In search of life’s [im]perfect soundtrack, Brandon brings an edgy approach to entrepreneurship through the valuable experience he’s earned as a professional athlete turned business owner. Brandon hosts the entrepreneurial inspired podcast, Playing Guilty, and is the Co-Founder and Chief Concept Officer of MADabolic - the industry leaders in barbell-free strength & conditioning.
Renowned as the foremost authority in wellness real estate nationwide, Jay Siano epitomizes expertise in his roles as a New York-based entrepreneur, investor, and commercial real estate and wellness executive. At the helm of his core enterprises, SABRE and SABRE Business Xchange (SBX), Jay has been pivotal in advising and propelling some of the globe’s most renowned brands to unparalleled success.
From iconic names like Chipotle, Starbucks Coffee, Orangetheory Fitness, Massage Envy, and European Wax Center, Jay’s early career clientele reads like a who’s who of industry leaders. Today, he is hailed as a trailblazer in Wellness Real Estate, playing a pivotal role in shaping the nationwide expansion strategies of numerous top-tier brands. Notably, his recent triumph in catapulting [solidcore] from its origins in the DC Metro area to becoming the largest corporate group fitness company in the nation underscores his unmatched prowess.
In 2011, Mr. Siano co-founded SABRE Real Estate Advisors, swiftly establishing it as one of the nation’s most influential location-based real estate advisory firms. Throughout his illustrious 23 year career, Mr. Siano has consistently delivered, leveraging his profound understanding of consumer behavior, fitness trends, and strategic creativity to elevate brands with precision and velocity.
Josh Walker is Co-Founder and CEO of Sports Innovation Lab where he oversees the company's innovative and proprietary market intelligence platform. Through market analysis and unbiased research, he empowers brands to develop and implement game-changing, breakthrough experiences in a new age of sports and entertainment fandom. His work at Sports Innovation Lab represents the convergence of his career as a researcher, advisor, entrepreneur, and sports journalist.
A former Vice President of Research at Forrester, Josh was responsible for launching the company’s Forrester Wave evaluation framework, designed to accelerate innovation by connecting technology buyers with the best vendors. He’s used this experience to develop fan intelligence strategies for the NFL, NHL, UFC, Google, the WNBA and other leading brands across sports, technology, and entertainment.
Josh spent time earlier in his career as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at General Catalyst evaluating venture capital investment opportunities and advising fast-growing companies including Brightcove, Kayak, and Demandware. He’s used his passion for technology and data to launch and grow several venture-backed companies such as CityVoter, Comlinkdata, Stattleship, and now Sports Innovation Lab.
Josh is a graduate of Middlebury College and Nottingham University. He currently resides in Manchester, Vermont, with his wife, two sons, and dog Hazel.
Bryan is the President & Chief Executive Officer for [solidcore] and is an active [solidcore] Coach. In his role as CEO, Bryan is responsible for all aspects of delivering business performance, including [solidcore]’s national footprint growth and building a strong, inclusive community of clients and employees.
Prior to joining the [solidcore] team in 2018, Bryan was a member of the leadership team of sweetgreen, the national leader in the healthy fast casual category. He joined sweetgreen in 2014 and, over the course of 4 years, wore many hats as he helped the company grow from a regional chain of 20 restaurants to almost 100 locations nationally. Bryan began his career as a consultant for The Boston Consulting Group, providing strategic advice on topics of growth, organizational design, and operational transformation.
Lise Kuecker is the CEO and visionary force behind Studio Grow, the largest boutique fitness consultancy in the world. Leading the boutique fitness sector across 43 countries and counting, she is a driving influence in the industry and a sought-after expert in entrepreneurial excellence.
Having owned, scaled and sold six 7-figure businesses, Lise has empowered more than 50,000 fitness studio owners to date to grow their businesses to become impactful, profitable companies that foster freedom-filled lives. To further advance the industry, Lise created The Business of Boutique Fitness Podcast in 2016 to share weekly insights, intel and inspiration. She also co-founded The Boutique Fitness Coalition in March 2020 to spearhead advocacy and build a stronger community among studios of all sizes.
Lise’s refreshing combination of passion and brilliance makes her a popular podcast guest and keynote speaker with organizations around the world.
I have over a decade of experience in the Halotherapy industry. My understanding of the disease states in which Halotherapy helps along with having been a multi-modality medical spa owner myself still thriving 10 years later has uniquely qualified me to offer my expertise and support.
My background includes 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry. I spent over a decade with Merck & Co. as a Lead Executive Specialty Representative interfacing with respiratory thought leaders. I spent several years with Bristol Myers-Squibb in the area of Dermatological Health. I have a master's degree from MSU (Michigan State University) in Kinesiology and have been advising, serving, and helping people get started in the Halotherapy industry for close to a decade.
I was appointed, the President of the World Halotherapy Association in 2023. The Salt Therapy industry continues to explode, expand, and diversify and the WHA is keeping pace. This is such an important inflection point for Halotherapy.
Amanda Al-Masri is the vice president of wellness at Hilton. In this role, she serves as the wellness strategist across Hilton’s global portfolio of 24 world-class brands, enhancing Hilton’s current offerings and programs while developing innovative new, scalable solutions to meet rapidly evolving consumer expectations. A seasoned wellness leader, Amanda brings 20 years of experience to Hilton. Prior to joining Hilton, she assisted with the launch of Equinox Hotels and drove the overall strategy and execution of more than 90 Club Spas. She also served as Global Director of Spa Development & Operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, responsible for the company’s spa brands, partners and a global portfolio of more than 450
spas. She offers a deep understanding of how travel and access to wellness experiences have always served as critical points of intersection for consumers. Amanda graduated with a master’s in hospitality management from Cornell University, as well as from Connecticut College with a degree in French.
Eric is a Partner in McKinsey's Montreal office and leads McKinsey’s Fitness & Wellness group globally. He brings varied experience helping consumer-facing companies including in Fitness build strategies (including branding and innovation) or strengthen their value propositions (including advanced analytics) to accelerate growth. Eric has also built new businesses from scratch, acting as initial GM, both with clients and prior to McKinsey, and has led enterprise-wide transformations across industries including Fitness & Wellness, food, consumer goods and Financial Services.
Sadie Lincoln is the co-founder and CEO of barre3, a fitness and wellness company focused on teaching people to be balanced in body and empowered from within. Starting in 2008 with the flagship studio in Portland, Oregon, barre3 has grown to include more than 200 franchise studios powered by female entrepreneurs, plus an online workout platform with subscribers in 100+ countries. What began as a workout has transformed the fitness industry, creating space for people to embrace body positivity, build community, and commit to mindful movement.
Sadie is on the Forbes 50 over 50 list, Inc.'s Female Founders 100 list, the MO100 Impact list, has won EY Entrepreneur of the Year Mountain NW, and has been featured on NPR's How I Built This. She regularly speaks on the topics of mindful leadership, the power of body wisdom, and the movement to redefine what success in fitness means.
Darren MacDonald joined Tonal as Chief Executive Officer in September 2024. A lifelong strength training enthusiast, Darren was a Tonal Member even before joining the company.
Darren brings 25 years of professional experience to Tonal, most recently serving as Chief Customer Officer at Petco, where he was responsible for Marketing, Digital Experience, Product, Enterprise Analytics, Membership, and Customer Care. Prior to Petco, Darren was a key leader at Jet.com, which was acquired by Walmart in 2016 for $3.3B, before going on to lead Walmart.com’s Entertainment business, its largest segment. Earlier in his career, Darren built software and hardware at EMN8, an early stage startup creating kiosks for the restaurant and movie theater industries. He also helped lead the Global Business Development Group at Avery Dennison, a Fortune 500 company, and led shopping experiences at IAC as the CEO of the Pronto Network.
Darren holds an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Business. He is married, has three children, and has been a lifelong athlete. His passion for strength training, which started in high school, and his experience as a Tonal Member were key factors in his decision to join the company.
