Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Meeker.
Hi Brian, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We started 11 years ago. I was 49 and looking for a change from corporate America. I had a long competitive career, 5 years on the national team. I also have been a FIG-rated judge for the past 24 years. My neighbors frequently asked me why there wasn’t a gymnastics club inside the Twin City’s Beltline. All of my neighbors had to drive a long way to get to the nearest reputable club for gymnastics training. I decided to open a club in St. Louis Park to meet this underserved market. My plan was to focus on recreational gymnastics, providing gymnastics training in a neighborhood setting.
This philosophy of recreational gymnastics training was included in our team program. We don’t allow anyone to train more than 12 hours a week. We want gymnasts to have well-rounded lives. This is not by any means the only or the best way to run a gymnastics program. It is simply the model we created and followed and it has been good for us.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with anything in life, there are struggles. We struggled to build our brand the first few years, but since then have hit our stride. More recently I have purchased a building for our club and that has brought up some new and unique struggles. Mainly working with the city to get the necessary permits.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We focus on a “gym around the corner” neighborhood feel. We strive to make sure all are welcome in our gym. We offer scholarships to those who need them. We also want all our gymnasts to lead a well-rounded life, so we do not allow them to train more than 12 hours a week. My son competed in division one gymnastics, he trained 20 hours a week at his club. He did not fit our model, so, even though I owned a gymnastics club he trained at a different club. I don’t think there is a right or wrong model, this is simply the model I chose to create.
I think the “gym around the corner” feel has been very successful for our club. We have 80 plus kids on team, but they are competing using high school gymnastics rules and there is more of a focus on enjoying gymnastics and competing overtraining to earn a scholarship or win at all costs mentality.
Our recreational program has been very strong and well regarded mainly because we have great coaches who make learning fun.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a competitive gymnast since I was 10. This shaped most of my upbringing. I had the chance to travel a lot for gymnastics and also received a full scholarship to the University of MN.
Thus, I have always had a competitive streak in me. I also benefited from the discipline need to become scholarship athlete.
Pricing:
- Competitive pricing for top-tiered gymnastics training in the Twin Cities
Contact Info:
- Email: Brian@kenwoodgym.com
- Website: Kenwoodgymnasticscenter.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/kenwoodgym?utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/KenwoodGymnastics/
