Starting something new often begins with a spark, a moment when you realize the path you’re on no longer aligns with the future you’re called to create. For me, that spark was unmistakable. It became Refinery Strength Collective.
This wasn’t a casual decision. It wasn’t years of careful planning or a slow build that unfolded naturally. It was abrupt. It was intentional. And it was God-ordained.
I believe wholeheartedly that God made it clear I was meant to start Refinery Strength Collective. The challenges I faced, the transitions I walked through, the doors that closed and the ones that opened, none of it was wasted. It was all preparation.
Through that refining season, my heart became focused on one thing: serving the women right here in Altoona and eastern Polk County and those with autoimmune conditions. I saw the need. I felt the gap. Women in our community deserve more than just a place to work out, they deserve a place to build strength, confidence, and faith-driven resilience that carries them through every season of life.
That’s why the name Refinery spoke to me so deeply. Just as raw materials are refined through fire and pressure, we too are refined through life’s challenges. Strength training mirrors this process. It doesn’t just shape the body; it transforms the heart and mind.
At Refinery Strength Collective, our mission is simple but powerful:
- Faith-Forward – Strength rooted in God’s purpose.
- Grit-Built – Confidence and toughness forged through challenge.
- Longevity-Led – A vision for women to thrive, not just today, but in every season of life.
This is more than a gym. It’s a community. A place where women come together to be strengthened, inside and out. And it’s exactly where I’m meant to be.
From Corporate Coaching to Calling
For years, I worked in a corporate coaching role, helping clients grow within a structured, big-box fitness setting. On paper, it looked like success. But in my heart, something was missing.
I didn’t want my work to be about numbers and quotas. I wanted it to be about people, about women. Moms, professionals, caregivers, women navigating autoimmune challenges, women entering new seasons of life. I wanted to help them feel strong not only in the gym, but in their daily lives.
That’s when I felt the call to step out in faith and create something new. Refinery Strength Collective became the answer.
Why Altoona? Why Eastern Polk County?
Because this is home. When I looked around, I realized women in Altoona, Pleasant Hill, and Bondurant didn’t just need another gym — they needed a space built for them. A space that understands the demands of real life, honors their resilience, and equips them with tools to carry strength into every part of life.
My heart was (and is) to serve the women of my own community.
Why Autoimmune?
Part of my own story includes navigating Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition that reshaped how I approached training, recovery, and health.
Through that journey, I realized how many women are silently carrying autoimmune diagnoses, fatigue, pain, or health struggles that make traditional fitness environments overwhelming or even unsafe. Too often, women are told to “just push harder,” when what they really need is a coach who understands how to balance strength with sustainability.
At Refinery Strength Collective, I meet women where they are. Autoimmune doesn’t disqualify you from strength, it makes it even more essential. Training with wisdom and intention can be the key to feeling more energized, resilient, and confident.
Refinery: More Than a Name
The name Refinery came from a place of deep meaning. A refinery is where raw materials are put through fire and pressure to emerge stronger, purer, and more valuable.
That’s exactly how I see strength training and life. Every rep, every set, every challenge, every season, it all shapes us. It all refines us.
A Mission Bigger Than Fitness
Refinery Strength Collective isn’t just about lifting weights. It’s about transformation. It’s about helping women build strength that lasts beyond the workout, strength that shows up in motherhood, careers, faith, and health.
This isn’t just a fitness business. It’s a faith-forward, grit-built, longevity-led mission to help women discover their strength in every season of life.
And that’s the story behind the brand.
💬 Want to Be Part of the Refinery?
Whether your brand new to strength training or looking to refine your fitness journey with purpose, you’re welcome here.
Book a free consultation here and let’s start building strength that lasts a lifetime.