Anne Mahlum is a seasoned entrepreneur with expertise in scaling businesses, raising capital, and executing successful exits. She is the Founder and former CEO of [solidcore], one of the fastest-scaling fitness concepts in the U.S. Anne grew the company to 100 locations, raised over $210M in private equity, and orchestrated a strategic exit in 2023, selling her shares for nearly $100M. She also founded Back on My Feet, a nonprofit helping the homeless through running, expanding it to 12 cities. Today, Anne invests across various sectors, advises founders, consults with private equity, and is a sought-after speaker.
Dane is the founder of The Athletic Clubs, a network of private member athletic clubs in New York City. The Athletic Clubs specialize in Squad Training, a unique training model where members work out with the same group twice a week under the guidance of a dedicated coach. This structured, team-based approach fosters accountability, consistency, and a strong sense of community—redefining the boutique fitness experience.
Alberto Perlman is the co-founder and CEO of Zumba, the world’s largest branded group fitness program, with 15 million participants across 185+ countries. Under his leadership, Zumba has grown into a global movement, blending fitness, music, and culture to create an electrifying experience.
A visionary entrepreneur, Perlman has led Zumba’s expansion into apparel, music, digital platforms, and instructor training, while also fostering a passionate community and driving Zumba’s charity efforts. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Bloomberg, Billboard, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Athletech News for revolutionizing group fitness.
Beyond Zumba, Perlman is an investor, board member, and advisor in entertainment, fitness, music, and technology ventures. Passionate about innovation, he focuses on creating products that bring joy, connection, and health to people's lives.
John Stellato is the President and CEO of Hydrow, the leading connected rower that brings the on-water experience of rowing straight to your home. John’s background includes strategic expertise across financial services, industrial and retail sectors, and mergers and acquisitions. In this dual role, John leads Hydrow’s organization, drives fundraising efforts and capital structure, oversees all financial activity, and manages investor relations.
Prior to joining Hydrow, Stellato served as President and CEO of LOYAL3, an online broker-dealer and investment platform, and before that, was Executive Vice President of The Pritzker Organization (TPO), where he served for nearly 20 years, leading investments across all sectors. John has also held strategic leadership roles with numerous privately held companies, including SMG, Baker Tanks, Purch, Business.com, and Volan Technologies. Prior to TPO, John held roles with Goldman Sachs and the Boston Consulting Group.
Lauren Cody is an accomplished leader with over 25 years of experience driving growth and transformation for some of the world’s most recognized consumer brands. As Brand President of Orangetheory® Fitness, a Purpose Brands company, Lauren is at the helm of one of the largest and most innovative fitness brands where she is focused on driving demand and fueling long-term success for franchise partners and studios worldwide.
Lauren’s career includes leadership roles at McDonald’s, Panera Bread, and AlerisLife. She is known for her ability to deliver holistic, balanced, profitable, and sustainable growth. She has also served on multiple boards, including Swensons Drive-In Restaurants and Domino’s Pizza Norway.
Lauren holds an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BA&S from West Virginia University. A proud mother, wife, and former marathon runner, her passion for health and wellness fuels her commitment to helping others live longer more vibrant lives.
In 1983, at just 22 years old, Nerio Alessandri founded Technogym in his home garage by combining his passion for innovation (TECHNO) and that for sport (GYM). In the early 1990s Alessandri coined the concept of Wellness, a lifestyle that aims to improve the quality of life thanks to regular physical activity, a healthy diet and a positive mental attitude. Today Technogym is a world-leading brand in products and digital technologies for fitness, sport and health and is present in 100 thousand wellness centers and 500 thousand private homes in over 120 countries. Technogym has been the Official Supplier of the Olympic Games for over 20 years. In addition to Technogym, Nerio Alessandri also created the Wellness Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at promoting wellness as a social opportunity for all stakeholders: Governments, Businesses and Citizens.
Matthew is the Managing Partner of Jordanelle Capital. Prior to founding Jordanelle, he was a partner at Peterson Partners for 10 years. Matthew has made numerous growth investments across a variety or sectors, including health and wellness, fitness, sustainable industry and real assets. Matthew lives in Park City, UT where he is an avid skier and outdoor enthusiast.
With 25 years of experience in fitness and wellness, I bring a deep and broad knowledge of the industry, helping individuals and businesses achieve their goals. Nearly two decades in sales have refined my ability to connect with partners and customers, ensuring a consultative approach that prioritizes long-term success over short-term transactions. My strategy is built on trust, collaboration, and tailored solutions, aligning the right products and services with each client’s unique needs. Whether working with individuals striving for peak performance or organizations seeking impactful wellness solutions, I focus on building lasting relationships that drive results.
Dr Tania Elliott is a dual board certified physician and healthcare innovator. Before stepping into the world of health education through social media about 1.5 years ago, she spent 12+ years working with insurance companies, startups, and large health systems helping them innovate and think outside of the box to improve access to care. During the pandemic she oversaw over 3.5 million virtual doctor’s visits and is an expert in digital health and different modalities to bring care into the home. Always a challenger of the status quo, Dr Tania empowers people to make healthy lifestyle choices and challenges healthcare providers to show up better and be more accessible to their patients. Healthcare shouldn’t be complicated, let’s keep it simple. She is a clinical instructor at NYU Langone health, a faculty mentor for Stanford University’s Masters in Clinical Informatics Program, and on the Board of Directors for the American Telemedicine Association.
20 years track record in traditional sports marketing working with leading European soccer organizations, before joining the HYROX management team and leading their international expansion and the creation of HYROX365.
Fritz Lanman is the CEO of Mindbody + ClassPass. Prior to his current role, he served as President of ClassPass and Mindbody Marketplace and before that, CEO of ClassPass pre-acquisition.
Fritz grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and went on to study at Yale. He launched his career at Microsoft, where he held multiple Product Management and Corporate Strategy positions. There, he played a pivotal role in several major deals including Microsoft’s multi-million-dollar investment in Facebook. These experiences sparked an interest in tech and entrepreneurship, and Fritz began angel investing in 2010. In 2013, he led the seed and Series A financing rounds for ClassPass, helping the founders build the company.
Beyond Mindbody + ClassPass, Fritz has also backed Square, Pinterest, Wish, and several other successful companies. Before ClassPass, Fritz founded Livestar, Verst, and Doppler Labs.
Calley is the co-author with his sister, Dr. Casey Means, of Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health, which debuted at #1 on the NYTimes has sold 1 million copies in its first six months of release. He is the co-founder of TrueMed, a company that enables tax-free spending on food and exercise. He recently started an advocacy coalition with leading health and wellness companies called End Chronic Disease to lobby for change.
Calley is an informal advisor to Robert Kennedy and the Trump administration on health policy, and helped the endorsement between the two men. He is a graduate of Stanford and Harvard Business School. He has appeared on podcasts such as Tucker Carlson (where his episode was the most shared podcast of 2024), Joe Rogan, Skinny Confidential, Bari Weiss, and Tucker Carlson.
Dr. Jessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, FACOG, is a board-certified OBGYN, the founder of Sanctum Med + Wellness, and Head of Medical Affairs at Pvolve. With an extensive educational background that includes her medical degree from Ross University, residency at Drexel University-Hahnemann Hospital, and an MBA from the University of Louisville, Dr. Shepherd is a leading expert in women’s health. Her practice spans both traditional and holistic care, making her an innovator in how women's health is approached, particularly in the areas of perimenopause and menopause.
Dr. Shepherd's work focuses not only on the biological changes that women experience during perimenopause and menopause but also on the broader lifestyle elements that are often overlooked. She believes that addressing the emotional, physical, and lifestyle aspects of these life stages is crucial for helping women thrive. Her passion for helping women navigate this journey is evident in her book, Generation M, which has positioned her as a trailblazer in the longevity and wellness movement for women.
