At around 20 years of age, Jordan Galasso shoved off from Connecticut in search of… something. What, exactly? He wasn’t quite sure. But he knew that he wanted to prove himself worthy, in some meaningful way, of a life fulfilled. In a few years, he made his way from The Constitution State to Reading to Northeastern Pennsylvania.

He carried with him a love of heavy metal, fitness and healthy eating (thanks Mom). Before long, Jordan bounced from warehouse worker to personal trainer to small business owner. Oh yeah… did I mention he also brought with him an unquenchable thirst for success? In 2017, he flipped an ordinary conversation with a client into FitAF Nutrition. And, almost overnight, he was knee-deep in the nutritional meal prep business with just a handful of solid recipes (thanks again, Mom). He made it work. FitAf is exploding locally, and Jordan’s already got his eye on his next move. You’ll have to stay tuned.

We caught up with Jordan at his new home in Jermyn. He sparkled with that familiar glitter of the honeymoon phase of home ownership. Then, it got real and we just had to ask… Why NEPA?

How long have you lived in NEPA?

Altogether… 7 years.

What Brought you to NEPA?

I just kind of grew up and grew out of Connecticut. I wanted to venture out on my own, you know? I wanted to move out, away from family a bit and see that I could do it. I basically wanted to live on my own for a while and figure out what I wanted to do with my life.

What’s your favorite thing to do in NEPA?

I like to hike. I like to be in the woods. I know everybody says that… but there are some really great hiking trails around here – Bald Mountain, Ricketts Glen – just absolutely gorgeous. When I lived in West Pittston, I liked to walk along the Susquehanna. Other than that, I don’t really do much. I mean, I play music, but I do that in my house (laughs). Yeah. I’ve played guitar since I was 12. Everything I do is either 0 or 10. So, with guitar, I used to practice 5 to 8 hours a day. And I still love it. It’s something that I can always come back to. I don’t know why or how, but my quality of life is just better when I’m playing guitar.

Did anything surprise you about NEPA?

Well, I really had no preconceived notions about Pennsylvania. I first came to Reading and I remember just seeing all the Amish and being like, “Ok, this is Pennsylvania” (laughs). Then I moved up here and became more acquainted with the area and realized that there was just so much more. I mean, if you’re bored here, then you’re just possibly a boring person. And, sure you can go to New York or Philly and do a lot of things, but much of that is available here if you know where to look.

What’s next for you?

So, the goal is to grow FitAf on a national level. And, it’s not just a money thing. Of course, that’s all great, but I want to grow my business out of a personal growth perspective. For me, it’s like the ultimate course in personal growth. Namely, because you have to do so much that you don’t want to do, there are so many issues, something’s always coming up. It seasons you. It prepares you for anything. So, personally, I’m focused on making the business as good as I can make it. And I’m constantly figuring out how to best serve our clients, figuring out what they want, and how we can cater to their needs best. Philosophically, I’m just trying to push myself to experience more from life in the moment. Yeah. I like to test myself. I just want to make the most of my life – personally, physically, spiritually – all ways.

Where do you see NEPA heading in the future?

I definitely think that people here have really turned a corner on health and fitness. We’re starting to realize how important health and nutrition are and we’re prioritizing these things. We’re moving in a truly positive direction in that regard. I think NEPA’s going to see more businesses based in health, fitness and nutrition popping up in the region. Overall, I’m seeing people prioritize their health more in the way they’re eating and buying groceries. Call it a comeback, I guess, but I definitely see more people seeking growth in different areas of their lives. And it’s encouraging.

Why NEPA?

From a business perspective, there was certainly an opening and a need for convenient food that was healthy. There were really only a few other options. So, there was a huge opportunity here. And it made a lot of sense to me. Honestly, if I could have an impact here – with health and maybe even spreading consciousness – if I could help people here in that way, that’d be awesome. If I could make people’s days a little brighter by being around, then, yeah… awesome (laughing). Man… was that too cliché?

No, Jordan. It was beautiful (wipes away tear).