On this episode of HALO Talks, host Pete Moore sits down with Beverly Wolfer, Executive Director of Tina’s Wish, to dive into the critical topic of health literacy and the power of community-driven change. Beverly shares her journey from the world of consulting to the nonprofit sector, where she leads efforts toward early detection of ovarian cancer—a mission inspired by the legacy of Judge Tina Brozman.

Pete and Beverly explore how HALO sector leaders (health, active lifestyle, outdoors) can champion women’s health through partnership, awareness, and education. Beverly sheds light on the life-saving potential of spreading knowledge about ovarian cancer’s subtle symptoms, and explains how Tina’s Wish is building a powerful platform—“What to Know Down Below”—to bridge gaps in health literacy and empower women to advocate for themselves.

Listeners will also hear Beverly’s inspiring perspective on purposeful career pivots, the importance of giving back, and the deep meaning she finds in honoring her brother’s legacy through another nonprofit supporting American troops.

On 'solving herself' out of a job, she states, "My goal is for us to solve Tina Brozman's dying wish and to find an early detection. And I can't think of a better way to put on my next resume, you know, how to put myself out of a job. Because we solved the problem that we went into solving, right?!"

Key themes discussed

• Health literacy and gynecologic cancer awarenes.
• Importance of early detection for ovarian cancer.
• Tina’s Wish Foundation mission and impact.
• Community partnerships and fundraising in fitness spaces.
• Personal fulfillment in nonprofit career transitions.
• Honoring veterans and family legacies through service.

A few key takeaways:

1. Mission of Tina’s Wish-Early Detection for Ovarian Cancer: Tina’s Wish was founded in memory of Judge Tina Brozman, who passed away from late-diagnosed ovarian cancer. The foundation’s mission is to fund research to develop an early detection screen for ovarian cancer—a test that currently doesn’t exist. The foundation has raised $29 million since 2008, fueling innovation and bringing hope closer to reality.

2. The Power of Health Literacy and Community Education: Beverly emphasized the importance of health education, especially about gynecologic cancers and women’s health. Her organization’s “What to Know Down Below” platform and podcast series empowers women to recognize symptoms and advocate for themselves, literally saving lives through awareness and knowledge.

3. Partnership Opportunities for Health and Fitness Communities: Tina’s Wish is seeking collaborations with fitness clubs, yoga studios, and wellness businesses. Ways to get involved include co-branding materials, distributing educational decals (such as in locker room bathrooms), and participating in turnkey fundraising events—making it easy for organizations to support the cause and educate their communities.

4. Running a Nonprofit: Purpose and Professional Fulfillment: Beverly’s transition from the corporate world to nonprofit leadership was driven by a desire for purpose. While the daily work still involves tasks like HR and accounting, knowing her efforts are mission-driven makes a profound difference. She shared that her ultimate goal is to “put herself out of a job” by solving the very problem her organization was founded to address.

5. Honoring Personal Legacy and Service: Beyond her role at Tina’s Wish, Beverly runs a foundation in memory of her brother, a Jewish American soldier killed in Iraq. Her family focuses on education, awareness, and meaningful care packages for deployed soldiers, highlighting both the personal impact of service and the ongoing need to keep memories and lessons from the past alive.

Resources:

• Beverly Wolfer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverly-wolfer-nerenberg-38749467
• Tina's Wish: https://tinaswish.org
• What To Know Down Below podcast: https://tinaswish.org/whattoknow
• Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com
• Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com
• HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com

On this episode of HALO Talks, host Pete Moore sits down with Tony Reed—a longtime marathoner, accomplished CPA, grandfather, and passionate advocate for healthier communities. Tony shares his journey that initially began with a childhood diagnosis of pre-diabetes and grew into a lifelong commitment to fitness. He discusses how running not only changed his own life, helping him avoid diabetes, and chronic disease, but also inspired him to support others, particularly within the African American community, through education and community-building.

Tony details the beginning of the National Black Marathoners Association, the myths they aim to dispel, and the training and sustainability programs they've launched over the past 20 years. He also talked about the organization's impact—including producing documentaries and creating a nationwide network of running clubs—and offers solid advice for anyone looking to balance a demanding career with a purpose-driven mission. Whether you’re a runner, a club owner, or an advocate for healthier, more inclusive communities, Tony’s story and insights are absolutely worth your time!

When it comes to starting up clubs, Reed states, "We've encouraged our members to get their coaching certifications either through the Roadrunners Club of America or USA Track and Field. Then once they get their certifications, for example, they could partner with a health club, and within that health club, they can actually have a distance running club."