As a regular on-air contributor for Good Morning America, Dr. Shepherd has gained widespread recognition for her insights into women’s health, with her work featured in Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Forbes, and Women's Health. In addition to her media presence, she is a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, where she shares her expertise on women's health, longevity, and holistic wellness.
Dr. Shepherd’s dedication extends beyond the clinic, with a focus on empowering women to take charge of their health through education and advocacy. Whether through her medical practice, media work, or public speaking, she remains committed to advancing the conversation around women’s health, inspiring women to embrace longevity, well-being, and vitality at every stage of life.
Dr. Mark Kovacs, PhD, FACSM, CSCS, is an industry leader and innovator in the area of Health & Performance. He's committed to bringing the most innovative solutions and programs to Canyon Ranch—including our new Forth Worth Wellness Club—to help guests and club members achieve their goals and improve their wellness and athletic performance.
Mary is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of CityPickle, the leading urban pickleball lifestyle brand. CityPickle opened New York City’s first indoor pickleball club, including a bar and restaurant, and operates venues across the City, including the iconic courts at Central Park’s Wollman Rink. CityPickle operates seasonal courts in Philadelphia and West Palm Beach and is poised for further national expansion. Mary began her professional career in Real Estate Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs, and her experience includes business development and investing roles with Starwood Hotels and investment firm Charlesbank Capital Partners. Mary received her MBA from Harvard Business School and her AB from Harvard College where she was a dual-sport varsity athlete.
As a fitness industry veteran and successful gym owner, Benji has established himself as a prominent figure within the industry. With extensive knowledge and experience, he has become a trusted advisor and mentor to many aspiring gym owners and fitness professionals, offering invaluable guidance and support. Benji's exceptional networking and sales skills have been instrumental in his success, resulting in increased business growth and profitability for both himself and his clients. His ability to build and nurture relationships is unparalleled, making him a highly sought-after partner for businesses looking to drive growth and success. In addition to his success within the fitness industry, Benji brings valuable leadership skills to any role he undertakes, having served for 6 years as a platoon leader on operations and work in tactical assault group east and special forces units. This experience has instilled in him a tireless work ethic, exceptional teamwork skills, and a strategic.
Susie Ellis is the chair and CEO of the nonprofit Global Wellness Institute, considered the industry’s leading global research and educational resource. She is also chair and CEO of the Global Wellness Summit, an organization at the heart of the multitrillion-dollar global wellness economy focused on facilitating collaboration amongst industry thought leaders. She is recognized as a leading authority on wellness trends. She sits on numerous academic and industry boards, including the EHL – Swiss Hospitality Management School in Lausanne, the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, and was also a member of the World Economic Forum’s “Accelerating Health and Well-being Initiative.” She holds an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Barak Hirschowitz is the President of the International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA), the world’s leading network for luxury hospitality. A visionary in the industry, he works with top hotel executives to shape the future of travel, focusing on innovation, guest experience, and wellness.
Recognizing the growing demand for fitness in hospitality, Barak advocates for integrating wellness programs, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, and holistic health experiences into luxury hotels. Under his leadership, ILHA connects hoteliers with cutting-edge solutions that redefine wellness travel.
A sought-after speaker, Barak shares insights on industry trends, technology, and the evolving role of fitness in hospitality. His work ensures that luxury hotels not only meet but exceed guest expectations, making wellness a key differentiator in the competitive market.
Richard Idgar, COO of EōS Fitness, is a dynamic leader in health, fitness, and entrepreneurship. His journey began in 2003 with Gold’s Gym in Hollywood, where he honed his management, sales, and mentorship skills. He later founded Fit Food LLC, catering to top TV shows like American Idol and Glee, before selling the company in 2012. Richard then joined Equinox in New York City, playing a key role in the Equinox Sports Club West acquisition. In 2015, he joined EōS Fitness when the brand had just 16 locations. Now, with nearly 175 open gyms, or on the way nationwide, Richard drives expansion, innovation, and leadership development. His passion for fitness and mentorship continues to shape EōS into a premier fitness brand, elevating both the industry and those within it. With a strong entrepreneurial mindset and deep industry expertise, Richard remains committed to fostering growth and excellence in the fitness world.
Immediately following college graduation in 1993, Lou Lentine, set out to revolutionize innovative consumer products by creating his first company Viatek. In 2017, Lou pioneered a new company, Echelon Fitness Multimedia, that disrupted the connected fitness industry with its cutting-edge technology and engaging community. Lou leveraged his expertise in product development, brand marketing, and e-commerce to create dynamic fitness equipment, both for home and commercial use, with high-quality well-being content taught by world-class fitness Instructors. Today, Echelon Fitness class content is taught in more than a dozen languages; fitness centers, hotels and living complexes boast Echelon zones and Echelon and has expanded to include full Recovery and Wellness. At the end of 2024, the company launched ActiveMD Powered by Echelon, a new division promoting weight loss through the use of GLP1s. Customers can continue to keep their muscle mass while enjoying the benefits of weight loss.
Jack joined Princeton in 2021 and focuses on sourcing and executing transactions. He also provides operating support to our portfolio companies. Prior to Princeton, Jack was at Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors working on special situations transactions. Before Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, Jack was at J.F. Lehman & Company executing investments in the aerospace & defense and industrial services sectors. Jack began his career as an analyst at Morgan Stanley in the Financial Sponsors and Western Region Coverage groups.
Jack’s current investments include Barry’s, The International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG), Stretch Zone, and D1 Training.
Jeff is a leader in McKinsey’s M&A Practice and the global leader of the M&A Strategy service line having previously led the M&A capability building service line. He also serves as the McKinsey Boston Office Managing Partner.
Dr. Gloria Winters is the Chief Health Officer of the YMCA of the USA. She has over 25 years of healthcare experience. As Chief Health Officer, Winters supports the innovation of the YMCA in communities around the country as they improve the continuum of healthcare by linking the clinic to the community to affect the health of the whole person.
In this role at the YMCA, she is responsible for the development, advancement and implementation of industry-leading models that will standardize how communities can improve health equity, health outcomes and provide interventions to connect individuals to community and social services through local and national strategic partnerships.
Winters received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California. She is certified in manual therapy, orthopedics, dry needling, exercise and sports medicine and nutrition.
Anthony Geisler is a philanthropist and fitness entrepreneur who has built some of the world’s most successful boutique fitness brands. Raised in a working-class family in Southern California, he developed an entrepreneurial spirit early, launching and selling a web development startup after college. He later acquired LA Boxing, expanding it into a national brand before selling to UFC Gym in 2012.
Recognizing the growing demand for boutique fitness, he acquired and scaled Club Pilates, then founded Xponential Fitness in 2017, uniting brands like StretchLab, Pure Barre, and Rumble Boxing into the world’s largest boutique fitness curator.
Geisler has received numerous accolades, including Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year and induction into USC’s Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. A dedicated philanthropist, he supports education, healthcare, and military families, funding initiatives like the Geisler Family WINGS center and Thankful Giving, which provides meals to families in need.
