excited to take over and continue to
expand on that solid foundation.
They also try to do their best with
community events. “There are so
many things that happen in a small
town,” Ben shared. “We always want
to be there for our families. We’ve
seen so many kids grow up in the
community. We want to continue
what we’ve started in providing
great things for them.”
As they prepared to transition own-
ership of the club from Dusty to Ben,
they tried to keep a low profile about it,
with no plans of publicizing it. But in a
small town, where everyone knows your
business, word got around. Ben says
that everyone in the community has
been so supportive. Dusty had been
a part of the Gold’s Gym Albemarle
community for over 15 years and Ben
has been there now for 9!
On staff, they have amassed an incredi-
ble team over the years. Ben says
that his leadership style is based on
relationships. He shared, “No matter
what your business is, employees
do not care what you know until they
know you care about them.” To Ben,
it’s just as important to know how their
day is going and how they are doing
as a person, as it is to know how they
are doing their job. He wants people
to grow and develop, even if their job
won’t be their forever job. With 85%
of the staff being college students
working part-time, it’s important to
make the work environment a positive
experience. And that carries over to
the members. He challenges his front
desk staff when they come in for their
shift to be the best front desk person
they can be for the next five hours!
He tells them, “The next person who
comes in and signs up at Gold’s Gym
Albemarle could be a new dentist and
one day will appreciate how you treated
them and remember you when you
apply for a job with them.”
Ben is proud to note that Gold’s Gym
Albemarle has such a strong staff,
including several who have been on
staff 6+ years, that it becomes fun to
come to work every day with those who
wind up becoming a second family.
For instance, one employee, Maddison,
began at the gym when she was just
20
16 and through high school, college, and even for a short time after,
worked at the gym as much as she could. Ben literally was able to see
her enjoy a small going away party before college and even one before
her wedding this past winter as she moved away.
As Ben expresses, you build relationships with people and as time goes
by and they leave, you end up invited to their weddings or other special
events. The relationships live on and some last a lifetime.
The members are also incredible. Ben remembers when he first started
working at the club how he would take a morning break and shoot bas-
ketball with a couple of the guys that were members. After 8 years, the
same core group of guys come in every morning at 8:00 to play basketball.
Ben still joins them, and the group has even grown. Some of them have
become his best friends.
There is another member who is in his late 70’s. He uses a cane but
comes in for a stint around their walking track. You can hear his laughter
when he is in the gym. He makes sure to talk to every other member
and employee in the gym. He is such an inspiration to all of them,
losing over 50 pounds in six months.