PRINTDynamic Duos: Curt and Krista Kippenberger
A success story that dates all the way back to high school
Leah Beane
Curt and Krista Kippenberger are former high school sweethearts who now co-own Focus on Health Chiropractic.
April 26, 2012 | 12:00 a.m. CST
It was the late 1990s at Rolla High School. Curt was a wrestler, and Krista was the new girl in town who caught his eye. In high school, the two wished they could spend 24 hours a day together, and that’s just what they got. The Kippenbergers now own Focus on Health Chiropractic in The Village of Cherry Hill, where Curt is the practicing doctor and Krista is the office manager.
In August 2010, it was just the two of them. With such long hours of close proximity “in each others’ spaces,” it could have been easy to tire of other person. Instead it has made both their personal and business relationships stronger. And, unlike women who don’t share a workplace with their husbands, Krista knows what it means when he comes home with a hand massaging his temple — she most likely had to deal with the workplace headache as well.
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The business is now flourishing. They’ve added six new employees and might welcome another chiropractor to the office in the near future. With the expanded staff, Krista and Curt are out of each other’s bubbles and spend most of the day dealing with separate tasks. Curt occupies his time in the back with patients while Krista stays in the office. Curt likes to tease Krista about “sitting all day” while he’s constantly on his feet. Having their own spaces is a welcome change and helps them alleviate the constant togetherness that is the downfall of some working couples the Kippenbergers know.
Away from the office, Curt and Krista love the outdoors. They venture out for some sports whenever they can make time and enjoy hiking Columbia’s trails, cycling and even rock climbing. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and Three Creeks are among their favorite local spots for these outdoor hobbies. Parker and Payton, their two Brittany Spaniels, are often in tow for more relaxing outings.
Now that they have things running smoothly, life is about to change in a major way for this duo. They are expecting their first child, which Krista considers her new hobby. The couple eagerly looks forward to this new part of their lives beginning, despite it meaning a lull in their rock-climbing endeavors.
Curt stops to think about the best part of co-owning a business before responding with a smile, “carpooling?” Krista mutters a sarcastic “thanks” in return.
“I think it’s exciting to just see where we’ve come from in a year and a half,” Krista says, seriously this time. “We’ve put our dreams on paper and now they’re coming true.”
