4 minute read
Siblings Create Success in Rapid City
Entrepreneurship is something you are called to. You must be innovative, thrive under pressure and break through ceilings. There is no room for laziness, complacency or the status quo. “If you aren’t growing, you’re dying,” say Johnny and Teresa Gonzalez, brother and sister business owners in Rapid City. Not only do they operate their own successful businesses but are now uniting to offer an entirely new service.
Constantino Gonzalez spoke no English when he immigrated from Panama. He was 20 years old and earned a scholarship to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Today, he runs his own worldwide consulting company in high tech electronics.
His strong drive for success was clearly passed down to his children. Five of the six siblings own businesses, in fact. Both Top Notch Nutrition, owned by Johnny and his wife Bethany, and The Studio, owned by Teresa and her husband Tim Brown, were created because of their own struggles. The solution wasn’t available anywhere they looked, so they created one. Constantino raised his children to be risk-takers. “He would always tell us you can do better,” settling was a not an option.
Teresa Gonzalez (37) and her husband Tim Brown own The Studio, a boutique fitness studio offering a broad spectrum of formats using cardio and strength elements to bring the body to its full potential. “I started The Studio because I hated working out. I didn’t have a passion for any of this, I was called to it because I had a problem and needed to create a solution.” It’s fair to say that’s how Teresa approaches most things in life, and what makes her a successful business owner.
Johnny (30) & Bethany (31) Gonzalez are a husband and wife team who began doing e-commerce Amazon sales in 2013. They took the skills & expertise they learned, partnered with a biochemist, and founded Top Notch Nutrition, Inc. in December 2017. Top Notch Nutrition is a well-known brand nationwide and in Canada, but is locally owned and operated in Rapid City. The supplement line is well respected for offering clean products without sacrificing on taste. From the middle school soccer player, to the stay-at home mom trying to improve her health, all the way to the most elite of professional athletes, Top Notch Nutrition is safe and effective for all. They firmly believe that the supplementation doesn’t matter if your nutrition isn’t in check. “Find another supplement company that says that!” Johnny proudly states.
Why Rapid City?
Johnny and Bethany moved around but have now returned to Rapid City. Teresa has operated The Studio here since 2012. Their family and network are here. Most importantly, opportunity is here. According to Teresa and Johnny, Rapid City is big enough to have competition. They firmly believe there are more clients available than they can serve, so there’s a space for everyone. “We want to work with people who are called to us,” says Teresa. Johnny would add, “the community needs health and nutrition in the right way. We can only serve 200 people, but we always stay forward-thinking.”
Maintaining an abundance mindset is another thing they would credit with their success.
“We aren’t ever trying to serve everyone. We don’t pay attention to what other people are doing.” Their advice to other entrepreneurs would be to stay focused on what you can do and who you can serve. The right people will come.
Working with Family
Sibling rivalries? Family feuds? Not for the Gonzalez family. They view the fact that they are family as a major benefit to how they run their business. “There’s a trust factor there,” says Johnny. The communication lines are more direct, and it’s easier to stay in their lane. When you own your own business, it can be a major risk to add to the team. Teresa would say that making sure the people you bring in have the same values and buy-in to the business are key when hiring your team.
What’s next?
Already operating two successful businesses, Johnny and Teresa aren’t done yet! “If you aren’t growing you’re dying.” So now, the two are Evolving. Opening later this spring, they are starting a brand new venture, together. Evolve will focus on custom-designed programming with an emphasis on nutrition. They have a certified team of coaches who work one-on-one with clients to make eating healthy and living well a way of life versus a temporary diet. They serve a wide spectrum of people in Rapid City, from the woman wanting to lose weight after a baby to the person in their 60’s wanting to regain muscle. ◆
Teresa Gonzalez teaches healthy habits with her daughter at The Studio.
Photo provided by The Studio
Johnny Gonzalez and his wife Bethany are owners of Top Notch Nutrition.
Photo provided by Top Notch Nutrition
