In the vibrant community of Wheat Ridge, Korey Stites is a familiar face. To many he is the City Council member. To others, a third generation entrepreneur. As I sit in Stylus & Crate sipping my black coffee at a table near the back, Korey arrives on time and is greeted at the counter. He gabs with owner Tadd Overstreet, Korey grabs his regular from the counter, and heads over to our table. It only takes a few moments to learn that he is not just a regular; but also a local.
The Stites family legacy stretches back to 1954 when Hank Stites (Korey’s Grandfather) opened B&F Tire at 6915 W 38th Ave. For 65 years, with Hank at the helm, the Stites family ran the automotive establishment similar to any family business on Main Street, America. Korey’s even worked there from time. But his own passions lay elsewhere.
“I was a terrible mechanic,” Stites admits with a chuckle. His true calling was in martial arts. This passion blossomed into a career in 2009 when he opened his studio, “Personal Achievement Martial Arts.” Located at 3964 Youngfield Street, the 4,000 sq/ft space has since doubled in size to 8,000 sq/ft. Today, the studio boasts 10 employees and an impressive 400 students. Students range from white belts just beginning their journey; to black belts, masters of their craft.
“Personal Achievement Martial Arts” is more than just a place to learn self-defense. Stites’ studio offers a comprehensive experience, incorporating Tae Kwon Do, kickboxing, and jujitsu. However, Stites emphasizes that the benefits of the martial arts extend far beyond physical prowess. “Parents are usually looking for self-defense but their children get structure and discipline,” he explains. He goes on to note that his studio works to cater to individual needs, noting the success many children have with individual sports like the martial arts. “A lot of our neurodivergent kids have successes in the studio they’ve never experienced with a team sport. And this helps them build confidence for life.”
The studio’s commitment to the community shone brightest during the heady days of the pandemic. Faced with lockdowns and restrictions, Stites and his team worked to innovate and continue to serve their students. They adapted by first offering online Zoom classes and then pivoted to day camps to provide an alternative to endless screen time for children. “We really wanted to offer options that weren’t just the I-Pad,” Stites recalls, noting his company’s commitment to the overall well-being of their young students. This approach not only allowed the business to survive but earned them recognition in Wheat Ridge as “Business of the Year”
Beyond the studio walls, Stites’ commitment to the City of Wheat Ridge is evident in his six years of service on the City Council, currently as Mayor Pro Tempore. I had to look it up myself, a Latin phrase that means “for the time being” or the delegate in the mayor’s absence. He sees a direct link between his entrepreneurial experience and his effectiveness as a council member. “Working at the martial arts studio makes me a better council member,” he explains, drawing a line between how understanding his customers translates to better engagement with the residents of Wheat Ridge. “Creating community is the key whether you’re talking about customer retention or maintaining residence.”
Stites believes Wheat Ridge’s strength lies in its tight-knit nature and smaller scale, fostering a strong sense of community. His martial arts studio actively strives to be the “third place” away from the home and the office – a welcoming environment akin to a local coffee shop where people feel a sense of connection. Their mission, “Building Champions in Life,” underscores a philosophy that prioritizes community work, helping people first, and viewing profits as a secondary outcome of delivering on those promises.
