Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Aberbach.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Adam. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It is difficult to really say where things started… but if I had to trace things back, I would have to say it started with my parents volunteering me to painting the address number of homes, on the curbs of the street where I grew up, in NY. My parents had an amazing effect on me when it came to servitude for our local community. Realizing I was actually able to make a difference for others, even at such a young age. Later, I joined the local fire department in my hometown on long island, as a Jr. Firefighter, until I became a full-fledged firefighter in 1998. I was with the department until 2000, then went off to college, as I wanted to get a higher education.
Being a firefighter taught me things that went past that of community service, but that of a brotherhood in servitude. When the events of 9/11 occurred, I awoke to one of the most impactful days of my life. That day I lost friends and an old colleague from the fire department I had left just the year before. I wanted to do something…but did not know what! I joined the ROTC program but failed to follow through in joining the military, due to immaturity and selfishness. Although I was fortunate to have many friends who became officers in the armed forces, I had not.
Today, many still continue serving our country in the military, and for that, I am more thankful than some may realize. Once I graduated college, several of my fraternity brothers went off to war while I lived in the safety of our country, provided by the hard work and dedication of the brave men and women of our armed forces. I had soon moved to Dallas TX. Living only about a 3 to 4-hour drive from Fort Hood, I was able to travel back and forth, dropping off friends for deployments and being there for when they returned. It was always such a moving experience! I felt that being there for them when they got back was more important for them, then seeing them off.
Being there to support them and welcome them home again was such a small act, but a huge honor! To know that they were overseas, and they would come back different was something I will never really understand! One individual, who I grew up with in NY, and went to school with in college, came home from his first deployment at Fort Hood. I remember waiting for them to be released, after lining up once they got off the plane. Was he the same person he left as? Several days later we went to the local fitness center to workout and play racquetball. It is strange how somethings that happen in your life, you cannot recall at all, but others seem like they happened yesterday.
I remember going to the gym with Lenny. He could not stand to be in the racquet ballroom for more than about 30 seconds. The sound of the ball hitting the walls was and echoing madly it unbearable for him and heartbreaking to me. I was powerless to help someone who I considered and still consider my brother today. Still unclear of the path at the time, I decided to get recertified as a firefighter in the state of TX. I then applied, for firefighter positions, alongside thousands and thousands of applicants. Due to the influx of applicants, it was very competitive to get on board. Therefore, I decided to work at the local fitness center. It seems simple, and it is, but it was there I was able to make an impact on the lives of others again.
I would always think to myself, how awesome it was seeing peoples lives change so drastically, and how simple, convenient and relatively inexpensive it was for someone. I always questioned why didn’t everyone do this? What kept people from getting in shape and feeling good about themselves from a physical as well as a mental state?
While growing my knowledge and experience in the fitness industry, I started working for a fitness equipment provider, where I made contact with 2 amazing individuals. The CEO of the company, Jason Kos and a Navy Seal named Chris Kyle. Together they founded a nonprofit called Fitco Cares. This organization was giving back to local veterans, by providing fitness equipment to their homes, with the idea that fitness will help combat PTSD. It was and still is a huge inspiration to the Fitness Military Alliance, and is a big part of why the Fitness Military Alliance exists today! Unfortunately, the parent company of Fitco Cares no longer exists and I was forced to move to other opportunities for employment. Fitco Cares also was reorganized and is operating under different leadership today.
At the same time, while working with The Fitco Cares Foundation, I bought my own fitness club in Aubrey TX. There, I had been introduced to a young man, who drove to the Dallas area to become part of the local church. He came down to the area, with no place to stay, no friends, no job and little money. He was a military veteran who was trying to find his way again. Through the church, we connected, as he was staying with someone at the church, for several months, until he could get on his feet. I could not offer him too much, but I did give him a free membership to my fitness club. I told him to use it as often as he liked, but unfortunately, like most of the population, he used it one time, and that was when he came in to get his membership card. I was very disappointed… Why would he not use it more often? It was FREE! What was missing?
These experiences brought together the idea, which has taken the last 4 years to develop. The Fitness Military Alliance exists today, not because of my dedication alone, but because of the servitude of those who have served our country! I believe that if people could just realize the impact they can actually have on others, with no strings attached, it would become infectious, and they would not only feel good about themselves but possibly have a direct effect on saving the lives of someone else.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The most difficult challenge is having patience. But I have to hand it to one of our board members, as he had said it best at the get-go, “You are only new once”. That rings true in many ways, almost daily! The Fitness Military Alliance was formed in 2015. We intentionally started very slow, and if we had not, then we would not be here today. Too often, companies want to be million dollar businesses overnight. But what they fail to do is create a sound foundation, and they then crumble… We are, and at the same time are not in a race. We are in a race to do as much good as we can. But we want to do it right, so if that takes years, then so be it.
The other challenge/obstacle that has slowed us down, has been finding the right people, with the time and passion to keep things moving. Like mentioned before, we are willing to wait, as we need to make the right moves and not rush to fame and fortune. In 2016, my wife was diagnosed with cancer. This would possibly be a major set back or perhaps even destroyed many businesses. Instead, because the Fitness Military Alliance exists on servitude and not funding, we can sustain a pause in our mission. We were set back for over a year with the program, but we took this time to really dial in on the process and programming of FMA. We have changed things over the last 2 years, to help ensure a much better success rate of individuals, because of the obstacles of setbacks.
Tell us about your business/company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
We believe that through fitness, veteran lives can be saved! We believe the best things the fitness industry can offer to the military veteran community, is ourselves! We believe that being fit, is not just a physical attribute, and if you fix the body, the mind will follow!
Our Mission is to promote healthier lifestyles for US military veterans, through physical fitness programs, that are accountable, sustainable and measurable; while at the same time, help educate and promote better overall practices for personal trainers and facilities in the fitness industry. We take a simple approach, connecting a personal trainer with a local veteran in the community, and set up a 12 week, habit-forming program, to re-engage the participant into the community through training in the club.
We are most proud of our direct connection and result of local and personal successes. We have seen those who have not been off the couch for years, hitting more steps than anyone they know on their Fitbit. We have seen some lose as much as 100 lbs. We have seen some go from introverts to being the most popular person in the club. It is amazing to actually see the transformation happen in your local community. I believe that is something that sets us apart from other organizations. Those who support the organization, the trainer, the club and the veteran, actually see over a period of 3 months, transformations before their eyes.
It is not like sending 20 bucks a month, hoping it makes a difference. Or, paying that extra 1 dollar at the grocery store to help support some organizations goals in a state across the country. You see the results of your support in the club you go to weekly, in your local community. AND, the cost to the club, trainer and veteran is the only time. We have collected $0 in donations or revenue. All has been done with the time and knowledge of those willing to help!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
With so much growth, there is so much opportunity. As large of a city we have, the diversity is probably the thing I like the most. Because of the opportunity and cost of living, people from all over the country come to Dallas to live, for whatever reasons, It is a great place to raise a family, amazing schools, 4 major professional sports teams, has a great nightlife, and room to grow.
What I dislike the most, would have to be the traffic… but what big city does not have that?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fitnessmilitaryalliance.org
- Phone: 2146861306
- Email: adam@fitnessmilitaryalliance.com
Image Credit:
Diesel Fitness, Extreme Iron Pro Gym, Anytime Fitness Frisco
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
