Glencoe High holds a special place in the hearts of Jean and Brandon Iain. Jean (née Ahlberg) was the last of her three siblings to attend Glencoe when she graduated in 2002. Brandon, graduated 2001, was the second in his family to have attended Glencoe. The first was his uncle Martin who was a talented Glencoe soccer player and member of the very first graduating class.

Jean and Brandon found each other by happenstance. Jean spent her time outside of class as a soccer player, tennis player, and dance teamer. Whereas Brandon - a self admitted “non-athletic type” - spent his time on the sidelines, camera in hand, photographing those games and others for the high school yearbook, paper, and earliest website. They met and became partners in his Senior and her Junior years, putting them together now for 24 years! The absolute definition of high school sweethearts, even if Brandon hates admitting it.

After graduation the pair went to Linfield, but not together: he in McMinnville, her at their nursing school in Northwest Portland. Like many, their interests - and thus: majors - evolved, later spending time at PCC and graduating from Portland State.

The pair were married in 2007, had a daughter in 2011, and after long stints of living in Portland and Tigard, returned to Hillsboro in 2017 where they bought Jean’s childhood home.

After different career pursuits, Jean and Brandon purchased a four year old Hillsboro local business, Meraki Fitness Studio, in May 2024, taking their love story to a whole new dimension.

Fortuitous timing, paired with Jean’s love of running, sports, and the health and wellness of others made the opportunity to buy the 6,000 square foot group fitness studio a no brainer. And, despite his aforementioned “non-athletic-ness” and eyes-wide moment of “You want to buy WHAT??” Brandon has lovingly brought years of business, legal, and technical experience to help manage the less sweaty sides of supporting Jean’s dream job and dream boss: herself! And he’s lost three percent body fat since signing off on the purchase!

Jean had been a member at Meraki years prior and her love for Meraki runs deep. The Meraki Family has been an amazing and welcoming bunch, and represents a vibrant cross sampling of the Hillsboro community at large. With members including City of Hillsboro and Washington County employees, first responders, healthcare providers, HSD employees, friends, family, and the Meraki team of Coaches - and their French Bulldog muscle mascot, Cedar - Meraki is a celebration of what it means to be part of the Hillsboro community.

The two are digging their toes in deep to that community, too. Jean and Brandon are newly joined members of the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, Jean is a frequent attendee of the Downtown Hillsboro Run Club, and they are proud members of the Liberty Falcons fan club, despite that whole Glencoe vs. Liberty thing. But that’s only because this September their daughter, Reese, starts her freshman year at Liberty after four years time on the Liberty Girls’ Basketball Development Team, the Iain’s favorite little part of the Hillsboro community.