HALO Talks

When Sam Miller, an industry outsider, took up the "minor" challenge of attempting to revolutionize strength testing and training, he ended up manufacturing a device unlike anything else currently available--something which helps unlocks previously inaccessible insights into physical strength--and launching him into a head-to-head battle for content against existing equipment makers. Sam is the CEO and Founder of Proteus Motion, a revolutionary strength testing and training device that provides full body assessments in three minutes and unlocks new insights into physical strength and human performance. He got into the HALO sector after enduring years of physical therapy as a young kid. He took a mechanical concept his Dad initially invented at MIT and redesigned it, creating a revolutionary strength testing device that produces two times more muscle activation than a free weight or a cable machine. Proteus is quickly becoming a standard for human performance, providing trainers with the data they need to diag

Joseph C. Maroon, M.D., is a Neurosurgeon and Vice Chairman and Professor of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He's regarded as a premiere specialist in the surgical treatment of injuries and diseases of the brain and spine and considered an authority in sports medicine and concussion management. He's been the team Neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Medical Director of World Wrestling Association, as well as authored over 300 peer-reviewed scientific articles and numerous books. His most recent is Square One: A Simple Guide to a Balanced Life. "After asking for objective data from coach Chuck Knoll, I went to neuropsychological colleague Mark Lovell, and we designed the Impact Test: Immediate Post Athletic Cognitive Testing, which eventually became computer based and has now become the standard of care in the NFL and all major contact sports. And we've evaluated over 20 million tests in kids and various levels subsequently," states Maroon. Dr. Mar

Nearly 30 years ago, Fit Bodies came up with the unique idea of meeting high end resort's staffing needs by matching them with highly experienced and credentialed fitness professionals who were willing to teach a few classes while they were on vacation. It's a business model that has served the Founder, Suzelle Snoden, quite well over the years. She has over 30 years of experience in the fitness industry, and her company has placed instructors in some of the most prestigious resorts in the world with a network of approximately 50,000 instructors across the globe representing all all specialty areas. (Pilates, yoga, cycling, etc.)  "So what we're doing for our clients, our hotel partners, is we're providing that programming for their fitness with qualified educated professionals that they wouldn't know how to resource. Those people actually having their own vacation, the instructors, and while they're on the property, they teach classes to the resort guests. They're actually inspiring people to be healthy and

In this episode, Derek Flanzraich discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and how he is using his new company, Ness, to democratize access to health, in part by using credit cards to incentivize healthy behaviors.  Derek Flanzraich initially started as the CEO and Founder of Greatist, a company that later became the the leading health and wellness media company for Millennials. He is currently the CEO and Founder of Ness, a credit card company that rewards people for making healthy choices. When he started digging deeper into (some of the many problem with health care in this country!) he states, "There's just no denying that no matter how friendly you make health and wellness, it still is very expensive and hard to afford for most people. And I was hit sort of smack in the face with this about a year and a half ago, which was about a year and a half after I sold my last company . . . Why is it that health insurance, which seems like it should care about your long term health, actually doesn't?" Derek talks

"People are more likely to trust a business that has been recommended by a friend or family member, or that has positive reviews online. Nielsen did a survey with 30,000 people and found that approximately 92% of decisions regarding which businesses to patronize are based on other people's opinions, recommendations, and reviews," states Andre Cvijovic - Founder and CEO of Referrizer, an extremely robust marketing automation platform that helps businesses grow by generating leads and increasing sales. Referrizer's "sweet spot" are fitness facilites that hover near or above the $100 per month price point.  Prices for their system vary and range from $200 up. Interestingly, they also provide a (virtually unheard of!) complete, "done for you" system where they will keep working for you until they get you the results they promise. Referrizer actually integrates with many CRM's (for example MindBody) so you can track exactly how much revenue their efforts are generating.  In this episode, you will learn: 1. How Re

