Hi, Fireside! We’re Ben and Jenn Millemon, and we’re excited to introduce ourselves and share a little about the family behind Fireside’s new ownership.
We’re high school sweethearts and have been married since 1994. After five years of service in the Army, we moved to Boise in 1999 and made this valley our home. I used my GI Bill to earn an engineering degree from Boise State, followed by a master’s degree, and have worked at Micron since 2002. Along the way, Jenn devoted herself to raising our three wonderful kids. They’re all adults now, and we have one adorable granddaughter so far. Being parents and now grandparents has been one of the greatest joys of our life together.
Jenn enjoys pickleball, and you may see her drop into a Fireside class here and there. While you’ll see me at the gym more regularly, her support played a big part in our decision to take this next step.
My Fireside story began in January 2019. Since then, I’ve been showing up about five mornings a week. When I started, I had significant, persistent knee and shoulder pain. Today, I can press, pull, and squat heavier than I ever could before. CrossFit has changed my trajectory and my expectations for what I can do as I get older. It has given me a reason to keep challenging myself and confidence that there is still plenty of progress ahead.
Just as meaningful are the friendships I’ve made here. I enjoy coming every morning, working hard alongside friends, and sharing the experience. The workout brings us through the door, but the people make us look forward to coming back. For me, CrossFit is the last gym membership I’ll ever have. I haven’t found a substitute for this combination of fitness and community.
Buying Fireside wasn’t a quick decision. I spent a few months thinking it through, especially wondering how much time I could give it alongside my other responsibilities. Jenn could see how passionate and enthusiastic I was about the opportunity. The timing wasn’t perfect, but we love this community, and we wanted to help it continue to thrive. Having experienced what Fireside can do for someone firsthand, I felt a strong connection to its future.
Our purpose as owners is simple: help members meet their goals, work hard, and enjoy each other’s company along the way. Those goals will look different for each person. You might want to get stronger, improve your health, learn a new skill, or establish a consistent routine. We want Fireside to be a place where you have the coaching, encouragement, and friendships to keep moving forward.
We’re grateful to the coaches and members who make this place special, and we’re excited to build on that foundation together. I’m still the same person showing up each morning to get a workout in alongside you—now with an opportunity to give back to a community that has given me so much.
We look forward to getting to know more of you!
Ben & Jenn