Describe your business in one sentence.

One-on-one personal training in private bays or online.

Are you an Islander? How did you decide to open a business on Mercer Island?

I grew up in Alaska and lived for several years in Scotland. I'm now proud to call the Pacific Northwest my home and am equally proud to manage Fitness Together. This business has a long history of serving the Mercer Island community.

Do you remember the moment or time when you told yourself, “I have to do this”?

I got into personal training after a weightlifting accident nearly 20 years ago. I decided I wanted to learn as much as possible about strength training, so I took the personal training certification at the University of Alaska Anchorage, never really thinking I would train. My teachers in the program encouraged me to make it a career, and I was even hired to teach courses at the university right after I graduated from the program.

What makes your business so unique?

There is a real personal touch here that I have not experienced in other facilities. Because there's no waiting around for equipment, we can really focus on clients' needs, and the privacy of our bays makes it more comfortable for everyone from beginner to advanced.

What was your experience adapting to the new COVID reality?

All of our training shifted online during the shutdown, and most of our clients have stuck with us. Now that we’re open [again], we have adopted several measures to ensure everyone's safety, including temperature checks and other screenings and lots and lots of cleaning.

We often say innovation comes from questioning the status quo. Have you uncovered new ways of doing business or launching new products/services that you had not thought of before? How did it work out?

COVID forced us to move online, and I'm proud to say my trainers have risen to that challenge. Many of our clients stayed with online training even while we were open during the last stretch because they felt the workouts were just as effective as in-studio sessions.

If there was a single product, service, or expertise you should be known for, what would you say it is?

Personal training with the emphasis on "personal." We do a fitness assessment before we train, and each session is designed for the individual. No cookie-cutter workouts or WODs here!

Tell us something about your business that would surprise us.

We've been here 12 years and counting!

What is your favorite spot on Mercer Island?

I love that our studio is right next to Mercerdale Park. Climbing those stairs is a killer stress reducer when things get crazy!

Since you’ve been in business on Mercer Island, what have you discovered about Islanders and the Mercer Island community in general?

Mercer Islanders work hard and play hard. (We help them play hard!)

When you are not working, what is your favorite pastime?

My wife and I love hiking with our dogs all over the PNW, especially when there's a good brewery nearby.

If you had to convince a non-Islander to come discover our town, what would you tell them?

Check out the local trails!

Learn more about Fitness Together at www.fitnesstogether.com/mercer-island.