When John Klein, a HALO sector veteran with 20+ years of experience, launches a unique workout recovery franchise, he finds himself confronting the challenges of balancing "art and science" to ensure success while bringing a luxurious, experiential offering to market in highly competitive geographic areas. John's held positions at Town Sports International and Equinox, and is currently the Co-Founder of Pause Studio, a health and wellness franchise with six different service modalities and a team of experienced professionals. Three unites are currently open in Los Angeles with two more coming.  This episode of HALO Talks talks a lot about franchise business strategies, real estate selection, and bringing a high-end concept into competitive markets. John, a 17+ year friend of host Pete Moore, discusses his experience in the health club space and the critical importance of real estate when it comes to franchise businesses. John and his team developed a playbook for selecting the best trade area and real estate

Sue Hitzmann is an exercise physiologist and neurofascial science and research educator with 25 years of experience in the fitness industry. She is a founding member of the Fascia Research Society and the creator of the MELT Method, a system of self-massage and movement to help alleviate chronic pain. She started in the industry in 1988 as a fitness professional and an exercise physiologist. When she realized that what she learned in fitness was not able to aleviate her own chronic pain, she dove into neurofascial science and research. She developed the MELT Method in 2004 as a way to help people alleviate chronic pain, and has since then taught it in group exercise, conducted teacher trainings, and written multiple books, one of which became a NY Times best seller. Over the years she's learned quite a bit about growing and scaling a business, but one of the most important aspects is learning to being ok with charging what you're worth for services that can literally change someone's life! She emphasizes the

Dan Rubenstein is the CEO of Pups Pet Club, a pet care company with five locations in Chicago and Brooklyn. He has over 20 years of experience in the space, and is passionate about providing the best possible care for dogs.  Dan took an interest when he had to find care for his dog while he was working. He eventually found a service that took his dog to a park to run around, but they didn't listen to him when he said not to take his St. Bernard out in hot weather and--very sadly--his dog Sidney ended up in the hospital and passed away. :( This motivated Dan to start his own, best-in-class, pet care business for many reasons, not the least of which was to make sure something like this never will happen to anyone else. Today, Pups Pet Club (which officially started in 2015), is a highly successful venture with five locations and many more planned. He attributes their success to their focus on taking care of dogs, their people, and their technology. He believes that the pet industry has potential for much more g

Sumner Hanna is a professional fitness instructor, former professional dancer, and Founder of Sumner Leigh Athletics. She's been teaching SoulCycle classes for over seven years and is currently also trainer with CLIMBR. Growing up as a professional dancer paved a way for a life of sweat and creativity for her. She worked on tours, TV shows, and music videos before eventually immersing herself in the realm of boutique fitness. She taught everything from Barre, Cycle, HIIT, strength training, and even celebrity dance cardio classes! She mentions, "Now that we're two years after the pandemic, I kind of feel like people are craving the energy to be back in a room, working out with others, instead of on a digital platform. For some people, digital stuck because they've been doing it at home for a while now. I think the majority though are craving that energy and environment and community again." In this episode, Sumner touches on: 1. The psychology of the "new normal" and how she thinks things are going to play ou

In a world where tennis courts are king, one man struggles against the odds. He trudges forward daily doing his best to build a pickleball empire and overcome the obstacles of a competitive market and multiple naysayers. (Admit it. . .you just read that in the "in a world" voice, right?) ;) Our job is done here! Moving on . . .  In this episode, you will learn: 1. The potential for pickleball to generate significant revenue streams from multiple sources, including membership dues, tournaments, and food and beverage sales. 2. The importance of relationships in the fitness industry, and how Sean used them to grow his businesses over the years.  3. The importance of feasibility studies when considering a new business venture, and how he  used them to validate his pickleball idea. "There is a gross imbalance in the court supply & demand model right now," Graham states. "The number of people coming into the game and making a lateral move from tennis and racquetball and squash . . . putting it anywhere in the

