By Kirk Kern
John Valentine and Christina Gruber are always running around doing something. Whether it’s business travel, sports competitions and training, leading philanthropic events or herding their blended family to soccer games and other youth functions, this Skye Canyon couple epitomize the community’s active lifestyle.
Valentine is president of Legacy Bios Consulting Group, which helps businesses and individuals achieve success. Oh, and he’s also a long-time professional mixed martial arts competitor. Gruber is a CPA and also a principal at Legacy Bios … and a decorated triathlete.
Between the two of them, they have six children ranging from age 20 to 14.
It’s a busy life.
But they still make time to give back through volunteering.
Valentine has been a regular competitor in Operation Knockout for the Troops, an annual charity MMA event benefiting veterans through the Xtreme Couture GI Foundation. The event, hosted by MMA legend, actor and founder Randy Couture, brings together top-tier fighters and business leaders to support the needs of veterans dealing with physical and mental health challenges.
In November, the event raised over $80,000. Since its inception, the event has raised more about $700,000.
“I just retired officially from the cage for this event,” Valentine said. “I’m still on the board. Christina sits on the board as well. The charity itself has been really, really great. We’re a small crew on the board and but we handle everything that you can imagine. It’s a lot of work.”
Valentine and Gruber have raised more than $50,000 for the 501(c)3 organization in the last few years and while Valentine won’t be competing in the annual November event in the future, he will still be very involved along with Gruber.
“It’s a labor of love,” he said of the organization that helps veterans transition back into civilian life. “The charity has been really great. We’re a small crew, but we handle everything you could imagine. Every year it gets bigger.”
Legacy Bios Consulting formed in early 2018 as a global consulting firm specializing in business coaching, keynote speaking engagements employee training, celebrity bookings and leadership development for companies. Valentine travels extensively for his business, but still plans on competing in regional MMA events in the future.
Besides success in the corporate world, Valentine is a former collegiate wrestler, professional kickboxer, MMA fighter, two-time national Jujitsu champion and Jujitsu world champion. Not to be outdone, Gruber is a ranked triathlete, Iron Man competitor, fitness model and motivational speaker. She was also a shooting victim of the largest mass shooting in U.S. history that took place on Oct. 1 Route 91 Harvest Festival. She regularly speaks on ways to turn tragedy into purpose and is a highly sought out speaker nationally.
Valentine and Gruber moved to Skye Canyon about a year ago. Both had lived in other parts of the valley, but chose this area because of the amenities and because it suits their active lifestyles. Plus, with six kids, they needed a lot of space.
“Skye Canyon is a beautiful community, if not the most beautiful community,” Valentine said. “I think the people here are different than other communities too. I would say everyone makes you feel like you’re part of the family. All you have to do is look at Facebook. There’s a page for every community. You can post something like, ‘Hey, can we borrow tools’ or ‘Can you drop off your compressor at my house.’”
Valentine and Gruber spend a lot of time with their kids at Skye Center and other parks. They also enjoy the various community functions that the HOA puts on.
“All the fitness amenities are ridiculous,” Valentine said. “The parks, the pool, every weekend there’s something going on up here. It’s very family-centric. I know most of my neighbors. It’s like living in a small town.”
Support Operation Knock Out
Ways to support the Operation Knockout for The Troops.
Go directly to the charity website https://xcgif.org/events/
Spread the Word: Share the event details on social media or within your community to help
raise awareness about the cause and encourage others to get involved.
To reach John and Christina for training, business consulting and speaking engagements contact John Valentine at corplegacybios@gmail.com or follow them on Instagram at johndvalentine89.
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