Our Team

Luis Quiroz

I was born in the small fishing port of Chimbote, Peru in 1968. Although small, Chimbote is very rich in customs and culture—Latino, Incan and Chinese among others. The town has a history of more than 160 years of cultural interchange with different ethnic groups from North and South America, Central America, Europe and Asia. As a result, I learned to be respectful of all races and cultures.

At the age of eight, I began training in a school named Shao-Li-Ten where my teachers were Li Ten Sui (1898 - 1989) and AntonioLi Fon, aka Li Shi Sam (1953 - Present). Both are direct descendants of an important monk at the famous Shaolin Temple. At Shao-Li-Ten I learned two companion styles originating in the region of Canton with characteristics unique to south China:

Hong-Ka - This style predominantly focuses on force over technique.
Choy-Ka - This style emphasizes the use of technique of force.

Later, as a complement to these styles, I was taught Mongolian Wushu and Chi Na. Both are for close combat with the main objective of controlling your opponent before you strike. Over the years, I have learned many other kung fu styles and continue to train and learn. Although martial arts are my passion, they are not the center of my life. That spot is reserved for my beautiful daughter, Alma.

Jonathan Green

Along this journey we call life, I've managed to find purpose and promise in just about everything I've put my hand to. Whether it was landscaping, construction, catering, accounting, managing, counseling, or almost anything you could think of, I've done it and did it well. Most people take me to be a perfectionist or even an "over-achiever", but when seeing things from my perspective, I'm simply trying to be a really reliable person.

The one thing that I like better than achieving my goals is seeing others achieve theirs. You could say that's how I found interest in the profession of personal training. Other than it being a hobby of mine during my high school and college years I actually entered college as an undecided freshman. For some reason, I managed to convince myself that people weren't supposed to major in things they do as a hobby and as charity for friends. I figured that my expertise as a technology "guru" and a fitness buff was supposed to be nothing more than hobbies and that just like many other Americans, I would major in something I barely had interest in.

I ended up majoring and graduating with a degree in Business Management, Healthcare Administration and taking a minor interest in finance. Surprisingly I learned to love it all and managed to put my newfound knowledge to work by starting my own non-profit business in college. My friends would make comments about how my touch turned everything to gold and how I reminded them of Joseph in the Bible. If anyone would ask me what my motivation was, I would tell them then and still now that it is to be the best servant I can be.

Now if anyone were to ask me how I found myself in the position as a Lions Gym personal trainer, I would tell them that life's experiences are like the wind and that the wind happened to blow this experience my way. It is truly an honor to work for a business whose workers are as motivated as you are to enhance the lives of others. A life of service is my goal and enhancing the lives of others is my duty.

Sincerely, Jonathan Green

Venita Johnson

After graduating from Robert Morris College & obtaining my Associates Degree in Medical Assisting, my vision then was to help people improve their quality of life by caring for them in a medical setting. I provided services to clients at the University of Illinois in Chicago, Bellin Healthcare System in Green Bay & North Memorial Medical in Minnesota. After 10 years of service in three major healthcare systems, I concluded that preventative healthcare was lacking in the medical settings & that overall, the health conditions in the U.S are progressively getting worse; obesity, stroke, cancer, heart disease and diabetes are at an all time high.

My vision as a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer with a background in weight management and aerobics, is to motivate, encourage and help people to see the value of taking care of the one body they have been given by living healthy, active lifestyles and practicing good nutritional habits that can be passed on to the next generation.

Medical research supports that certain medical conditions can be reversed, prevented or improved by practicing healthy lifestyle habits such as becoming more physically active, fueling the body with foods that have not been stripped of their nutrients or by using quality supplements, adequate water intake and getting proper restorative sleep.

I'm committed to helping you find easy, affordable solutions to get results!

Leah Menya

My passion for health and wellness started after falling in love with the fitness guru himself, my husband, Stephen Menya. (If you have not read his philosophy page yet on the site, please do and you will understand where I am coming from.) I have always been a healthy, active person, but after meeting Stephen and seeing how much I could change the way I feel and look by just being more conscious of it completely inspired me. My desire is that everyone would receive the same inspiration to better themselves at some point in their lives.

