Judi Sheppard Missett

Judi Sheppard Missett is best known as the creator of Jazzercise, the dance-fitness program she founded in 1969 that helped define and popularize the group exercise industry. What began as a jazz dance class in Evanston, Illinois evolved into a global franchise operation with thousands of instructors and locations worldwide, making Jazzercise one of the longest-running and most recognized fitness franchises in history. Missett's model of combining choreographed dance with aerobic exercise predated and influenced the broader fitness boom of the 1970s and 1980s. As Founder and Executive Chairman of Jazzercise, Missett has overseen the company's growth across multiple decades, navigating shifts in consumer fitness trends while maintaining the brand's core identity. She has been a prominent advocate for women in entrepreneurship and franchising, and her business story has been featured extensively in media covering both fitness and small business. Her longevity as an active participant in the program she created — continuing to teach and promote fitness into her eighties — has itself become a notable part of the Jazzercise brand narrative.

Last updated Oct 11, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment