meet the morgantown team

Oct 28, 2018

How did you end up at Zenergy? What brought you here?

Allie: A family friend encouraged me to go to Zenergy because she loves the Charleston studio!

Cassie: I was in a major RUT with my motivation. I was at a job I didn’t love, having tough things going on in my personal life and wasn’t inspired to work out which is so unlike me. I was looking for a class for some accountability and randomly booked a bike at Zenergy. One class was all it took to remind me that I’m tough, empowered and in charge of my happiness! I never looked back!

Alyssa: I ended up at Zenergy after much persuading from one of my friends. She brought me to my first class with Nick, and I never looked back!

Aaron: I have been involved with the company since about November 2015! I worked at the Charleston studio than when I originally started out cleaning weekly for Nick. I wasn’t fully hired onto the team until about Summer of 2016.

Erin: I ended up at Zenergy just after the opening of the Morgantown studio! My mom brought me to my first class on a Saturday with Nick, and I was instantly hooked. It did take me a few months to actually realize how much of a difference Zenergy made in my life, but once I realized that, THAT was what kept me coming back.

Jessica: Last year I saw an old classmate from my high school post about it and I just decided to try it one day and I was hooked from my first ride. I went in not knowing about cycling, and it was new and exciting! Also, I have never been a fan of gyms, so finding a good workout option was amazing. Being a full-time college student it can be hard to find time to workout, but Zenergy makes it easy!

Codie: I first went to Zenergy when they had a smoothie bar.  Literally, all I wanted was a smoothie.  The girl working was telling me about the studio and how I should come check out a class sometime.  I had already tried a spin class at my local wellness center and remember it being a painful and awful experience so I knew this wasn’t for me.  About six months after that first encounter, I decided to train for a half marathon.  Every single article I read said indoor cycling was a great cross training tool.  I still hated the idea, but decided to give it a shot at “that place in Morgantown.”  Of course, fell in love.  After I had been a rider for about a year and fell in love with the community at Zenergy, I knew I wanted to give back to the company that had given me so much.  I saw that they were hiring for the front desk and I just decided to go for it.

Maggie: Allie, showed me Zenergy, and then once she started working she encourages me to apply too!

What’s your favorite restaurant in Morgantown?

Allie: My favorite restaurant in Morgantown is Los Mariachis.

Cassie: I’d have to say Volcano based solely on the number of times per week I go there. haha! I’m a sushi fanatic!

Alyssa: My favorite Morgantown restaurant would have to be… Terra Cafe! It’s where I am currently sitting as I answer all these questions! They have locally sourced meals, a killer mac and cheese, and the only coffee that I would ever drink black! What more could a girl ask for?

Aaron: Okay, let’s be honest… #foodislife, but if I truly had to choose ONE place, it’d have to be Iron Horse Tavern (the downtown location) but only because their brunch is on point.

Erin: My favorite restaurant in Morgantown would definitely have to be Black Bear! I can always go for a yummy burrito from there, and I can’t live without my Black Bear queso fix every once in a while.

Jessica: Boston Beanery

Codie: Tailpipes.  Mostly for the milkshakes and fry sauce.

Maggie: They are all good but I’d have to go with Table Nine. YUM!

What is your favorite memory you’ve made at Zenergy?

Allie: My favorite memory at Zenergy has to be my first ride with Chase. I knew I was going to be addicted!!

Cassie: Absolutely 100% instructor auditions. No matter what the outcome was, I was so proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone! I stepped onto the podium for the first time and owned it! Honestly…my words and choreo might have been a mess but all I remember is how amazing I felt.

Alyssa: I was riding in one of Nick’s classes, sidebar, with many familiar faces in the front row adjacent to me. As if Nick could read the energy in the room, he played “Life is a Highway,” and encouraged everyone to sing at the top of their lungs. I remember looking around and seeing EVERYONE singing. There are few moments in life where you’re encouraged to scream-sing Rascal Flatts, and I gotta say if you were there, you would have sung too.

Aaron: Memory? I’m not sure how I can filter through so many to only narrow it down to one. Zenergy has given me so many memories that I’ll hang onto for the rest of my life. I have met so many amazing people, experienced unforgettable stories from those people, and sweat my literal booty off with ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE.

Erin: How can I pick just one?! I’ve made some of the BEST memories in the past year at Zenergy buttttt if I have to pick one it would be my first time riding up on the podium during one of Nick’s classes. I remember Nick telling us that he was looking for people to ride the instructor bike during some of his classes, and at the time I was starting to consider auditioning to be an instructor. I was absolutely terrified, but I walked into the staff room before class and said “Hey are you still looking for people to ride the podium?” and as soon as it came out of my mouth I thought “Oh no. What have I done?” He immediately responded yes and told me to go get myself set up to ride it, but before I did I went up to Aaron at the front desk freaking out! This is one of my best memories because it is such a reminder of overcoming a huge fear of being up in front of people; who would have guessed I’d be an instructor now?!?! Riding the instructor bike made me feel so incredible and is what gave me the extra push to audition to be an instructor.

Jessica: My favorite memory at Zenergy would have to be getting my family involved as well. My dad and I try to ride together once a week. They all really enjoy it!