Jonathan (“Jon”) Canarick is a Managing Partner with over 20 years of consumer private equity investment experience. Since joining North Castle in 2001, Jon has actively managed North Castle’s investments across a variety of Healthy, Active, and Sustainable Living sectors and across all job functions at North Castle. Having started his NCP career as an Associate, Jon has played a crucial role in the development of North Castle and many of its portfolio companies. Jon currently sits on the Board of Directors of Therabody, Five Iron Golf, Echelon Fit, CR Fitness, Encore Vet Group, The Escape Game, Barry’s, and SLT. Previously, Jon served on the Board of Directors of Kettlebell Kitchen, Curves, Jenny Craig, Brooklyn Boulders, Palladio, Mineral Fusion, gloProfessional, Flatout, International Fitness, Enzymatic Therapy, Performance Bicycle, Avalon and DDF and was actively involved in the Firm’s investment in Grand Expeditions. Prior to joining North Castle, Jon worked in the investment bank of Bear, Stearns & Co., where he executed leveraged buyout transactions. Jon earned a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
Sarah Choi is the Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer at CorePower Yoga where she oversees all marketing, digital and commercial/revenue-driving initiatives. She is a strategic, consumer-obsessed, marketing and digital leader with over 25 years of experience in brand/corporate strategy, retail and digital. She is passionate about the world of wellness, yoga and fitness and has completed her CorePower Yoga 200-hour Teacher Training as well as her 50-hour Yoga sculpt Training. Prior to CorePower Yoga, she served in executive roles at Soul Cycle, Marc Jacobs and Sephora where she led digital marketing and loyalty initiatives. When she isn’t working with her teams, you can find her teaching Yoga Sculpt in the Denver Cherry Creek studio, cheering at her kids’ ice hockey games, traveling and/or training for Olympic and half Ironman triathlons.
Jonathan J.J. Gantt serves as the Global Co-CEO of Barry's, the original global high-intensity interval training boutique fitness concept. He has been a driving force behind Barry’s success and growth for several years, first serving as Chief Financial Officer and then as President before assuming his current role as Global Co-CEO in 2024. Prior to officially joining Barry’s in 2018, Jonathan was a die-hard Barry’s client in New York City while serving as the Chief Financial Officer of a publicly-traded hotel real estate investment trust. Prior to this role, Jonathan was a member of the M&A and Treasury team at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. He also has experience with two private equity funds. Jonathan resides in Miami, Florida. He holds a BS degree from Cornell University and an MBA degree from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
Nick Herrild is president of Anytime Fitness in the US, which is part of the Purpose Brands portfolio of companies, which also owns Orangetheory Fitness, Waxing the City, The Bar Method, Basecamp Fitness and Stronger U. Nick assumed the role in 2024 and leads the teams accountable for driving unit and business performance, franchisee support, operating efficiencies, brand execution, strategic performance initiatives, differentiation from competitive brands, and unlocked growth in the health and wellness space.
Nick previously served as president, Studio Brands, overseeing growth and expansion of Waxing the City, Basecamp Fitness, SUMHIIT Fitness and The Bar Method. He was appointed president of Waxing the City in 2019, where he lead the teams accountable for driving record footprint growth across the U.S., unit performance, operating efficiencies and new service innovations that stood apart from competitive brands, unlocking growth in the beauty and wellness space. Nick joined Waxing the City in late 2017 as vice president, franchise support, creating a scalable support function for operations, new studio openings, financial and P&L support, planning, and training for owners and managers. He also led the acquisition of a group of corporate studios, which now operate to support development of new initiatives and testing for the brand.
Prior to Purpose Brands, Nick worked for Caribou Coffee Co. in roles that spanned operations, field support, marketing, innovations and implementation, and strategic partnerships.
Nick graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management.
Renowned as a pioneer in integrative and functional medicine, Dr. Frank Lipman is the founder of the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center, where he currently practices. He has a consulting company, consulting to a number of health-focused companies, and also serves as Chief Medical Officer at The Well. Specializing in longevity medicine and health optimization, he works closely with patients using cutting-edge diagnostics and treatments to design tailor-made plans for long and healthy lives. A New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Lipman has written seven health-focused books, including The New Rules of Aging Well and How to Be Well.
Andy Peat, a seasoned leader in the fitness industry with more than 18 years of experience, is the CEO of Fitness On Demand, a health and wellness platform that manages gyms’ digital fitness and member engagement needs. Andy’s expertise in driving innovation and transformational change is led by a firm belief in utilizing data and the latest technology to steer positive behavior change and forge strategic partnerships within the fitness landscape.
With roots as a personal trainer in New Zealand, Andy's journey reflects his passion for both fitness and business, and it’s no surprise he has built a strong reputation as a dynamic and forward-thinking leader within health, fitness, and wellness.
Troy Taylor is a globally recognized leader in human performance and senior executive with deep expertise spanning elite sports, fitness, and technology. With a proven track record of driving innovation, he has led high-performance programs across seven Olympic Games, supporting over 50 Olympic medalists. As Vice President of Performance Innovation, Troy spearheads strategic initiatives that shape the future of fitness, integrating cutting-edge research into product development, content strategy, and market execution. His leadership bridges science and technology to redefine how athletes and consumers achieve peak performance.
Sam Tooley is the co-founder and CEO of Alpha Fit Club, a rapidly-growing group fitness concept based out of New Jersey focusing on circuit-style classes that blend total body strength training and high-intensity cardio intervals. He's also the co-founder and CEO of The Garage Gym, a 24/7 members-only training facility in Westfield, NJ, and the founder & president of The Tooley Legacy Foundation, a non-profit organization helping local families during times of need.
Nick Caldwell is the Chief Product Officer of Peloton. Caldwell oversees global product development, leading the hardware and software product teams to create new, innovative products and features for Members. With a proven track record of building and scaling products and services that excite customers, drive business growth, and deliver impact, Caldwell is helping to push the company into new areas of innovation. Caldwell previously served as Twitter's General Manager for Core Technologies, led Reddit through hyper-scale as the Vice President of Engineering, spent thirteen years at Microsoft, culminating in a role as General Manager of the Power BI product family, and served as the Chief Product Officer at Looker, which was acquired by Google. Caldwell received his Bachelor's degree in computer science and electrical engineering from MIT and his Masters of Business Administration from U.C. Berkeley Haas. He sits on various boards, including HubSpot and Bitly.
Greg Schwartz is the Vice President of Global Partnerships for CrossFit. He brings 15 years of sports partnership experience to CrossFit, having previously worked for Learfield, the San Diego Padres, The IRONMAN Group, and the San Jose Sharks. Greg specializes in commercial strategy and revenue generation and has built successful sales teams at multiple organizations. He has an undergraduate degree from Oregon State University and an MBA from Point Loma Nazarene University.
Mr. Gregianin has been with Smart Fit since 2009. Since 2017, he has been Smart Fit’s Chief Technology Officer – CTO. Prior to that, he worked as the software development manager for the group, implementing all systems currently used by Smart Fit’s Latin American operations. Before joining the group, Mr. Gregianin has worked as the head of software engineering for several Brazilian start-up companies, developing the core architecture for the systems of these companies. Mr. Gregianin has a bachelor degree in Computer Science, with more than 18 years of experience in the industry.
Mike is an early adopter of wellness trends, including infrared sauna and cold plunge, and a hands-on executive with expertise in scaling revenue and operations for multi-unit franchise and technology companies. Before SWTHZ, Mike was a key member of Orangetheory’s international growth team, expanding Canada’s footprint to over 110 locations, and successfully exiting a technology company focused on enterprise wellness.
Prior to being named Chief Marketing + Creative Officer of New York Sports Club, Kari founded Fhitting Room, a boutique fitness studio specializing in functional strength training and HIIT workouts led by certified personal trainers. Kari was named Chief Marketing + Creative Officer for NYSC when the Company acquired Fhitting Room in October 2022 to deliver operating excellence, community building, and marketing/brand expertise. Kari united NYSC regional brands together under the New York Sports Club banner and introduced an updated brand identity while creating brand partnerships and launching member engagement programs that build upon the NYSC mission of changing lives through fitness. Prior to creating Fhitting Room, Kari was a marketing executive at Pepsi. She has an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she graduated with honors, and she graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Economics from the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania.
Ani Oksayan serves as the Vice President of Fitness at Chuze Fitness and feels privileged to have had a 25+year career in the industry, including roles in personal training, group exercise and club management for a variety of big box gyms, boutique studios and golf & country clubs throughout Southern and Central California. Ani is certified personal trainer with credentials in a variety of GX formats, and is a Matrix Cycling Ambassador, training Chuze instructors in the Matrix cycling method. Ani has been a part of the Chuze Fitness family for 15 years and is thrilled to be aligned with an organization so completely devoted to providing the highest quality experience and culture for both members and employees alike.
