Joe Cantwell of Summit Personal Training Studio

Army veteran. Personal trainer. Smoothie shop owner. Cycling event organizer and enthusiast. Joe Cantwell wears a lot of hats, and they each have a common factor: service to others.

As an Army veteran, Joe completed two tours in Iraq before returning home to study exercise science and earn his degree. As owner of Summit Personal Training Studio on Main Street in Downtown Ionia, he works with a rotation of clients on their fitness goals. With Ionia Smoothie Company, he serves up healthy, fruit-based creations. And as organizer of the annual Cow Pie Classic, which just celebrated its seventh year in 2025, he draws hundreds of cyclists from around Michigan to Ionia for races and events. In 2023, Joe was approached to take over the statewide Michigan Gravel Race Series, thanks to his years of bike race experience.

Over the years, Joe has earned a dedicated clientele and established a distinctive presence in the Ionia community. In September 2024, Joe won the $7,000 grand prize on behalf of Ionia Smoothie Company from the fourth annual MIPitch competition. MIPitch was created by The Right Place, a partner of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), in collaboration with the Ionia County Economic Alliance, Montcalm Economic Alliance, Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce, Belding Area Chamber of Commerce and Ionia Area Chamber of Commerce.

In April 2025, the Ionia Department of Public Safety donated an automated external defibrillator to Joe for use at Summit Personal Training Studio, recognizing that sudden cardiac arrests can occur in places like fitness centers. The donation arrived just in time for a CPR training class Joe held at the studio that spring.

In 2021, Ionia received certification as a Redevelopment Ready Community from the MEDC, which recognizes the community’s efforts in establishing a solid foundation to attract private investment and further build on municipal assets.

As a small business owner and event organizer in the Ionia community, Joe is grateful for the support of his various ventures and adventures.

“I grew up just five miles north of Muir, Michigan, attending Palo Community Schools through eighth grade and graduating from Carson City-Crystal High School. For us, a trip to Ionia was considered a visit to the ‘big town.’ After high school, I enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a Forward Observer with the 82nd Airborne Division. I completed two tours in Iraq before returning home and using the GI Bill to study exercise science at Lake Superior State University.

After earning my degree, I moved back in with my parents for a summer and began working as an independent contractor personal trainer. Over the next five years, I built a strong client base. Eventually, the stars aligned, and I turned my dream of owning a gym into a reality.

I chose to launch my business in Ionia because it felt like home, and after seeing other parts of the world, I recognized how much the community had to offer. One of the biggest factors was the support I received as a combat veteran. Transitioning back into civilian life came with its challenges, but the encouragement from my hometown shaped the person I am today.

That support hasn’t stopped. My personal training clients have helped propel my business forward time and time again. It’s humbling to know that over 50 clients believed in me enough to pre-pay for six months or more of training sessions. Ionia continues to impress me with its accessibility, especially when it comes to city and county officials. I’ve always felt supported and genuinely encouraged to succeed. It’s the kind of place where it’s affordable to start something new – and the community helps you grow it.

Fast forward eight years and a global pandemic, and I’m now the proud owner of several ventures, including: Summit Personal Training; the Cow Pie Classic, a gravel road cycling race that draws 1,000 participants annually; the Michigan Gravel Race Series, which tracks rider points across 16 races statewide; and Ionia Smoothie Company, a new addition to the local health and wellness scene.

All my businesses are rooted in fitness. I started organizing community events after seeing the powerful, life-changing impact a single, well-run event could have on someone's health journey. I realized that I could reach more people through a large-scale event than I could in a decade of one-on-one training.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, I had more time to focus on growing Cow Pie Classic, and it paid off. It’s now a nationally-recognized race. Being a part of something that has such a meaningful impact on individuals and the community is incredibly rewarding.

In 2023, a partner and I acquired the Michigan Gravel Race Series after being approached by the former owners. It was an honor to be considered, and I built a team to carry the torch forward. It’s a joy to watch over 400 riders participate across the state throughout the year, and the excitement it brings to small-town races – by attracting elite competitors – adds tremendous value to those communities. We’re proud that Cow Pie Classic has been the second-largest race in the series for the past two years.”

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