Let me begin with the reason we started our Ampersand. We opened our gym in 2014, but our journey into fitness began in 2012. I was a relatively fit desk worker who loved going to the gym, but I always struggled with the typical gym environment. The hardest part was feeling like I wasn’t making much progress, constantly chasing the latest fad—remember the original Jack3d? My lack of consistency stemmed from not having a mentor or coach guiding me. At the same time, I was stuck in a job I disliked. The only highlight was working out with my wife after work. Little did I know, this routine would change our lives forever.
The regular gym environment and I never quite aligned or created a space for true growth. If you look at today’s gym culture, it’s hard to ignore the influencers and the mirror selfies that make it feel more like a performance than a place to improve. That’s tough if you’re someone who already feels self-conscious or judged.
When I first tried CrossFit, it wasn’t a great experience. I walked in on a random Saturday, encouraged by a friend who swore by it. But from the start, it felt more like the coach was trying to show me how out of shape I was rather than actually guide me. The workout had kettlebell swings, box jumps, and a 200-meter run. I had no clue where to run or even how far 200 meters was. The instructions were unclear, and I felt lost. I remember them saying, “If you need to puke, there’s the trash can.” I laughed inside—I’d never puked during a workout in my life. But that day, I was wrong.
After that day, I told my friend he was crazy and swore I’d never try CrossFit again. But after some months, my friend and mentor encouraged me to give it another shot, insisting that I’d had a bad experience. So, I reached out to a coach running a garage gym.
The difference was night and day. The coach genuinely cared about my progress, and the class felt welcoming. I owe that small garage gym and its culture for igniting my passion for CrossFit.
Fast forward a couple of years, and we had the opportunity to open our gym. When our old gym closed, we faced a decision: take the risk to start our own or continue in jobs we weren’t passionate about. We chose to pursue our passion and make a change.
Opening our gym was tough, especially in the early years. With the support of mentors like Chris Cooper and Josh Martin from Two-Brain Business, we began to find our footing. Chris encouraged me to take some of our clients out for coffee and ask them a simple question: “Why did you choose us? Why do you come to Ampersand?”
I thought I knew the answers—great programming, top-notch coaching, ample parking, brand new equipment, and hard workouts. But what our clients shared surprised me:
“This is the best hour of my day.”
“This is the only place where someone tells me I’m doing a good job and that they’re proud of me.”
“This is the only place where I can shut off my brain for an hour and forget about the stress in my life.”
Our perspective shifted immediately.
We realized we weren’t serving our members in the way they needed. This led us to clarify our values, which we created from the beginning but have been manifested clearly over the years through the amazing community and the team we have at Ampersand:
- Be Authentic
- Stay Humble
- Work Hard
- Support Others
- Be Happy
Our mission became clear: we wanted Ampersand to be a completely different environment than the typical gym—a place where people felt comfortable, heard, and at home. We’ve made mistakes along the way, but we’ve learned and adapted. The most important thing is that we’re never satisfied; we strive to make Ampersand better each year.
I am proud to say we have grown our team to have the best, most knowledgeable, and invested group of people I’ve ever met. Together, we’ve seen hundreds of individuals come through our doors and reach their goals. We’ve witnessed lives change—entire families improving their health, friendships formed, couples meeting and getting married, and individuals getting off medications. We’ve seen people become more comfortable and confident in their own skin, and the impact we’ve made on our community is something we take immense pride in.
We’ve made fitness approachable, effective, and results-oriented, with a strong emphasis on accountability in a community atmosphere. We named our gym Ampersand to represent all the people we serve—moms, dads, business professionals, nurses, first responders, stay-at-home parents, and anyone seeking confidence and support.
So, if you’re reading this and have been through it all—the fad diets, the gimmicky programs, and the expensive supplements—we’re here for you. We offer real support based on real results from real people just like you. There’s nothing flashy about what we do; we focus on good habits, nutrition, effective workouts, accountability, and being part of the best community this valley has to offer. That’s why we’ve been voted best gym three years running.
Thank you to everyone who believed in us and supported us, to all the people we get to see every day, and to our incredible team for being so devoted. We wouldn’t be here without you.
