On a Mission

People always ask me how I started in the fitness industry, so I thought I should start with a little of my story.I grew up in Northern Jersey and first came to the area to attend Marist College in 1966. I decided to try something new so I went out for the Marist crew team. To my great annoyance, I was cut.

Looking back I don’t blame the coach. I was marginally fit, but being cut so incensed me, I began working out with a vengeance. When I tried out again in the spring I made the first freshman boat and we placed third in the nation.
I loved crew and kept working out to improve myself. To my amazement I was elected team captain in my junior year, then again as a senior. Being a shy kid I wondered how I could lead anyone! It soon became clear to me when you are on a mission you are passionate about, people will follow you! This changed my life and focused me on following my passion.

After graduation I very fortunately stumbled into a job with a new startup company called Nautilus. After a few years with them, I decided to open my own Nautilus fitness center. My wife, Sandy, and I began in a tiny 600-square-foot rented space, where we began helping people improve their fitness and heal themselves with exercise.

My mission with future articles is to help support all those who are working to make regular exercise part of their lives!