Ron spent nearly 40 years in another industry. Shortly after retiring, Ron and his wife Gloria discovered that God had other plans. Upon hearing about the mission and purpose of Special Strong, they felt called to put a hold on retirement and put some of their financial blessings to work opening an adaptive and inclusive fitness franchise in Northeast Tarrant County Texas. Special Strong designs specialized adaptive fitness programs for people facing cognitive, mental, and physical challenges so that they may live more abundant lives. Among those that Ron and his nationally certified, caring and experienced staff are working with, are people with Down Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Williams Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, Amputees, Genetic Anomalies, Stroke Survivors, and many others.
Ron is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He and Gloria have been married 40 years and have three children, Lauren, Joe, and the youngest Jake, born with Williams Syndrome. When Ron is not running the business or serving his clients, he can be found exploring the vast Texas landscape on his motorcycle.
By the age of 21, Daniel Stein had been diagnosed with a learning disability, mood disorder and autoimmune disease. After successfully using exercise to overcome his unique challenges, he felt called upon to help others with disabilities obtain healthier, happier, and higher functioning lives. Daniel obtained certifications through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the National Federation of Personal Trainers (NFPT), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
In 2016, Daniel and his wife, Trinity, launched Special Strong, one of the only fitness centers in the country for individuals with mental, physical, and cognitive challenges. Today, Special Strong continues to specialize in adaptive and inclusive fitness training and is making a difference in the lives of children, adolescents and adults all over the world.
To unlock the strength and confidence within the mind, body, and spirit of every individual impacted by mental, physical, and cognitive challenges in order to live a more independent and abundant life.
To empower over 1 million athletes and 100,000 coaches to live an abundant life through adaptive fitness.
At Special Strong, we are governed by Christian values, using the acronym "STRONG." Through our values, we have created a life-giving culture where solutions can be created, people can prosper, and God can be glorified.