July 27, 2022

This paid piece is sponsored by GreatLIFE Golf & Fitness.

After nearly four years of working from home, Jake Floen literally walked across the street and found the next step in his career.

Floen and his wife, Alissa, moved to southeast Sioux Falls a few months ago. That walk across the street was at 69th Street and Southeastern Avenue, where he checked out GreatLIFE Performance Center and decided to put his own career in fitness to work there.

“I tried it out, got a good vibe and liked it and applied,” said Floen, who grew up in Sioux Center, Iowa.

“The next thing you know, they hired me. It might sound a little cheesy, but the atmosphere and business plan really caught my eye. Their mission is to live the ‘great life’ through golf and fitness, and that’s the vibe everyone was giving me.”

Floen has seen the fitness industry from many angles. He earned his undergraduate degree in sports management and exercise science from Dordt College and his master’s degree in exercise science and wellness, fitness and performance from Liberty University.

Life took him to Kansas City for training as a global CrossFit competitor, and from there he traveled the world – even as far as Australia – while working remotely for a New York-based health and wellness company.

Last fall, his wife’s career as a traveling nurse brought them to Sioux Falls, where she was assigned and where her family also used to live.

“Her family had all started moving back, and the area just started to feel right to us,” Floen said. “Family was a big thing. Sioux Falls feels like a happy medium between Kansas City and Sioux Center. It just feels like a good, safe fit for raising a family.”

At Performance Center, he got off to a fast start as a trainer.

“It was a unique situation because I took over clients for someone going back to school, so things went from zero to 100 pretty quick, but it was great, and I’m thankful for it,” Floen said. “But I can still take on clients, especially because this fall some of mine will be returning to school.”

He has been happy to find a strong sense of community within GreatLIFE, he said.

“I come from the CrossFit space where communities are very strong because it’s all group classes, and that’s all I’ve ever known. Here, you have people doing their own thing in addition to group classes, but I was very, very surprised how much community I’ve still felt at Performance Center,” he said.

“We have moms bringing kids to child care while they work out, regulars in the morning, and I’m surprised and happy how members interact in the gym setting even though it can be easy to do your own thing.”

As the newest member of the GreatLIFE team, he also felt instantly welcome, he said.

“I was a little nervous going back into a workplace after working remote for three years, but the team is fantastic,” he said.

“They give me so much freedom as a trainer, and at the same time they’re super positive and supportive. I’m working toward nutrition certification, and they’re happy with me offering nutrition to clients. Basically, if you come up with a plan and a good business model, they’re very open to it.”

Are you looking to connect with Jake Floen as your next trainer? Email [email protected] or call/text 712-449-5132.

Are you a trainer who would like to put your skills to work at GreatLIFE? Click here to connect with current openings.