About Us
Our Initiative
Kenny and Chris Crump, Columbus Ohio natives are passionate about ownership and securing financial independence. Both have built successful businesses and brands separately over the past 20 years. Being well aware of the hardships owners have while building their businesses, Kenny and Chris fused both of their individual expertise to form an entrepreneurial empire.
Meet the Founders
Kenny Crump
At just four years old, Kenny Crump began learning gymnastics at a local recreation center in Columbus, Ohio. He honed his skills on a recreational level for the next five years until joining a competitive gymnastics club, where he developed a genuine love for the sport. A former Big Ten Rings Champion coached him while he competed in gymnastics from age nine to eighteen, and Kenny developed the confidence to know that there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish. Kenny learned from his coach to have patience and to teach children proper gymnastics techniques.
When he finished competing, Kenny’s father suggested he get a job as a coach at the local parks and recreation department; this is where the idea for his Mobile Gym was born in 2005. The Mobile Gym skyrocketed, and Kenny opened his first Gym Skills facility in 2008. Seeing its impact on his community motivated him to grow the program even more. As a result, Gym Skills has grown into a franchise company with the 2nd location in Cincinnati.
Kenny has been an investor since 2013, and maintains a diverse portfolio in real estate, stocks, cryptocurrency, and art. In addition, he’s an angel investor and mentors aspiring entrepreneurs.
Chris Crump
Chris Crump is a beauty expert with over 23 years of experience shaping. In 2009, Chris proudly launched Strand Café, pioneering the first black-owned full-service salon nestled in Columbus' vibrant Short North Arts District.
Throughout her career, Chris has been trusted by a prestigious clientele of black women leaders in Columbus. She is renowned for her expertise in nurturing healthy hair, trend setting natural hair services, precise cutting, and coloring. Chris has collaborated with esteemed media personalities, visionary editorial photographers, and publications in the Columbus area.
In 2020, Chris transitioned from her daily role behind the chair to embrace her new role in motherhood. Today, she’s pursuing new entrepreneurial ventures both personally and professionally. Alongside her husband, she proudly co-founded We Elevate You Foundation in 2022. She serves as a beacon of empowerment and support for the next generation of innovative BIPOC entrepreneurs.
