Choosing a gym in Rochester: what to look for before you join

John is a father, coach, and the founder of Ace Athletics. Family and faith sit at the center of his life, and Rochester is the community he calls home. He enjoys coaching his daughters’ softball and being part of the moments that make family life meaningful.

Outside Ace, you might find him watching the Vikings or the Wild, golfing, fishing, or exploring Minnesota’s woods and trails. He loves the state’s seasons and the chance to slow down outdoors. Time with his kids, Kelly, and the people closest to him matters deeply.

John played hockey at competitive levels and was a four-sport athlete in high school. Sports gave him an early appreciation for discipline, preparation, and the effort it takes to improve. He learned to keep working when things were difficult and to take responsibility for his part in the outcome.

That background still influences how he coaches strength and sports performance. A clear goal gives the work direction; consistent practice and adjustments help you move toward it.

John has spent 15 years in the fitness industry, with experience in Minnesota and Texas. He also spent nearly 10 years owning and managing supplement stores, working closely with people on their training and nutrition goals.

He is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and NASM Certified Nutrition Coach, with college nutrition coursework. His approach draws on that education and on years of listening to clients, learning what gets in their way, and helping them follow through.

John worked the store seven days a week. He worked holidays and missed birthdays. After selling it, the lesson that stayed with him was simple: you do not get that time back.

The work was not worth missing those precious days with his family. That realization changed how he thinks about ambition and balance. Working toward something important should leave room for the people and moments that make your life worth building.

It is a perspective he brings to coaching, too. A training goal needs a place in your life alongside your family, relationships, and responsibilities.

John and Kelly have worked hard to build their family and Ace. Their journey has required patience, sacrifice, and a willingness to learn as they went. John’s faith and love for his family give that work purpose.

Overcoming challenges has taught him to adapt, ask for support, and keep taking the next step. He understands why starting again can be hard. When a client loses momentum, he wants to help them find a way forward they can act on.

John starts by understanding your goal and your starting point. From there, he works backward to the training, nutrition, habits, and checkpoints that will help you move toward it. Strength, recovery, and the ability to keep the plan going all matter.

You should understand why you are doing the work. Check-ins and progress tracking give you a chance to see what is working and make changes when needed. The plan develops with you.

John takes an active interest in the person he is coaching. Over the years, that has included reviewing home pantries, grocery shopping with clients, and occasionally helping with meal preparation. Sometimes the obstacle is something practical that needs to be worked through together.

The support depends on your needs and coaching arrangement. The first conversation is a chance to talk honestly about your goals, your schedule, and where you need help.

John finds some of his greatest satisfaction in helping young athletes discover who they are and grow into leaders. Alongside their athletic development, he wants them to build confidence, discipline, accountability, and a sense of purpose that reaches beyond the sport they play.

For John, leadership means setting an example, encouraging teammates, taking responsibility, and responding to challenges with character. He values helping athletes develop the mindset to earn their team’s trust and make the people around them better.

Seeing those lessons carry into school, relationships, and future careers is what makes this work meaningful to him. His goal is to help young athletes find their direction and build a strong foundation for success, with habits and values they can carry throughout their lives.

Kelly is a mother of twin girls, an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer, and a coach who understands how easy it is to put yourself last. She became a mom as a teenager and has spent the past decade building a family and a career in fitness and nutrition. She knows what it means to work toward a goal while people are counting on you.

Her coaching brings that understanding together with experience. She helps women build strength, improve their food habits, and feel more confident in their bodies—with a clear plan and someone who cares whether they follow through.

Kelly brings 10 years in fitness and nutrition, more than 100 Rochester clients coached one-on-one, and over 2,500 residents guided through her nutrition coaching programs. Her experience spans the training floor and the everyday food decisions that can make consistency difficult.

At Ace, her focus is female transformation: strength training, weight-loss goals, nutrition habits, and accountability. She connects those pieces so you understand what to work on in the gym and what to practice between sessions.

You can begin exactly where you are. Kelly grew up shy and developed her confidence over time. She remembers what it feels like to hesitate, doubt yourself, or feel uncomfortable being seen. That understanding shapes how she welcomes someone who is new to training.

Your first conversation is a chance to explain your goals, your experience, and what feels intimidating. From there, training starts at your level. You can ask questions, learn the movements, and build confidence as you learn what your body can do.

As a mother of twins, Kelly understands school schedules, family responsibilities, and the feeling that there is always someone else who needs you. Your time and responsibilities belong in the plan from the start.

Together, you work toward a training schedule and food habits you can repeat in your own week. When life changes, you talk through the obstacle and adjust. Taking care of yourself deserves a place in your schedule, too.

Start with a goal you can describe: losing weight, building strength, feeling more comfortable in your clothes, or developing habits you can maintain. Kelly helps turn that goal into purposeful training, practical nutrition guidance, and actions to follow between sessions.

Progress gives the plan direction. Check-ins are a chance to review your consistency, how training is going, and where you need more support. As you improve, the work can change with you. The aim is progress you can keep building on.

Kelly combines encouragement with clear expectations. You have someone to talk to about what went well, what got in the way, and what needs to happen next. You can be honest about a difficult week and still be accountable for your next step.

She has worked through difficult seasons herself and understands that people often carry more than you can see. Her approach is to listen, help you make a practical adjustment, and bring your focus back to the actions you can take.

Your goal determines what progress means. It might be changes in body composition, getting stronger, feeling more capable in the gym, or becoming more consistent with your meals and workouts. Kelly helps you connect the work to the change you want to see.

The coaching relationship gives you a place to review progress and adjust the plan. Your starting point, consistency, and time all affect the outcome. The first consultation is a chance to set clear expectations and talk through what you are willing and able to commit to.

Family and faith are central to Kelly’s life. She and John built Ace around the belief that people deserve a place to train where they feel welcome, supported, and comfortable being themselves. Her faith in Jesus gives her work purpose and shapes the care she brings to people.

Clients of every background are welcome. Kelly wants you to feel comfortable asking questions, speaking honestly, and working toward something that matters to you. Her own journey has taught her how much patience, encouragement, and a sense of belonging can matter.

Kelly is a strong fit for women who want help with strength, weight loss, nutrition, and confidence—and who want a coach who understands the demands of family life. Whether you are beginning or getting back into a routine, the first step is a conversation about you.

Request a free consultation and fitness assessment. John coordinates Kelly’s training inquiries and will help arrange a time. You can discuss your goals, schedule, and the support you need before deciding whether to move forward.