A look back at 2024
Chase Morlock
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A Year of Growth, Gratitude, and Big Dreams at Rise
I want to take a moment to start by saying thank you. Thank you to each and every one of you who has been a part of the Rise community. Rise is a truly special place, and it’s special because of you—and the incredible coaches who dedicate themselves to serving you. We love seeing the time and energy you invest in taking care of yourselves, and it’s amazing to witness how that ripples out into your families, your workplaces, and all the activities you enjoy.
I may be biased, but I firmly believe you won’t find a more passionate, dedicated group of coaches than the ones we have here at Rise. So, take a moment to pat yourself on the back for prioritizing your health, and when you see one of our coaches, don’t hesitate to give them a hug or a high-five. They get here early, stay late, and are always thinking about how to support you and help you succeed.
Rise: From Humble Beginnings to a Big Impact
The story of Rise begins in a home garage. Back in the day, Aaron and I were just two friends trying to stay fit after our college sports careers. I had played football at NDSU, and Aaron had played basketball at MSUM. After graduation, we were both driven to pursue our own passions: Aaron in graphic communications, and myself in exercise science. But in 2016, when my dad passed away from colorectal cancer, everything changed.
Witnessing my dad’s battle with cancer, Aaron and I recognized a growing need in the community—a need to help people, especially those between the ages of 40-75, to stay active and maintain their health as they age. We started training my mom and her friends in the garage gym we had originally built for ourselves. That’s how Rise was born. The dream was simple: if we could help even one person avoid what happened to my dad, then it would be worth it.
Since those early days, Rise has moved from that tiny garage into a larger warehouse, and now we’re in a 5,800 square foot space that allows us to better serve our growing community. In 2022, Rise partnered with ETS Performance and handed off our Athlete Performance program to them. Now, we focus exclusively on adults, helping them build strength, boost energy, lose weight, and prevent injuries.
A Powerful Message from Tim Grover
A few months ago, I had the privilege of attending a conference in Chicago with Aaron, where we heard from one of the most legendary trainers in sports, Tim Grover. If you don’t know Tim, he’s the trainer who worked with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and countless other superstars. One thing he said really stuck with me: “We only get so many heartbeats.”
That simple statement made it crystal clear: The time we have is limited, and we need to use it wisely. We can’t control how many heartbeats we have, but what we can control is how we spend that time. What you do in the gym matters. Training helps you stay healthy, active, and mobile for the long run—whether it’s to be there for your kids’ weddings, to go on those family trips, or simply to enjoy life pain-free.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: my dad didn’t get that time. He never got to meet my wife or kids, and that drives me every single day. That’s why we do what we do. It’s why we pour our hearts into this work—so you can have the time to enjoy the things that truly matter. So, be urgent with your health. Don’t wait. I know I’m preaching to the choir—after all, you’re already here, taking the steps to improve your health. But for anyone reading this who’s on the fence, remember: time is precious.
Reflecting on the Year: Wins, Growth, and What’s Next
Here’s a quick look back at some of the amazing things we’ve accomplished together this year:
Launched the Rise blog—check it out if you haven’t yet!
Hired 3 full-time employees and 2 part-time employees.
Introduced weekly recipes that get sent to members via email.
Added an InBody machine for more accurate health assessments.
Rolled out a consultation process for new members.
Reached a milestone with two members hitting 1000 workouts—a first in Rise history!
Launched Summit, our personal training program in a small group setting.
Revamped our internship program to develop the next generation of fitness professionals.
Created our private Facebook group with educational resources, motivation, and success stories.
Ran the 2nd Annual Holiday Accountability Challenge.
Hosted fun events like Ladies’ Night and Guys’ Night Out.
And let’s not forget all the amazing member successes—from weight loss to strength gains, to completing first 5Ks, triathlons, marathons, and beyond. We absolutely love seeing all of you achieve so many awesome goals.
Why We Believe in Summit
Over the years, I’ve been thinking about how we can help even more people. After attending several conferences and speaking with other gym owners across the country, I returned with a new vision: we could do more. And that’s when Summit was born. It’s the evolution of our mission to be the leaders in this industry and help more people live healthier lives.
Summit is our personal training program in a small group setting.
Summit allows us to:
Individualize each person’s program, making it safer, more effective, and more enjoyable.
Guarantee that each coach works with no more than 6 people at a time, ensuring more coaching attention.
Provide more nutrition support and accountability to help you achieve your goals faster.
Have a less intimidating training environment for beginners to get started in.
In short, Summit is the next level. It’s the future of how we can help more people live healthier, longer lives, and we’re incredibly excited about what it offers.
What’s Coming Next: Better and Better
We’re just getting started, and there’s so much more to come in 2024. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s on the horizon:
New equipment to enhance your training experience, starting with replacing the old dumbbells.
More updates to our app to help you track progress and stay motivated.
A new reward system, Rise Rewards, to recognize your hard work.
New Rise Strong Boards to celebrate success.
And many other exciting things that aren't yet ready to be announced...
A Challenge to You
If Rise has had a positive impact on your life, we ask for your help in one of these ways so that we can reach even more people:
Refer a friend: Do you know someone who could benefit from what we do here? Grab a free consultation card from any of our coaches and reach out to them. Encourage them to get started, just like you did.
Leave a review: If you haven’t already, please leave us a review. It helps us get the word out and reach more people who need our services.
Wear your Rise gear proudly around town. It’s a great conversation starter, and you never know who might need what we offer.
Thank You for Choosing Rise
Our motto for 2025 is “Standard Over Feeling.” It’s about showing up, doing the work, and sticking to the process—even when you don’t feel like it. I hope you’ve already received your Rise shirt with this mantra on it as a thank you for being part of our journey this year.
Thank you for trusting us with your health and fitness. We know there are many options out there, and it means the world to us that you’ve chosen Rise. We don’t take your commitment lightly, and we are honored to be a part of your fitness journey. One of the hardest parts about working at a gym is having to say goodbye to old members who have moved onto a different chapter of their life. To all of our former members, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey, and we miss you! To all of our current members, we are so excited to continue working with you to reach your goals. And to anyone reading this who may be thinking about checking out Rise, we hope we get the chance to meet you very soon.
We have so much in store to keep making the experience at Rise even better, and we look forward to helping you achieve a stronger, healthier lifestyle in the year ahead.
Here’s to a great 2024, and all that’s to come in 2025!