Journey Fitness Center
Small business ownership and management is a full-time job, and then some. Exceeding customer expectations, providing vision and direction, and ensuring that operations are running effectively are just a few of the priorities to balance in order to achieve success. Amid putting out the daily fires and keeping the business on track, planning and goal setting sometimes get short shrift. Mary Hall, co-owner and manager of Journey Fitness Center and its multiple locations, was in exactly that predicament until she turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at Daytona State College (FSBDC at DSC), a sub-center of the FSBDC at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF), and took advantage of its no-cost, expert consulting and its Growth XChange program.
Journey Fitness Center is not your ordinary gym or health club. With four locations across Volusia County, two in New Smyrna Beach and two in South Daytona, it offers three different fitness concepts to meet a wide range of customer preferences. “Let me tell you about our three concepts,” Hall says proudly. “We have an amazing 24-hour club down in New Smyrna Beach where you can work out 24/7/365, at your convenience. We have two group facilities in New Smyrna and South Daytona with the most dynamic classes available; think power yoga; think strength and conditioning; even boxing. We also have a private personal training studio where you can feel completely comfortable working out exclusively with your trainer.”
As successful as Hall has been over the last eight years since her company first opened, she wanted to continuously improve and focus on growing her businesses. To do so, she connected with the FSBDC for one-on-one consulting but also found peer-to-peer coaching through the FSBDC’s Growth XChange. Comprised of a cohort of 10 -12 small business owners, the Growth XChange offers a confidential setting for top executives to discuss vital business issues, opportunities, and trends with a group of peers led by a trained facilitator. The meetings provide members with the opportunity to broaden their business perspective and gain new knowledge by engaging in collaborative thinking and problem-solving – giving them the ability to more effectively lead their companies.
“One of the services I have used at Daytona State College and the SBDC is the Growth XChange,” Hall testifies. “It’s a group of business owners – local business owners – that come together once a month for round table talks and for finding business solutions. It’s a great way to not only network but to get problems solved in your business. I’ve had such a great time meeting other business owners, lots of them in business much longer than I have been, and I have gained so much from their wisdom and experience. It’s been quite amazing!”
“One of the biggest benefits I have gotten from the Growth XChange is greater accountability on my part,” Hall recalls. “It’s what I was looking for in a mentorship and my mentor Trecia Arrington (FSBDC at DSC consultant and sub-service center director) has been invaluable every step of the way. Trecia has helped me set annual and quarterly goals and then we check on them monthly to make sure we are reaching them. It has been a big game changer for my business.”
“My experience with the SBDC has been nothing short of amazing,” Hall concluded. “And my time in the Growth XChange has been miraculous. In 2024 my revenue was up 11% and a lot of that has to do with goal setting with Trecia. It has been a great thing to help me change direction. I can’t imagine all the things I’ve learned over the past two years at the SBDC and in the Growth XChange and I’m looking forward to learning more.”
For information about JOURNEY FITNESS CENTER, please visit https://journeyfitnesscenter.com/
