WHO’S WHO at STW
By JAX
Oftentimes, we walk into a business and we never really know the people we meet or how they contribute to the ins and outs of its daily operation. In November, we featured our new Area Sales Director, Jaime Herrera, but this month we want to introduce you to the other pillars of STW that make it the place where members not only feel welcome, but they are also cared for when it comes to helping them meet their goals. Read what makes them a unique and incredible team.
STW OWNER: Pete Hardy
Mr. Hardy has over forty years’ experience working in the fitness industry. His dedication to helping people get fit helped him create the unique concept of combining fitness with self-defense. His group exercise classes trail blazed the fitness arena, helping to create a successful business model that earned him national recognition with the leading martial arts magazine in 2013, MA Success. As a result, this 2nd degree Krav Maga instructor, is also the proud owner of one of the largest centers of self-defense in the entire nation. He is also no stranger to philanthropic ventures, as evidenced by having earned the Jeffersonian Philanthropic Award. Mr. Hardy has dedicated his time and effort to helping those less fortunate by donating a large number of his proceeds from the seminars he conducts throughout the year to the Rape Crises Center, Animal Defense League and the Wounded Warrior Project. He is a hands-on business owner who walks the talk, by not only helping others get fit, but personally teaches six to eight classes per week and conducts all of the instructor training sessions and seminars. True to humility, he also credits the success of STW to his staff and instructors, as he states, “There is not a group of people on this planet such as my staff and instructors who work as hard as I do at STW to provide the best self-defense and fitness training in the country. I am proud of each and every one of them for the dedication and effort they put into serving our members.”
Mr. Hardy’s passion to help people get back in shape is reflected in the way he lives his own life. “People ask me every day, ‘What is my secret to staying in great shape?’ The answer is simple. For one thing, show up every day and train. Make it a part of your life like you eat, drink, bathe, and brush your teeth every day. If you miss a day, it becomes a week. Miss a week, it beco
mes a month. Miss a month, it becomes six months, and the cycle continues. The answer to staying in great shape is simple. Show up and do what you can that day.”
Words Mr. Hardy lives by, “Put your life in God’s hands but the fight in yours!”
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OFFICE MANAGER/HR: Judy Hardy
No business would survive without paying its staff and paying the bills. This person does an excellent job at ensuring that all of the part-time and full-time staff get paid on time. Mrs. Hardy handles payroll, all employee insurance, hiring processing, and audits all banking statements that include retail and Member Services. She enjoys what she does and finds it rewarding that at the end of the day she knows she did a good job!
An avid athlete throughout high school and having been involved in all sports as well as her gymnastics team, she enjoys being surrounded by like-minded individuals who enjoy working out.
Her motto: “You only live once, so make it count!”
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VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS: Edie Davis
In addition to helping run STW’s daily operations, Ms. Davis, a twenty year Air Force veteran, used her experience as a Sexual Assault Prevention Response Educator at Lackland Air Force Base to assist and coordinate many of our most popular women’s self-defense seminars.
Not only does Ms. Davis teach self-defense and fitness, but she is also the embodiment of the competitive athlete, having placed in several bodybuilding fitness (figure division) competitions such as:
2012 Naturally Fit Super Show (her very first show)
Figure Overall (Novice)
Figure Short 1st Place (Novice)
Figure Masters 3rd Place
2012 Alamo Showdown
Figure Short 3rd Place
2013 OCB Emerald Coast Classic
Figure Overall
Figure Masters Overall
Figure Short 1st Place
Her avid interest in nutrition also gives her a well-rounded education on how best to help the students she meets and her motto: Be the VOICE, not the echo, gives her the motivation she needs to inspire and help others as she explains, “Being the voice isn’t literal. It means stepping out of your comfort zone to make a change. This is what we strive for every day with our members, to motivate, to try and push them further than they thought possible.”
And motivating she does as reflected in her statement:
“We meet, work and teach so many different and interesting people at STW, it’s like opening up a box of chocolates…you never know who you will meet. It’s inspiring to see people transform, not only on the outside, but on the inside. When they no longer are afraid to try, that is progress. I feel like a proud parent when they are excited about trying out a new class or technique.
It’s a beautiful thing to see a group of people (no matter their background) get excited about getting in shape and going home safe—how awesome is that!”
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AREA FITNESS DIRECTOR: Paige Hardy
Staying up-to-date on the latest fitness trends to ensure that members get to enjoy the best equipment and exercise routines possible does not come easy, and she certainly gets—the job—DONE! In addition, if you want to be a fitness instructor, this is the go-to person to call.
