Meet Bob Kain | Entrepreneur, corporate advisor, and systems engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bob Kain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bob, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The decision to establish a climbing gym stemmed from a desire to promote a lifestyle centered around health and vitality. As I delved into rock climbing, I recognized its myriad benefits for enhancing one’s health span. Climbing engages small muscles through intricate movements, while simultaneously fostering qualities such as flexibility, balance, and problem-solving acumen under pressure. At the time, San Diego lacked a comprehensive climbing facility. Drawing from my experiences climbing at various “modern” gyms across the U.S. during my travels for my biotech profession, I envisioned what an ideal climbing gym in San Diego would entail, both in terms of programming and spatial design. Leveraging my MBA background, I crafted a detailed and comprehensive business plan. This plan served as a cornerstone for assessing and refining the critical components necessary for the successful launch and operation of the venture.
San Diego boasted a fervent outdoor climbing community and a thriving fitness culture. My belief was that by curating a unique blend of offerings tailored to outdoor enthusiasts, indoor climbers, and fitness enthusiasts alike, we could attract a diverse membership base. The inclusion of additional amenities such as weights, cardio equipment, and a high-quality yoga studio further bolstered this vision.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For many of us, achieving success is a journey marked by dedication, perseverance, passion, and a deep understanding of the field we operate in. It’s about embracing a mindset of continual learning, adapting, and evolving based on our experiences and the insights we gain along the way. Personally, I’ve always viewed myself as a lifelong student, eager to explore subjects crucial to my growth and success. Initially, my focus was on disciplines like physics and engineering, followed by a deep dive into project management, effective leadership, and people management. Over the years, I broadened my horizons to encompass broader business fundamentals, including finance, accounting, and marketing. Throughout this journey, I’ve held onto the belief that the line between success and failure often hinges on our ability to persist in the face of challenges and setbacks. Embarking on the entrepreneurial path brings forth a multitude of challenges—some foreseeable, others unforeseen—that demand careful analysis and proactive resolution. As the founder of Mesa Rim, I worked to understand potential customer segments, assessed the competitive landscape, forecasted financial projections, and identified potential risks to ascertain the viability of the business. Seeking insights from seasoned professionals within the industry, I worked to scrutinize the plan trying to ensure no important detail was overlooked.
One of the primary hurdles I encountered was balancing my responsibilities at Illumina with the demands of launching Mesa Rim. While an early partner provided invaluable support during the planning and construction phases, it became evident shortly after opening that an adjustment was needed to ensure effective operational management of the business. Mesa Rim was founded upon a bedrock of core values that aimed to foster positive experiences for all stakeholders—employees, customers, suppliers, and beyond. Upholding this ethos was paramount, as it served as our guiding compass through various challenges. Regrettably, after months of concerted efforts to address the situation, it became apparent that a site manager was needed who could model and operationalize Mesa’s core values while also running an effective business. Within the first year, Ian McIntosh, Mesa’s Route Setting Manager at the time, stepped in as the acting Site Manager. The trajectory of Mesa Rim immediately shifted dramatically. Under Ian’s stewardship the business has grown and thrived. Ian, and the executive team, have successfully operationalizing Mesa Rim’s core values, mission statement, and brand.
Early Business Plan and financial forecasts can be very valuable and sometimes necessary, but they are just that, early plans. New information comes in almost immediately and continuously as the business moves forward. Success often depends on proactively collecting information and using it to steer – and sometimes pivot – as the business moves forward.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
From my perspective, the best way to truly appreciate San Diego is by take advantage of both its coastal and mountainous landscapes, while also exploring some of its great local neighborhoods & restaurants in areas such as Old Town, North Park, La Jolla, and Balboa Park. For full day outings, I would start with a beach day at the Catamaran Hotel, enjoying stand-up paddling (SUP) on the Bay, a beach lunch, soaking in the San Diego sun, and then unwinding with dinner at one of Pacific Beach’s eclectic restaurants. For friends who are more adventurous we would choose an ocean experience at La Jolla Shores. I love the beach, paddling near the caves and dining shopping nearby.
I love visiting the mountains. I would take friends up through Ramona to Santa Isabel, stopping at Dudley’s for breads and baked goods. Then, enjoy lunch in the mountain town of Julian, visiting the Julian Pioneer Museum, and picking up a Julian Apple Pie for the evening. Continuing on to Cuyamaca State Park, mountain biking or hiking on the single-track trails and cooling off in Green Valley Falls. For a fuller day, we’d detour down to the Anza Borrego Desert town of Borrego Springs, before heading back to Julian and the state park. Once home I’d BBQ “Cardiff Crack” tri-tip, from Seaside Market, and then break out the Julian Pie.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people and so many great and insightful books that deserve credit for helping make Mesa Rim Climbing a successful business. I would like to first give a shoutout to Ian McIntosh, Ian was the founding employee and is my partner and Mesa Rim’s CEO. He was and still is critical for Mesa Rim’s success, helping to stabilize the first site in Mira Mesa, and then growing the business, by opening multiple sites in 3 states. Also, Mesa Rim would never have happened without the full support of my wife Ranelle. She supported the decision to start the business from the beginning and has been an important component to getting Mesa Rim off the ground.
Some books that were particularly impactful in the early years were Delivering Happiness, A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose, by the founder of Zappos Tony Hsieh and Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable, by Seth Godin.

Website: www.mesarim.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mesarim_mm/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mesa-rim/mycompany/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mesarim/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mesa-rim-climbing-center-north-city-san-marcos

Image Credits
Randy Leavitt – climbing picture Other images courtesy of Mesa Rim Climbing Centers LLC