Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina White.
Hi Gina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started gymnastics when I was 3 years old and competed until I was 17 in Cincinnati,OH. I quit gymnastics, headed off to Spelman College to go after my goal of becoming a dentist, in 2006. Gymnastics entered back into my life my junior year of college when I started coaching. A new angle for the sport I loved. I continued coaching through graduation and ended up applying to dental school, as planned in 2011. I ended up applying to dental school twice and was denied both times! During this time, I still coached gymnastics and realized how much I loved being back in the gym. It was around the time of my second denial that I was offered a full time salaried position at the gym I was coaching. I had never thought of working in the gym full time but, I was super excited about the new challenge! I loved working with the kids and watching them progress but, I also enjoyed engaging with families, and managing the coaching staff. But it was in this position I first experienced a work environment that I didn’t find pleasant or aligned with my personal values. So, I decided to take my love for all the things I did at the gym and combine them with my values and visions of what a complimenting work environment would look like. Phoenix Gymnastics was born!
I worked on my business plan, secured investors and was looking for my location when I found out I was pregnant early 2018. It slowed me down and I felt like my window of opportunity was closing. When my son was 3 months (January 2019), I found an opportunity in Sandy Springs where the city was looking for a business to come in and fully takeover their current gymnastics program. I had 2 weeks to put together a 16 page proposal. I went through rounds of interviews and presentations. Then, 3 months later, I was awarded the building and keys and Phoenix Gymnastics had its home in Sandy Springs at the Hammond Park gymnasium!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not! We started operating in August of 2019, we were just getting started in the Sandy Springs community. I was also a new mother and had my 8 month old with me everyday at the gym! Daily, I was tasked with commuting with my son 45 min to Sandy Springs, hiring and managing new staff for the first time, managing a business, starting new relationships with city officials and coaching! Then, 9 months later, we were shut down because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. I was just getting my footing in my new small business and the world completely shut down. So, while I was on a steady path to learning, I had to immediately pivot and figure out how I was going to survive. Everything was changing and I had to figure out how to continue the new business while in the middle of a pandemic. Today, as we have opened back up, my new struggle is finding and maintaining quality help. The pandemic has really brought some challenges as it pertains to the job industry. So, a new challenge lies in front of us! I know struggles and hard times are inevitable as I continue to push my business to growth so, I have to embrace them. The past few years have thickened my skin and I am getting more comfortable in navigating through the challenges!
As you know, we’re big fans of Phoenix Gymnastics. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Phoenix Gymnastics was founded in 2018. In the Fall of 2019, we took over the Sandy Springs gymnastics program from the City of Sandy Springs. Operating privately from the City owned Hammond Park gymnasium. We specialize in Preschool and Recreational Classes for little ones aged 18mos to 18years. We also have a growing competitive program that competes under USA gymnastics rules and regulations. I am most proud of the community that Phoenix Gymnastics provides. Our mission is to build a gymnastics community that empowers kids to problem solve, confidently push through challenges and be supportive team players. We believe this can only happen when there is strong community support, family understanding and support and a positive and motivating work environment with educated and enthusiastic coaches. So, what sets Phoenix Gymnastics apart is our dedication to this mission by doing and providing all these things. Just like the Phoenix, ‘Together We Rise!’
What makes you happy?
Bringing ideas/people together and seeing progress are a few things that make me happy, especially when it comes to being an entrepreneur. As a small business owner, it’s very easy for me to get overwhelmed by all the things that need to be done or taken care of but when I start to chip away at tasks or if I see a system forming from an idea, these little sparks of progress really get me going. It reminds me that, even with all the other tasks or items to take care of, you are still moving forward. Then, bringing people and ideas together is really my thing!
Contact Info:
- Email: gina@sandyspringsgymnastics.org
- Website: www.sandyspringsgymnastics.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phoenixsandyspringsgym/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandySpringsGymnastics
Image Credits:
Ashleigh Smith
