Shae and Barry Sims, owners of Athletic Republic in West Jordan (8860 S. Redwood Road, Suite 106), were named the 2023 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association at its annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona. 

After getting into the Athletic Republic franchise only three years ago, the Sims were recognized for their outstanding contributions as franchisees and for making a difference in the community. 

“We’ve tried to get into our communities to get to know our teams, our athletes and the organizations, and learn what their needs are,” Shae Sims said. “It’s nice to be on a personal level to understand the community…I think that’s what’s been beneficial for us.”

The Sims use the Athletic Republic training program to help athletes perform at their highest level in a way that is sustainable, safe and effective. This includes movement skills, like lateral agility, foot speed and explosiveness, plus strength and acceleration training.

Shae’s background is in exercise physiology. She worked at Intermountain Health’s Orthopedic Specialty Hospital in the ‘90s when she met Barry who played football at the University of Utah. He’d suffered a knee dislocation during a bowl game and worked with Shae after his knee repair surgery. 

One of Shae’s colleagues recommended a new program out of California that eventually became the basis of Athletic Republic. The training allowed Barry to recover and try out for the NFL. He went on to play with the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers.

“It was that program that propelled Barry to come back from the injury and not only land a job with the NFL but be able to play for 12 years,” Shae said. “At the time of his injury, the ortho that did his surgery thought he would never play football again.”

After Barry retired from the NFL, the Sims returned to Utah to live in Park City, where they own and operate a second Athletic Republic location. They chose to open the franchise in West Jordan because they said it gives them access to talented athletes in the valley playing basketball, tennis, gymnastics, football, lacrosse and other sports. 

They offer free trials for athletes of any age who want to try a training session and assessment to see how they can reach their athletic goals.

“We really saw how the training benefited Barry and his athletic achievements,” Shae said. “It’s great to take that to young athletes in our Utah communities and help them achieve their goals and what they’re looking for in their athletic endeavors.”

They were excited to receive the IFA recognition and pleased to be recognized for bringing value to athletes in Utah. For more information, visit westjordan.athleticrepublic.com.

“This recognition not only reflects our dedication to our business but also underscores the commitment we have to our community and the athletes we serve. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the success of Athletic Republic and to make a positive impact in the lives of our clients,” Barry said. “This recognition motivates us to continue striving for excellence and innovation in everything we do." λ