Today we’d like to introduce you to Cris Fuller.
Cris, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I began my gymnastics journey with a dream to become a cheerleader in 8th grade. In preparation for the tumbling that would be required, I started taking gymnastics classes. I was eventually asked to lead the class and became a full staff member in 10th grade. While I had not planned for gymnastics to be my career, I continued to coach throughout my high school and college years. After graduating, I worked full-time at a gym coaching Elite gymnastics and was constantly amazed at the sport. I got engaged to a boy back home and moved back to my original gym and began coaching full-time, including working with the competitive team. After working there for several years, in 1994 I was given the opportunity to partner with another coach in owning a gym, Knightdale Gymnastics. We grew from about 50 kids to around 200 over the course of the next 15 years. In 2009, my partner decided to pursue another business, and I bought her out. Since 2009, Knightdale Gymnastics has grown to over 600 students.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was great right up to the dissolution of the partnership. During that process, it was disclosed that the business had a significant amount of debt that I had been unaware of. Since the business was growing and I was about to shed a full-time partner’s salary, I took it off the purchase price and moved on. Following the buyout, the 2009 recession hit hard and fast. I was also getting divorced during this time. I took on all roles at the gym. I could not afford to keep most of the staff on, so I did it all. I missed family vacations and a large amount of time with my children, who were 9 and 4 at the time. I was able to stay in business, and things picked up in 2011. We rolled along until 2020, when COVID shut everything down. With the help of some extremely supportive and innovative staff (shout out to Aubrey), we began doing video training online. The competitive team families who could afford to, continued paying tuition, and we were extremely lucky that we were already running camps, which became an exception to the lockdown for people who had to work. Additionally, the government provided the PPP program, which provided enough funds to keep the staff paid. Because the salaries were not in jeopardy with that program, I had a lot of help during this financial crisis keeping things running. We rebounded quickly after things began to open up, and we were even able to move into a larger location by 2023.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
When I was in undergrad, I was majoring in Psychology. After getting bitten by the gymnastics bug, I turned to Business Management and Marketing and set my sights on owning a gym. However, mental health was always important to me. I worked hard with athletes on my team who struggled with mental blocks and performance anxiety. In 2019, I decided to go back to school and get my master’s degree to become a licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. I knew what worked, but I wanted to know HOW and WHY it worked. I became licensed in 2023, and I am currently practicing as an LCMHCA (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate) while also coaching and running the gym. Additionally, in 1994, I got my first gymnastics judging license. In 2009, I became a National Judge, and I am currently serving as the North Carolina State Judging Director. By combining my coaching, judging, and mental health experiences and training, I feel I am uniquely qualified to bring something important to the children and adolescents I work with. I will be fully licensed as an LCMHC by the end of this year.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My biggest shout-out has to go to my dad. He loaned me the money to buy into Knightdale Gymnastics when I was asked to partner with the owner there. He has been one of my biggest supporters throughout the entire process, and you can see the pride he has when talking to others about the success of the business. My family has all been integral in supporting me, from my parents watching my children while I worked to my sister giving me advice (and listening to a few pity party sessions). At one point, I think everyone in my family has worked at the gym, including my two children, my parents, my sister, and my nieces. I’ve had great staff over the years (and some not so great too), but the staff who have had my back and treated the gym as if it were their own have a special place in my heart. There are too many to name, and I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out, but there is one I mentioned in another question that inspired me, challenged me, and held me accountable. I can’t say enough about the way Aubrey pushed me to be a better manager, coach, and gym owner. Unfortunately, she had to move, but I miss her presence at the gym.
Pricing:
- Classes are $104/month
- Camps are $250/week or $55/daily
- Birthday parties are $275 for 2 hours
Contact Info:
- Website: https://knightdalegymnastics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knightdalegymnastics/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KnightdaleGymnastics
- Other: https://linktr.ee/KnightdaleGymnastics?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=056b2999-4ad2-4b74-a8dc-03abca9c2982
