Crimmins, a 2018 graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High School, owns and operates Crimmins Performance Center, which is located inside the Downtown Rec Coliseum at 615 Second Ave. S. in Fort Dodge.

“I always loved the gym as a kid growing up,” Crimmins said. “Josh Ledford, my strength coach at the Senior High, was a great role model for me.

“I’d credit him with showing me that training can be a career.”

The center offers one-on-one personal training sessions, women’s group classes, men’s group classes and elementary and middle school classes.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Myla Ewing, of Fort Dodge trains with Alec Crimmins, recently at the Rec Coliseum in Fort Dodge.

“Primarily services I provide are improving the health and well-being of my clients,” he said. “I help suggest diets and ways to implement these diets. I help people with any type of stress they may be going through whether through verbal communication or exercise interventions.”

After graduating from FDSH, Crimmins spent a year at Iowa Central Community College. He continued his education at Iowa State University in Ames in exercise science. Following an internship with ICCC strength and conditioning in 2022, he graduated from ISU and began working as a personal trainer and strength coach.

“I like seeing the huge transformations mentally and physically within every individual I work with,” Crimmins said. “I think this is something Fort Dodge really needs.

“In the future, I’d like to offer group sessions for the Police Department, Fire Department and any business in town that wants to participate in helping their employees get enough exercise. Mainly to improve movement patterns, improve mental health and help decrease the amount of sick days by strengthening the immune system through exercise intervention.”

It hasn’t always been easy for Crimmins, especially when it came to location.

“Challenges I’ve overcome are finding the right building to fit my services,” he said. “You need a huge area. That’s why the Downtown Rec Coliseum is a great place for this.

“Other challenges I’ve had are just trying to work with everyone’s schedule and still provide the highest quality of training I possibly can.”

Crimmins also said he has received tremendous support from his family, especially his parents.

“My friends have always been supportive as well,” he said. “And every client that has stuck with me through thick and thin I am thankful for.”