Interview with Brett Wertman, owner and director of programs
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: I discovered CrossFit in 2006 while serving active duty in the United States Air Force. I used CrossFit as a way to prepare myself and my fellow airmen for the Air Force physical fitness test as well as general physical preparedness. After completing 10 years on active duty, I moved to Colorado from Texas, with my fiancé, to pursue a degree in exercise science at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Working part-time as a CrossFit trainer, I met (and trained) my future business partner, James Merchant. Over the course of a year, and many training sessions, we put together a plan to provide a top of the line CrossFit facility that everyone can afford. With James’ background in business and his accounting degree from Virginia Tech, it became apparent that he and I had complementary skills to make our business model work.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: We have distinguished ourselves by only bringing on the most well-educated and highly qualified trainers in the business. On top of that, we really do have the largest CrossFit facility in the city. We have more than 9,000 square feet of workout space, so workouts never feel cramped. We have constantly varied workouts that incorporate functional movements performed at a high intensity. That means our clients don’t get bored with the workouts, their bodies get prepared for real life events, and the community helps keep everyone motivated and on track. You can’t argue with results, and we make it easy to track your progress.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: The most rewarding part of this job is seeing the changes that take place in a person’s life as they embrace the lifestyle changes that we encourage. Changes don’t happen overnight, but over time, our clients notice they are shedding fat and gaining strength.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: Our biggest challenge is letting people know what CrossFit is. CrossFit is a fun and effective way to get a full body workout and it’s designed for people of all fitness backgrounds. Every workout is tailored to the individual to ensure constant progress.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: Most people are familiar with the idea of group fitness classes. What they don’t realize is that while CrossFit is a group fitness class, it most closely resembles having a personal trainer. Each class is led by a certified CrossFit trainer. Their job is to help individuals modify the workouts according to their abilities, to ensure movements are performed properly and safely, and to help motivate. We find that people are also surprised by how helpful having a supportive community is to maintaining health and wellness goals. Almost no one accomplishes goals on their own.
Profile
Business: CrossFit Barkada
Address: 360 S. Potomac St.
Hours: 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Founded: 2015
Contact: 720-588-2325,
Employees: 6
