Love Letter: The People of Prototype

Mike Collette • July 25, 2020

Community  is defined as a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals; having a particular characteristic in common. (Merriam-Webster.com).

A group of people are posing for a picture in a gym.

I like to believe that our community at Prototype is like none other. Back in 2012 when we were establishing our business and CrossFit was taking off, we had to set a vision for Prototype. I remember sitting in the basement along with our head coach Brian Zancewicz and we all began to brainstorm what we wanted Prototype to become.

A collage of photos of a man , woman , and child.

The original Vision we set for Prototype was to  create a culture of internally-driven individuals where the community helps foster each other’s individual fitness goals. Through premier coaching and education, a great community of healthier and happier members is forged.

Since then, we have simplified our Vision and that is   to become the greatest relationship business ever .

A woman is lifting a barbell and a man is doing a handstand

We refined our vision because we believe that we have never been a gym or a fitness community for that matter, but a relationship business. If we can help people establish meaningful relationships with others and create a positive relationship with fitness, we have the recipe for a purposeful life.

Everything is based off of the relationships you have and it’s our goal to be the place where amazing things happen.

A collage of photos of people including a man and a woman

When we established this vision for Prototype, I will be honest in saying that I had no idea how to make that happen, All we knew was if we run our business based on a set of core values, treat people well and make sure when everyone leaves that they feel better than when they walked in, we are one step closer every day.

Flash forward 8 years and I believe everything we do is aligned with our vision.

A collage of photos of a man and a woman

It’s weird how those things happen sometimes. The culture of our community is based on the amazing people that make it up. I’ve asked myself over and over again, why is everyone so awesome in our community? I haven’t been able to figure it out to this day. What we do have is some responses from an old member survey that share why people continue to stay at Prototype. I have shared with you several of the responses but we would love to hear from you and what you believe!

A collage of people including a man and a woman giving a thumbs up

“great people, good workouts, good coaches”

“The community and programming are excellent and hands down better than any other affiliate I have visited.”

A collage of people including a man wearing a crossfit shirt

“The skilled and careful coaching and the motivating camaraderie from other members and how good my body feels from being there.”

“I love the people and I enjoy starting each day with a workout with my friends! More than anything, I think the coaching and attention to detail at Prototype is extraordinary. Whenever I come to class, I know I will receive training from coaches who are motivated, knowledgeable, and fun. The staff at Prototype makes it the amazing place that it isA yellow smiley face with brown eyes and a smile on it.The programming is diverse and challenging, which keeps things exciting!”

A collage of pictures of people smiling and laughing

“It has a welcoming encouraging family culture – if you are there working hard then you are part of the family.”

“Love the people and the results!”

“Great, challenging workouts and a great community. Family atmosphere.”

A collage of photos of people including a man and a woman

“Relationships formed, continued support and push by coaches”

“The community and coaching staff is one of the main reasons. I’ve met some wonderful people and enjoy spending time at CFP…”

“Having fun. Great community feel. It’s working for me!”

 

A collage of people posing for a picture on a field

“The coaches and other members are awesome and make for a great atmosphere”

“Constantly different but enough the same so you can track yourself and see your progress. Also, need to hang out with friends!”

“coaches, programming, location, camaraderie””The supportive friendly culture”

A collage of photos of a woman , a man , a child and a bottle of peanut butter.

“Great coaching and the community”

If you’re a member at Prototype, thank you for being part of it. It means the world to us and you are an integral part of what this community truly is.

Mike

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Sharang is a standout part of the Prototype community—steady, positive, and always putting in the work—and his commitment to consistency, camaraderie, and long-term progress makes him a perfect example of what PTS is all about. Below he answers some questions and shares his experience. Share your experience at Prototype—favorite memories, moments, or stories or what’s your favorite part/what do you look forward to? What stands out most about Prototype is the camaraderie. The members, especially in the 7AM and Noon classes, create a great balance of fun and focus. Everyone is friendly and supportive, but when it’s time to work, people take the WODs seriously and push themselves to improve. That combination can be hard to find. All the coaches play a huge role in setting that tone. My favorite moments are the everyday ones i.e. showing up, putting in the work together, leaving class feeling accomplished. What I look forward to most is continuing to train alongside people who genuinely enjoy the process and want to get better. “Because summer’s coming.” Who at Prototype has made the biggest impact on you and why? As a dad of two young daughters, the people who’ve made the biggest impact on me at Prototype are the women in the gym. They all train with confidence, strength, consistency and set a powerful example. It’s the kind of environment I hope my daughters grow up seeing where strength is normal and earned. What are your hobbies and activities outside the gym? I dabble a bit in photography, star gazing and love to travel. Playing atrocious golf. How has Prototype helped you or solved a problem for you? Prototype has helped me stay active. There’s a real sense of happiness and accomplishment after each workout, and that feeling has become addictive in the best way. Knowing I’ll leave class feeling stronger, physically and mentally, keeps me coming back. Prototype has turned working out from something I should do into something I genuinely want to do, which has made a huge difference in maintaining a sustainable fitness routine. What are your current fitness goals? Steady progress and longevity. If I can keep lifting, moving well, and feeling good years from now, I’ll consider that a win. I hope my future self will thank my present self. Favorite Quote If you can’t explain it simply you don't understand it well enough.
By Mike Collette December 30, 2025
Greg is an amazing part of our community — consistent, encouraging, and ready to get after it. He truly represents what the PTS community is all about. Prototype of the Month is well deserved! Below, he answers a few questions about his time at PTS. Share your experience at Prototype—favorite memories, moments, or stories or what’s your favorite part/what do you look forward to? I definitely look forward to that feeling of clarity after finishing up a workout. I feel ready to tackle the rest of the day. Sometimes I have trouble getting mentally ready for a tough looking metcon, but I always feel better afterwards. Who at Prototype has made the biggest impact on you and why? All the coaches and members are great, I look forward to seeing everyone when I am there, but the person who has made the biggest impact is Bridget Owens. She is my motivation and always pushes me to keep going and push myself to get better. What are your hobbies and activities outside the gym? I love cycling and mountain biking, the workouts at prototype have definitely helped improve my fitness so that I can do better on the bike even though I don’t get out as often as I would like. Also spending time with my family, grilling and BBQing when the weather is nice and getting to the beach in the summer. How has Prototype helped you or solved a problem for you? Prototype has helped enormously with my level of anxiety, I was really struggling when we first moved into town, the community and workouts at Prototype have been a life saver for my mental health. What are your current fitness goals? I want to get better at gymnastics, maybe get some toes to the bar. Favorite Quote Two Quotes: “Bone on bone, stack it” -Jon “Activate the lower half” -Brian
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