Family Affair
Continued from page 25
2016 Issue 3 | GearedUp
capacity and was instrumental in our last grand opening in
Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Our son-in-law, married to our second
daughter, Elizabeth, worked in one of our locations in New York
before we sold them.”
For Victor and Lynne Brick, a company built on the family
name led the couple to explore Planet Fitness. “Although we had
been in the fitness industry since 1985 with our own brand, Brick
Bodies, we were tired of competing with everyone else for the
same 15 percent of the population – the fit 15 percent. We were
looking for something that appealed to the ‘other 85 percent,’ or
the ‘deconditioned’ market,” said Victor Brick.
After nine years and 43 clubs, the Bricks have taken the
meaning of family business to a whole new level. “Lynne and I
have always been partners in the business. However, we never
thought our daughter, Vicki, would follow us into the business,”
said Brick, CEO of Planet Fitness Growth Partners, LLC. “She
played basketball at the University of Maryland and overseas
in Australia and the Philippines, and we thought she would get
into sports broadcasting or something of that nature. But, upon
returning from Australia, she decided to give sales a try at one
of our Brick Bodies clubs and was surprised at how much she
loved it.
26
Vicki Brick,
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After playing bask
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The family
connections go
far beyond Victor
and Lynne, the
corporate culture
director. Terry
Woods serves as
a partner and
The Ryders
joined Planet
board director,
Fitness afte
the brand w
r finding
h
ile visiting
while his
friends in F
lo
rida.
brother, Jerry,
is partner and COO of
PFGP, LLC. Partner Chris Cavolo is the COO for Seattle
and Tennessee, and Cavolo’s brother, Chuck, also is a partner.
Glenn Norris is a partner and the CFO of PFGP, LLC, and his son
is the senior accountant. Victor’s brother, Merrill, is director of
Member Services. Lynne’s sister, LeeAnn Hartman, is an account
rep in the accounting department, and her husband, Rich, serves
as the company’s human resources director.
Ken and Sharree Ryder operated a World Gym in northern
Virginia for 15 years before stumbling on Planet Fitness while
visiting friends in Florida. Today, the Ryders, including children
Mike and Amanda, operate clubs in Virginia Beach. With such
diverse skill sets, PF allows each person to apply what they do
well to different roles and work toward individual objectives, but
with a common goal. “There’s a level of trust and understanding
we have with each other that only comes from being a family.
It’s a different bond that goes beyond the walls of the business,”
explained Sharree Ryder. “We talk frequently about wanting
to leave a positive legacy behind, and we all know that we are
working together toward that one common goal.”
With the future in mind, Bryan and Laura Reif took a “divide
and conquer” approach to rapid expansion alongside business
partner Pete Hopkins. With locations in Michigan and Ohio built
over eight years as franchisees, Bryan oversees real estate and
development and Laura heads up operations, while Hopkins
handles finance and accounting for PF Michigan Group. One day,
the Reifs hope to work alongside their own children.
“Planet Fitness is a phenomenal franchise model, which
has serious staying power if we keep innovating and continue to
stay ahead of competition. With 10-year franchise terms and two
10-year extensions, it’s not hard to see our daughters finding a
role in our business in the years to come,” said Bryan Reif.
Beyond a b right future, Planet Fitness affords families the
quality of life many are seeking for their children and employees.
The ability to control your schedule and spend time with people
who love and support you is a unique benefit to family businesses. “Time is the one resource in shortest supply in our
lives. We don’t take it for granted that we still are spending
time together while working in a business we’re passionate to
manage,” said Bryan Reif.
“PF offers a great return, as well as quality of life, with most
weekends off. It allows us to schedule time for family outings and
vacations together,” added Arizona franchisee Steve Thomas.