By Dan Rubinstein
Photos by Brenna Mackay
Reza Mashkoori already had a busy life when he went back to school in 2022, enrolling in Carleton University’s online MBA program.
The co-owner of Ottawa’s CrossFit NCR was an active coach at the gym, participated in international fitness competitions and he and his wife had a baby and toddler at home.
But Mashkoori, who also has an undergraduate degree in criminology from Carleton and previously worked for the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, had a pair of goals. He wanted to find a way to “add value” to his business and get back to the not-for-profit sector.
Carleton University grad and CrossFit NCR co-owner Reza Mashkoori
“Let’s sharpen the axe,” he thought about earning an MBA, “and then figure out what’s next.”
Mashkoori, who is accustomed to intense workouts, is not one to shy away from challenges. And CrossFit — a popular fitness regimen that combines strength, conditioning and cardio — is rooted in balancing different ways to get our bodies into optimal condition.
So it shouldn’t be a surprise that he landed a new job right after graduating in 2024, becoming the Manager of Corporate Sponsorships for Christie Lake Kids, a charity that provides free recreational programs to children from low-income households.
“I went into that interview and felt that both they and I knew right away that it was a good fit,” he says. “Helping kids has always been part of my soul.”
Falling in Love with Community Work
Mashkoori was born and raised in Ottawa’s west end. His parents had immigrated from Iran and didn’t have a lot of money, but they got a lift from subsidized neighbourhood services and Reza’s mother encouraged him to become the first person in the family to go to university.
At Carleton, Mashkoori quickly discovered that he was more interested in the sociological side of criminology than policing. A stint working with young offenders at a juvenile detention centre showed him that reaching kids before they get into trouble is the best way to break the link between poverty and crime.
That led to his job with the Boys and Girls Club, where he managed staff and volunteers, played sports with kids — “I’m a kid at heart!” — and fell in love with community work.
“It was fun and rewarding, giving kids a positive outlet for expressing themselves while they’re dealing with so many hardships,” he says.
“I played a small part toward keeping them on a good path.”
Mashkoori’s path took a turn in 2012 when he met Paul Tremblay. Both men were into CrossFit, and when they began training together and pushing one another, their strength and fitness soared.
“Why don’t we open a gym?” Tremblay suggested.
They got the keys to the industrial building that would become CrossFit NCR in February 2013 and hit the ground running, signing up 60 members in two weeks and corralling a few barbells and weights for classes in a bare-bones space with a makeshift bathroom.
The business grew so swiftly that Mashkoori was able to leave the Boys and Girls Club the following spring.
The COVID-19 pandemic was tough, but members rented equipment to use at home and attended outdoor classes in the parking lot, even on snowy winter days.
“They’re the reason we pulled through,” says Mashkoori. “They’re not just clients. It’s a family.”
Carleton MBA Opens Doors
Toward the end of the pandemic, Mashkoori realized that he had more bandwidth and sensed that an MBA could open new doors “for a tattooed gym owner.”
Returning to Carleton, he learned marketing, strategy, business ethics and how to decipher financial statements. He met amazing people at the Sprott School of Business, both professors and fellow students, and group projects taught how to collaborate and build relationships. The program also improved his writing and ability to focus.
“I’ve always been good at working my body,” says Mashkoori, “but at this point in my life — I’m 40 now — it’s harder to stimulate my mind. Studying, taking notes, reading and analyzing texts refreshed so many intangible skills.”
All of these skills, especially developing relationships, come into play in his networking and fundraising role at Christie Lake Kids, which happens to be a partner of the Sprott Social Impact Hub.
And in another example of worlds overlapping, even though Mashkoori has stepped back from day-to-day operations at the gym, the CrossFit NCR community has started to sponsor Christie Lake Kid events and make donations.
“One is a for-profit business and the other is a charity,” he says, “but they’re both about taking care of people.”
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 in Athletics, Community, Entrepreneurship
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