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Meet Mark Madole of Studio Fit Performance in North Dallas

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Madole.

Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
I’ve been active in the Fitness, Performance and Gym industry since 1984. Over the past 30 years I’ve been honored to hold the titles of Nike Athlete, Strength Coach, Personal Trainer, Gym Owner and Author. I’ve traveled the country, training and educating teams, coaches, personal trainers and other industry professionals, and out of all the things I’ve done and accomplished, I’ve never been as excited as I am with my new gym: Studio Fit Performance. I’ve gone down many roads and have been fortunate enough to have a lot of positive experiences, but I have always enjoyed building something that hasn’t been built yet and a being part of a dynamic team. These two things are a big part of the foundation and culture at Studio Fit Performance, which is my 4thgym, and by far the most progressive and exciting training environment that I’ve ever been a part of. One of the most important things I’ve learned over the years is that no ONE SIZE FITS ALL in the gym business. The facility, the layout, the equipment, the members, the trainers, every element matters.

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Studio Fit Performance is actually a reboot, and as we know from Hollywood, sequels aren’t always a good thing and can often come up short compared to the original. “The Studio” Fitness & Performance Training, founded back in the 90’s, was the original and Studio Fit Performance, the sequel, is an old brand with fresh ideas. The Studio Fitness & Performance Training actually gave a lot of fitness professional’s their start in industry, and we’re proud to see the work that they’ve gone on to do. So when this new venture started we knew we had to break the mold and set a new standard in fitness, training and gym environment.

We are very much a hidden GEM/GYM. When you pull into the parking lot it’s easy to overlook us as we don’t have any signage just yet. This means that everyone that walks through the doors has heard about us and has sought us out, which keeps us humbled and makes us feel even more special. We don’t have a huge marketing budget, actually we don’t really put money into marketing at all. You can see our marketing budget put to work inside of the gym. It’s in the new equipment we’re continuously adding, the strength of the relationships that we build and the small gestures of support that we offer clients such as bottled water, hair ties, bobby pins, deodorant, etc. Some of these things may seem like minor courtesies, but we’ve found they are things most often forgotten by clients, and in the moment when they need them, mean the most.

Being that we’re small, we don’t have the big box gym features such as saunas, pools, locker rooms, excessive cardio equipment, towel service, TVs, etc and while we know that these are things that some gym goes seek out, they aren’t always what makes a gym special. And to the right people, we ARE special.

As with any new business, there are growing pains, especially before opening day. We went through issues with construction, lighting changes, meter issues, water issues but we didn’t let that stop us. We’re lucky to have a great staff of trainers and support that were there late nights and early mornings to make sure things came together. We even had trainers that helped lay flooring, build our website, mop up flooding, shop for equipment and supplies, and more.

There were ideas, plans and ventures along the way that didn’t come to fruition or have the outcome we initially thought it would. But with each challenge has come growth, a better sense of our purpose and a more cohesive team. We are thankful for those that have believed in us, stuck with us and supported us.

Tell us about your business/company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others? 

We specialize in PEOPLE! We believe that success has to be about the people. Our commitment is to the trainers that train here and the members that workout here. From our trainers to our members, people are always at the forefront of what we do and who we are.

It’s really not about what the business can offer. The reason why Studio Fit Performance is able to offer so much and cater to so many is because of the people we bring in. With the trainers and coaches we bring in, we look for drive, commitment and energy that fits our environment. The trainers provide the disciplines, expertise and talent that makes up our training options in health, wellness and performance.

You’ll see a dynamic mix of clients, athletes, trainers and coaches from general fitness and weight loss, to sports performance at the high school, collegiate, pro and Olympic levels. We even open our doors to local teams to host training camps or workout with one of our certified trainers. In addition to general fitness, we have athletes in track & field, power lifting, wrestling, football, basketball, cheerleading, bodybuilding & fitness competitors, local aerialists and more that train here on a weekly basis. It’s invigorating to have such a variety of clients, athletes, coaches, trainers and fitness specialists under one roof.

 

What Sets Us Apart From Others: 

When we started putting plans together for Studio Fit Performance, we thought about everything we’d want in a perfect gym and that’s what we delivered. Big features in a small package, but packed with personality and expertise. Being small is what makes us special! We are a safe, friendly and inviting gym space for everyBODY. Everyone knows everyone and you can always count on a friendly smile and warm welcome when you arrive. We took on the challenge of creating a space that enhanced the positive aspects of fitness and gym life, while combating the unhealthy trends that impact members mentally and physically.  We recognize what discourages people from attending a gym or stops them from returning and finishing their journey, and we are FIXING that. We are a gym for everyBODY and we want to give everyone a new chance and better experience to develop the best versions of themselves. So much great energy under one roof!

Four of the key things that set us apart from other gyms are our:

  1. The trainers, teams and groups that call us home! The amazing lineup includes:
  • Rock Steady Boxing ran by trainers Austen and Mallory Spoonts. They offer classes specifically designed for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease to help them fight the effects of the disease to the body and reclaim their fitness.
  • General Fitness, Weight loss Stength & Conditioning and Fitness Contest Prep from God’s Will Fitness, Terry Pruitt Fitness, Phyzique Bootcamp, Koach Keith, Andre Azevado, Controlled Fitness, DeAndre the Great, Clifton, Chance, and Andre DeCastro.
  • FlexyFit/Aerial Ashletes. Offers glute camps and training in flexibility, mobility, and aerial fitness.
  • Sports Performance and student-athlete development: HSSA Football, Bright Horizons’s Athletic teams, Coach Mac’s Linemen Academy, Fred Wood’s Track.
  1. Signature wall. This unique wall has a big impact on those that have walked through our doors. You’ll find signatures from members and guests, inspirational quotes, encouraging messages and more!
  2. Respect Row. As soon as you walk through the doors, you’ll look up and notice our flags hanging proud.  This centerpiece signifies our respect and commitment to helping Veterans reclaim mobility, flexibility and fitness.
  3. Family! Mark is a father of 5 and a devoted husband. You always see his wife and kids here at the gym working or dropping in to say hi! Many of our other trainers have families that are heavily involved in the gym. We even have a few training couples that both train here or are involved in other areas of gym support. We also have entire families that work out here with various trainers, from the kids to the parents. We are big on family!

What we are most proud of is our environment, team and the gym culture we’ve created. From professional athletes to industry legends, you never know who you’ll see in the gym each day. We are so thankful for all of these people that stop in to say hi and/or get a workout in.

How do you, personally, define success? What’s your criteria, the markers you’re looking out for, etc?
Success for Studio Fit Performance is in seeing our members achieve their health, fitness and wellness goals, seeing our athletes achieve their performance goals and seeing our trainers build and thrive in their businesses.

Pricing:

  • Single adult membership $40+ tax ($30 if you train with one of the SFP trainers)
  • Student (13+) $20 +tax
  • Drop-in $10 +tax

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Ashley Robinson

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