Brian Killingsworth is the Global CMO for FIT (Functional Inspired Training) House of Brands. F45 Training, which has over 1,700 locations in 63 countries. He is responsible for marketing strategy, brand, content, events, membership sales, franchise sales, partnerships and digital and social marketing. This past year in 2024, F45 Training had 12.4% growth in average unit volumes throughout the global network. In addition to F45 Training, Killingsworth led the global launches of two new pilates concepts: FS8 and VAURA. Prior to FIT, Killingsworth spent 22 years in professional sports, and most recently served as Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer for the Vegas Golden Knights. As CMO, he led the brand launch in Las Vegas and oversaw the team’s marketing, strategy, branding, communications, content, digital, analytics, retail, fan development, youth hockey.
Mindi Bridges is the Chief Brand & Marketing Officer at VASA Fitness, bringing over 20 years of experience in building world-renowned brands across retail and fitness. At VASA, Mindi leads marketing, public relations, fitness product development, club design, retail, internal communications, member services, and business memberships. Her work has been instrumental in positioning VASA as a category leader and scaling the brand across multiple markets. Before joining VASA, Mindi was Vice President of Creative and Operations Services at In-Shape Health Clubs, where she spearheaded a full company rebrand and built a cross-functional team to elevate the member experience. Earlier in her career, Mindi held senior leadership roles at Abercrombie & Fitch and Gap Inc., leading global brand marketing, creative services, and new brand launches. She also worked as a marketing consultant for Bare Escentuals, LeapFrog, Westfield, Clif Bar, and Art.com.
Tony Scrimale is the Chief Executive Officer for CR Fitness Holdings Inc., LLC - the leading franchisee of Crunch Fitness. Scrimale brings nearly 30 years of experience in the health and fitness industry to the franchise, including club development, regional management, sales & operations. In 1997, Scrimale played a key role in the development of Southside Athletics with Shapes’ founder before selling it to Lifestyle Family Fitness. Scrimale then became regional general manager of the clubs. In 2011 Scrimale partnered with Vince Julien, Geoff Dyer, and Jeff Dotson (who combined bring more than 150 years of industry experience) to start CR Fitness. He became its operating partner for several locations before taking on additional roles such as VP of Sales, COO, and now CEO. CR Fitness Holdings currently operates 85 locations across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas,Tennessee, with plans to expand into Arizona. The franchise is on track to operate 100 locations nationwide by 2026.
Gary Brecka, the visionary founder of The Ultimate Human, is a renowned Human Biologist, biohacker, and longevity expert. With over two decades of experience in analyzing human biomarkers, Gary's unique approach combines the precision of science with the personal touch of individual wellness.
Before creating The Ultimate Human, Gary served as a leading mortality researcher for the life insurance industry, where he honed his expertise in predicting health outcomes based on comprehensive data analysis. However, Gary's passion lies not in forecasting life spans but in extending them — in enhancing the quality and vitality of every life.
Robbie Bent is building Othership, the first immersive sauna and ice bath spaces in North America focused on emotional wellness and healthy social experiences. Othership has also built the highest rated breathwork app in the world. Prior to Othership, Robbie was an early employee at the Ethereum Foundation.
Eric Litman is the Founder & CEO of Aescape, an NYC-based robotics company bringing full automation to human-robot interactions. Since 2017, Eric has led the development of the world’s first fully automated, AI-powered massage platform, addressing the global demand for accessible, personalized wellness in hospitality, fitness, and healthcare industries. A prolific entrepreneur who has founded and exited four companies, Eric has a deep passion for optimizing human healthspan and aligning technology with the evolution of wellbeing.
Kyle Jones is the Founder and CEO of iCRYO, one of the largest longevity medical retail franchising companies in the world. He found his passion for health and wellness while a collegiate football player, graduating from Texas State University with a degree in Exercise Sports Science and Business Management. Kyle is a 2x National Powerlifting Champion with NASA and USAPL and received his pro card in physique bodybuilding with the GBO and NSL.
In 2012 Kyle was introduced to the concept of longevity and quickly recognized it as the next big opportunity. He opened the first iCRYO in League City, TX, in 2015. With his passion, vision, and mission to elevate people’s quality of life, the company has rapidly expanded its footprint and introduced numerous longevity-focused therapies and modalities. It now operates more than 50 franchise locations across the US and Canada with hundreds more in development.
Sean Turner is the CEO at Les Mills U.S. With three decades of experience in the health and fitness industry, he is a catalyst for change who has spearheaded cultural, brand, and digital transformations for global organizations. Sean has a passion for surfing and the outdoors, grew up in South Africa and now lives in Chicago with his family.
Wendy White is the Chief Marketing Officer at Daxko, with over 20 years of experience in B2B technology marketing. She leads Daxko’s marketing, digital services, and channel partnerships, driving the company’s growth in new and existing markets. Before joining Daxko, Wendy served as CMO at fast-growing SaaS companies, including TigerConnect and Egencia, and held leadership roles at Microsoft, Intel, and several startups. A U.S. Army veteran, Wendy is a graduate of the Defense Language Institute and the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center. She holds an MBA from the University of California, Davis, and a BA from UC Berkeley.
Natalie Compton is a travel reporter for the Washington Post. Originally from California, she has covered travel, food, and alcohol from every continent.
Before founding The Sales Arms, Chris Appiah was VP of Sales for a major boutique fitness franchisee, boosting studio membership by 500% and revenue from $25K to $65K monthly. With over a decade of fitness industry expertise, Chris now leads The Sales Arms, supporting 300+ studios and 100+ clients. He also founded NOBLE, a boutique training studio, and Helios, an SMS software company.
U.S. Marine Veteran, Cofounder & COO of Chuze Fitness
Ed brings an impressive blend of experience and expertise to the table, spanning over 25 years across various industries including health and fitness, hospitality, and event management. His role as CEO in multiple companies has enabled Ed to build his strategic and commercial leadership skills. Ed has earned a positive reputation within the sports and entertainment sector, thanks to his deep-rooted understanding of market dynamics, and has an extensive industry network.
Ed excels in his ability to develop, lead, and motivate high-performance teams, evident in his consistent track record of delivering results. He executes business and brand-building strategies that drive sustainable, long-term growth, and has a results-oriented mindset that ensures he delivers in fast-paced and demanding competitive environments. Ed's commitment to innovating the health and wellness industry led to the co-founding of Evolt IOH, which he leads as the CEO.
Natalie Jones is the Snr. Director of Business Operations at Future, a leading digital personal training platform. With a background spanning product development, partnerships, and strategy, she’s leading Future’s AI coaching development. Natalie brings deep insight into fitness behavior, scalable coaching models, and how technology can bridge the gap between intention and consistency. She’s passionate about making high-quality training accessible to everyone, not just the elite.
Jay is an entrepreneur, investor and board member with a proven track record of scaling, advising and investing in successful health, wellness and lifestyle brands. Today he is the co-head of the Strategic Partnership division at Sabre Business Consulting. Prior to his role at SBC, Jay was the co-founder and CEO of Flywheel Sports and later served as a Partner at North Castle Partners, where he focused on experiential brands, family entertainment and outdoor recreation, including as the Chairman of Windham Mountain and as a board member of Barry’s Bootcamp and The Escape Game. Most recently, Jay served as the CEO of Club Sports Group and Body20.
Brian Mazza is a dad, investor, entrepreneur, athlete, and content creator. He is theVice President of Brand Performance at Life Time, and Founder of HPL Ventures, a brand that specializes in investing, incubating, and accelerating the top CPG brands across different industries. Prior to HPL Ventures, he Co-Founded The Ainsworth and as President of Paige Hospitality Group.
