Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Burke
Hi Kelly, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My Name is Kelly R. Burke owner of KRB Fitness & Apparel and Co oWner of Mrs. Burkes Christian Academy, with my wife Lois Burke. I got my start as a t-shirt printer and personal trainer. I took my personal training course through the Cooper Institute in 2005 and began my career in the Fitness Training space I was always in love with working out and athletics being a former athlete. I purchased my t-shirt printing equipment around this same and started printing t-shirt orders and building a personal brand.
I met one of my greatest mentors around 2006 by the name of Danny Odom who co Owned a day care with his wife, he told me all about the business and the structure and I fell in love with the idea. several years later my wife and I started the business and Danny helped with much needed information from afar to ensure our success. My clothing line KRB Apparel had break through sales years from 2012 to 2016 selling and shipping product to almost every country in the world. I started my competitive Bodybuilding career in 2013 winning my first competition The Ronnie Coleman Classic I then went on to win the Phil Heath Classic in 2016, The NPC USAs in 2016 were I turned professional and received my Status as an IFBB Professional Body Builder in the Classic Physique Division.
My life has been one beautiful journey and I wouldn’t change any part of it for anything in this world, I am a former candidate for mayor in the 2021 mayoral race for Arlington Texas in 2022 I ran for AISD School Board coming up short in both these races I learned a lot and met many wonderful people I still hold dear till this day. I am a husband and father to four wonderful children who are my world, Harmonee Burke 14, Kelly Burke 12, Abigail Burke 9 and Lily Ana Burke 5. my newest pursuit is farming and agriculture. My wife and I purchased fifteen acres of land in East Texas and are Currently in the process of Building Burke Beef farms, my Moto is a quote from the movie The Secret Life Of Bees, what are you going to do with the one life God has given you.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been one rough journey with many set backs, obstacles and hard days, coming up short financially barely making payroll many weeks and just not knowing of we would have another customer walk through the door. Covid hit us hard at the Day Care we almost had to close our doors but we held on and watched many strong Centers close down right around us.
At the gym in the beginning for the whole first year I didn’t take a salary because I couldn’t afford to, I prayed for members and clients I promoted hard ran the ads did the daily social post and kept coming up short. My gym doors were even locked once by the Landlord due to non payment. But I didn’t give up and God sent some good men to pull me out of a hard situation, Brandon Beauford and Crenshaw Marrow who are amazing men and successful Business owners and great friends of mine. All in all the road has been long hard and rough but I puled through and kept my head down and worked my butt off so that I can see the kind of success than I have seen today and the past years of my business career.
We’ve been impressed with KRB FITNESS & APPAREL & Mrs. Burkes Christian Academy , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our Day care MRS. Burkes Christian Academy makes children feel like they are part of one big family offering an education program using the Obeka Academy soft ware. We potty train and help develop fine motor skills and most of our children test one grade higher once the enter the public or private sector.
At my gym KRB FITNESS we specialize in life Style Clients who are trying to train like athletes and look like athletes but are just normal people who range from the soccer Mom to the local business owner. We build bodies one rep and set a time. We specialize in educating people on proper neutron and training using the basics of Body Building and strength training with a heavy focus on meal planning and nutrition.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My wife Lois Burke who believed in me from the beginning on this business journey, she gave me the courage to step out on faith in 2012 and go full time in Business and Emntropunership. Danny Odom business mentor he gave me the idea to start the Day Care with my wife, and has been impactful in many of my endeavorers.
Trey Wilder who helped me build the KRB FITNES & Apparel Brand and the original gym location, Tristan Watts my first gym member and mentee who later become my longest standing employee right hand man and Gym manager.
and a few others who played a vital roll:
My father Anthony Burke who gave me wisdom and knowledge and was the reason I had an desire to go into business in the first place, my father owned Five Star Mortgage and Cross Country Mortgage, Anthony Moore great friend and business associate , Courtland Brown personal photographer still till this day and great friend, Vince Garza Swole Nerd Productions graphic artist and videographer, Jamel Buick Big Bang media Group flyer design and print.
Contact Info:
- Website: kellyburke.co and krbapparel.bigcartel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyrburke/
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/kellyburke
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/kellyburke
