Conversations with Luke Schroeder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Luke Schroeder. 

Hi Luke, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My primary career has been as a manufacturing and operations professional. I have a talent for driving Operational Excellence and a love for developing successful teams. This has allowed me to enjoy a successful and growing career spanning multiple industries. Over the course of the last 16 years, I’ve has held various Operations and Manufacturing leadership roles in the Aerospace, Medical Device, and Automotive industries. 

Originally from Indiana, my family and I relocated to Cincinnati almost 5 years ago and have fallen in love with it. My wife Megan and I have 2 wonderful daughters named Ava (13) and Penelope (9). 

A decade ago, my wife and I became devoted to healthy living, at that time primarily via the conversion to a whole foods omnivorous diet free from processed and refined foods. This had a significantly positive impact on our lives and led me down a path for greater health optimization. That’s when, roughly 2 years ago, I found Starting Strength and instantly became hooked. 

Starting Strength is a strength training methodology centered around a number of basic fundamental (and scientifically proven) principles. Examples of those being…all organisms respond to the stress-recovery-adaptation cycle, strength is the most important physical adaptation we can make for ourselves because it affects our ability to do everything else better in life, normal human movement patterns performed over the longest effective range of motion (thus using the most muscle mass) incrementally loaded using a barbell is the most effective method for driving a strength adaptation. 

A year ago, I became significantly motivated to own my business in order to provide myself with more independence and freedom, but I also knew that I wanted to do something that I was passionate about and that would serve those around me by helping them improve the quality of their lives. I came across the Starting Strength Gyms franchise model around that time and knew immediately that it was the perfect fit. It checked all the boxes for me. 

Starting Strength Gyms launched in 2019 as a group strength training studio model built entirely around the Starting Strength method and program which is detailed extensively in the book “Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training” written by Mark Rippetoe. Everything done in the gym is programmed and coached by a Starting Strength Coach…the most rigorous coaching credential in the strength coaching and personal training industry. As an individual new to business ownership, it was reliving to find a franchise team as talented, passionate, and supportive as the Starting Strength Gyms team. 

I couldn’t be more excited about bringing a Starting Strength gym to Cincinnati. I look forward to building a place where people at all stages of their training journey can learn how to apply the single most effective program for strength development and, ultimately, make huge improvements in their lives. It’s simple, hard, and effective. I firmly believe that strength is for everyone and I’m excited to be a part of the new fitness industry where focus is placed on results and long-term physiological changes, not flavor of the month fads and short-term benefits. 

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?
The process has been relatively smooth and I have the franchise team to thank for most of that. There have been a few challenges related to material availability for our build-out and equipment, but thus far we’ve managed to work thru those issues. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an operations professional that has worked my entire career thus far in manufacturing. I have a knack for process improvement, team building and development, and managing dynamic change activities. I’m most proud of the many individuals that I’ve helped develop into strong and successful leaders throughout my career. I find that to be the greatest responsibility that a leader has, the development and support of their team members. 

My transition in gym ownership represents a stark change from my previous work, but the skillsets required to be successful are still the same. 

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
A good mentor, above all else, will care enough about you to give you feedback, good and bad. Feedback is the most important gift you can receive, even though it can be tough to hear at times. Seek out individuals that operate with a high degree of character and integrity. Search for those that care about you enough to provide you with what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. 

Pricing:

• 3x/week training for $24 a session, billed monthly at $315
• 2/week training for $32 a session, billed monthly at $275
• 1x/week training for $43 a session, billed monthly at $185
• Semi-private 1 on 1 billed at $185 per session

Contact Info:

• Email: lschroeder@startingstrengthgyms.com
• Website: https://cincinnati.startingstrengthgyms.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingstrengthcincinnati/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SSCincy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AasgaardCoStartingStrength
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/starting-strength-cincinnati-west-chester-township?osq=starting+strength