professional experiences

The year was 1976, I was 12, going on 13 and working out at The YMCA, downtown Ft. Wayne Indiana. Charles the YMCA Health and Fitness Director gave me a job touring and orientating members of the weight room for a trade-membership. I worked out there until 1982. Charles eventually left, but he helped me form a professional work ethic and learn how to be a better people-person. I can still recall the dank dungeon as we used to call it, a true place of grit, sweat and raw work in progress. The greatest memories still ring in my mind of the incredible workouts I had. We used to partial squat over 600 pounds, what a great motivator for those interested in getting strong!

The same year - 1982, I began working at American Health and Fitness Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and actually getting a miniscule paycheck, but I loved it! I remember the words Get Fit on the club manager's license plates - I was impressed! His name was Dan Yuska and I recall taking him to the Y where I still worked out - and I put him through a workout that made him sore for a week! American Health and Fitness Club was a fun place for me to learn the ropes of the fitness industry and discover how cool it was to wear shorts to work! After I left American Health and Fitness Club, spring of '83, I helped open a new club in Fort Wayne called The Fitness Connection, it too was a good great experience. The owner, Rick Rutledge, didn't like people wearing tank tops? To this day, I still can't figure that one out? Anyway, I learned how to use the phone book to make cold calls to prospective members' who I could invite into this new facility in a strip-mall about a mile from where I lived. It's funny what sort of comments you hear when you cold call folks. I wouldn't do it today with all the no-call laws - but then, there was no such thing! What did I know, I was 19, full of enthusiasm with no fear!

In November 1984 I drove my MGB roadster 2600 miles to Oregon - a great trip indeed! Oregon is one of the most beautiful places on God's green Earth! In 1985 I helped open a brand new club called, The Lake Club in Lake Grove, Oregon - tucked in Mercantile Village. I assisted in management of the club, run strength training programs and member relations and sales.

From 1986 through 1988, I worked at two large tennis facilities both in Beaverton, Oregon (Raleigh Hills Racquet Club and Oregon Athletic Club West).  I'd heard of Personal Trainers in California, training the movie stars - so I decided to use my experience and put together my first personal training programs to work with the tennis players, it was a success!  My clientele ranged from ages 12 to 60 years of age with a clientele of approximately thirty people. I designed workout cards, nutritional records, workout plans and many other documents for tracking.

In 1988 to 1990 I worked with the Willamette Athletic Club. Training high level professionals, stress management was crucial for them. As with the previous club, I designed and implemented numerous fitness promotions for member retention and training. My fitness documents continued to evolve to meet the needs of my clients. Moving my business to new levels of growth - I enjoyed working with business owners in Portland and their specific fitness needs that deal with sedentary life styles. My clientele grew to over sixty people.  

From spring 1990 to late 1993 I worked with Nautilus Plus of Oregon. During the fall of 1990 I was asked to be the new Tualatin, Oregon clubs' personal trainer. It was very exciting and I relished the opportunity to build my clientele past all previous levels - and I did! Fall of 1993 through spring 1994 I consulted with past clients' with their personal training and fitness needs.

In  spring 1994, I began working for Corporate Club Management - a fitness management company owned by Wayne Westwood. CCM is the best fitness company I've been privileged to work with. Wayne especially is a man that I've learned much from in fitness and management and have the utmost respect. I've operated several facilities for CCM. In 1994 I managed a club for the employees of TriMet, Portland's mass transit system. I ran all aspects of the four fitness only facilities - membership sales, personal training, events and employee training programs. I had a staff of three (especially Joe Wilkins!) that helped me run and manage the clubs. From 1995 to 2002 I managed a downtown Portland club for CCM under Westin Investments. The facility was unique in that the location was easily missed by street traffic so I had to be very creative to bring people in to the club. In 1998 I created Fitness In Training and continued evolving out of personal training and into fitness coaching, while managing the downtown Portland Club.

In January 2001, while still managing the downtown facility I helped my great friend Joe Wilkins, original manager of The Club at Kruse Woods open CCM's newest club at the time, The Club at Kruse Woods, Lake Oswego, Oregon. Most of my Fitness In Training clients belong to The Club in Lake Oswego and I continue to have the privilege to get to coach and see them improve their fitness and their lifestyles, very rewarding indeed!

In 2002 I began a fitness relationship with a company called Building Champions, a coaching company. They coach people to their best. They truly are a very special group. In 2001, Steve Scanlon a BC coach, became my client in fitness at The Club. He had good results with me. He soon asked me if I could help Building Champions with their clients fitness - I agreed. I designed and implemented a pilot-test fitness coaching program for BC which lasted approximately twelve months. I coached many of their clients to new levels of fitness and a small group of BC coaches and assistant coaches. It was great experience and I thank BC and especially Steve for his friendship - God has blessed BC.