Our body is a temple that has been given to us by our Lord and Savior, and we should do whatever we can to take care of it. This one body is all we have! I love inspiring people to take care of their temple. Seeing the look on someone's face who now can bend over and tie their own shoes or successfully go up a flight of stairs without losing their breath just gives me the shivers.

Opening Lions Gym has been that blessing to Stephen and me. A place we would like everyone to be able to call their home gym. A place of community with no intimidation. All are welcome and we truly mean that.

Donald Painter

I met Stephen in 1999 while working at Prudential Insurance. We instantly hit it off and ever since then have been excellent friends. I have seen the creation of Lions Gym from the very beginning. In fact, Stephen rented a home from me and actually turned one of the garage stalls into a workout facility. And the vision grew from there.

I have always been driven to help Stephen fulfill his dream of owning and operating a fitness center. Since I am now retired, I spend as much time as I can at the gym helping him with whatever needs to be done—whether that be answering the phone, cleaning or just being a friendly smile behind the front desk to welcome people.

I have been working out with Stephen for several years. I would say for a 69-year-old, I am pretty fit. I try to workout at least three times per week. Please feel free to ask me what this gym can do for you, and I will tell you how this gym has changed and inspired me. Looking forward to seeing you at the reception desk!

Jill Halpin

I have a diploma as a Fitness Trainer and Nutrition coach from the National Personal Training Institute in Minnesota. Fitness has always interested me and been a huge part of my life. I have also been weight training and body building for over 6 years, which led me to compete in my first fitness shows this year. I loved seeing my body change and how fun it can be to push yourself to achieve your goals and when you see the end result of your hard work and dedication, it is truly one of the best feelings in the world. I am continuing my goals as a fitness competitor and plan on going all the way to nationals.

My passion is helping others achieve their health and fitness goals. Understanding and planning gives you a much greater chance of taking control of the goals. I have watched what a struggle it can be for many people bouncing from one fad diet to the next without success. It's not that they don't have the dedication and drive to succeed, they just don't have the knowledge and support they need to do so. I take some of that frustration away of wondering what to eat and what not to eat, which is key to any weight loss, weight management, muscle toning and muscle building.

I am not about quick fixes; it is all about teaching you how to live a healthy lifestyle. I teach women and men how to drop excess body fat and tone their physiques. I get my clients results!

Contest History:
2009 NPC - Gopher State Figure Masters Division, 1st Place
2009 NANBF - Ms. Minnesota, Beginner Figure, Tall Class, 1st Place

Dr. Richard Greene

My name is Dr. Richard A. Greene, and I have been a licensed Chiropractor in the Twin Cities for forty years. I have been in private practice in Edina for most of those years. My undergraduate work was completed at the University of Wisconsin and my professional education was completed at Northwestern Health Sciences University here in Minneapolis. Since Chiropractic takes a natural approach to health conditions and is concerned with health and wellness preventative care, good eating habits, sleeping habits and exercise habits are integral parts of the "Chiropractic philosophy". It has been my passion to see many physical conditions cured and taken care of through Chiropractic manipulation, whole food supplementation and health style changes. I have always tried to live a clean and healthy lifestyle so I would not feel guilty asking my patients to do the same. Being active and keeping my weight appropriate for my age and height has always been a priority. Regular exercise is very important for all age groups and for both sexes. I have always encouraged my patients to exercise on a regular basis either by themselves or if they can't be self-disciplined to find an exercise buddy to be accountable to. Regular exercise is always more fun if it can be shared with another person.

Being associated with Lions Gym has truly been a blessing for me. It has provided me with a place to exercise, get personal training and a place to refer others who may need the same. I have also been able to see some clients and do some consultations there. Stephen Menya is my personal trainer and has been for five years. At age 68, I am strong, active and healthy. I can attribute this to exercise, good eating and working out regularly with Stephen. It is always easier to turn over in bed in the morning and hit the snooze alarm than it is to get up, get moving and head to the gym. It is always easier to make excuses to not go to the gym after work or to just simply stop coming on a regular basis. But in the end, you are cheating your body of health and stamina and in the long run you are aiding your body in deterioration and to self-destruct.

Stephen Menya

Stephen's story is in the Philosophy page of the website; see: Stephen's Philosophy.