Chamber Insider Blog

Meet the Finalists! DeHenzel Training Systems

To see the FULL list of SBA Finalists, click here.
Thanks, Jason & Sophie DeHenzel, of DeHenzel Training Systems, and congratulations on your nomination! 
Click here to see all of the “Meet the Finalists” posts.  

The 22nd Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards is Friday, November 4th!  Register Here

1.   Tell us your story of how your company got to where it is today?
My wife and I got our start as personal trainers working for a very high end company in New York City.  After a while, we grew tried of living in the city and decided to relocate to my hometown of Loudoun County.  We were able to couple our great experience working for such a successful company in New York and our entrepreneurial spirit and form our In Home Personal Training company, DeHenzel Training Systems.  Over the past 4.5 years, we’ve grown our business from a team of two (Sophie and myself) to a team of 11 personal trainers, and growing.  We service clients from Western Loudoun County all the way through to Washington DC.  

2.   What would it mean to you and your company to win a Small Business Award?
It would be a real honor for our company to win a Small Business Award. We really love living and doing business here in Loudoun and it would be a great to be recognized among the community and our colleagues. 

3.   If you weren’t running your own business, what would you be doing?
I would love to travel and go on adventures, explore the world by motorcycle with my wife. I would also do some traveling as a musician; I’ve been a musician since the age of 10 and it’s good for the soul.  I wish I had less selfish answer, but those are my passions outside of running our business. 

4.   What book are you reading right now? / What is your favorite book?
The book I’m reading right now is “Practical Programming” by Mark Rippetoe, which is a strength and conditioning programming book. 

5.   What is your favorite app (computer/phone)?
My wife and I just had our first baby three weeks ago, so right now my favorite app is White Noise.  We set the “AC” sound at night to help him sleep.

6.  If you have 24 hours off, and your family was out of town, what would you do?
I would grab one of my buddies and head up to the mountains to go kayaking for the afternoon and then go camping for the night. I love getting out into the outdoors, it helps me clear my mind and allows me to come up with new ideas and strategies for our business. 

7.   What is the smallest thing that has made the largest impact on your business?
Learning how to interview properly and choose the right people to build our team. Having the right people on our team makes or breaks our business.  Our team IS our business. Our vision for our business is to have our team have similar qualities so that regardless who our clients train with, that they are going to like the trainer and be successful in the longterm.  We have found through trial and error interviews and hiring what qualities a person must have to be part of our team and that has had the biggest impact on our business. 

8.   What did you want to be when you grew up? / What was a childhood dream that you had?
As a kid, I wanted to grow up and be a rock star, as cliche as it may sound.  I’ve been a drummer all my life and for a while that was my main focus.

9.  Who is the one person that has influenced you the most in your career?
The owner of the fitness business we worked for in NYC, Joe Massiello. My wife and I both worked for Joe at Focus Integrated Fitness.  Since moving back to my hometown of Loudoun three years ago, Joe has not only shown me business strategies, he has also shown me (by example) how to be a great leader.  

 

10.   What is your favorite thing about living/running a business in Loudoun County? 
Living here is great, it’s nice place to live. After my wife and I moved back here from NYC where everything is crazy,  we nicknamed Loudon County  “Pleasantville.” I like the drive to succeed that other people have in the community; it’s something that is contagious and helps us push our business forward.  I’ve met a lot of people and business owners  that have helped me with my business in Loudoun County. 

 

Thanks, Jason & Sophie DeHenzel, of DeHenzel Training Systems, and congratulations on your nomination! 
Click here to see all of the “Meet the Finalists” posts.  

The 22nd Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards is Friday, November 4th!  Register Here