Eric Casaburi is the founder of Serotonin Enterprises, a company that provides anti-aging solutions through hormone replacement therapy, nutritional coaching, and fitness programs. He is also a franchise consultant and has over 20 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. In his second appearance on HALO Talks, he chats with host Pete Moore on what he's been doing since he founded Retro Fitness many years prior.  The Serotonin anti-aging platform is a new way to help you look and feel younger. In this episode you will learn: 1. The importance of serotonin in the body and how it affects mood and happiness. 2. The potential for franchising Serotonin locations in order to provide services on a larger scale. 3. The range of services that Serotonin offers, including body contouring, weight loss, and immunity shots. "I started my career in the industry 20 years ago, and I saw a need for a more holistic approach to health and fitness that addressed the needs of an aging population. I spent 2019 and 20

Swerve Fitness (which initially began as a successful brick and mortar space with three locations) now offers a, "Live streaming, groundbreaking fitness experience to gyms around the world, all built on the power of team sports." Eric Posner and his team have come up with a great "hybrid" that helps facilities fill in studio dead time, doesn't influence their existing staff placements, provides unlimited classes in a boutique experience with some of the best instructors available . . . and on and on. It's a unique twist and it's going very well.  Posner states, "We initially came up with the idea for Swerve, which was the world's first team inspired indoor cycling studio. We pitched our clients on this and they said, 'Look, we love it, but you got to quit your job. You got to put up your own money and then we'll back you.' So that's what we did. We quit our jobs, we put up our life savings and they helped us raise the rest of the money to open up our first location in Flatiron. Fast forward, we had three loca

Alex Dzierbicki has held a variety of positions in the  hospitality and HALO sectors. At one point, he owned three gyms, worked in private equity, moved on to the franchise space, and now works for the highly regarded Cultivate Advisors, where all advisors must possess a minimum of at least 10+ years of business ownership.  When asked about the importance of perspective, he states, "The broader that is, the better you will be able to form commonality and pattern recognition skills. So saying, 'Hey, I've seen how the big boys play. I've seen how the little ones play. I've seen how the winners, losers, various intention have walked these notions out. I can say, Oh A, B and C, are common factors . . . so this is what I think is likely.' What are we doing to address these problems? How can we peak around these corners?" It's critical to ground businesses in data--to take something from the more "etherial" to the more concrete. He discusses how an engagement works with Cultivate, what the process entails (the need

Brandon Cullen is a former professional hockey player and one of the Founder's of MADabolic. (Fun fact: MAD stands for Momentum Anaerobic Durability.) Along with his partner Kirk Dewaele, "The duo founded MADabolic after noticing a hole in the fitness market. There were no high-quality group fitness training systems for people who prioritize strength, value structure, and demand results…everyday people, and people past their sport looking to age athletically…people, it turned out, like them." The MADabolic brand has been quietly, but slowly and surely expanding. . .but doing so mindfully and cautiously. He chats with Pete about their trials and tribulations of becoming a franchisor early on, managing franchisees (and marketing to find the right franchisors.) Their goal is to get to "200 successful units" in the next 5 years. He says, "We just started noticing that different people were coming in the doors. We removed the scoreboard, we removed the barbell, we started play playing around with a lot more work-t

April Berg is the Co-Founder & Customer Experience Director of the Aruna Project, an incredible organization which empowers women through employment. The Project, "Creates lifelong freedom marked by holistic care for victims of human trafficking. Products are crafted in freedom by skilled Artisans who are finding their voice, experiencing independence and growing with a sisterhood of others who have overcome." They've employed over 120 women since they began in 2015 (products launched in 2018) with 60 women currently employed, and they look to bring on 3 new women per month. Their training center serves over 3,000 in the redlight area in India which they started from. "Will never employ a woman unless we can fully sustain her ongoing," states Berg. She continues, "Everything that we create . . . was made by women who we've helped set free and have overcome quite awful situations. We provide sustainable employment through holistic care so they're fully sustained. And then our products are sold and marketed

