Today we’d like to introduce you to Dean Theriot.
Hi Dean, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My degree is in Exercise Physiology. When I started in the workforce in 1990, personal training was not widespread and very few people did it full-time. I was at The Hills Fitness Center in Austin when personal training really started to take of as a profession. I was asked to open a personal training studio in Houston by the founders of Timberline Fitness Studio in Austin in 1996. I moved to Houston and eventually bought them out in 2003. In 2006, Jeff Raben joined Timberline and would eventually become my partner. My future daughter-in-law, Sara Pihlaskari, started working here in 2010. In 2011, my oldest son, Garrett, moved to Houston with the aim of breaking into the financial industry. He was working at Timberline while he was job searching. He did not expect to stay, but, he fell in love with the job and his future bride! To keep it rolling, my wife left her job in the state attorney’s office in 2017 to join us! After being in the same rental space for 23 years, we were able to buy our own land and custom build the current Timberline!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been smooth. Buying out the business in 2003 was stressful. The hardest thing about being the owner is that you are constantly dealing with all of the different dynamics of each employee. Each person brings different considerations. Beyond that, the biggest challenge was securing a loan to build our own building. We completed construction just a few months before the pandemic hit. Many people were fearful to return to the gym even after restrictions were lifted, so, it made recovery harder. After 3 years, things are back to normal!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are known by many near us as The Cheers of health clubs. We try to know every client by name. Our goal is to have every person feeling good about themselves when they leave. Life is tough and many people walk in feeling the burden. What I am most proud of is if they leave feeling renewed, refreshed, and positive. Timberline tries to combine kindness and good nature with intense exercise. Being profitable as a business is necessary to survive, but, true happiness can only happen if we make our clients happy about their experience at Timberline. We offer them strength training, cardio machines, and Pilates. At this point, our equipment inventory is quite extensive. You are going to have more options regarding cardio machines that any other facility in Houston. Price point keeps our membership down to a very manageable number. This results in no crowding and being able to use the equipment without waiting. Our facility is locked 24 hours, enhancing security.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Good luck is always welcomed! We were lucky enough to attract a clientele that has always seemed to want to help us succeed as a business!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://timberlinefitness.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timberlinefitness/