Codie: The pop-up ride in Pittsburgh at the Mt. Washington overlook.

Maggie: Well it’s not my favorite memory but it’s a memory ha! One day when i cam in for training, Erin, our ASM cracked her head open.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? (and why?)

Allie: If I could travel anywhere I would go to Bora Bora… or somewhere tropical!

Cassie: Any of the Pacific Islands! Definitely on my travel to-do list!

Alyssa: I’ve always dreamed of going to Bali by myself. Seems strange and maybe a little “Eat, Pray, Love”-ish, but I think there would be something really special about being in such a beautiful, natural environment with just myself.

Aaron: I’m Italian, and my great grandparents came to America from Italy, so definitely there or any place in Europe.

Erin: Most days after class, traveling to my bed sounds pretty nice, but if I have to go further than that, I’d have to say Australia! I don’t know why, but it’s always somewhere I’ve wanted to go! It seems so beautiful!

Jessica: I would travel back to Ireland. Last fall I was in Dublin for only a day and a half and need more time to explore there! It’s just a beautiful country!

Codie: Real: Greece.  No real reason other than the fact that it looks absolutely breathtaking.  Imaginary: Halloweentown.  Because, duh. 

Maggie: I really want to go to Santorini, it looks gorgeous. Or back to Italy becuase I love pasta and everything italian.

Who inspires you?

Allie: My mom inspires me. She is the strongest and most selfless person I know!

Cassie: I love strong females! Serena Williams inspires me with her badass athleticism, the fact that she is a mom (won 2017 Australian Open while pregnant! What!?) and promotes body positivity! I am also SO obsessed with Malala Yousafazi – her story is unbelievable! She put her own life on the line (against the Taliban) for promoting the education of young girls in Pakistan! She is incredible.

Alyssa: I’m lucky enough to find inspiration everywhere in my life! But, when I go to work at the front desk, I definitely feel inspired by everyone that works at Zenergy. Watching Nick create such a motivational and warm environment, seeing my childhood best friend Erin Hubbard blossom into a confident and talented instructor, and working alongside some of the most kindhearted and hardworking people, is enough to leave me feeling inspired for months.

Aaron: This is a tough one – I’m a firm believer in hard work and working hard to get to a higher place in life. I know of a few people in my life that have made this happen for themselves and have found that so inspiring. Truly, Nick is one of the hardest working, most dedicated and well-driven people I have ever met. It has been such an honor to work along side him as he’s grown his company into what it is today. To know I have had a say in decisions to help Zenergy move forwards is so humbling, and rewarding, to say the least.

Erin: How can I even decide? So many people have inspired me and helped me get to where I am in life, but if I have to pick one person overall, it would be my dad. He is one of the most hardworking people I’ve ever met, but his busy, crazy life never stopped him from being at every important (and not so important) event in my life. In his own way, he’s showed me how important it is to always be supportive of your loved ones. My dad even came to a Flex class with my mom on my birthday this year just because!

Jessica: My family and friends inspire me. I have always looked up to my parents and older brothers. I strive to be the best version of myself for my family and friends!

Codie: Anyone who is trying to get through this thing called life because it can be rough as heck sometimes.   Anyone strong enough to keep going, y’all are the real MVPs.

Maggie: My mom! She’s the most selfless human I’ve ever met.

What’s one thing about yourself you want to share with the Zen Community? 

Allie: One thing I want to share with about myself to the Zen Community is I love horror movies.

Cassie: I want my Zen Community to know that I am totally motivated and inspired by my riders! I feel so lucky that I’ve gotten to meet so many awesome people through instructing and riding at Zenergy! This is hopefully obvious but I have so much FUN with you! Every. Single. Time. I love to laugh and enjoy life and that is amplified x1000 when I’m at the studio!

Alyssa: My Instagram handle… @alyssa_chafin. Follow for pics of my apple watch showing how many calories I burned after Nick and Erin’s classes… Hint: it’s a lot.

Aaron: I struggle with anxiety and depression. If you know me, you’d know I’m always smiling and upbeat (definitely the life of the party), but at times, I get very down and have my days. Life will sometimes get the best of me for sure, but I always find that giving myself positive affirmations daily helps me turn my thoughts into greater feelings and it makes for a better, much brighter, day.

Erin: One thing that many people don’t know about me, except those very close to me, is that I can be so extremely hard on myself. I will push myself so far and never quite be satisfied, but as I’ve started to learn to show myself a little bit more love, I have an easier time being happy with where I am and the person I’ve become in the past year. So let me leave you with this….”Your relationship with yourself is the most important relationship you have.” So love the hell out of yourself!!!

Jessica: This upcoming May I will graduate from WVU with a degree of Interior Design!

Codie: Fun Fact: I used to do radio commercials when I was a kid. Serious Note: I value the community we have built at Zenergy Morgantown so stinking much.  From working at the Front Desk and from being a rider for almost two years, I feel as though I have really gotten to know our riders and they are all just genuinely cool people with huge hearts.  “When you’re here, you’re family” (And yes, that is the tagline from the Olive Garden.  You’re welcome.)

Maggie: I really love pasta so I’m super thankful to have Zenergy keep me in check!