Objective

To establish and grow a high-performing fitness business, delivering value to members through quality coaching, diverse offerings, and a supportive community while creating a scalable business model for sustainable growth and eventual acquisition.

Role

• Founder and CEO: Oversaw all aspects of business operations, from initial launch to successful acquisition over four years.

• Coach and Leader: Transitioned from being the sole coach to managing a team of 8 certified coaches, ensuring exceptional service delivery.

• Community Builder: Fostered a strong, inclusive fitness community, organizing charitable events that raised over $20,000 for causes close to members' hearts.

• Athlete and Ambassador: Competed nationally in Olympic Weightlifting, showcasing a commitment to personal excellence and promoting the sport.

Approach and Methodology

1. Business Growth and Operations

   • Customer Acquisition and Retention: Grew membership base to over 100 active monthly members through a combination of targeted marketing campaigns, referral programs, and delivering exceptional value.

   • Service Expansion: Initially offering six CrossFit classes daily, expanded services to include:

     • CrossFit Kids for youth fitness development.

     • Olympic Weightlifting classes to enhance strength training.

     • Endurance Training programs for runners and endurance athletes.

     • Mobility Classes to improve movement quality and prevent injuries.

   • Team Development: Recruited, trained, and managed 8 certified coaches, fostering a professional, customer-focused team culture.

   • Operational Excellence: Managed class schedules, equipment procurement, facility maintenance, and financial performance metrics to ensure smooth daily operations.

2. Community Engagement and Charitable Initiatives

   • Organized fundraising events, such as:

     • 5k/10k/13.1k Charity Runs to support research for Eosinophilic Esophagitis, a rare condition affecting a member’s family.

     • Pink for Paige Event, a fitness fundraiser that raised over $20,000 to assist a member’s family with travel expenses for medical treatments.

   • Built a culture of giving back, rallying members to support community-focused initiatives.

3. Marketing and Member Engagement

   • Branding and Social Media: Established a strong brand identity, leveraging social media platforms to share success stories, promote events, and engage with the local community.

   • Customer Feedback Integration: Regularly collected and acted on member feedback to refine class offerings and improve the overall experience.

4. Athletic Development and Competitive Achievement

   • Olympic Weightlifting Specialization:

     • Trained under renowned coaches Donny Shankle (5x National Champion) and Dave Spitz of California Strength.

     • Participated in intensive training camps, refining technique and preparing for national competition.

     • Competed on the national stage at the 2015 USA Weightlifting National Championships, showcasing the culmination of disciplined training and expertise.

5. Exit Strategy and Acquisition

   • Positioned Adamant CrossFit as an attractive acquisition opportunity through robust operational systems, a strong member base, and diversified service offerings.

   • Successfully negotiated the sale of the business in 2016, ensuring a smooth transition for the members and staff.

Outcome

• Membership Growth: Expanded to over 100 active monthly members, building a loyal and engaged fitness community.

• Revenue Diversification: Increased revenue through expanded service offerings and high member retention rates.

• Team Development: Created a scalable coaching team, ensuring continuity and quality across all programs.

• Community Impact: Fostered a culture of philanthropy, raising significant funds for local causes while strengthening member bonds.

• National Competition: Represented Adamant CrossFit and personal dedication on a national level, enhancing the brand’s prestige and reach.

• Successful Acquisition: Transitioned the business to new ownership, leaving a legacy of operational excellence and community impact.

Key Metrics and Impact

• Membership Retention Rate: Maintained a retention rate of over 80% through personalized coaching and a strong community culture.

• Revenue Growth: Grew annual revenue year-over-year by introducing additional services and optimizing operations.

• Event Success: Hosted multiple fundraising events, raising over $20,000 for charitable causes and drawing community-wide participation.

• Staff Expansion: Grew the coaching team from 1 to 8 coaches, enabling scalability and increased class availability.

• Athletic Representation: Elevated the brand through national-level athletic achievements, aligning the business with high-performance values.

Summary and Reflection

Launching and growing Adamant CrossFit was a transformative journey at the age of 22 that blended entrepreneurial ambition, community service, and personal athletic achievement. Building a fitness business from the ground up required strategic planning, operational acumen, and relentless dedication. The experience of fostering a community, scaling a business, and competing nationally underscored the importance of vision, teamwork, and adaptability.

This endeavor demonstrated my ability to lead across multiple domains—business development, team management, community engagement, and athletic excellence—while creating lasting impact through philanthropy and wellness. Selling the business marked the culmination of this phase, setting the stage for the next chapter of service and growth through the United States Marine Corps.