08/25/2026
Huge congratulations to Fortress CEO & Founder, Joel Mathew, on completing his very first triathlon at the Chicago Triathlon this past weekend, taking on the Supertri Sprint distance!
Starting his training this spring, Joel set his sights on the 750m swim in Monroe Harbor, a 24km bike ride through closed city streets, and a 5km run along the lakefront to the finish line in Grant Park. As a newer swimmer, navigating those open water harbor conditions was a major hurdle, but he tackled the entire course with incredible discipline, curiosity, and a constant willingness to adapt.
Joel brings that exact same spirit to our agency every single day. As a founder, he leads with determination, encouragement, and a genuine commitment to leading by example. Seeing his ambition shine through across all three legs of the race is inspiring to our whole team.
We were also proud to participate as part of the Corporate Challenge, raising funds to support the incredible work at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
We are so proud to celebrate this milestone with you, Joel!