Ken Harris

Founder

Meet our founder. Ken Harris started with a love for the sport of gymnastics. He has owned gymnastics clubs throughout the United States for nearly 30 years. He has been a guest business lecturer for USA Gymnastics since 2019, and was inducted into the TN USAG Hall of Fame in 2023. He has consulted gyms across the country from California to New Hampshire, and many between.

Like you, he started with nothing but a dream, his wife, and a willingness to work hard. Somewhere around 2011, he decided that he wanted to run his gymnastics club like a gymnastics BUSINESS. There, he began building systems and philosophies, that are universally applicable.

“I think my gift, is not in the development of these systems, but in my ability to relate to the struggle that every gym owner has (or has had), and communicate these systems in a way that is easily understandable and adaptable to all sizes, and styles of gymnastics clubs.

I’m most proud of the fact that we take a good deal of time to understand what each individual gym owner wants out of their business before we develop a roadmap to get them there.” – Ken Harris CEO Iron Business Solutions.

Brett Aplin

CFO

Meet the man behind the scenes. Brett Aplin worked in the gymnastics industry for 9 years, serving in nearly every role imaginable — team coach, rec coach, hiring, training, scheduling, finance, and the list goes on! He won a handful of TN state championships as a coach before focusing his efforts on building a great staff culture at E.T.C. Gymnastics in Murfreesboro, TN, and he’s now the co-owner of Gymini Athletics in Hendersonville, TN.

Like you, he has worn many hats. He’s been the employee, the manager, and the owner. The coach and “the business guy.” So he knows how to relate to people in every role in your organization, understanding what makes each person tick.

“I think my gift is that I’m a maximizer — I love squeezing every ounce of potential out of people and organizations, and breaking complex topics or overwhelming endeavors into simple, easy-to-accomplish action steps.

I’m most proud of the fact that we help gym owners reconnect with what they care about most — and equip them to mold their businesses into tools that support their actual lives, whatever their individual goals may be.” – Brett Aplin CFO Iron Business Solutions.

Tom Forster

Employee

Tom Forster was an NCAA All-American gymnast at Penn State University. Shortly after graduation, in 1983, he and his wife founded Colorado Aerials gymnastics. Eventually, he opened satellite gyms as well as started clubs from scratch, bought clubs, and sold clubs. At one point, he managed 87 employees at once, and has a current gym enrolment of 1,600 students. He has coached athletes at every level, from preschoolers to NUMEROUS elite gymnasts. Tom has coached at seven World Championships and three Pan Am Games, and he served as the US Women’s National Team Coordinator from 2018 through the 2021 Olympic Games. Despite losing Simone Biles at those Games, the team still captured a silver medal, and the US won Gold in the All Around.

He is widely regarded as one of the most innovative gymnastics business owners, and invented his own equipment for training. Tom also develops computer programs as a hobby, including several that help with the running of his business. He was an early partner of iClassPro, and currently manages ZipTimeClock.

Mary Lee Tracy

Employee

Mary Lee Tracy has owned Cincinnati Gymnastics since 1980. She has coached many US National Team members, three which made the US Olympic Team. She was the Olympic Team Coach and is in the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. She has served on the Educational Staff and National Developmental staff throughout the past decade. In 2023 Mary Lee passed the coaching torch down to her daughter Rachel and found her new love, of teaching teachers.

“I now want to share my experience and knowledge of 40+ years of coaching, owning the business and having a family!  My passion is to inspire belief that you can do it all and maintain balance in your life.  Discipline and structure are the keys to making this happen, and I can help make this happen in your gym.”

“I can work with you, your staff and your athletes!  I love critiquing videos, doing verifications, writing training plans, creating new systems for success, whatever your immediate need is, I can  help relieve STRESS!   I love sharing IT ALL!!”