Today we’d like to introduce you to Donald Emmerich.
Donald, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My husband and I have both been involved in the health and fitness industry collectively for over 50 years. We both started as personal fitness trainers at a very young age and worked our way up from Fitness Directors to General Managers of big box gyms. When COVID hit and we were both furloughed from our jobs due to the closures of gyms across the nation, we decided to go up to our vacation home in Bend, OR and ride out the virus until we were called back to work in San Francisco. After six months in Bend, we fell in love with the city, the people, and all the outdoor activities available year round. We decided to post our resumes online and see if we could find work in Central OR. Someone from F45 Training company contacted me and suggested that we entertain the idea of owning our own boutique F45 Training studio. After countless due diligence we decided to open up our own F45 Training studio on the south east side of Bend and haven’t looked back since. Almost five years later we are still going strong with a fantastic studio manager Casey McCool and an eclectic collection of coaches, along with our awesome community of members. We are so thrilled to be a part of the F45 franchise!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Having opened in the fall of 2021 in the midst of the pandemic and following the then OR state mandate in regards to mask wearing in places of physical activity, we struggled to build a robust enough membership base. People would not join unless everyone wore a mask throughout the entire class or if they had to wear a mask at all. But we proceeded forward to deliver excellent preprogrammed workouts provided by exercise physiologists in Australia and instructed by nationally certified personal trainers we were able to attract enough members to survive.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
After graduating from NYU in 1987 with a degree in theatre I set out to becoming a professional actor in NYC. Being an avid gym goer one of my actor colleagues suggested that I become a personal trainer at her studio in SOHO to supplement my income. I fell in love with training and after working for a handful of gyms I set out on my own to be a personal trainer going to the homes of NYC socialites. I built up a successful business and a niche clientele until being cast in a production of Romeo and Juliet in Los Angeles. I thought I was going to LA for just three months but one opportunity lead to another and I stayed 8 years in LA. Eventually I ended up in capital formation raising money for start up companies that led me to San Francisco after the first dot bomb. Years went by until my Catholic Priest asked me ” What is it you do again Donald?” To which I explained to him and he then said “So you make rich people richer”. Then the light bulb went off in my head and I decided to go back to something that I always enjoyed and helped people live longer, look and feel better and build both muscles and confidence, the health and fitness industry.
What are your plans for the future?
Looking forward to celebrating our fifth year anniversary at F45 Training Bend West. Continue to grow our community of members and gain a stronger presence in the Bend community. I have returned to acting and this time in the vibrant community theatre scene in Central OR. This summer I will be performing with The Greenhouse Cabaret in a production of Tony Kushner’s Tony Award winning, Pulitzer Price winning play Angels in America.
Pricing:
- $89 limited memberships up to $199 unlimited month to month memberships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://F45training.com/bendwest
- Instagram: F45_training_bendwest
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/f45training_bendwest