"My purpose is to help others," states Roger Harvey succinctly. This long time, highly-seasoned HALO executive served as the COO of Crunch for 13 years (from 3 studios to 27 in 1993-2006), as a COO and CEO in the boutique space, a consultant to a good number of brands, and most recently as the CEO of New York Sports Clubs. He was charged with the "minor" task of taking a 50 year organization (from 186 gyms going in, to 68) out of bankruptcy--while in the middle of the pandemic--pre vaccines! "I walked into a full on crisis," he states. This was an utterly Herculean task on every level with literally 2 days notice, but as anyone who has met Roger knows, this sort of thing doesn't phase him. He continues, "I opened [the interview with NYSC] with the fact that my purpose is to help others, and it would make me really bad at fulfilling my purpose if somebody asked for my help, they then explain what they need help with, but I say no, because I think it's too difficult!"  He has honed what he calls his Level 4or A

Matt Spielman is Founder of Inflection Point Partners and author of the newly released book, Inflection Points-How To Work and Live With Purpose. (Check out a quick one sheeter here as well.)  Matt notes, "I transitioned from Executive to Executive Coach . . . and the part that really drew me in was seeing the people on the team grow, develop, thrive, giving them stretch opportunities, the promotion discussions and . . . just giving feedback in a constructive way. That was the stuff that really drew me in." He discusees his own (rather inspirational!) career journey, what he went through himself at 44, finding sources and drains of energy, some of the concepts behind what he calls the Game Plan System ("you can't goal set your way out of an emotional rut"), and more.  He goes on to chat about the effect COVID has had (in both positive and negative ways) on people's lives and career paths, and how he built his own coaching practice from scratch. (It was a slow, steady climb, and now Spielman counts executives

Struct Club brings structure to music-inspired fitness instruction. By providing software for gyms, studios, and their instructors, Struct Club's simple app & unrivaled programming database streamline the entire process of delivering impeccable group exercise classes.     In 2018, Amira incorporated Struct Club out of Harvard Business School, where she both got her MBA and began teaching indoor cycling classes at their gym. Coming from a prior career in enterprise software, she found that instructors lacked a modern tool to 'hit play & go' with facility-standard workout plans, playlists, and coaching scripts.    "There should be an app for this," she thought. Class intelligence should be shared, and even predictive of individual styles based on personal preferences. Pollack continued, "Everybody deserves a great experience. That's what we want to provide as an industry. Losing 60% of our clients in one week, for example? That's just a disastrous business problem."   Today, Struct Club's app is known b

"Red light therapy has been around for 60 years but 'more' isn't always better," states Perry Kamel, the CEO of DNA Vibe, the innovative new company revolutionizing red light therapy and the way its administered. "More" was the direction the industry went down (and arguably is still going down) once people realized the modality had positive effects. "It's absolutely about precision, not power . . . and too much could be harmful," Kamel continues.  With some recent coverage on the Today Show and over one hundred professional and Olympic athletes using the DNA Vibe technology, the company is growing exponentially both on the business to consumer, and the business to business sides.  Better still? The company is veteran owned, 100% of the product is constructed in Colorado, and they've managed to do so at a cost (and quality) that beat everything they found when (initally) looking abroad.  This is a highly engineered, very technically advanced product that is challenging the way red light therapy has traditional

Virginia Carnesale is the founder of Shop Stage. Her story of surviving breast cancer is incredibly inspirational for others going through what she did, and was the push needed for starting Shop Stage. Her inspiration was based on her experiences as a patient, and her life long background in retail. While the company is only about five months old as of this podcast (Sept 2022), she and her team are doing incredible work helping other women take the guess work out of their cancer treatments, have non-profit partnerships with three organizations, and have 60 brands on their platform. "You really do need community to support you to get through this. And it's not just friends, family and loved ones--of course, they're hugely critical--but if you don't have anybody in your inner circle that's been through this before, it's hard for them to know how to relate or how to support you." "There really is no substitution for connecting with other survivors. I was so fortunate to get connected with other women who had gon