Key themes discussed

• Diabetes prevention and health through running.
• Overcoming myths about African Americans in distance running.
• Founding and mission of Black Marathoners Association.
• Importance of education, training, and sustainability.
• Partnerships with health clubs and coaches.
• Inspirational stories and role models in running.

A few key takeaways:

1. Personal Health Journey as a Catalyst
Tony was pre-diabetic as a child and was told he’d likely need insulin as a teen. Instead, through consistent physical activity, inspired by mandatory sports in school and Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s book "Aerobics," Tony committed to a lifelong goal—averaging three miles a day. Decades later, he's run over 51,000 miles and never needed insulin.

2. Turning Personal Motivation into Community Impact
Tony’s health transformation and running achievements led him to create a formal organization aimed at getting African Americans more involved in distance running. Sparked by community interest when he neared his 50th marathon, he turned his personal discipline into a mission and movement, focusing on education, training, and sustainability.

3. Dispelling Myths and Creating Representation
One of the association’s core pillars is education: Challenging the myths that African Americans are only sprinters and not suited to distance running. Tony and his organization have produced documentaries to showcase role models and share inspirational stories within the community.

4. Building Partnerships and Running Communities
The organization actively encourages members to get certified as running coaches and set up local running clubs—sometimes in partnership with health clubs. They provide role models, resource sharing, and opportunities to affiliate local clubs with the wider movement, enhancing retention and engagement in health clubs by helping members train toward collective race goals.

5. Impact and Legacy
Tony’s organization is a non-profit with free membership and has directly or indirectly influenced over a quarter million African Americans to get active. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the association continues to grow, foster community, and provide platforms (like their annual summit) for sharing ideas and expanding their impact.

Resources:

• Tony Reed: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyreedcpa/
• National Black Marathoners Association: www.BlackMarathoners.org
• Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com
• Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com
• HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com

Hope you’re having a winning week! We’re back with this week’s 𝘍𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 and today we're focusing on a game-changing question that we get asked a lot at Integrity Square: When is the best time to sell?

Here are some things to keep in mind:

🏆 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
Just like in sports, the HALO space rewards winners. Brands and businesses that consistently outperform, scale effectively, and deliver more value to their members are the ones catching the eye of investors and securing higher valuations.

📈 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
Are things going well for your business after the challenges of recent years? Now might be the ideal time to think about your exit strategy. Selling when you’re on top—when revenues and EBITDA are strong—means you’re more likely to get a premium valuation. Don’t wait for another downturn when performance and prospects might dip.

🔄 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 = 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀
The best franchises (in any industry) have a repeatable playbook, a winning culture, and fans who stick around. Whether it’s jerseys sold or fitness memberships renewed, sustained excellence sets you apart—and attracts both area developers and investors.

💡𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀:

• Build and maintain a culture of consistent achievement.
• Track your performance, and recognize when you’re “winning.”
• If you’re considering selling, do it from a position of strength—not as a turnaround.

Go HALO!

Give us 10 hours of your time at the next HALO Academy starting Sept 8, 2025. Register at https://www.thehaloacademy.com now for $495 and earn a $100 gift card from our friends at Promotion Vault. Testimonials at https://www.thehaloacademy.com/testimonials

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Thanks to Promotion Vault and HigherDOSE for sponsoring. For 15% off products sitewide (excluding bundles, kits, and full saunas) use the code GOHALO at https://www.higherdose.com

𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗢 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴

This week we're finally at the ninth-inning in closing our deal.

We've gone through all the prior steps. . . club financials continue to perform and—against all odds (!) —every landlord signed their lease assignments. No last-minute disasters, no drama. (This never happens, but work with me for the sake of illustration. Ha)!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄, 𝗔𝗻𝘆𝘄𝗮𝘆?

All parties expecting cash are listed in a Funds Flow Excel sheet.

In this case, $3 million is set aside into an escrow account for two years, ready for any unforeseen surprises.

Equipment lenders (like Macrolease) get paid directly by the buyers, ensuring all liens are cleared before ownership fully transfers.

Every last closing cost—success fees, accountants, landlord payments—is disbursed.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝗽

With all wires sent and debts cleared, what’s left? A classic “tombstone” celebration for the team, and a HUGE sense of accomplishment.

These deals take a long time to close. . .anyone who says otherwise is lying (or doesn't truly know the space.) Our shortest deal in the history of ISQ took 60 days. Our longest? About 14 months.

Until next week—Go HALO!

