Gorham native and entrepreneur Stacey (MacDonald) Coleman, (GHS ’98 and USM ’03) has always been active. Captain of the GHS Girls Soccer team, she went on to play NCAA soccer at USM while earning her degree in Health and Fitness.

Husband Jesse, also a USM grad with a B.S. in Biology, grew up in Bristol, VT. He was a three-time VT State Champion Wrestler at Mount Abraham Union High School and All New England Captain of the USM wrestling team.

The two met in college, married, and chose to live in Gorham. Stacey said, “My family still lives here, so it was the perfect nest for our young family.”

In 2007, the couple started Gorham Fitness Studio, building a clientele while earning National Academy of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer and Behavioral Change Specialist Certifications. Later Stacey added Certified Nutrition Coach and Jesse added Certified Corrective Exercise Specialist to their credentials. In 2008, My-FIT-24 at 17 Railroad Avenue was launched. The Colemans and their team provide effective fitness solutions, personal training and group classes at a 24-hour access fitness facility.

In the early days, they expanded their offerings to include kids’ classes, so parents could work out while their children participated in their own sessions.

The Colemans felt fortunate to be able to integrate their own family life with their business. “Our gym has truly been a second home for our family,” said Stacey.

The couple explained that they share operations (group and personal training) at My-FIT-24. Jesse said, “Working together as spouses is rare but not totally unique. Learning how to complement each other’s strengths while giving each other space to grow professionally can be a challenge, but it’s worth it.”

On the business end, Jesse leans into software integration, member services, and logistics while Stacey concentrates on video production, website design, and content creation for social media and email engagements.

In 2010 the Colemans began a second business, an online wellness course called “Living a Champion Life,” based on their wholistic philosophy of building health, wealth, and relationships upon five fundamental life habits. Each habit is important, and each becomes more powerful when practiced in sequence.

Always community minded, in 2011, The Colemans co-founded a non-profit organization for Type 1 Diabetic Children and their families called Maine P-Pods.

In addition to running My-FIT-24 and raising their kids, the Colemans returned to their alma mater in 2017, serving as Strength & Conditioning Coaches for over 500 USM athletes. Stacey writes a health and fitness column for the Gorham Times and also serves on the Advisory board for the USM Exercise Science Department.

The Colemans also host community events and fundraisers, the most recent of which benefitted Tri for A Cure and was held in Portland. They organized and hosted “The MotivateHer Mindset Workshop” with over 200 attendees and a distinguished panel of inspiring women who overcame adversity to achieve remarkable outcomes. Stacey said, “I wanted participants to walk away equipped with valuable tools and the motivation to not only write their own life story but to also step into the role of hero.”

The “MotivateHer Mindset Podcast” featuring their trademark Champion Life Coaching and guest speakers can also be found on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes air weekly.

Even in their down time, wellness is a big part of the Coleman’s lifestyle. They team up for a summer kickball league with friends, Stacey hits the soccer field with the women’s league whenever she can, and they enjoy daily hikes with their beloved black Lab on Gorham Trails. They enjoy cooking and experimenting with healthy new recipes.

Their son, Bode (GHS ’23), will be a sophomore, pursuing a degree in Computer Science at Southern New Hampshire (SNHU) University. Zoe, a senior at GHS, will soon join her brother at SNHU and will study Media Studies. They both also play D2 lacrosse.

FMI please visit: Living a Champion Life: www.livingachampionlife.com; MotiviateHer Mindset Podcast episodes: www.livingachampionlife.com podcast; My-FIT-24: www.my-fit-24.com.