Alumni Corner

Gregory & Jeanette Lovely

Owners & Proprietors of Just Lovely Training LLC 

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TOO SINCE YOUR TIME AT FOOTHILL?

Although Gregory and Jeanette Lovely didn’t meet at Foothill College, their experience at Foothill changed the trajectory of their lives.  

Chasing a dream to play in the NFL, Gregory attended Sacramento State University after graduating from Gunderson High School in San Jose, but the university ended up not being a good fit for him. Attending Foothill allowed him to grow as an athlete and focus on academics, which was important as he knew that a very small number of athletes get a chance to play professionally. 

After graduating from Foothill with an associate degree in psychology, Gregory transferred to BYU and then Missouri State University, playing football for both institutions. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Missouri State and then continued to play football while working toward a master’s degree in business administration. Sadly, he had to put his master’s degree on hold to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL. Gregory said, “I am proud that I will be completing my MBA next month and graduating from the University of Phoenix.” 

Gregory came back to Foothill to help coach and mentor students as he pursued his dream of joining the NFL. He was fortunate to get a chance to play for the Buffalo Bills in rookie camp, but like so many others, was released. He then went on to play arena football and worked as a Sales Consultant/Fitness Trainer at the Right Stuff health club. 

“I was lucky to come back to the Foothill campus and work with current student athletes and mentor them after I graduated with my master's degree,” Gregory said. “This was a great opportunity because I learned that I liked helping people, coaching, and training.” 

Jeanette majored in psychology at Foothill before transferring to Missouri State where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She also holds a master’s degree in applied behavioral analysis from National University and hopes to attend law school to work to help disadvantaged youth. Jeanette enjoys being involved in education, focusing on behavioral management with children and on helping adults achieve their goals.  

As sole proprietors of Just Lovely Training LLC, Jeanette and Gregory make a dynamic team, combining Gregory’s athletic and fitness perspective and Jeanette’s knowledge of holistic behavioral coaching to help clients meet their fitness and health goals.  

You can learn more about their business at their website:  

https://www.justlovelytrainingllc.com/ 

HOW DID FOOTHILL IMPACT WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR CAREER TODAY? 

For Gregory, Foothill served as a supportive environment where he could pursue his dreams. He credits his Foothill coaches with promoting both athletic and academic excellence. 

“A lot of what I learned at Foothill shapes how I run my business and support the community, Gregory said. Jeanette and I are proud Kiwanis members, and recently we sponsored athletes at a local all-star game.”  Foothill was my home. I was on campus constantly, either training, working, or studying.” 

Jeanette agreed, “There were so many resources on campus. I loved that the campus felt like a community.” 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER ALUMNI OR CURRENT STUDENTS WHO ASPIRE TO FOLLOW A SIMILAR CAREER PATH? 

“The best thing I did was get involved,” Gregory said. “I joined the African American Network on campus, worked at the golf area, and worked with my professors, coaches and fellow students. If I was to give any advice it would be that, to connect with as many people as you can.” 

Ron Gonzales

Ron Gonzales is a proud De Anza College alum who credits the college with giving him a high-quality and affordable education in an environment where he felt supported and challenged.

His experiences at De Anza College, both in and out of the classroom, convinced Ron that he had what it took to be successful and transfer to UC Santa Cruz, where he earned a bachelor’s degree. Before leaving De Anza, Ron was awarded the district’s prestigious Trustees Scholarship funded by current and past members of the district’s governing board. Ron fondly remembers his involvement in student government at De Anza and the many friends he made on campus. His De Anza experience helped lay the foundation for his work in the private sector at companies like Hewlett-Packard and for his distinguished career in the public sector, which included service on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, the Sunnyvale City Council, and, most notably, as mayor of the city of San Jose. He currently serves as CEO of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, where he continues to be a champion for students, families, and public education.