Prior to his professional career, Brian received a scholarship to play Division I Soccer at the University of Rhode Island, where he helped lead the team to two Atlantic 10 Championships, earned All- Rookie accolades, and graduated with honors. He graduated in 2006 with a B.A. in Communications.
Most importantly Brian is a proud father to his two boys Leo and Luke, and husband to NBC Correspondent Chloe Melas Mazza.
Terry Blachek is a seasoned fitness industry executive with over 30 years of experience in management, operations, sales, and marketing. He is the CEO and owner of Austin Fitness Group, LLC, an Orangetheory Fitness Area Developer operating 133 studios (61 owned) across Texas, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Blachek was one of the original founders of Orangetheory Fitness corporate, leading the creation of its pre-sales process best practices.
Blachek began his career as an exercise physiologist and rose to Chief Operating Officer of The Fitness Company, overseeing 85 clubs along the East Coast. He then served as Executive Vice President at Crunch Fitness in New York City, expanding the company from eight to 20 locations. Subsequently, as Chief Marketing and Sales Officer at Lifestyle Family Fitness, he grew the company from 10 to over 50 locations nationwide. Beyond Activ
In 2011, Blachek opened 10 Orangetheory Fitness studios in Tampa, Florida, before selling his interests in 2014 and 2016. He brought Orangetheory Fitness to Central Texas in 2014 and currently serves as the Area Developer for the Austin and San Antonio markets. X (formerly Twitter)+2Beyond Activ+2The Business Journals+2
Blachek holds a B.S. in Physical Education from Andrews University and pursued graduate studies in Exercise Science at Central Michigan University. He also hosts the podcast “Tuesdays with Terry,” focusing on leadership and personal development.
Mark Federico is the Chief Executive Officer of Fitness Holdings North America, LLC, a major franchisee of Crunch Fitness. He began his fitness industry career by opening an Anytime Fitness franchise in Marlborough, Massachusetts, before founding his own brand, Boost Fitness, which grew to eight locations across Central Massachusetts.
In 2018, Boost Fitness was acquired by Fitness Holdings, and Federico took on a leadership role to expand Crunch Fitness's presence in the Northeast. Under his guidance, Fitness Holdings has grown to operate over 50 Crunch Fitness locations, with plans for further expansion. They recently acquired JERSEY STRONG and BOSTON SPORTS CLUBS as part of their M&A growth strategy.
Federico is known for his strategic approach to business, emphasizing operational efficiency and scalability.
With over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, Melissa Knowles brings a unique blend of operational expertise and tech-driven leadership to her current role as VP of Global Key Accounts at ABC Fitness. There, she leads a high-impact Customer Success team serving some of the most recognized fitness brands in the world.
Melissa's journey into SaaS began at ClubReady, where she spent four years in executive leadership—first as VP of Professional Services following the acquisition of GYM HQ, the BPO startup she co-founded, and later as VP of Operations, overseeing all customer-facing teams.
Before transitioning into the software side of fitness, Melissa spent seven years leading the corporate team of a national personal training company with 1,200 employees across 26 states, serving over 45,000 clients. She also has hands-on club management experience from her earlier career days.
Beyond her day job, Melissa is passionate about mentorship and advocacy. She co-chairs ABC's Women in Tech+ (WIT+) committee and actively mentors emerging leaders, including U.S. veterans through American Corporate Partners. A frequent speaker at industry events, she’s presented at HFA, Club Industry, and various franchise brand conferences. She also served for years as an advisor to the Gold's Gym Franchise Association's Think Tank.
Melissa holds an MS in Exercise Science and a BS in Sports Medicine. She lives in the Atlanta suburbs with her husband, Matt, and their two kids, Olivia and Nathan. A lifelong fitness enthusiast, she enjoys strength training, running, cycling, yoga—and is always up for exploring anything that promotes health and wellness.
Joe DeMarco is a visionary business leader with over 15 years of experience in financial services, known for driving operational excellence and building high-performance cultures. As CEO of SalesRevv, an AI-powered sales SaaS company, he leads the charge in transforming how businesses sell memberships, ensuring no lead is left behind through cutting-edge AI solutions. Previously, Joe was CEO of the largest Cyclebar fitness franchise, where he played a key role in its rapid growth and success. He also co-founded Local Barre, a women’s boutique fitness brand focused on empowerment and wellness. Joe’s career is marked by his ability to integrate operations, trading, and programming to deliver impactful results. Beyond business, he is passionate about philanthropy and regularly participates in missionary work. With a strong track record of creative problem-solving and cross-functional leadership, Joe continues to inspire innovation and deliver success across diverse ventures.
Mitchell Keyes is the Vice President of Global Operations at Anytime Fitness, the world’s largest fitness club brand and part of the Purpose Brands portfolio of fitness and wellness franchise brands. Mitchell leads strategic initiatives to enhance operational excellence and member experiences across a vast network of 5,500 fitness clubs across 42 countries. With extensive expertise in health and fitness industry trends, business operations, and member engagement, Mitchell plays a key role in driving innovation and growth for the brand. He joined Anytime Fitness in 2019 after 15 years at Life Time Fitness, where he developed a strong background in leadership, fitness operations, and strategic development. Today, he helps the brand and franchise owners navigate industry challenges while identifying opportunities for expansion and enhanced service offerings.
Shafi Syed is the Global Head Hotel Development at Equinox Hotels and leads the Group’s expansion based out of New York.
Equinox Hotels is the only luxury lifestyle hotel brand in the ‘fitness and high-performance living’ hotel segment- part of a $4.3 trillion wellness industry. A natural extension of the cult fitness chain Equinox, the hotel brand differentiates itself through high-energy social spaces, celebrity restauranteur driven F&B/Nightlife, and the highly aspirational Equinox health club among other signature elements.
Shafi brings over 30 years of experience in global investment, strategic development and brand expansion for luxury lifestyle hotels and branded real estate. Prior to joining Equinox, he held CDO positions at Jumeirah and Caesars Entertainment and various executive development roles at Wyndham and Taj Hotels. Shafi is a graduate of the Institute of Hotel Management, Bangalore and holds an Advanced Certification in Real Estate & Hotel Investments from Cornell.
Pete is the Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Dream Architect at Integrity Square ("ISQ"), a leading boutique financial advisory firm focused on the $4.7T Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoor ("HALO") sector.
Since founding ISQ in 2010, the firm has played an active advisory role in 100+ mergers & acquisitions, private placements and advisory assignments across North America. Pete Moore and his team have also invested in passionate entrepreneurs at HigherDOSE, XTEND, and Promotion Vault.
ISQ's media and "live education" properties include HALO Talks, the leading B2B podcast in the sector, Time To Win Again, and the HALO Academy, an Executive Education Bootcamp Series.
With an extensive track record in operations, sales, marketing, and technology development, Dana Milkie has helped organizations excel in the health and fitness industry for nearly two decades. His background includes a variety of successful leadership roles and demonstrated expertise. In his current role, Dana serves as the General Manager of EGYM North America, where he is responsible for leading his team in helping customers leverage smart strength equipment, apps, and integrated technologies to improve member experience in commercial health clubs, boutique studios, YMCAs and other markets including Active Aging and Hospitality.
As CEO of Canyon Ranch, Mark Rivers leads more than 1,000 health and wellness professionals across the U.S. at the legendary wellness company’s resorts, health clubs and spas.Mark has over 25 years of hospitality operations and property development experience as a master developer and principal of other resorts and clubs. Under Mark’s stewardship, Canyon Ranch is building its first-ever, ground up state-of-the-art “ranch” outside of Austin, Texas. The nearly 600-acre campus, which features a resort and residential community with cutting-edge technologies and wellness practices, will open in the fall of 2026. With Mark as CEO, three Canyon Ranch properties were recognized by the internationally acclaimed Michelin Travel Guide, as among the most exceptional in hospitality. Canyon Ranch Tucson and Canyon Ranch Woodside were two of only 16 U.S. properties to receive Three Keys in the 2024 Michelin Guide, while Canyon Ranch Lenox received Two Keys.
