Hometown: Austin. I grew up in Lake Travis.
When and why did you come to Austin?
After graduating from UTSA, I moved back to Austin in 2006 and to help my mother run our family’s insurance agency. Being close to family and back in the city that I love was an easy decision to make. The music, food and outdoor activities also brought me back.
What is your background? How did you get into personal training?
I was always an athlete, and growing up in Texas, my parents had me playing football my entire life. Once I was in high school, I focused on football, track and powerlifting.
After graduating college, I started working as an insurance agent and stopped training for the first time in my life. With this new lifestyle, it didn’t take long for my body fat to increase and my weight to shoot up to 245 lbs. So, I used this wake up call to get a gym membership and started back with basic strength training, since that was what I was accustomed to.
Shortly after, a friend of mine recommended I start training (powerlifting) at Austin Simply Fit. The community there was so positive and uplifting that I instantly fell back in love with the strength training process. Within months I found myself in the best shape of my life. I had lost 30 lbs and knew that I wanted to make a career of helping others unlock their potential.
How did you get started at Austin Simply Fit?
After competing in powerlifting with the Austin Simply Fit team, I decided to get certified and joined the team as a part time personal trainer. By day, I would sell insurance and would train clients in the evenings. It wasn’t long before I decided to commit to full time training. Helping others has always been something I felt passionate about, but the first time I helped a client overcome years of lower back pain was a whole new ball game. I knew then that this was not a job but a career.
You serve as the Head of Marketing & Sales and the Operations Manager for ASF. Tell us about what you do in this role:
As the Head of Marketing & Sales, I make it my personal responsibility to tell the story of Austin Simply Fit to those who have never heard of us. I broadcast our amazing staff, full of dedicated, educated and driven trainers. Everyday they strive to help their clients reach their goals and live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Our facilities, staff and admin teams are all laser focused at providing our community with the best personal training experience possible.
As an Operations Manager, I run our weekly team and location meetings. These meetings keep everyone on the same page with community updates as we are always looking for ways to improve. Outside of meetings, I help organize the team and annual community events. I also manage the South Lamar location and assist trainers with any system needs. As a dedicated member of our Leadership Team, I am always looking for new ways to improve the services we offer and the lives of our staff.
What is your favorite thing about Austin Simply Fit?
By far it’s the Austin Simply Fit community! I feel fortunate to have built so many wonderful relationships with my fellow trainers and clients. It’s inspiring to be around such focused, friendly and hardworking individuals. It’s easy to be a part of the team that is so committed to helping others.
I am a firm believer that organizations develop their company culture from the top down. Luckily for the Austin Simply Fit community, our team draws inspiration from our amazing owner and leader, Krista Bergeron. She is genuine, compassionate and courageous. She embodies all of the core values we uphold in this company and sets the tone by which we operate. As a member of our leadership team, she inspires me every day, and she has an innate ability to brighten my day with her infectious personality. Whether she’s cheering us on during a lift, raising money for our scholarship fund, or volunteering to help others, she really is one of a kind.
Tell us about your current fitness goals and training:
My goal for the year is to increase my lean muscle mass, lower my body fat and increase my flexibility. As I age, I feel it is more important than ever, to stay ready for any adventures and challenges life throws at me.
What are your passions outside of the gym?
When I’m not training, I love traveling. No matter if it’s a quick camping trip with my wife and dogs or exploring a new country for the first time, I love being able to see the world and meet new interesting people.
I am also extremely competitive. With that being said, sports is another passion of mine. Going head to head with others gives me a huge rush. My favorite sports are football, basketball, baseball and soccer.
On the weekends, I also like to dabble in home improvement projects. I mainly do carpentry, as I love the way you can refinish wood and give it a new lease on life. A little sanding and refinishing can make even the oldest, most worn furniture look new again.
Favorite quote and who said it?
“The road to success and greatness is always paved with consistent hard work. Outwork your competitors, be authentic, and above all, chase your greatness.” – Dwayne Johnson
Click here for John’s simple and delicious healthy chocolate pudding recipe!