Submit your ideas for
neighbors
neighbors
to [email protected]
6 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
Jeff and Gina Mortman
Owners of Gold’s Gym in Totowa thank those who serve their country
WRITTEN BY LIAM QUINN PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE-MARIE CARUSO
JEFF ORIGINALLY JOINED THE GYM
AS A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION.
Jeff served in the Marines for 16
years. He was always in shape when
he was in the Marines, but after he
retired from active duty, he began
to gain weight. He joined Gold’s
Gym on January 1, 2012. Within six
months of joining, he lost 80 pounds.
“I totally got into the gym and the
new way of life,” he says.
He wasn’t always happy there —
he left the gym twice — but kept
coming back. “The thing that brought
me back was the members,” says Jeff.
THE MORTMANS BOUGHT THE GYM
IN JULY 2017, FIVE YEARS AFTER
THEY JOINED AS MEMBERS.
“We just loved the gym,” Jeff says.
“We loved the bones of it, we loved
the members.” But the facility was
getting older, and the previous own-
ers were looking to retire. So, Jeff
and Gina stepped in. “We had the
opportunity to do it, and so we did
it,” Jeff says.
After buying the gym, they reno-
vated the entire facility. “We had a
vision of what the gym could be,”
Gina says. “It’s like our third baby.”
12
BACK TO SCHOOL 2019 WAYNE MAGAZINE
GOLD FOR GOLD’S Jeff and Gina Mortman
celebrate ownership of their gym.
JEFF AND GINA HONOR VETERANS
AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
As a veteran and a business owner,
Jeff makes sure to look out for those
who have also served. “We have a
love affair for what we call heroes,”
Jeff says. “Our heroes are police, fire,
EMT, military.” The gym has mem-
bership deals for service members
and first responders that offer dis-
counted rates for active personnel.
During the 2018-19 federal
government shutdown, the couple
waived all membership fees for
government employees for as long
as they weren’t getting paid.
The couple also gives back. They
recently held their second charity car
show, where all of the money raised
went to the Semper Fi Fund. The
Semper Fi Fund provides financial
assistance and lifetime support for
wounded and ill post-9/11 combat
veterans and their families.
“Whatever we can do (to help
veterans), we just do it,” Jeff says.
“We love them,” adds Gina.
THE GYM ALLOWED GINA TO GO
BACK TO WORK.
Gina had been a buyer and design-
er in the fashion industry before
her kids were born. Then, she was
a stay-at-home mom for years until
she decided she was ready to go back
to work. That is when she and Jeff
purchased the gym. Gina currently
works in various roles; one of her
responsibilities is running the gym’s
social media accounts.
THE MORTMANS RUN A FAMILY
BUSINESS.
For 14 years, Jeff worked for
his family’s mechanical contractor
business. They sold that company
in 2016, and soon after purchased
the Totowa gym. Jeff has stuck with
the theme of a family business. The
Mortmans’ two kids both work at
the gym, doing various things to help
out. “We are a true, family-owned,
local business,” Jeff says.
Gina wants their members to feel
like they are part of that family. “We
want everyone to walk in our doors
and feel 100 percent welcome,” she
says.
THEY ARE NORTH JERSEY THROUGH
AND THROUGH.
Jeff and Gina met in Maywood
while out with friends. The two have
been together for 20 years, and mar-
ried for 17. For a while they lived
in Sussex County, but eventually
decided to move. “It was too slow
for us,” Jeff jokes.
They settled on Wayne, where they
have now lived for eight years. ■
F
or Jeff and Gina Mortman,
fitness is a way of bringing
people together. The Wayne
couple co-own Gold’s Gym
in Totowa, and they pride
themselves on making it a place for
everyone — especially those who
have served their country in the
government and military. Here are
six things to know about them.