HALO Talks

In today's Fast Break we're excited to bring you (a snippet) of our panel discussion at the recent Athletech Innovators Summit held in NYC, July 2025. Integrity Square Founder and HALO Talks host Pete Moore moderated a panel with Mark Federico (CEO of Fitness Holdings/Crunch Fitness) and Terry Blachek (Orange Theory Fitness) for a deep dive into the real-world challenges—and strategies—of scaling fitness franchises. Mark Federico’s Growth Playbook Mark walked us through his journey, from running a nine-club independent brand to leading a 50+ club Crunch Fitness operation across 10 states. He shed light on the big question: Build new locations (greenfields) or buy existing ones (acquisitions)? He shared the calculus behind each approach, breaking down real cost factors and explaining why “development space” is critical for franchisees. Franchise Valuation—Not All Clubs Are Created Equal Many single-gym owners want “big company” multiples, but Mark explained why scale, growth runway, and strategic value make