Today we’d like to introduce you to Staci Russell.
Hi Staci, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Thank you for the opportunity to share a little bit about my world. In 2006 my husband, Bill, started doing CrossFit workouts with his fellow martial arts students and quickly realized it would become the next ‘big thing’. He also expressed interest in actually opening a CrossFit gym business of our own. After plenty of research and obtaining our CrossFit Trainer Certification, we were approved as this areas very first CrossFit Affiliate in April of 2007. We began doing free workouts in the MetroParks every Saturday morning at 9:00am. Week after week our crowd kept growing. By December 2007 we signed a lease and opened our gym in a building in Lakewood, Ohio. We moved to a larger location in Rocky River, OH in 2012.
CrossFit Cleveland was started as a hobby to hopefully add to our retirement plan. Both Bill and I had other businesses, and our founding partners also had jobs/careers of their own. By late 2008, Bill decided to leave a career path in the computer industry to devote himself to full-time training our clients at CrossFit Cleveland. We opened a second location in Bedford Heights behind my Court Reporting Business. I eventually sold my business and went into a full time, as well.
Over the past 15 years, we have helped thousands of people get started on a new path to look and feel better with a new fitness routine. I have expanded our business by also offering habit-based nutrition coaching, helping our clients reach that next level of fitness through better nutrition and exercise combined.
For those who can’t or do not wish to go to a gym, we offer a Remote/At-Home Strength & Conditioning Program designed to get people stronger and leaner as they get older, even after injury or surgery. It consists of joint-friendly exercises with very little equipment requirements. In short, we help support individuals to get in the best shape of their lives!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Haha, no, it has not been a smooth road all the time. Owning your own business always comes with challenges, but the rewards are far greater when you are helping people achieve their goals.
Just a few struggles: In short, a few obstacles were that our original location became too small, so securing a new larger location was not easy…… Covid shutdowns and pivoting our business, literally overnight, to Zoom classes to continue to serve our clients. Finding qualified coaches is a continual struggle, but we’ve done well by developing new coaches from our membership. Many other CrossFit gyms have opened after us, creating some unique challenges. We’re fortunate to have other CrossFit gym owners in our area who are respectful of each other.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about CrossFit Cleveland?
Since 2007 we have been changing people lives. We strive to be better in the gym so we can live our lives better outside of the gym. We meet each individual where they are. We teach proper form and technique in our group classes. With habit-based nutrition, each person can work on what is important to them. There is not one-size-fits-all in the gym or any nutrition program.
We are well known for being one of the friendliest gyms in town with a strong community of like-minded people. As I mentioned in a previous question, we offer small group classes, personal training, at-home programs, habit-based nutrition coaching, and accountability. One very popular way for people to start with us is in our Total Transformation Program. If someone wants to give us a quick try, we have CrossFit LITE classes on Saturdays at 11:00am at our location in Rocky River. You first visit is free. Simply contact us in advance to register for a class. Thank you again.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crossfitcleveland.com
- Instagram: @stacirussellcf – @crossfitcleveland
- Facebook: Facebook.com/StaciGrossbergRussell – @crossfit Cleveland