“I am responsible for hiring and firing fitness instructors, organizing and creating our class program schedule, as well as facilitating all instructor tryouts and trainings. I live in the facility, am constantly in and out of all classes to ensure that everything is running smoothly, safely, and offer assistance where help is needed.”
Having been a dedicated and disciplined athlete throughout her lifetime, Miss Hardy has over twelve years of strength conditioning training and weight lifting experience. She is a certified L1 Kettle Bell instructor and enjoys building great relationships and helping others reach their fitness goals.
“I’ve been a very competitive athlete my entire life. I’ve always trained my mind & body at a level many don’t understand. Some have asked, ‘why do you train so hard?’ and it wasn’t until I took the position here at STW Krav Maga that I realized it was all part of a greater plan. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing in this world. I have been blessed with the opportunity to inspire and teach others to clear their minds of the word—CAN’T— as I have been taught by my father. Fitness is a way of life. It can teach you discipline, accountability, break you down and move you to get back up. It will show you strength and power you never knew you were capable of physically and mentally. Without it, I have no idea who I would be, and I love who I am today. I believe that everyone is capable of achieving this greatness, and I want everyone to know the blessings that come with living a healthy and fit lifestyle. There is nothing in this world that feels better then changing someone’s life for the better—FOREVER! I am honored to say that I work for STW Krav Maga, and I would like to thank all of our members for their dedication and the chance to prove that what we do truly does work. It’s a place where you can get in shape and go home safe.”
The words she lives by are simple and truly define her:
“Know your limitations and then defy them.”
“Be so good they can’t ignore you.”
“Be True…Be Fit…Live!”
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EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT/SCHEDULE COORDINATOR: Tiffany Peche
Before Tiffany started with STW she worked at a financial institution, Southwest Business Corporation, doing quality control work and auditing other departments.
She started as a member with STW, lost a lot of weight, got in great shape and she realized that STW had changed her life. Once she found out there was a position open, she knew she HAD to be part of a team that helped so many people.
Today, she spends most of her days assisting Mr. Hardy, especially when it comes to class scheduling, which is not an easy task when it involves problem solving each instructor’s availability.
Need to reach Mr. Hardy with questions or appointments? She is the GO-TO person to get that scheduled.
Words she lives by:
“Work hard…stay humble… and embrace EVERYTHING!”
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MEMBER SERVICE DIRECTOR/ RETAIL MANAGER: Bethany McGill
Former Fitness Connection and Gold’s Gym Regional Director, Bethany oversaw twenty-two gyms in the state of Texas before coming to STW as well as help manage her own tanning business salon for seven years. Once her child was of school age, health and fitness was where she knew she belonged and that’s when she joined the STW team.
Have feedback, comments or complaints? This is the person you want to call to get your concerns addressed.
“Even though I get inundated with emails and phone calls every day, I love working with people, and I enjoy sitting down and giving them the best customer service they could get,” she says. “I live by the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” which probably explains why she gives such great customer service!
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CORPORATE ACCOUNTS AUDITOR/ INSTRUCTOR: Donna Turner
Where would STW be without someone there to do quality control of all member contracts? Attention to detail is what Donna Turner is good at, and she does it with simplicity and efficiency.
This dedicated, former stay-at- home mom, has made STW her home for all the right reasons. Always wanting a self- defense program that would protect her two daughters, she found it with Krav Maga.
“When I found Krav Maga, I realized it was the only place I wanted to be since it gave me the skills that I needed and was looking for,” says Donna.
Shortly after becoming a member, she became a fitness and Krav Maga instructor within a year’s time. A series of events led her back into the workforce, and ten years later, she is still going strong as a fitness and Level 3, Krav Maga instructor.
“I love my job, the attention to detail it requires when looking over member contracts, and I love to teach— the bigger the class, the better! I enjoy being able to motivate our members, feed them with energy, good music, and see them satisfied and healthy all the time.”
As evidenced by your large class sizes, our members love you too!
Words she lives by:
“Stand for what’s right, even if you’re standing alone.”
As you can see, STW is committed to providing all of our members not only excellent customer service, but also dedicated to helping them meet their fitness goals. Should you see any of our administrators at one of our centers, please feel free to greet them as they are always interested in talking with their members. If you have come to our page for the very first time and are interested in what STW has to offer, please feel free to email Bethany, our Customer Service Director for any questions you may have.