Chris Grady ’19 chose to attend Shenandoah because it was close to home and seemed like a good fit for him when looking to transfer from the university where he had begun his studies.
During his time at Shenandoah, Grady’s fondest memories were during his time as a member of the football team. In his junior year, he was named third-team All-ODAC and then in his senior year, he was named co-captain of the football team.
Grady is the owner of Valley Barbell Gym located in Front Royal, Virginia. He always dreamed of owning his own gym and it became a reality in 2023. Valley Barbell is a 24-hour fitness facility that includes hand selected equipment, fitness classes, personal and small-group training and a sauna. Prior to starting his own business, he worked for UPS, holding various positions.
The most rewarding part of Grady’s career is “working with the public and youth athletes to develop their abilities and push people to their limits.”
Shenandoah helped prepare Grady for his career through the lessons he learned from his academic advisor. “I had an advisor that was tough,” said Grady. His advisor stressed the importance of always being prepared and making sure he had a plan for what was next.
Grady’s advice to current and future students is to “Love what you do, buy into what you preach, and Lead by example and always leave an impact on the person you coach/teach.”