We get the question “why’d you guys get into this” all the time so we feel compelled to explain. Four years ago I was a near 12 year sales veteran burnt out in the corporate world. Karen, my wife and co-founder, was just crossing the decade mark with Baltimore County Department of Social Services focusing mainly on vulnerable families. We had two young children and wanted to start a business that focused on family and health. A business we could be proud of, that would add to the community and that our children could possibly work for some day.

Both our children had attended the largest national chain of young children’s gyms with mixed success. Although a fine program, it wasn’t what we were looking for. We decided we could come up with a better concept. Our center would have more emphasis on movement and activity and less singing, puppets and circle time. We wanted to teach basic tumbling but wanted freedom from the presentation / finishing skills and long waits you normally find with traditional gymnastics. We wanted a big space so the kids would feel that they had a world to themselves. It had to be clean and it had to be bright. We would fill it with the best children’s equipment available and hire only the best staff. Most of all, we wanted it to be fun, every time, for every child that attended a class or party.

We came up with the mission: Gymjam exists to help children develop physically, intellectually and socially in order to build self-esteem, confidence, and a life-long positive attitude towards health and fitness.

After two years of researching the details, writing business plans, going to and being turned down by several banks, we finally pulled it all together and in February 2006 opened the doors of the very first Gymjam in Eldersburg, Maryland. We were very fortunate to have landed in a fantastic, supportive community that embraced our concept and spread the word. Two years later nearly to the day we are on the verge of opening Gymjam of Owings Mills, with another site in the works.

Gymjam works because we have stayed true to our mission. We have the best staff. We have outstanding, bright, clean facilities. We have excellent equipment and can offer an ever-changing, engaging environment for our students to learn in and grow.

So why do we do it? We do it for the kids. We do it because confident, self –reliant, heath-conscious children are the best hope for the future. The greatest reward comes when a parent takes us aside and recounts some particular positive event or moment that resulted from their child’s experience at Gymjam. And we’re very proud to say that happens a lot.

Paul & Karen Richards

Co-Founder, Karen Richards, LCSW-C
Karen is a co-founder of Gymjam. She received her bachelors degree in Social Work from UMBC in 1994, and her Master's of Social Work from UMD at Baltimore in 1997. Karen is a child welfare social worker who has dedicated her career to improving the lives of children and families. For the last 12 years, she has been employed at Baltimore County Department of Social Services, and for the last 7 years she has worked with the Services to Pregnant and Parenting Teens unit within BCDSS. Karen is the current (2006) PTA President at Franklin Elementary School in Reisterstown. She has trained in Yoga for the last 5 years. Karen is Mom to 10-year-old Kelsey and 8-year-old Mitchell. Married for 16 years, Karen has lived with her husband and partner, Paul, in Reisterstown since 1999.

Co-Founder, Paul Richards
Paul is a co-founder of Gymjam. He received his bachelors in Accounting from Towson State University in 1992. Paul has held several field sales and sales management positions in a variety of industries over the last 12 years. Paul is a certified 1st degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and he received his USA Gymnastics Safety Certification in 2005 and his CPR certification in 2006. Paul is Dad to 10-year-old Kelsey and 8-year-old Mitchell. Married for 16 years, Paul has lived with his wife and partner, Karen, in Reisterstown since 1999.

Co-Founder, Maureen Dahle
Muareen grew up in Timonium, MD and graduated from Dulaney High School. She currently resides in Parkton with her husband and two children. Maureen has received her bachelors degree in Criminal Justice from Radford University in 1996. Maureen has held many senior level sales and management position in the telecommunications and software industries over the last 11 years working in the US and Bahamas. After getting married and having her two children, Maureen recieved her real estate license and is currently practicing with Gilbert. D. Marsiglia & Co. in Timonium, MD.