Business: Beyond Measure Fitness Training
Address: 600 Industrial Drive, Naperville
Phone/website: 331-231-2606; www.beyondmeasuretraining.com
Co-owner: Steve Hlavac, 37, of Yorkville, owns this business with wife Kate
Years in business: 14
What does your business do? “The biggest thing for me, with fitness, people can be intimidated. It can be overwhelming. I try to change their perception of fitness and to give them a positive experience with movement, with exercise. Oftentimes, people doubt they can get better. Our goal is to give people hope then can change that in the first session,” Hlavac said.
What did you study in college for this? “Exercise science, physiology. I have all the certifications.”
What happens when a new client walks in? “We see where you’re at. We take you through a mobility assessment to make sure nothing causes pain. Learn about how you move. That gives a general sense of how and where to start with you exercise wise. Then we start. I like to say ‘frustratingly simple.’ All the stuff in here, there’s skills like anything else. Like playing the piano. The simpler the better. … We meet each person where they’re at and slowly progress.
“It’s about figuring out what you can do and building on that over time. … Every session is different. Every person is different. That’s what makes it fun for all of our coaches. They’re certified and passionate about what they do.”
How large is each class? “We keep it really small, like personal training. Up to five people at the same time. … The benefit is community. It makes it more fun for the members. … People know your name. It helps.”
What are your hours? “We start early at 5 a.m. The last session is at 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday, the last session is at 5 p.m. Saturday we have 7 to 11 a.m. Closed on Sunday.”
What’s the demographics? “The average age is 50. We work with people well into their 70s.”
How many trainers work here? “Six.”
Does your wife work here? “She manages the business from home. We met at North Central (College in Naperville). She played softball. We started dating her senior year. Our son is 4 and our daughter is 18 months old. … It’s fun.”
Why do you love your job? “It would be hard for me to find something more important for people than to help them take care of their own health. For us, that’s really powerful. We see ourselves as preventive health care. … So much chronic disease in this country can be avoided.
“My dad died of lung cancer. Heavy smoker. The suffering I had to go through with him, that was avoidable. If we can help people avoid those situations and live long, full lives, that is important to us.”
Why focus on fitness? “I was an athlete. Not the biggest or fastest. I had to work hard for everything I achieved. I fell in love with the (training) process.”
What about competition? “In a 10-mile radius from this address, there are 238 gyms or fitness centers. … We are honest and real with people. … We’re not concerned with competition. Eighty-three percent of the population does not belong to a gym. … There’s no shortage of a market out there.”
What’s the background? “I started in a garage in 2012. … I played baseball and football at North Central. One of my baseball teammates was Sam Carius. He was the son of Al Carius, who just passed away last year. Legendary cross country and track coach at North Central. … Sam found out I was doing some training in a friend’s half garage. … I had eight to 10 people showing up. Ran out of space. Sam offered me their garage. I don’t know if his parents were aware. … I spent all my money on turning that space into an actual gym.
“Back in 2012 there was a school teacher who was killed. He was my best friend and roommate, Shaun Wild. Totally senseless tragedy. … He was stabbed to death at Frankie’s Blue Room. … Shaun broke up a fight. The guy turned around and stabbed Shaun in the heart. … Shaun was the best person I ever knew. A role model, my best friend, like a brother to me. … The colors here are black and gold because those were his high school colors in Wisconsin.”
What do you charge? “We’re in the $40 to $55 range per session.”
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Spend at least five years learning everything that is required to run said business. … You have to understand sales, marketing, finance and management.”
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact him at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.
