Gym owner · Business coach · Speaker
Chris Travis
Ex-Amazon Leader. Built 5 gyms and counting. Helping gym owners think bigger and lead better. Business Coach + Speaker.
About
From Amazon to the gym floor
I spent a decade in corporate tech at Amazon — working across Kindle, Digital Music, International Expansion and Alexa Shopping. In 2014, my daughter was born and I realized my health was in decline. I joined a gym and everything changed. By 2019, I left Amazon and opened Seattle Strength & Performance in Queen Anne. Today SSP operates across 5 Seattle locations with 1,000+ members and a full-time salaried coaching model.
I now coach and speak for gym owners who want to scale without sacrificing their people or their mission. My coaching is done through a great organization called Business for Unicorns. Drop me a note to learn more.
More out of less
Build systems that let a small, excellent team do what most think requires a large one.
Relentless growth bias
Every decision should move the business forward — incrementally and intentionally.
Invest early
Pay your people well before you feel like you can afford to. It compounds.
Strength is for everybody
The mission that drives SSP — and the lens through which I build everything.
Press & features
As seen in
Puget Sound Business Journal
Feature on Chris Travis and Seattle Strength & Performance — from Amazon to building one of Seattle’s fastest-growing gym brands
Nike
Quoted as a NASM-certified training expert on plank mechanics, core activation, and how to build strength for everyday life
Men’s Health
Featured as a fitness expert on training smarter and building lasting performance
Men’s Journal
Quoted as a training expert on cold-weather warmup routines and how to cut injury risk in winter workouts
Runner’s World
Quoted as a strength training expert on lateral squats — how to perform them correctly and why they matter for runners and athletes
Insider
Featured as a coaching expert on low-impact exercises for building core strength and muscle stability
Athletech News
In-depth profile on how SSP conquered Seattle’s boutique fitness market with 50–60% year-over-year growth and a full-time coaching model
Seattle Magazine
Feature on SSP’s neighborhood gym model — the welcoming, judgment-free approach and the launch of Seattle Fitness Week
Seattle Business Magazine
Origin story profile — from 80-hour Amazon weeks to leaving corporate life and building one of Seattle’s most distinctive gym brands
Seattle Refined
Profile on SSP’s inclusive mission, no-mirrors philosophy, and 2,000%+ revenue growth — members aged 10 to 73 training side by side
Authority Magazine
In-depth interview on the five strategies behind SSP’s path to seven-figure revenue: mission-driven brand, full-time coaches, systems before scale
Business for Unicorns
Ep. 472 — How opening 5 gyms in 6 years actually works: expansion playbook, presale strategy, lean build-out model, and funding without outside investors
King 5 / New Day NW
TV segment on keeping Seattle moving through the colder months with practical strength training tips
Speaking
On stage and in the room
I speak to gym owners and fitness entrepreneurs about scaling people, building mission-driven organizations, and creating a coaching culture that retains talent and grows revenue. Topics include team development, multi-location expansion, and building a full-time coaching model.
Business for Unicorns Retreat — Seattle
Gym owner business coaching retreat · Sep 11–12, 2026
Next up
Perform Better Summit — Chicago
How to build your fitness dream team · 75-min session
Past
Interested in booking me to speak?
I speak at fitness industry conferences, gym owner summits, and entrepreneurship events. To inquire about availability, topics, and fees, reach out directly.
Stay in the loop
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Thoughts on building gyms, leading teams, and growing a business with purpose. No fluff — just what’s actually working (and what isn’t) from someone in the trenches.
Book
From Prime to Performance
The story of leaving corporate life, building SSP, and what it really takes to grow a purpose-driven business. Coming soon.
📖 In progress — join the newsletter above to be the first to know when it drops.
Connect
Follow along
Chris Travis
christravis.io
Chris Travis 