We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jena Franz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jena below.

Jena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

Uplift Boulder serves those who might usually feel underserved in traditional big box gyms for a variety of reasons. The underserved in my eyes are broken into three groups: – Female identifying bodies
– Beginners who are overwhelmed with where to start when it comes to the gym
– those who feel they don’t have a “gym” body

This can all be broken down into safety. What I have heard from all three of these groups is the lack of safety they have felt or experienced in other gym settings. Safety and inclusion are big pieces of the company culture here at Uplift.

As a female, being co-owner of a gym where most members are female-identifying is incredible to see. Having female identifying members come up to me after class and thank me for curating a space that is SAFE and SUPPORTIVE to allow them to step into their strength, makes my day, every single time. Choosing to focus on the positive side here- places like this DO exist and I am grateful to show up every day knowing that we continue to help everyone feel safe and welcome here.

For those who feel uncertain where to start when it comes to lifting weights- we are proud to share that our programming is scalable and our classes are beginner friendly. Strength training is for everyone. We can make things harder for someone who needs that stimulus and we can scale things down for those who are just getting into lifting weights. However, programming is nothing without incredible coaches to execute. Our coaches all hold backgrounds in strength training, are keen on continuing education and have the all star personalities that differentiate between good and GREAT coaches.

Uplift Boulder is welcoming! Our community is my favorite part. These humans are beyond supportive- it makes my heart explode when I see a newbie in class alongside pro-athletes or more seasoned lifters and everyone is encouraging one another. We are a safe space for all bodies to come lift weights and discover just how strong and capable they are. I have had female identifying members share they are finally wearing the crop top or the shorts to workout because they feel empowered and safe here. Comments like this make my day every single time. I believe those who are feeling they don’t have a “gym” body are pleasantly surprised when they take a class here at Uplift and are instantly welcomed by other members. We are all here working on the same thing, ourselves.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Growing up, I was lucky enough to have a family that prioritized physical activity and exercise. My early years of being active gave me the opportunity to compete at a collegiate level. I attended Winona State University, where I majored in Exercise Science and competed on the Track & Field team in the Pole Vault. Unfortunately, my collegiate career would be cut short due to a back injury.
After my track career ended, I found myself spending more and more time in the weight room. I would actually hang out there. Once I finished my undergrad, my interest around exercise and how to help people continued to grow. That led me to pursuing a Master’s degree in Leadership for Sports Management while interning for Winona State’s Football and Softball teams. Did I mention I was also personal training Winona States faculty/staff members and students as well?

While I loved working with teams my true hearts desire is helping individuals feel stronger, recover from injury and feel capable and confident to pursue the activities they love through personal training. I remember one of my very first clients at WSU, a female in her late 60s with vertigo and on a mission to lift weights for the first time so she can feel stronger and more capable to go on her birding trips. She initially was having issues hiking and lifting her binoculars up. We trained together for a couple of years and she was able to pursue her passion of getting out in nature and checking out all the birds on her long trips. Bonus points for her sharing that our training also helped her be a better grandmother as she was now able to keep up with the kiddos. Stories like this stay with me, even almost a decade later- shout out to Carol!

Fresh after graduation, I originally came to came to Boulder for a visit and found myself falling in love with everything Boulder had to offer. I found work as a personal trainer and met my now co-owner, Devin. We shared the same interest and values around fitness and soon was presented an opportunity of a lifetime: Gym owners. Devin and I officially partnered to become the owners of what is now Uplift Boulder in August 2021. We have met amazing people throughout the process, and I am grateful for the opportunity to wake up every day and help the Boulder Community be strong and capable through strength training.

I want Boulder to know that Uplift Boulder is here to offer a safe space for EVERYONE to lift weights. If you are a beginner or more seasoned, Uplift Boulder programming is scalable. We believe strength training is for everyone! Regardless of your level of athleticism – WE GOT YOU! Whether it be: Hiking, snowboarding, running or any of the other lovely outdoor activities Colorado has to offer-or keeping up with the grandkids, tending to the garden and maintaining your independence, Uplift Boulder offers small group classes and personal training to help members reach their goals in a fun, community-based setting.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Uplift Boulder has been blessed with an absolutely incredible referral network. Most of our leads are word of mouth. Referrals are every business owners dream and we are so lucky to have members who are so passionate about sharing their awesome gym experience with their loved ones.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Devin and I met back in the fall of 2016. We were both personal trainers at a gym. one of my first days there he came up and introduced himself and we became friends. He then invited me to join in him regular business meetings where we would talk personal training business and hopefully learn how to be better personal trainers- this often happen over pizza or ice cream.

I left that gym and started working at a different gym. We remained in touch but our business meetings fizzled out.

Fast forward 4 years, we were presented the opportunity to buy a gym. We did and Uplift Boulder was established!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.upliftboulder.com
• Instagram: @jenarationfitness AND @upliftboulder
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@upliftboulder

Image Credits
@LarissaJohnsonPhotography @ALOCMedia