About Emerge Fitness Training

Matt Pirtle and Angie Nation-Pirtle, owners and founders of Emerge Fitness Training, took very different paths on their way to establishing themselves in the St. Louis fitness industry.

Angie began as a business major at Western Illinois University and found that, very quickly, her passion lied elsewhere, specifically in physical fitness. As an exercise physiology major, she graduated in the spring of 2001 and was hired promptly by 24 Hour Fitness in St. Charles and began her career as a personal trainer.

Meanwhile, Matt had completed a Bachelors degree in journalism at Mizzou and a business MA at the University of Texas. Like Angie, Matt's passion lied in the world of physical fitness. Matt was hired by and began his career at 24 Hour Fitness on the same day as Angie.

In the subsequent 10 years, Angie and Matt have grown in the field together, building on their fitness and health knowledge, establishing themselves as Master Trainers at 24, working with a large and diverse group of clientele. Looking to expand on and further realize their trainer potential, Angie and Matt began the planning process for Emerge.

A product of 5 years of planning and vision, Emerge as a thought out, viable business venture was born in January of 2007 over dinner at Grappa Grill. Over the next six months, Angie, Matt and his mother, Beth, constructed the vague idea of Emerge into a real, physical studio that opened July 9, 2007, a week to the day after Angie and Matt's wedding.

Teaming up with Master Trainers Jason Tokun, Debi Westhues, and Matt's very experienced mother Beth Pirtle, Emerge began with a bang.

Since opening, Emerge has serviced thousands of clients and innumerable sessions. Emerge has been featured in two major magazine publications, four times in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and has had 8 spots on the local news.

Emerge grew out of its original 2300 square foot studio in just three years and opened up its current 6400 square foot facility in August 2010.

Kim Renoud (the last Master Trainer at 24 Hour Fitness at the time) has since joined the staff, as has Adam Kulp, (a very successful trainer from Gold's Gym) and Jody Blanton (who has under her belt years of fitness experience). Nicole and Nick Dudas, Matt Wirth (all master trainers from 24) and Julie Hamilton (from Lifetime Fitness) round out the stellar EMERGE team.

Emerge looks forward to servicing all of our clients in the future with the absolute best and most qualified trainers and the most cutting-edge, scientifically sound training.