We go into much more detail in the HALO Academy. Registration open now for our September cohort: https://www.thehaloacademy.com

In today's episode, host Pete Moore sits down with long-time friend and veteran health club entrepreneur, Marc Rothschild. From launching his first gym in 1995 to navigating the evolving landscape of the HALO (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoor) space, Marc shares his journey through the industry’s highs and lows—including insights gained through decades of club ownership, expansion, and his own, personal transformation.

The conversation dives deep into Marc’s shift from traditional gym operations to curating meaningful wellness experiences, like his transformative retreat in Costa Rica. Pete and Marc reflect on the power of disconnecting from daily anxiety, reframing self-care, and the importance of creating supportive communities—both inside and outside the gym.

Whether you’re a fitness professional, club owner, or someone in search of inspiration for your next chapter, this episode is packed with upfront wisdom, real talk about growth, and a look at what it means to both "lead and heal."

Key themes discussed

• Personal growth through fitness and mental health.
• Evolution from health club operations to wellness retreats.
• Mindfulness, meditation, and yoga as transformative tools.
• Importance of community and supportive environments.
• Embracing discomfort for personal development.
• Reframing life’s hardships into strength and compassion.

A few key takeaways:

1. Transformative Power of Retreats and Mindful Experiences: Marc shared how attending a retreat in Costa Rica was a huge turning point for him, both personally and professionally. He mentioned it challenged him physically and mentally, helping him disconnect from daily anxieties and reconnect with nature, mindfulness, and himself. He now feels pulled to curate similar experiences for others, focusing on true transformation rather than just a "typical" vacation.

2. Embracing Discomfort for Personal Growth: Marc emphasized growth comes from getting out of your comfort zone. Whether it's sharing a bungalow with strangers or pushing through physical pain during the retreat, stepping into discomfort allowed him and others to experience real change and build resilience.

3. Entrepreneurial Spirit vs. "Traditional" Employment: Throughout his career—from opening his first gym in 1995, partnering on joint ventures, to his current pursuits—Marc has always been a serial entrepreneur. He reflected on the importance of building a life and work style true to oneself, especially as he’s realized he thrives when running his own show versus working for someone else.

4. A Holistic Approach to Fitness, Health, and Recovery: Marc’s perspective on health over the years has shifted to a more holistic view. He talked about the importance of integrating modalities like yoga, Tabata, and strength training with mental and emotional well-being, clean nutrition, and recovery. He suggested that feeling your best is about making cumulative positive choices—what you eat, how you move, and how you care for your mind.

5. Community and Connection Versus "Just a Gym": Marc’s clubs (like Rock Creek Sports Club) have found success not just by offering fitness classes and equipment, but by fostering real community. They focus on culture, inclusivity, and kindness, attracting and retaining members who want support, encouragement, and genuine connection rather than just your "standard" gym experience.

Resources:

• Marc Rothschild: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-rothschild-84a31252
• Solluna Yoga Retreats: https://solluna.yoga
• Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com
• Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com
• HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com

In today's 𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗢 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝙁𝙖𝙨𝙩𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 we're excited to bring you another portion of our panel discussion at the recent Athletech News Innovators Summit held in NYC, July 2025.

Integrity Square Founder Pete Moore had the pleasure of moderating a panel with Mark Federico (CEO of Crunch Fitness CR Fitness Holdings, LLC) and Terry Blachek (Orangetheory Fitness) for a deep dive into the real-world challenges—and strategies—of scaling fitness franchises.

• M&A Is More Than Just Numbers: At its core, M&A is (also!) about “multiples and add-backs” 😉—understanding valuation drivers and how projecting future growth (and dealing with the inevitable aftershocks) can make or break a deal.
  
  
• The HALO Sector Has Transformed: Once dominated by just a few big players, the space is now segmented with unique opportunities (and risks) for each vertical. Brands like EoS, Vasa, and Fitness Connection may look new, but actually. . . many are evolutions of legacy Gold's clubs.
  
  
• Valuations: Investor sentiment is extremely strong right now, with leading brands commanding impressive multiples (EoS at 13x, Crunch corporate at 18x.) A diverse club portfolio across states also usually means higher valuation and more investor interest.

We encourage everyone to work hard to understand the bigger picture that's literally happening right now in health club M&A—beyond just the financials.💡

Want to learn more? (You should. Otherwise you're playing checkers while the rest of the industry plays chess.)

Give us 10 hours of your time at the next HALO Academy starting Sept 8, 2025. Register at https://www.thehaloacademy.com now for $495 and earn a $100 gift card from our friends at Promotion Vault. Testimonials at https://www.thehaloacademy.com/testimonials

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Thanks to Promotion Vault and HigherDOSE for sponsoring. For 15% off products sitewide (excluding bundles, kits, and full saunas) use the code GOHALO at https://www.higherdose.com