(Photo courtesy of Prineville Athletic Club)
Bringing Mountain Tops Within Reach
Growing up on a ranch, Brooke Smith was always drawn to the outdoors. That eventually led to her picking up archery and hunting, passions that would take her down the path to where she is today: owner of the Prineville Athletic Club. The PAC, for short.
The PAC is a full-service fitness center that offers everything from free weights to cardio equipment, a bevy of classes ranging from yoga to body sculpting, personal training and services for seniors. All at an affordable cost to Prineville residents.
Like most small business owners, Brooke and her husband Tim never intended to own a gym in Prineville, Oregon. Rather, it was a confluence of life and fate that brought them to the bargaining table.
Working at another establishment in Prineville, Brooke dabbled in welding and crafting metal art as a side gig. While both were fruitful professional endeavors, it was her time hunting and volunteering at Ladies Hunting Camp, run by Yow Hunting Camps, that drove her personal ambitions.
“I always wanted to be my own boss and have a business that gave back to my community,” Brooke said. “In my time at the Ladies Hunting Camp I was able to empower people. As someone that specializes in archery, I used my experiences to encourage women to pick up a bow and shoot it for the first time. Being able to instill that confidence in others was a feeling that I wanted to replicate.”
By happenstance, Brooke and Tim got the opportunity to serve their community in 2019, when the Prineville Athletic Club (established and locally owned since 1988) came up for sale. With a gentle and encouraging nudge from Tim, the couple reached out to U.S. Bank to see what options were available in terms of financing.
U.S. Bank was able to connect the Smiths to funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration. Which, if you’re doing the math, came to fruition in early 2020 and right before COVID-19 took hold of the nation.
“Completing the deal and finally owning PAC was a dream come true, but the timing could not have been worse,” Brooke said. “It was a nightmare scenario, being a brand-new business owner that was trying to service the public through a pandemic we knew nothing about. Luckily, U.S. Bank quickly reached out with a plan in place for the repayment of the loan and ushered us through that first year.”
The partnership between Brooke and U.S. Bank began as a means to secure funding for the purchase but grew through the pandemic as her bankers saw Brooke’s drive and determination to keep the business afloat.
“Our team has seen her overcome so much adversity,” said Wendy McGrane, Business Banking sales manager at U.S. Bank. “She had to deal with the shutdowns almost immediately, and worked hard to both maintain and increase her membership in unique ways. She is always looking to innovate to make her gym more welcoming, and to provide additional resources for members of all ages, fitness levels, and circumstances.”
Finding community at PAC
Leading up to the purchase, Brooke had been a member of the PAC for a few years. She typically strayed from gyms, wanting to avoid the stigma of a typical gym culture, but injuries and a personal ambition to continue competitive archery had other plans for Brooke.
“I was nervous just walking in the doors to attend a yoga class. Even deciding what to wear was a challenge,” Brooke said. “However, I quickly fell in love with the atmosphere. I never felt judged and realized that no one cared what I was doing. From there, it became an addiction for me. Providing that welcoming atmosphere for everyone in this community encouraged me to eventually purchase the PAC.”
It’s this background and conquered phobia that drives Brooke and how PAC is positioned to the customers it serves.
“This place is family,” Brooke said. “And that goes for current, new and prospective members. We have a wide range of patrons ranging from 13-year-olds to senior citizens, all of whom operate by our main rule: treat others how you want to be treated. Everyone that walks through this door is important. Whatever their goals, wherever they are on their fitness journey. We’re grateful to be a part of it.”
The PAC opens at 3am, seven days a week. If you’re ever in Prineville, stop in to see Brooke and find out first-hand what the gym is all about.
PrinevilleAthleticClub.com • 541-233-1810 • PrinevilleAthleticClub@gmail.com
