Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert VanNieuwenhuyzen.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Robert. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The Express House of Victory was opened as a part of Westchase Express Inc, a Texas non-profit organization dedicated to helping young aspiring collegiate student-athletes to locate, apply and get into college. Our program has helped over 500 current and past college athletes use baseball to help afford college. More than half of our past and current members come from middle to low-income families. The Westchase program has been around since 2009. Our program has seen young men grow into thriving young professionals as professional baseball players, police officers, firefighters, physical therapists, nurses, teachers, military officers, engineers, college coaches and even a Geologist with NASA. Since starting we have successfully placed 97% of those who have joined our programs and maintained a 98% on-time graduation rate.
In December of 2016, we opened the 1st academic and athletic training facility which is known as the Express House of Victory. During the summer months, the facility is the home training facility for more than 250 collegiate baseball players that participate in our Houston Collegiate Summer League.
In 2018 we will begin to be the home of the NW Express Youth Programs, where we hope to have teams in all age groups and after-school programs dedicated to building young baseball and softball players through our Rookie and Minors Development Program. The program will teach proper warm-up and cool-down techniques, train in speed and agility, baseball/softball 5-tool development, and nutrition.
Our facility is open to the public and we feel is a premier level facility to round the student-athlete.
Great, 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?
The road has been very difficult as we initially had planned to have youth teams in our programs in 2017 but since we failed to market to the right areas in the right manner our youth programs never got off and started. We also have struggled to get noticed as we have tried several marketing strategies and none have been able to attract the clientele base needed to pay bills. Not until we became the home of Allen Baseball Club did we start to finally start getting the visibility and foot traffic to get off the floor and moving. Hurricane Harvey also hampered things as our clients were focused on rebuilding, rightfully so, and foot traffic was delayed.
Express House of Victory – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The WCE House of Victory serves as the home and center of operations for the Westchase Express Inc, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to developing and preparing youth for opportunities as young adults whether it’s at college or beyond. The programs, services, and resources that are available at the House of Victory are readily available and affordable to the public.
The WCE House of Victory’s facility is the first of our planned premier academic and athletic training facilities. The House of Victory has been designed and set up to serve amateurs of all ages and professional athletes alike. Our ability to also serve the student part of student-athlete with resources and tools to help gain an advantage in the classroom is second to no other facility in the Houston market currently.
So whether if you are just picking up the game for the first time or are a seasoned professional, there are services, resources, and programs that are available for you.
With faith as our foundation, the WCE House of Victory is the place to develop and to prepare students and athletes to conquer on the field of play or in the classroom, but to conqueror in life. We pride ourselves on our family-friendly services and facility and truly hope that you come and check for yourself what we can do for you and your family.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment was when our first program member graduated TSU with honors with a Bachelors in Mathematics and he moved on and then graduated with his MBA. He now is a successful professional in the investment industry, married to a wonderful woman, is a dedicated member of his church and a wonderful father to his young daughter. Our first-year team had more than 25 young men who all have graduated, moved on to rolls in their communities as leaders and now give back.
Every year I get the opportunity to see these young men and now soon to see young women become the future leaders of our communities.
Pricing:
- Cage and Mound Rentals (Hourly) $40
- Tutors, Instructors, Personal Trainers (Hourly) $30-$85
- Memberships range from $85 – $175
- Youth Team Programs range from $175 – $245
- 3-day After School Programs – $145 / wk
Contact Info:
- Address: 11221 Cutten Rd Bldg #1
Houston, TX 77066 - Website: www.wcexpresshouseofvictory.com
- Phone: 713-553-0943
- Email: [email protected]
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