Meet Vern Williams of TNT Training

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vern Williams.

Vern, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in South Los Angeles, and my parents taught me to work hard, be as independent as possible, and most importantly if you are going to put your trust in anyone put your trust in God. I carried these principles with me into my adulthood, and I was fortunate to get married and become a father of two. In 2019 I was dealing with a lot of personal issues including the death of my father a few years prior, and then my family was shaken up when my wife received a cancer diagnosis and had to immediately get admitted into the hospital to start chemotherapy.

While at the hospital I received a call from a friend who told me he heard I was going through a hard time, and he had an offer for me. He had started a gym called Top Notch Training Facility (TNT) in San Dimas and he was opening another location in Garden Grove. Instead of hiring me as an employee, he wanted to mentor me and teach me how to run my own gym and make my own money. I took him up on his offer, studied with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, became a certified trainer, and at the beginning of 2020 I officially started training youth and teen athletes at TNT in Garden Grove located inside The MAP Sports Facility.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting this business has not been a smooth road. Three months after opening the gym, Covid forced me to close the business for nine months. I was unable to train, but I was able to be with my wife and kids as she continued to battle and eventually beat cancer.

When I reopened, I only had three athletes return to train because the club sports team I was training went out of business. I had to start from scratch and go out to advertise my new business. I received a lot of no’s between every yes when it came to building my clientele. My savings were rapidly declining due to the forced closure, low clientele numbers, having to purchase and maintain equipment, and bills consistently showing up in my mailbox. Through it all I tried to remain positive, and I believed that the gym would eventually grow because I believed in the training that I was providing.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business is a gym called TNT Training, and it is located inside The MAP Sports Facility in Garden Grove. I specialize in speed, agility, and strength training for youth and teens that want to excel in all sports. Children as young as seven years of age have trained inside the gym and numerous high school students have trained and successfully continued their athletic journey into college. Anyone that comes to the gym receives the exact same training as the original TNT located in San Dimas which has successfully trained college students who went on to become professional athletes. Professional athletes have even returned during their off season to continue to train.

What I am most proud of regarding the gym is the fact that parents and their athletes have told me that the gym feels like a family environment where everyone is welcome. Not only do we build muscle, but we build confidence which shows when they are playing their sport(s) of choice. I am also proud of the fact that confidence is not only reflected during sports, but also in the classroom when it comes to academics.

What’s next?
My plans for the future are to continue to grow the business and train as many athletes as possible. I am also in the process of opening a TNT Academy (San Dimas location is already open) where kids who are home schooled have a place to come during the day to study and complete their work assignments. This is extremely important to me because creating this environment will help kids remain social and not be isolated. They will also have a built-in schedule where they can focus on nutrition and physical fitness.

I am also looking to have hours available for physical therapy to help those who are recovering from injuries safely and effectively return to their sport.

Pricing:

• $25 per session for group training
• $60 per session for private 1 on 1 training
• $150 per month for unlimited access

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.TNTGardenGrove.com
• Instagram: @TNTGardenGrove