Factory-style training caters to youth athletes
Joe Giustino's gym designed for student athletes doesn't have mirrors, TVs, fancy weightlifting machines or air conditioning cranked low. The St. Charles facility, much like the owner's philosophy, gets down to basics.
Athletes pull sleds, flip tires, throw sledgehammers and swing kettlebells as drills to help them accomplish their athletic goals and work toward their full potential.
"It's a very underground style of strength training and conditioning," said Giustino, who started Pinnacle Performance Speed School, 2015 Dean St., in April.
He teaches athletes the mechanics of speed training and physical fitness. He also works to improve confidence and demands his students push themselves to achieve higher levels of fitness. The coach customizes intense programs for the high school athlete.
"I'm getting these kids prepared for college sports," he said.
He also runs sessions for elementary and junior high-aged students.
"Here I teach developmental skills, he said."
Group sessions are $30 per hour.
Building confidence and having fun is part of the game plan, Giustino said.
"My program is set up for immediate success," he added.
He also stresses the importance of nutrition and good grades.
"I want the kids to learn the values. My program provides the essential tools," he said.
Giustino, 33, has always been interested in sports. He played football at St. Rita High School and Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. He graduated from Northern Illinois University, where he studied exercise physiology.
He worked as a director at Parisi Speed School in New Jersey and then at XSport Fitness in St. Charles.
"I wanted to do my own program. I wanted to bring it here," said Giustino, who resides in Elburn with his wife Tiara, a fitness model, and three children.
The speed school operates with Pinnacle Performance Wrestling that Jake Hairrell has operated for about two years.
The new speed and agility school is devoted to people who want to see improvement, Giustino added.
"It's a very intense environment. It's factory-style training with a lot of sweat," he said.
For more, call (847) 393-3316.
Caring for pets: Bill Mitchell recently received the Nicholas Alexander Progress Award for improvements made over the last year at the Petland store on East Rollins Road in the Round Lake Commons Shopping Center in Round Lake.
The award is presented annually to Petland franchisees who have shown the most dedication to improvement in the areas of store management, animal husbandry and customer service.
Top firm: SEC Group, with offices in McHenry, has been named one of the Top 50 Firms in Public Works in the United States by Public Works Magazine.
The article appears in the July 2008 issue of the national trade magazine that is read by more than 70,000 public works professionals.
The magazine compiled the list based on the type of services, specialties offered and how much work was done in 2007.
SEC Group is an award-winning firm providing public and private clients with civil, structural, transportation, water and wastewater engineering as well as construction observation, land surveying, master planning and landscape architecture.
Sushi spot opens: Knightsbridge Design Build in Naperville recently completed construction on a flagship restaurant of Sushi Station Elgin Inc. in The Grove at 2846 Randall Road in Elgin. Central to the project is the "kaiten" revolving sushi style design. In this setup, food items circulate around the restaurant on a conveyor belt system. The concept has become popular throughout Japan. The eatery features dine-in and carryout services and a bar area for 142 guests. This is the family's second restaurant. The other opened in Rolling Meadows five years ago.
kmikus@dailyherald.com