The Assembly unites C-suite execs, founders and other innovators across fitness, wellness and health for four days in Southern California
A different kind of health and wellness conference is soon to make its debut in Southern California, known as The Assembly. Founded by entrepreneur Jon Ward, the event is poised to bring together the top minds and practitioners across health and wellness disciplines in a space built around collaboration and innovation.
“The Assembly grew out of a lot of conversations with colleagues in health and wellness,” Ward told Athletech News. “We all recognized similar things: getting people healthy is incredible, yet the way we approach it seems not innovative enough for the consumer. I wanted to create a place that benefits everyone from industries, brands, and consumers alike.”
Building upon the explosive popularity of health, wellness and longevity conferences around the world, The Assembly will take place October 13 through 16 in Encinitas, California, at the Alila Marea Beach Resort.
Each day begins with a “Sunrise Experience” starting at 6:30 a.m., with activities like morning yoga or walks. Attendees will move through sessions throughout the day to network, explore and exchange creative ideas and plan future collaborations geared towards improving healthspan and longevity.
“Ultimately, it’s about finding smarter, more connected ways to drive meaningful impact,” Ward said.
Ward also pointed out that the gathering isn’t like typical conferences, with hundreds of attendees packed at a venue —the guest list is tight, limited to 70 to 80 participants. While he projects that number will grow in future events, the goal is still to keep it intimate and intentional.
“We aren’t looking to fill a room with as many people as possible; it’s about curating the right people,” Ward explained. “Every attendee and vendor is brought in through a thoughtful invite and application process.”
Those attendees will mostly belong to a class of C-suite leaders and founders, Ward said, across various disciplines in the health and wellness space. That includes executives from corporate wellness, fitness brands, consumer health companies and some earlier-stage e-commerce ventures.
“We’re also not tied to one philosophy or style of health,” Ward added. “Instead, we bring together the best minds and practitioners from across disciplines. Whether it’s longevity, fitness, healthcare, mental health, or research. The idea is to create a space where they can learn from each other.”
Ward aspires for The Assembly to become the go-to place for wellness leaders and executives to come together to problem solve or to find inspiration. Ideally, that kind of event will help cultivate a long-standing community that frequently communicates and supports one another, leading to smaller events throughout the year to support the flagship gathering.
“The overarching vision is simple and ambitious: to intentionally unite people who are committed to fostering better health outcomes, at scale,” Ward said.
“At its core, The Assembly is about sparking cross-discipline conversations and building real relationships through shared experiences,” he added. “That’s where we believe the opportunity lies: not in repeating what’s already out there, but in creating something new together.”
