Jason Laube, M. Ed., USAW (United States Olympic Weightlifting), had worked for Joe and Pam Pritchard at Cutting Edge Fitness in Clear Lake, Iowa since August 2007 as the Director of Sports Performance and Fitness Coordinator. In August of 2010 the Pritchards approached him about purchasing the business. On December 30, 2010 Jason and his wife, Heidi, purchased Cutting Edge Fitness from the Pritchards and renamed it Laube’s Cutting Edge Fitness, LLC.

The first thing the Laubes did was to establish a new set of rules and standards for their employees. There were eight employees before the change in ownership; there are now twelve employees - seven part-time front desk assistants, three independent contractors who do personal training, and the two owners. The Laubes designed and posted a new mission statement that club members see when they walk through the doors. E-mails are sent to club members on a regular basis with information concerning nutrition and fitness tips, allowing the new owners to reach 400 members on a regular basis.

North Iowa Area Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Regional Director Ted Bair was a major component in helping the Laubes see the potential of the club via business forecasting and expense reduction. Jason had been at the NFL and College Division One level as a strength and conditioning coach, but did not know the first thing to look at in terms of purchasing a business. Taking over the running of a business was quite overwhelming for Jason and Heidi, but Ted helped them break things down into simple concepts and showed them what a great opportunity it would be for them. He gave them a sense of security by knowing that they could rely on him for good advice on the purchase and afterwards.

Jason says, “We think of Ted as a friend and know that he would be there for us if we ever have questions. Heidi and I would not have been able to do this without his expertise and we greatly appreciate everything he has done for us.”

The Laubes’ perception of the club was originally a “wellness/fitness” philosophy. They are now in the process of changing that perception to a “customer service-oriented/fitness/sports performance training/nutrition” philosophy that serves every lifestyle. Laube’s Cutting Edge Fitness wants its members to know that it does not matter what their age or fitness level is, they can design programs to meet everyone’s needs or goals.

In their fourth month of operations, the business set personal bests for monthly polls and met its goals for new memberships. Personal training is up sixty percent from last year. Jason’s future goals are to see continued growth in personal training and to eventually build a bigger and better facility for sports performance training. The Laubes are also looking into expanding their training programs outside of the fitness facility and into local schools.

Jason and Heidi will continue to search for the best equipment, supplements and classes in their field to offer their club members. They want members to feel that Laube’s Cutting Edge Fitness is the premier fitness facility in northern Iowa. They believe in customer satisfaction and making members feel like they are a vital part of their facility and not just a number! Be sure to “Like” Cutting Edge Fitness of Clear Lake on Facebook for up-to-date information and great fitness suggestions.