Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Camryn Bukowski. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Camryn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The idea for Goat House Gym started at a book club, believe it or not. My business partner, Kaz Matthews, and I were chatting about life, work, and what was missing in our small town of Philipsburg, Montana. For me, it was the community and connection that comes from being part of a gym — something I deeply missed after moving here. I’d gotten certified as a Personal Trainer through NASM and was running group fitness classes out of my garage. A small but dedicated group began showing up consistently — people who wanted to feel strong, capable, and connected.
Living in a small town, employment options are limited — you can work for the schools, a local business, the county, or go remote. Since moving to the area, I have had a mix of local gigs — cooking at an organic café, arranging flowers at the floral shop, nannying, and freelance writing for the local paper — all while building this tiny fitness community in my garage.
All the while, Kaz was working remotely as a tech developer and needing something more from her employment. At that same book club, she mentioned how unfulfilled she felt in her work and that she’d been thinking about starting a business. I casually said, “What about a gym?” Given the steady growth of my classes and the limitations of my garage setup, it felt like a natural next step — and maybe not such a wild idea after all.
We met again later that week and started mapping it out. The more we talked, the more real it became. We ran the numbers, researched the need, and realized that not only did this idea make sense — it could have a real impact. There wasn’t a single public gym within a 100-mile stretch between Anaconda and Missoula, and our town of 900 sits right in the middle. Granite County has over 3,000 residents, and if we were feeling this need so strongly, we knew others must be, too.
But more than that, we saw the opportunity to build something that fit the heart of this community — something rooted in our love of outdoor adventure and functional strength. Our training philosophy is all about preparing people for life’s adventures — whether that’s hiking, skiing, biking, or just having the energy to play with your kids or feel strong in your day-to-day life. We weren’t just opening a gym — we were building a space that supports real people in doing the things they love.
That blend of community need, personal passion, and a clear gap in the area made it obvious: this was worth doing. And once we saw that, there was no turning back.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Kaz and I have been lucky to share the most perfect, symbiotic business partnership. Kaz is a level-headed dreamer, a tech wiz, a realist, and the brains that hold this entire operation together. I’m the practical, creative optimist with a fitness background and a passion for the client-facing side of gym ownership.
We had just begun our friendship when we went into business together, which I consider a blessing. We’ve grown our business and our friendship alongside each other. I firmly believe that our success is rooted in this truth—plus the fact that we’re both Taurus sun signs, both from Southern California, and share a matching communication style. All of this has allowed us to build a truly awesome business partnership.
Kaz went to UCSB, majored in Political Science, and first came to Philipsburg, Montana, to work for a political nonprofit—ironically based at a remote lake here. She later completed an extension program to become a web developer, worked in Seattle for a few years, and eventually moved back to Philipsburg to work remotely. Kaz is also a world traveler, a dog mom, and now a new mom to 1-year-old Bennett. She got pregnant and opened the gym all during her pregnancy and early motherhood.
Through it all, one thing has always been true about Kaz—she deeply values her personal freedom. She was ready to be her own boss, to call the shots, to control her schedule, and to make a real impact. She’s the administrative powerhouse behind the Goat House Gym—spearheading all things admin, training new front desk employees, and acting as our IT director. Kaz also loves chatting with our members, building a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment.
I, Camryn, am the lead trainer at the Goat House Gym, overseeing all things fitness, events, and culture. Unlike Kaz, I dropped out of college after three semesters, worked at high-end hotels in Colorado and Hawaii, and eventually moved to Salt Lake City to chase my love of snowboarding. I’ve held an odd mix of jobs that never quite made sense together—until now.
I worked in resort spas, served as a wellness concierge in Hawaii organizing community wellness events, and led large catering teams at events like the Sundance Film Festival. I’ve also spent time nannying in every place I’ve lived. Since moving to Philipsburg, I’ve worked as a cook at an organic café, a florist, a freelance writer, and a snowboard instructor. All of those experiences built the skill set that now gives me confidence as a business owner.
The one constant throughout all these chapters has been my love of fitness and nutrition. No matter where I lived or what I was doing, I always had a gym community. I’ve cleaned studios in exchange for memberships, and I’ve always prioritized time for fitness and adventure. For me, fitness is essential—not just for my physical health, but for my mental well-being. I feel my most grounded after a good sweat or summiting a mountain.
When I moved to Philipsburg and missed group fitness deeply, I got certified as a Personal Trainer through NASM and began teaching classes in my garage. I did that for over a year before Kaz and I opened the Goat House Gym.
At the Goat House Gym, I teach Functional Fitness, Box + Burn, Sculpt, and Bootcamp classes, as well as small group and personal training. Small group personal training has become my favorite modality. I lead winter sports training, functional strength, and strength & conditioning programs—and Kaz and I are currently working to bring these programs online.
Together, Kaz and I are driven by our shared love of the outdoors—hiking, skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, running, soccer, softball, river sports, and more. We bring that energy into the gym, encouraging our members to build strength for the life and adventures they love.
This is really what sets us apart from our competitors. Fitness is a highly saturated market, but our focus on fitness for life’s adventures has allowed us to create a clientele that cares more about pushing peaks, paddling rivers, and skiing big mountains than quick fixes or purely aesthetic goals.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Our best source of new clients has always been word of mouth. When our members feel stronger, more confident, and supported, they naturally spread the word—and that’s the most powerful review we could ask for. Client results and satisfaction are our number one marketing tool.
Referrals from our community drive our growth, and we take that seriously. By offering a consistently clean gym, reliable class times, and genuine, high-quality service, we earn our members’ trust—and their referrals. At the end of the day, doing right by our clients is the best strategy we have.
Do you have multiple revenue streams – if so, can you talk to us about those streams and how your developed them?
Currently, our only additional revenue stream is merchandise, but we’re eager to expand in the near future. One of our main goals is to bring our workout programs online and build a connected digital community. Given the size of our gym and our rural location, creating a business that supports long-term, life-changing careers means finding ways to reach new clients beyond our physical space. Expanding into the online space and developing diverse revenue streams is key to our continued growth and impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://goathousegym.com
- Instagram: @goathousegym
- Facebook: @goathousegym
- Youtube: @goathousegym
Image Credits
Eric Bunting – Revealing Earth Photography