Gretchen

Gretchen is the manager of SHF, as well as a class instructor. You can usually find her working at the front desk, cleaning ALL. THE. THINGS, or teaching our weekly HIIT class. She is a 2008 graduate of Bluffton University, with a Major in Sport Management and a Minor in Business Administration. From there, Gretchen began working in the fitness industry but took a break to work an office job in 2014 in order to have more time with her young family.

In 2020, Gretchen got back into the fitness industry through teaching here at Strive. When a management position became available with us in 2022, she decided to leave her office job and jump back into the fitness industry full-time! 

I love being here to help everyone achieve their fitness goals.  

At one point I was a soccer and softball player.  Now I enjoy all things cardio and force myself to weight train.  My current fitness goal is muscle definition.  I played sports through college and have never had much definition.

My family has lived in the Loudonville area since 2016.  We enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, and recently we have started running 5k's together.

Jim and Linda

Jim is a Board Certified, Senior Tai Chi Trainer. He has practiced martial arts since the 1970s. Jim has black belts in Tai Kwon Do and Tiamoto and taught classes in Loudonville for over 10 years, as well as in Mansfield & Ashland. As a commissioned officer for the State of Ohio, he taught self-defense at the Ranger and Ohio Peace Officer Academies. After retiring from a long career in the Ohio State Division of Parks and Recreation, he began his study of Tai Chi. Jim studies with Master Trainer Becky Rahe, Dr. Paul Lam, and other master trainers. Jim’s wife, Board Certified Instructor Linda, started her practice of Tai Chi in 2013 after her retirement as a director of Food Services/Licensed Dietitian.