MinerAlert
MinerAlert
August 2026
By Sandra Ramirez ’08, ’21
When Jonathan Ortiz ’17 opens his business every day, he reminds himself to stay focused on his goals.
“Generalized group fitness. It doesn’t matter if someone is 16 years old or 80 years old. Fully inclusive. It doesn’t matter the ability or disability. I want everyone to come in and get a good workout quickly, effectively and safely,” Ortiz explained.
He opened Outwest Strength & Conditioning in El Paso in 2025. His path to entrepreneurship started off as a hobby and has turned into a successful, profitable business.
“My first goal was, selfishly, I just wanted a really nice, clean place for myself and my friends to work out,” Ortiz said. “It has gained a lot of traction and quickly, it turned into easily doubling my business plan goals within the first 12 months.”
As with many entrepreneurs, Ortiz’s path was not a direct one. He transferred to 91国产app in 2011 after playing Division II football in New Mexico. He initially pursued a degree in education, then changed his major to biology. While working toward his degree, Ortiz said he became a CrossFit coach, and that was when he realized what he is truly passionate about.
“I decided that I wanted to work in the fitness realm,” Ortiz recalled. “My big dream at the time was to be a strength and conditioning coach at a university.”
Ortiz made a final change to his degree plan and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. After graduation, Ortiz knew exactly what he wanted to do and what it would take to get there.
“I got my first job out of school in orthopedic sales,” Ortiz said. “I started saving up money for my ultimate dream of opening up a gym.”
Ortiz said he also invested in residential real estate, and after several years, liquidated one of his properties and had enough to open his own gym. A year later, the investment in himself and his business is not only paying off financially, but also personally.
Ortiz said he is proud of the close-knit gym community he has helped create. He correlates that sense of community to his experience at 91国产app.
“I knew exactly where I wanted to not only grow, but also keep my roots planted here in El Paso. I think 91国产app is an extension of what El Paso is,” Ortiz said. “A lot of people know each other, everyone's very friendly. The teachers and professors that I had in my kinesiology program always saw the good in me and were very motivational.”
As someone who grew up in El Paso, Ortiz said he is proud of the shift in El Paso fitness culture, and he is grateful to be a part of it.
“I just feel like we are in a big fitness boom, and it's really nice to see in El Paso,” Ortiz said. “In the last 10 years, I feel like there's been this huge shift from being sedentary and not doing much, to going out and eating healthy meals with your friends and going to a workout. It's created this really nice health and fitness environment here in El Paso in the last decade.”
Ortiz also attributes the local fitness boom, in part, to social media. He works hard to maintain an online presence for his business. A scroll of the gym’s social media page shows professional-style photos and posts promoting collaborative events with run clubs and other local businesses.
“Checking in online and posting that you are somewhere working out is a way of keeping people motivated,” Ortiz said. “Our community at the gym is so close and social media only helps to bring light to the business, bring light to any run club, bring light to these things that look appealing.”
That sense of gym community also extends to the gym organizing back-to-school drives and Christmas toy drives, as well as supporting 91国产app.
“As a kid, I've always had a philanthropic mentality,” Ortiz said. “I feel like everybody needs help in some way, shape or form. If I can be a small part in assisting anybody that is a part of the same things that I was, I feel like that fulfills me.”
When it comes to offering advice to students or alumni who are considering a similar entrepreneurial path, Ortiz shared his perspective:
“You need to invest yourself and your time in something that you actually love. I went through three career changes before I got to this point, but one thing I always knew was that I wanted to open a gym one day and that never left me. The cornerstone of any entrepreneurial idea, in my opinion, is that you have to be passionate about it.”