Editor's Note: There was a photo previously in this article where Will was wearing someone else's bib. We were not aware of this fact until it was brought up by our readers. We do not condone this activity, and we are handling accordingly. 

Our Members are undoubtedly the engine in our imaginary Ferrari (it's on a poster right now above our beds), the carbon in our racing shoes, the caffeine in our Arctic Blitz flavored Celsius if you will. With the new year, we’ve welcomed a few fresh faces to the office, and we’ll be introducing them all to the Banditverse in due time. But after that buildup, the spotlight is coming for only one man. We sat down for a latte (hold the coffee) so you could get to know him a little better.

Introducing our newest GM of Membership, Will Rodriguez.  

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Alright Mr. Will. Tell us a little bit about yourself. What led you here? 

Yo, what is up Bandit fam. My name’s Will and I’m happy to be here. As a Member since 2022, I fully intend to use this newfound power to add everything that’s been requested via the surveys, one-off e-mails, insta chatter, dark-web forums etc. etc. (and more), as long as the spreadsheet overlords will approve it. But seriously, the goal here is to make your experience as a runner just… easier (and cost less money), and also just more exciting. Because there’s enough to think about, with like… the whole training for months and getting to the finish line thing. 

Anywho, I’ve lived in NY most of my life with a couple excursions, but I’ve always come back! I love running (PR’d at NYC Marathon last November 🙌), basketball (shoutout Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers 🏀), and going to shows/concerts (you’ll often find me in a virtual waiting room 💻) .

I worked for nearly 4 years at StockX, spending almost 3 years living in Detroit without a car because I’m a New Yorker and no one wants me behind the wheel. There, I worked on everything from opening the drop-off location in Soho, to partnerships with Adidas, to building a secret loyalty program they’ll probably be upset I’m telling you about. 

Since then, I’ve led Lyft’s Driver Loyalty program and managed subscription services at A+E Networks, and I hope to bring those experiences, plus the lived experience of a serious, competitive, slow as hell runner, to make all your lives that much richer with Bandit.

Ok, speed round:

• Favorite (pizza) slice in the city: L’industrie margarita slice, but if the line is too long I’m walking over to Leo’s for a pepperoni. When I want to feel like a kid again I go to Pizza Suprema near MSG for a nostalgic classic. 

• First concert: Good Charlotte & Simple Plan’s 2005 Noise to the World Tour with my older sister.

• Most recent concert: Jamie XX at Park Avenue Armory, but best show I’ve been to recently was this NY indie band, Meyru at Nublu in December.

• Favorite NYC neighborhood: EV hands down, no question.

• Would you rather have corduroy skin, or muffins as hands (assume they grow back when you eat them): Corduroy skin is giving me Greyscale from Game of Thrones vibes, and while that is sending shivers down my spine, I need these hands to hoop. So corduroy it is

• Best NYC celebrity sighting: I saw Jeremy Strong the morning of the Succession finale outside a very popular bakery in Williamsburg, and he gave me a death stare that screamed “don’t you dare say anything to me.”

• Most recent song you have played way too many time on repeat: NUEVAYoLLLLLL.

Alright back to business...

What do you hope to achieve as the very delicate keys to The Membership castle get handed to you?

I firmly believe that The Membership, and all membership type programs, center around Value, Access, and Community. So I want to double down on each of these - the goal is to make it a no-brainer for every single twisted, masochistic, sick-in-the-head individual who falls in love with running like I have.

If you could create a dream perk for Bandit Members (no matter the cost to our coffers), what would it be?

Gonna be selfish here. I think every Bandit Member should get an apartment in Ipanema, no more than 2 blocks from the beach, and they’ll get to participate in a daily run up and down Rio’s board walk, followed by Acai at BiBi Lanches in Leblon - all comped from Nick and Tim’s (imaginary) inheritance.

There’s a fictional 4-person relay race happening in NYC next weekend. It’s not about winning the race, it’s about who has the best time together as a group. Who you drafting (can be anyone, dead or alive). 

Homer pick, but I love the homies. I’m pulling up with my boys: Albert (slow af and probably will DNF), Zak (will trip over his feet and tear his acl - again), and Paulo (more likely to stop and chat with a passerby on the sidewalk than pass the baton). I may need to run each leg 😬

If we were to host a Bandit event, anywhere in the world for our members (and we’ll assume, everyone could magically show up there for free…), where would you host it and why? 

My third grade teacher Mrs. Murphy always said to read all the questions on the test before starting, and I failed her. Should have looked ahead because I’ve already given out my dream locale above. We’re bringing Bandit to Rio and I’ll conveniently miss the plane back. 

What’s your favorite running memory?

I could be sentimental and say seeing my family and girlfriend coming up 1st ave during NYC this November, but it’d be a lie. 

First time putting on carbon plated shoes and PR'ing my mile time during a repeats day in the rain. Felt like the Flash ⚡

What excites you most about leading The Membership here at Bandit worldwide enterprises?

It’s giving Prestige Worldwide ⛵  So yea… I’m excited to spend my days focused on making it that much easier for Bandit Members to get out of bed for those 5am runs, to put their shoes on and get outside in the cold and rain, to push past lactate thresholds because Bandit has taken care of everything else for you. I hope to make you proud. 

Any shoutouts? Parting thoughts? Words of wisdom?

Let us rip, my friends.