Cyrus Massoumi is the founder of Dr. B. An entrepreneur and investor with over a decade of experience in healthtech, he also founded ZocDoc and serves as a Senior Advisor to Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. He earned a finance degree from the Wharton School and later completed an MBA at Columbia Business School.
George Hanson is Chief Digital Officer of Mattress Firm, the nation’s largest mattress specialty retailer. He joined the company in 2023 and is responsible for evolving Mattress Firm’s digital strategy and creating an integrated omnichannel experience that leverages both digital and physical channels.
Prior to joining Mattress Firm, Hanson spent four years at Panera as Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, transforming and elevating the digital guest omnichannel experience and driving profitable growth through loyalty programs and the subscription business. He led the transformation from a restaurant concept with a solid digital foundation to an industry leading e-commerce, loyalty, and recurring revenue business rivaling best-in-class specialty retailers. He led multiple industry firsts including partnering with Apple to be the first premier Applecard partner. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from both University of Wisconsin-Madison and Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Colin Lawlor is the Founder and CEO of Sleep ai, a global leader in sleep science and technology. With over 30 years of experience in the health and wellness sector, he has held leadership roles at companies such as ResMed, BiancaMed, and Bio-Medical Research Ltd. Under his guidance, SleepScore Labs has developed Sleep.AI, the world's first evidence-based AI platform dedicated to sleep health, harnessing over 700 million hours of sleep data to provide personalized insights and solutions which can be built into any app. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin, Colin is a recognized thought leader in the field, contributing to platforms like the Forbes Business Council.
Tim Roberts is Vice President of Science and Innovation at Therabody, where he leads R+D strategy at the intersection of health, performance, and technology. Since joining in 2019, he has been central to Therabody’s evolution into a scientific leader in the wellness tech industry, ensuring product innovation is grounded in rigorous research, aligned with business goals, and meeting the evolving regulatory and consumer expectations. Tim oversees clinical research, product validation, and cross-functional innovation. He previously spent nine years at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute and led performance science for the NFL’s International Pathway Program in 2018–2019. He serves as President of the Industry Advisory Board at the University of Florida’s College of Health and Human Performance and sits on the Board of Directors for the ACSM Foundation.
Former Goldman Sachs banker with over a decade in banking, I transitioned my expertise into wellness by founding a science-backed multinational company. Our mission is to enhance health and performance through cutting-edge technology and research.
We manufacture advanced Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers, Photobiomodulation Beds, and Helmets—designed to boost recovery, optimize performance, and promote overall well-being.
Our innovations are trusted by top hospitals, Accor Group, Six Senses, and elite spas worldwide. We proudly support world-class athletes like Anthony Joshua and Thiago Silva, helping them reach peak performance.
Rooted in science and driven by innovation, our products meet the highest standards of safety and efficacy.
No Guesswork. Just Science.
Stephanie Tucker brings nearly 30 years of experience in the health and fitness tech space, with a career grounded in customer experience leadership. As Chief Customer Officer at Hapana, she oversees CS across eight countries and more than 30 markets. Known for building high-performing, mission-driven teams, Stephanie thrives at the intersection of people, process, and purpose. She champions customer-first experiences—enabled by smart systems, strong teams, and scalable processes—with a passion for guiding product strategy through customer insight.
Stephanie has deep expertise in enterprise onboarding, portfolio management, and supporting complex franchise operations—developed over her 25-year tenure at ABC Financial, serving as EVP prior to joining Hapana. As a breast cancer survivor, she brings deep gratitude and determined momentum to her leadership—anchored by the belief that innovation powers progress, but service is the most enduring strategy.
Mona Rosene, MS, RD, brings over two decades of expertise as a nutrition industry leader spanning food, beverage, and supplement sectors. She holds a Bachelor's degree in exercise physiology and Master's degree in nutrition, combining scientific rigor with practical application.
As Global Director of Scientific & Medical Affairs at Niagen Bioscience, Mona excels at translating complex scientific research into insights that enhance brand credibility and market impact. Her collaborative leadership in building strategic partnerships advances the understanding of cutting-edge nutrition science and its role in human health.
Mona is an accomplished communicator who serves as President of her local Toastmasters club, where she actively participates in public speaking and competitive speaking events.
An avid outdoor enthusiast, Mona embraces an active lifestyle in the Colorado mountains. Her personal commitment to health is rooted in her background in fitness & competitive cycling.
Mark Watterson serves as the CEO of iFIT Commercial, where he is responsible for driving the direction and strategy of Commercial partnerships, products and service, inclusive of our Freemotion Fitness brand. Mark brings 15+ years of strategic experience to the iFIT team and has been instrumental in growing iFIT software from an initial concept into a world-class, worldwide product used by over 7.3 million members. Prior to this role, Mark has worked at iFIT in Purchasing and Procurement, Merchandising, as iFIT Experience President, and as our Chief Product Officer. Mark holds a degree in Entrepreneurial Studies from Utah State University and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
Carol Stratford heads the Consulting Division for Wellness Spaces at Arch Amenities Group, where she leads the concepting and design of spas for luxury hotels, residential communities, and wellness resorts across the globe. Her career began in public relations and evolved into strategic marketing, giving her a unique ability to shape both the guest experience and the brand story. Carol is known for creating spa concepts that balance design, functionality, and financial performance—helping developers and operators bring wellness visions to life with long-term business success in mind.
Lou Zameryka brings over 25 years of leadership in travel, hospitality, and technology—including 17 years scaling Booking.com into a global powerhouse. Today, he operates at the intersection of wellness and hospitality as Board Chair of Pure Wellness, a Standards Advisory Committee Member for the Wellness in Travel and Tourism organization, and founder of Ventures Hospitality, where he advises hotel brands and tech companies shaping the future of guest experience.
Lou's the co-creator of The Untold Collection, a hotel collection designed to help travelers slow down, explore more deeply, and reconnect with a sense of place.
Lou co-founded Alively, which helps employers support employee wellness through evidence-based, data-informed habit formation driving business roi's. Additionally Lou created Vitalience, a framework for leaders to achieve sustainable energy, resilience, and performance.
A competitive runner, Lou lives the wellness life alongside his yoga-teaching wife and 2 kids.
More speakers coming soon...
Tatum Brandt is the founder and creative director of Brandt Creative, a brand design studio for the fitness industry. She partners with founders to build bold, strategic brands that cut through the sea of vanilla boring brands online. With a mission to redesign the fitness industry, Tatum helps businesses infuse their creative and marketing strategies with authenticity and personality to effectively break through the noise. When she’s not leading creative work or sharing brand insights online, you’ll find her training for her next ultramarathon in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Danny Dulkin, PMP, joined Arch Amenities Group with over a decade of industry experience in the design, development, and operations of world class fitness facilities across multiple verticals. Danny and his design team have delivered over 200 turn-key fitness center developments for AAG and have accumulated dozens of Fortune 500 design wins.
Turn-key projects under his supervision typically include outreach and scope development, feasibility studies, design, bidding, project management, procurement, commissioning, and closeout processes, as well as vendor management. Danny has been active in competitive athletics throughout his entire life, even participating at the collegiate and professional levels. He received a B.S. in Exercise Science from Lindenwood University.
Jay is an entrepreneur, investor and board member with a proven track record of scaling, advising and investing in successful health, wellness and lifestyle brands. Today he is the co-head of the Strategic Partnership division at Sabre Business Consulting. Prior to his role at SBC, Jay was the co-founder and CEO of Flywheel Sports and later served as a Partner at North Castle Partners, where he focused on experiential brands, family entertainment and outdoor recreation, including as the Chairman of Windham Mountain and as a board member of Barry’s Bootcamp and The Escape Game. Most recently, Jay served as the CEO of Club Sports Group and Body20.
