about
Our Story
Power Plant Gym was born out of a need for a strength training space that is equal parts approachable, competitive, and fun. We believe that everyone deserves to feel strong and happy, and that the gym should be a place you WANT to go, not out of obligation, but because you truly enjoy it. After spending years in gyms obsessed with being “hard core,” PPG Founder Katie Feeley and her husband Brian set out to create a new kind of gym. One that was welcoming enough for beginners, tough enough for competitors, and offered an effective path for people who wanted to travel between the two.
So we scrapped the “no pain no gain” mentality, tossed out the scales, bought a whole pile of equipment, and invited people to join in our experiment. It turns out, other people were into it too! In 2015 we opened our brick and mortar facility. We offered personal training and group classes with a focus on moving well, getting stronger, and having fun. And it was working! Our community was growing, gaining strength, and enjoying their time at the gym. But we knew we could help more and do even better. As our next experiment, we started offering semi-private training in 2019. This melded the best that all our programs had to offer: the hands-on attention of personal training, a program that works, and the enjoyment and accountability that comes from training with others. Thus the LIFT program was born! It has since become our flagship program, and continues to provide exceptional results for brand new beginners and competitors alike. Currently we offer semi-private training, 1-on-1 training, programming both online and in person, as well as nutrition coaching. Our members range in age from 10 to 60+. Some compete in powerlifting and strongman, and lots don’t. We have casual fitness enthusiasts, national-level strongman athletes (and one pro!), people who have never touched a bar before, Katie’s mom (yay!), and people who are just looking for a new way to feel good. And we all train together as one big weird PPG family. We also like to hang out, eat food, share pictures of our fur friends, go to sporting events, debate podcasts, and watch a lot of Netflix. If you’re looking for somewhere to learn, have fun, get strong, feel good, and meet some pretty cool people… you are in the right place. We invite you to be part of our quirky gym family, and we’re stoked to meet you!
Jess
Coach & Owner
Jess started at PPG as a member (you might notice that’s a bit of a trend around here), and took over ownership of the gym in 2023. She started working in fitness in 2018 as a pivot from a career in mental health. She is certified in Trauma Informed Weightlifting, where she brings together her passion for mental health and movement. She’s an avid competitor in strength sports, having competed in powerlifting, strongman, and most recently, highland games. She has certifications in personal training and group fitness (ACE), as well as being a Girls Gone Strong 1 Certified Women’s Coaching Specialist. She’s also certified as an intuitive eating counselor.
OUR coaches
Aaron
Coach
Aaron has been coaching for 10+ years and has an amazing depth of knowledge about movement. He's incredibly humble (obviously did not write this) and is always a source of energy and positivity. Aaron started as a wrestler but has trained for and competed in all sorts of sports. He's constantly learning, trying new things, and encouraging his clients to do the same. Aaron has completed courses in personal training (NSCA), kettlebells (StrongFirst), nutrition (Precision Nutrition), weightlifting (USAW), CrossFit, and CF Kids.
Zach
Coach/Biz Manager
Zach started at PPG as a member, and now wears many hats including Biz Manager and Coach. His experience in business, sports, and as a member of the gym puts him in a unique position to coach members through a program he's personally completed, and to help the business run smoothly behind the scenes. Zach has trained and competed in Muay Thai (pro), MMA (pro), Jiu Jitsu, Judo, and boxing; and he's currently working his way through the ranks in strongman. Zach has completed the sports-focused CPPS certification.
Katie
Coach
Katie has coached, trained, and competed in all kinds of sports with a current focus on strongman and strength training for sport and life. She's been in the fitness industry since 2005 and coaching since 2011. Katie is a Board Member of Body Positive Fitness Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to helping fitness pros make their practices inclusive and approachable. She has completed courses in personal training (ACE), golf performance (TPI), weightlifting (USAW), Orthopedic Exercise (ACE), CrossFit, CF Kids, and TRX.
Brian
Coach
Brian is co-founder of Power Plant Gym. He's a web developer by day, and a strength athlete… also by day, because despite being a DJ in his former life, nighttime now is for sleeping. Brian practiced Aikido for 15 years (including as an instructor), and has competed in weightlifting and strongman. He has a certification from USA Weightlifting and has been coaching strength sports since 2012. You can find Brian coaching strongman sessions and generally causing a ruckus at the gym.
Jen
Coach
Jen (or "Getz" as we call her) has been lifting for nearly a decade. She started at Power Plant as a member and "graduated" to becoming a coach in 2019. She actively trains in both powerlifting (following PPG's own LIFT program) and functional fitness and has competed in CrossFit. You'll find her coaching LIFT sessions and being a general badass around the gym.
Kelly
Coach/Social Media Mgr.
Kelly is one of Katie's first clients and has played a role in the growth of PPG before it even existed. She's an accomplished strongman athlete, earning 2 bids to the Arnold Amateur World Championship in her time working with Katie. She brings that experience to coaching strongman at PPG, and she especially enjoys helping women and beginners get into the sport. Kelly is also the mastermind behind our social media, and a key event planner for our competitions. She does a little bit of everything, and a lot of being awesome.