Women Who Move Us Forward: Bari Dreissigacker and Judy Geer

A conversation with Concept2 Co-Founders Bari Dreissigacker and Judy Geer.

Each March, Women's History Month gives us a chance to recognize the women who have shaped history through leadership, determination, and quiet, steady work. At Concept2, that story starts at the very beginning.

Concept2 began in a barn in 1976. That part of the story is well known. What’s less often told is that from the very beginning, it wasn’t just two brothers building oars, it was a team. Bari Dreissigacker (then Bari Lane) co-founded the company in 1976 alongside Pete and Dick Dreissigacker, helping lay the foundation in those early years. In 1983, Judy Geer joined as the fourth co-founder, bringing her experience as an elite rower, coach and engineer. Together, Bari and Judy helped shape not only the company, but the values that continue to guide it today.

This is a story about building something that lasts. About doing the work, staying close to your purpose, and creating space for others along the way.

Starting Small, Thinking Big
In the early days, everything was hands-on. There were no departments, no defined roles, just whatever needed to get done.

Bari organized the business from the ground up. Customer service, sales, accounting, and shipping. If you reached out to Concept2, chances were you were talking to her. Taking care of customers wasn’t a function. It was the foundation.

“It wasn’t until we sold a set of oars to an Ivy League university at the Head of the Charles,” Bari recalls, “that we thought maybe we were on to something.” Growth became real when the team needed to hire and pay outside help. What started as an experiment was becoming something more.

Judy joined in 1983, bringing with her experience as an Olympic and National Team rower, a coach at Dartmouth, and her skills as an engineer. She understood both the demands of the sport and the discipline behind performance. That perspective shaped how Concept2 approached product development, and how it connected with athletes. “We knew the people we were serving,” Judy says. “They were our fellow rowers. We cared about what they needed, and we wanted to get it right.”

That care showed. The products gained traction quickly, not just with competitive rowers, but with a broader community discovering the value of simple, effective training.

Judy Geer, Concept2 Co-Founder, Sculling in Craftsbury, Vermont.

Doing the Work
Neither Bari nor Judy set out to be pioneers. They set out to do meaningful work.

“Through my early days of rowing and racing, I was focused on doing what I loved,” Judy says. “And that continued at Concept2. It’s really only in hindsight that I see myself that way (as a pioneer).”

That mindset carried them through challenges, especially in a space that, at the time, was largely male dominated. Their focus stayed steady: build good products, support the people using them, and keep moving forward.

For Bari, a couple of lessons have stood the test of time.

“You’ve got to really want it,” she says. “Whatever that ‘it’ is. And you have to make it happen for yourself. No one’s going to swoop in and do it for you.”

It’s a straightforward approach. Put in the work. Stay committed. Keep going.

Expanding Access
From the beginning, Concept2 was about more than equipment. It was about sharing a sport. 

“Access and inclusion were just the right things to do,” Judy says. “We were happy to welcome everyone into the rowing family.”

That mindset helped shape what Concept2 is today, a global community that includes Olympians, adaptive athletes, first-time users, and everyone in between.

The growth of opportunities for women in sport is something Judy has seen firsthand since the 1970s. There’s been real progress, more access, more participation, and more visibility. And still, there’s more to do.

“That growth gives me hope,” she says. “More and more girls and women are getting involved.”

For Bari, that belief in possibility started early. Raised with the idea that women and girls could do anything, she carried that forward to her own daughters and into the way she helped build the company.

Bari Dreissigacker, Concept2 Co-Founder, on the Model A Indoor Rowing Machine.

Building for the Long Term
As Concept2 grew, so did its responsibility, to its customers, its employees, and its community.

“The fact that a community has grown around our products reflects their quality and value,” Judy says. “We started with a small group of rowers who were our friends. As we’ve grown, we’ve continued to treat our customers the same way.”

That sense of connection is intentional. It’s also part of why Concept2 established a Perpetual Purpose Trust, to protect the company’s independence, mission, and values for the long term.

“It was a way to ensure Concept2 stays true to what matters,” Bari explains. “To keep it here in Vermont, and to make sure the right people are carrying it forward.”

The goal wasn’t just to build something successful. It was to build something enduring.

What Stays the Same
Today, Concept2 equipment can be found around the world. But the core idea remains simple.

When someone sits down on a machine, Judy hopes they experience three things:

“Quality equipment, great exercise, and a sense of community.”

That’s what has carried Concept2 forward for 50 years, and what continues to bring people back, workout after workout.

Looking Ahead
The future, like the beginning, is about people.

For Judy, it’s the continued growth of women and girls in sport that stands out. For Bari, the advice is as practical as ever:

“Just go for it,” she says. “Don’t hold back.”

During Women's History Month, we recognize stories like these, not just for what they represent in the past, but for how they continue to shape what comes next. Bari and Judy didn’t set out to make history. They set out to do the work, build something meaningful, and include others along the way.

That work continues every day, with the people who use our equipment, in the community that surrounds it, and in everyone who chooses to get on and get after it.

To learn more about Concept2, visit our About Us page.