Kelly is the CEO of Grayler LLC, a strategic communications & advocacy consultancy. She has worked over three decades with the world’s largest consumer tech, retail, food, and fitness and wellness brands, shaping narratives and building reputations through compelling storytelling and stakeholder engagement. Current clients include Purpose Brands, LLC, the parent of Anytime Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, Waxing the City, The Bar Method and Basecamp Fitness. A nonstop traveler, Kelly is also on a mission to fill the void of women-centered food and travel content and unlock the massive market opportunity for brands to better engage GenX and Millennial women travelers. She is the creator, executive producer and host of "The WTAF Show: Women. Travel. Art. Food.", a weekly food & travel show on YouTube. Kelly has additionally managed startup accelerator programs for Amazon, T-Mobile and major retailers, and is an equity advisor with TheAgenda. (Period.), a femtech cycle wellness startup.
Edward Hertzman is a serial entrepreneur who has launched multiple businesses across several industry verticals including media, fitness, wellness and sourcing. He is also a subject matter expert who has become the voice for the industries he has served. An early-stage investor in promising startups, he has contributed to their growth and value creation. His latest venture, Athletech News, is a response to the fitness industry’s need for community, representation and a seat at the table.
Prior to Athletech News, following several years on the ground as a supply chain executive, Hertzman founded Sourcing Journal in 2009. Today, Sourcing Journal is the world’s largest trade publication devoted to sourcing and supply chain in the apparel and textiles industry. In 2017, Hertzman sold the company to Penske Media Group.
In 2023, Hertzman left Penske to launch his next media enterprise, Athletech Media Group. It has quickly become the media of record for the fitness and wellness industry with more than 100,000 subscribers signing on since its debut.
Hertzman continues to consult for several retail and supply chain companies and through his company, Hertzman Global Ventures, he has made targeted investments in both PE funds and supply chain tech companies including Active Source Lab.
Tara Levitt is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of ALTA Technology Group, where she provides strategic consulting and fractional CXO services to top fitness brands. Raised in the fitness industry, Tara has held leadership roles across operations, product, sales, and customer success, working with some of the world’s largest health and wellness organizations. She played a key role in the successful exit of Motionsoft to Daxko and later led projects for Zenoti and Club Sports Group, the largest F45 franchisee. Known for her big-picture thinking and operational expertise, Tara is a frequent speaker on fitness technology, customer experience, and the member journey. She also co-hosts The Fitness Technology Summit, an annual event that brings together industry leaders to explore the future of fitness through innovation and collaboration.
A veteran podcaster with over 800 interviews and deep roots in the fitness industry, Eric brings the clarity, coaching, and connections that turn ideas into authority. As a visionary founder and strategist, he’s built brands, launched top-ranked podcasts, and guided leaders across health, fitness, and wellness. His insights don’t just elevate voices — they shape industries.
Al Noshirvani is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at ALTA Technology Group, a management consulting firm focused on the HALO (health, active lifestyle, and outdoors) industry. Prior to launching ALTA, Al was the Co-Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Motionsoft Inc. from which he successfully exited. In 2014, under Al’s leadership, Motionsoft was recognized as the IHRSA Associate Member of the Year. Al is also the founder of the Fitness Technology Summit, an annual, invitation-only event where marketing, operations, and technology executives gather for 3 days of networking, education sessions, and insightful panel discussions. Al is also the owner of a chain of health clubs in the greater Washington DC metropolitan area called Method Gyms and currently serves on IHRSA’s Board of Directors.
Liz Baker Plosser is the founder of the Best Case Scenario Substack, a wellness playbook helping people feel a little better today than they did yesterday. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Women’s Health, where she oversaw the brand across its print and digital platforms and various brand extensions, reaching a monthly audience of 44+ million. A veteran of the wellness industry, she has held senior strategy and content roles at Well+Good, SoulCycle, SELF, & Cosmopolitan. She appears regularly as a speaker and is a frequent guest on national television and podcasts. Liz is the author of the book, Own Your Morning: Reset Your A.M to Unlock Your Potential. She graduated cum laude from Princeton University, is a NASM certified trainer and nutrition coach, and lives in Brooklyn with her husband, three children and dog. You can follow her on social media at @lizplosser.
Former fat kid, Kenny Santucci took control of his life at 15, igniting a lifelong passion for fitness and helping people transform their lives.
Kenny has coached Hollywood celebrities like Jon Bon Jovi, Liev Schreiber and Frank Ocean, becoming a sought-after trainer and brand ambassador for Celsius, Panatta Equipment, and Melin. He has partnered with top brands such as Reebok, Under Armour, and Adidas and been featured in Men’s Health, Runner’s World, and Shape Magazine.
Beyond training, Kenny is the creator of STRONG New York, NYC’s premier health and fitness expo. He also owns The Strength Club in NYC and NJ. Kenny believes that getting strong can change the world, and he lives the Strong New York lifestyle daily—continuing to push boundaries, test himself, and inspire others to do the same.
Brynn Scarborough is an accomplished executive with two decades of leadership experience in the fitness, wellness, and technology spaces, most recently serving as the President and CEO of JK Products & Services. Under her guidance, the company expanded into new wellness markets, championed innovation for lifestyle and elevated health, and drove growth for leading brands such as Planet Fitness and Massage Envy. Brynn’s leadership seamlessly blends strategic business acumen with a commitment to creating impactful, customer-focused experiences across the fitness, spa, and salon industries.
Furthering her mission, Brynn recently launched Alchemy Leadership Lab, an innovative platform that redefines career development. The Lab offers Whole Human Solutions for leaders and enterprises, integrating wellness, leadership training, and enterprise innovation to help individuals and organizations thrive. Through this transformative initiative, Brynn is enabling meaningful change, equipping leaders to excel, and redefining the future of professional success.
Greg Scheinman is The Founder & CEO of Midlife Male Ventures, the fastest growing newsletter & media platform for Midlife Men and the brands that want to reach them. He is also a best selling author, speaker and Lifestyle Coach to High Performing men, He is a former partner at Insgroup, acquired by BRP (NASDAQ) and the founder and former CEO of Team Baby Entertainment, acquired by Michael Eisner of Disney. He was also the founder and CEO of ROW Studios, and producer of two successful feature films, Greg has been featured in numerous publications including The Wall Street Journal, Men’s Health & The New York Times. He's won the D10 Decathlon 2x, competed in HYROX 3x and completed 29029 Everesting 3x and going back for his 4th this summer. Most importantly, he’s a husband and father.
A customer-centric and visionary senior executive and leader, Mr. Jeff Zwiefel has 30+ years in the Health, Fitness and Wellness industry, and a demonstrable record of delivering strong operational and financial results. A disciplined and passionate leader, he has significantly contributed to the industry, and played a pivotal role in the evolution, diversification, and growth of Life Time, the nation’s premier healthy lifestyle brand.
Zwiefel joined Life Time, Inc. (LTH) in 1999 in a business development role, and is currently its President and Chief Operating Officer. During his almost 25 year tenure, he served as key catalyst in the evolution/ growth of the Life Time brand from that of a health club operator to a comprehensive Healthy Way of Life Company.
As President & COO (2013 – present), Zwiefel consistently drives operational alignment, accountability, and execution enterprise-wide, along with the creation of strong, collaborative field and corporate partnerships. Instrumental in enhancing user experiences/satisfaction across all locations by leading development and launch of healthy lifestyle related content, he has continued driving center membership growth and total revenue.
Zwiefel contributed to the industry's evolution, and maintained/enhanced a competitive edge (circumventing emerging health and wellness boutiques’ dilution of high commercial operators’ revenue) through a programming revolution in 2017 that improved programs’ content, delivery, execution, and the customer experience. He paved the way for expanded diversification supporting LTM’s Live/Work/Play pillars of growth; achieved technology platform advancement, and successfully navigated through the Covid epidemic.
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