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Published July 28, 2020

With many fitness centers struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this might not seem like a good time to buy one. Dylian Nimmer of De Pere heartedly disagrees.

Nimmer, who purchased Anytime Fitness in Fond du Lac a few weeks ago, is hoping to change lives.

"It never crossed my mind that this was a bad time to buy a gym," he said. "I thought it was a perfect time. It is a known fact that making your body as healthy as possible will boost your immune system. This should be the biggest industry right now. What can we do to give our bodies a fighting chance?" He practices what he preaches, and fell in love with fitness as he realized the effects on his life. His childhood was difficult, and he was living in a car when a friend's family took him in and introduced him to fitness.

"My friend was huge into lifting and exercise," Nimmer said. "He tried to get me to join him, but it didn't click until after high school. I quit sports after hurting my shoulder and had bad eating habits. Before I knew it, I weighed 240 pounds and was literally obese."

His life changed when he joined Anytime Fitness in Sussex. With a key fob system that allowed him to enter any time during the day, he started going late at night to avoid other people. Embarrassed about his body, he slipped into the gym, got on the treadmill, and started to walk.

As he moved, his knees ached with every step, and he said he was breathing so hard he thought he was going to die.

"But I thought, if I die at this point, at least I died trying to make myself fit. I told myself that I couldn't change where I've been, but I can change where I'm going," Nimmer said.

As he walked and started watching his diet, the weight came off. He lost 106 pounds. The benefits included small things like the ability to bend over and tie his shoes, and having the energy to complete tasks. The next step was a weight-lifting program where he transformed his skinny physique into a well-balanced one. "I thought if I can do it, anyone can do it," Nimmer said. "When I found out the Fond du Lac location might be available, I got in touch with the district manager and went for it."

Having experience with Anytime Fitness, he considers it to be his dream business. With limited financial resources but an abundance of enthusiasm and energy, he threw his heart and soul into trying to make it work.

He wrote a 25-page business plan and put together financial projections that he thought were attainable. The gym had lost members because of absentee ownership, and he detailed a plan to turn it around.

The franchise believed in him; the next challenge was finding a lender. With the help of the Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation, he found the support he needed. The next steps included reviewing and signing the franchise circular, negotiating a lease, and taking part in extensive training.

He was at the Woodbury, Minnesota, franchise headquarters doing that training when Gov. Tony Evers' safer-at-home order came down. The balance of learning was via telephone calls, emails, and virtual sessions. He sought additional advice from other franchisees and the Green Bay SCORE chapter.

That advice will be helpful as he tries to grow the business, one of about 4,000 locations in 50 countries. Since he also serves as quarterbacks coach at St. Norbert College in De Pere, he will be busy 24/7 as he coaches and updates the gym. Plans include adding group fitness classes and personal training. Cleaning, something that is done throughout the day, will remain a top priority.

"The gym wasn't doing well, but I've always thought if you take care of the members, the community will take care of you," Nimmer said. "I want to learn everyone's first name and build rapport and relationships so they know I care about them. I want to help them attach a 'why' to their fitness program so they have a reason for doing the work. It might be difficult, but it's absolutely worth it."

He is convinced that he will succeed, and even with degrees in leadership and communications, knows that he will benefit from SCORE mentors, other franchisees, and networking in the community.

"If you think you're the smartest person in the room, you're probably in the wrong room," he laughed. "I am confident that there are a lot of people who are better at things, and I am willing to learn, work hard, and go through whatever it takes to build it. I will just keep going and find a way."

Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and past district director for SCORE, Wisconsin.