Debbye Roman knows there’s more than one way to be strong. She’s always enjoyed running and being active, but a terrifying incident in her native Mexico showed Roman she has other kinds of strength, too.
Roman first came to the United States in 2011 for a temporary job at Walt Disney World. When that work program ended, she returned home to Tabasco in the southeastern region of Mexico with dreams of one day moving back to the States. The following year, after Roman and her family became the victims of an attempted kidnapping, she hastened her plans to leave Mexico for good.
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That horrific, life-threatening experience also motivated Roman to channel her trauma into a force for good. She worked on her body, got stronger, and began looking for ways to help others do the same. Today, Roman is the owner of Thrive STL (8123 Delmar), a University City gym that offers personal training, small-class boot camps, and yoga, while focusing on positive motivation and setting attainable individual goals. She never thought she would one day own her own business, let alone a gym, in the United States. Yet, Roman is now approaching the one-year anniversary of her acquisition of Thrive STL, and still striving to help others flourish.
“Fitness has always been an emotional thing for me,” Roman says. “When I started lifting weights, it was my way to overcome my PTSD.”
It’s still challenging for her to speak about that shocking incident 11 years ago. Although the day still haunts her, she hasn’t let it stop her from moving forward. After arriving in St. Louis in 2013, Roman began exploring all of the things she could achieve by focusing on fitness. For Roman, St. Louis was the refuge she needed.
“I thought it was beautiful here,” Roman says. “I was in love with the city as soon as I arrived. I loved that there were so many parks. It felt like a dream.”
While working a draining hospitality job at a country club in Clayton, Roman decompressed by using the club’s gym. Initially, her passion for running kept her on the treadmill, but she soon discovered the benefits of weightlifting. A personal trainer noticed her diligence during workouts and suggested that she consider a new line of work.
“He told me I could be a trainer,” Roman recalls.
She was amazed. Become a personal trainer? This was never part of her plan. And yet, with perseverance, Roman earned her training certification and began working at Catalyst Strength and Functional Nutrition, the predecessor of Thrive, in University City. After a couple of years there, Roman had casual conversations with the owner about one day taking over when he was ready to retire. Soon, the question she had been asking herself rhetorically—Could I run this place?—became real when the owner decided it was time to step away,
Roman was ready. She had been handling many of the gym’s business responsibilities for some time, and she had already proven herself as a trainer. Roman rebranded the gym as Thrive STL and officially re-opened the doors on July 1, 2022.
“We have grown significantly,” Roman says. “Revenue has increased, we have more trainers, and the facility has changed. People are very vocal about things looking good.”
Running any business is a challenge, but especially for a woman of color in the male-dominated fitness industry. As Roman gained more confidence as a trainer, she didn’t allow men to intimidate her. Her life experiences taught her how to be resilient. Now, Roman takes satisfaction in knowing that she found her calling, and is helping others realize their own inner and outer strength.
“I didn’t allow big guys to intimidate me,” Roman says. “I knew I could do it and showed them I could.”
