My main interest has become informing and educating people on health, fitness and (for those who I can't cater to) how to look for the "right" Fitness Professional! It is important to know that CSCS is the only certification that requires a 4-year degree to take their certification test.
Music
Depending on the mood, all music can be acceptable at one point or another, but can do without the rap crap....
Movies
I am always a sucker for a good comedy!
Television
For someone who is looking to watch TV on their own time...
Pumping Iron
Prefontaine
The Natural
I have many other ideas for motivational and documentary films!
Books
Game-Changer by A. G. Lafley and Ram Charan
Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Heroes
Those who never let you down are heroes. Those who always make you question if there is something behind their generosity are role-models and they will usually let you down in the end!
Iowa State University
Ames, IA
Graduated: N/A
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: Exercise and Sport Science
Minor: Sport Management
Clubs: Baseball
1999 to 2002
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA
Graduated: N/A
Student status: Alumni
Degree: None
Major: Liberal Arts
Clubs: Baseball
1998 to 1999
Prairie High School
Cedar Rapids, IA
Graduated: 1998
Student status: Alumni
Degree: High School Diploma
Major: Architectural Drafting
Clubs: Baseball, Basketball, Track, Cross Country
Taking the road that started in 2002 when I graduated from Iowa State University with my degree in Exercise & Sport Science, I started to work at Gold's Gym in Coralville, Iowa. In 2002 I took my initial training test through International Sports and Science Association (ISSA) and passed successfully. I decided I would take my knowledge to Cedar Rapids (where I was born and raised) where I became a fitness professional at Aspen Athletic Clubs. I opened GoldenTrainer.com on March 4, 2003 as a means of communication for friends, family and clients who moved to other parts of the country and world! In 2004, I completed the curriculum and passed my test through ISSA to become a Specialist in Performance Nutrition. Since, I have made sure we carry ONLY the highest quality supplements on the market and WILL NOT carry products I would not put in my own body. I know this has cost me various customers, but I can sleep every night knowing my ethical and healthy practices are being followed by those who I serve! I take A LOT of pride in serving people as individuals and not numbers and in return I receive A LOT of praise and have many patrons who know they can email, call or stop in at anytime and get their questions answered. Other companies will turn the phone's off if it isn't 9-5 and will not respond within 1 hour, let alone 24 hours to emails. On January 15, 2005, I became the first person in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to open a private 1-on-1 training studio when I opened GoldenTrainer Performance Studio because of several complaints from my clients about having to deal with people in the gym setting who were sitting and talking on equipment, gaucking at them while they train or just having to deal with those who were not taking the gym atmosphere serious! Since, I have a much more serious clientelle made of everyday people, athletes, bodybuilders and stay-at-home mom's. For those who are not there for serious reasons, they don't stick around long. For those who want to see results, I continue phone, email and other forms of contact after their training ends! In 2007 I passed the test of becoming a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) to set myself further apart from the rest because of their requirement of a legitimate 4-year degree and transcript to even take their test. To the present, I continue to spend much of the year taking continued education tests, attending seminars and classes both in and out of my GoldenTrainer Performance Studio to be sure I am able to pass up-to-date information on to all of my clients. If you have questions or are looking for recommendations in your hometown for fitness professionals, I have become acquainted with others in our profession around the world and would love to recommend others to you! If you are a fitness professional or facility owner, we offer extra discounts and wholesale all products in bulk! We are always looking to network with others and feel that when competition comes together, it only makes us better! Right now, we are also looking for other Fitness Professionals in the area with National and International Certifications to train at GoldenTrainer Performance in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and also looking for motivated individuals who are interested in franchising outside of Cedar Rapids with supplements and/or training facilities.
Who I'd like to meet: Professionals! I personally feel there is becoming a large gap between "trainers" and "Professionals." I have found that there are many "trainers" around the country that lack a solid educational base and take advantage of peoples impulse to increase their fitness level! Many gyms and trainers list education that is not valid or misrepresent themselves with the hopes their potential clients will not do the research. Unfortunately, many take their "trainers" education for face value and do not check into the validity or truth behind what they are being told. (I have all my personal achievements framed and hanging at the studio). This has led to many people being unhappy with their results and increased injuries in the industry with people being required to do workouts that are not personalized to their abilities. My new mission has become to raise awareness of this and make an attempt to rid these people from the industry and increase the value of those who do things ethically. Many people have become interested in the "price-per-session" instead of the value those "Professionals" that spend the thousands of dollars a year for continued education bring to the table. Everyone should be able to do the math of the trainer that undercuts the industry (by $3 per session or more) by getting a part-time job at the local gym because they are not spending a penny on continued education while others may spend up to $15,000 a year in education, travel and material costs. It will also show in the end results of the clients program from one trainer (or Professional) to the next!
GoldenTrainer.com Performance Supplements's Friend Space (Top 25)
GoldenTrainer.com Performance Supplements has 215 friends.
Things are going very well! I'm keeping busy like always with work. I'm currently in a fast-track training program that rarely has me at my own store but is going to help me get my own (hopefully) in the next couple years! How are things with you? Did you have a good birthday?
I HAD A GREAT BIRTHDAY! I HAVE LEARNED THAT IT'S NOT THE YEARS IN MY LIFE THAT COUNT BUT THE LIFE IN MY YEARS THAT COUNT! LIFE IS TOO SHORT NOT TOO ENJOY THE RIDE! :)
thanks bro, i've been trying to get over this sickness that everyones gettin. i need to get back in the gym so i can try to get my pump on and look like you! hope training is going well bro
Thank you sweety! I am not really doing anything for my birthday this year besides getting older! How is everything going for you back in CR? Hope all is well!!
thanks Bryan..and congrats to you..i have seen wedding pics on myspace here and there, how beautiful. missed ya at the reunion?!? hope things are going well. have a great weekend!!
