Helping Others Brings Entrepreneurial Joy - Joel Young
Gary Dutz, & his wife Natalie, owner/operators of the two world Gym locations in Kelowna & West Kelowna couldn't help themselves in their declaration of how important their gym clients mean to them both as an entrepreneurial business couple and as individual people who, as Natalie described, are just everyday people caring about everyday people.
The story of Gary began in the small B.C. town of Chetwynd, born to an enterprising father who ran a successful logging operation in a variety of interior locations moving the family including Gary's sister along the journey. Gary explained to me on this morning visit with Natalie that his father, although passed on in recent years, will always have a special place in his heart, as his father taught Gary from a very early age, the importance and meaning of hard work and having personal goals in his young life.
While working with his father, Gary decided to become a machinist so he would have an additional skill for his future and in 1984 the family moved to Prince George for Gary's father to further his work. During Gary's earlier life, he met Natalie, who hails from Quesnel, B.C. and after conducting a lot of driving hours visiting his sweetheart, the couple decided to set up a home and in 1989 and 1991 had their two children, a son and daughter.
At this point in our visit, Natalie and Gary wished to emphasis to me that Natalie's brother, who operates three successful gyms was very influential in encouraging the couple to branch out on their own with their own entrepreneurial venture - a small gym- in 1997, which Natalie managed in Chetwynd while Gary continued his efforts in the forestry industry sector.
As we know by now, circumstances in life prompt changes that, in may examples, end up leading to an entrepreneurial venture creation and in 2000, the Dutzs' decided to leave the forestry industry and move to Kelowna and the beauty of the Okanagan. Having experienced the operational requirements of their small gym and having Natalie's brother as an example of the potential for a gym owner, Gary remarked that, in speaking to a Life Fitness equipment representative, he began to put the pieces together for their Okanagan venture experience - After weighing the pros and cons of World Gym and Golds Gym franchises, the couple chose the World Gym franchise model for its personal suitability to their own lifestyle and customer intentions.
Gary remarked me to soundly that the couple were preparing themselves for this milestone in their lives without , perhaps, not realizing it -so in September, 2001, the World Gym Kelowna franchise location was opened with a wonderful location on Highway 97N with the second location in West Kelowna in July, 2006 on Industrial Rd also off Highway 97 as well, a great easily accessible site.
Dear readers, I had the privilege of visiting and touring both locations, meeting fitness instructors and membership co-ordinators and in reviewing the equipment and the services offered in both locations, I must confess, there isnt much on these premises to leave to the imagination. Literally, every aspect of human fitness is presented keeping in mind zealously the importance of " helping people, help themselves" to regain and maintain a healthy a fit life.
The list of membership privileges is too extensive for me to list along with the fitness class varieties which make me feel like dancing or kickboxing at the same time in tune with Lady Gaga.
What does the future hold I asked the couple as I was closing my interview in the Kelowna location and was greeted with " expanding our market-base, Joel, we know we have room to address new alliances and partnerships, with new program developments to add. " Gary has begun consultations with North American gym owners to identify and assess other avenues of customer service and satisfaction - the core belief of these two Okanagan entrepreneurs. I truly enjoyed my visit and the genuine caring for people that Gary and Natalie displayed to me the other day in their offices - their mantra helping people, help themselves makes this couple joyous Valley entrepreneurs, wouldn't you?? Do stop in for a tour and beverage and check World Gym out on www.worldgymkelowna.com and challenge Gary and Natalie to beat you in bench presses… I did, and lost..
Joel Young is an entrepreneurial leadership coach, educator and consultant and Founder, Okanagan Valley Entrepreneurs Society at
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