive acrobatic gymnast until I was 23, and was always interested in the best way to fuel and recover.
Do you still practice that on the side?
I help friends and family from time to time, but I really dove headfirst into the world of tech when I joined Spot, and I have no regrets. It has allowed me to enjoy food and nutrition without it feeling like work.
Can you tell us about a time you really pushed yourself outside of your comfort zone?
Riding White Rim in a day. It was my first 100-mile MTB ride, and it’s one of those situations where if something goes wrong, there’s no one to save you… at least not quickly!
And sleeping in my van in the middle of nowhere, then hiking a 14’er solo the next day.
You make it sound easy! Tell us more about your van.
My van is a 2018 Ford Transit Mid Roof. I bought it and finished about 90% of the conversion in three months. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into the build and I am so stoked on how it turned out.
What does having the van allow you to do?
Oh man, I could write a lot on this so I'll just go with my top three reasons. The first is that I have quite a few food allergies, which makes jumping in the car and going on a trip a bit stressful. With the van, I can stock my fridge/freezer and head out for a few days without worry. The second is that I can hike and bike on the same weekend. I didn’t do this before because I didn’t trust leaving my bikes on the hitch rack at a trailhead. Third, it's made me less afraid to take trips on my own since I can pull up to a campsite and not even have to get out of the van.
Do you ever work on the road in the van?
I do! I have a mobile hotspot, which allows me to access the internet on the go. But when I can, I enjoy searching for unique local coffee shops to work from.
What’s making up your gear closet?
My most used items are my Wahoo Head Unit, CamelBak Chase Vest, Garmin InReach Mini and Rapha Core bib shorts.
What bikes are you riding?
My MTB is a Norco Revolver—very XC! It’s actually the only MTB I have ever had and I'm really happy I learned to ride on this bike because it forced me to learn good technique (you can’t just hit a drop and wing it with 100mm of travel). I love my bike, but will be adding another bike with a little more travel so I can have more fun on the technical trails.
My gravel bike is a Santa Cruz Stigmata. It really inspires confidence and is great on more technical terrain.
Favorite trail running shoe?
The New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro is my go-to shoe, but I will pull out the Salomon speedcross when tackling more technical terrain.
Do you have a favorite recovery or post-MTB ride meal or beverage?
My go-to recovery meal is a shake with vanilla pea protein, bananas, blueberries, almond milk, peanut butter and spinach. Sometimes I will throw some salt in there if I know I lost a lot during my workout.
Any trips planned for 2024?
Headed to Italy to see the Dolomites, which has been on my bucket list for about 10 years now. I will also be out in the mountains here in Colorado frequently this summer to cross a few more 14’ers off my list.
What sport or activity is on your bucket list?
Ice skating! It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I’m also hoping to do a via ferrata this year.
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