HALO Talks: Elevating Wellness

In this episode of HALO Talks, host Pete Moore catches up with good friend and industry veteran Rich Novelli, marking his second appearance on the show. With over 40 years in the HALO space, Rich shares how he's now turning his focus from traditional health clubs to the rapidly-growing world of corporate wellness.

He discusses how his new platform, Alegria Wellness, leverages tech and personalized coaching to drive higher employee participation—especially in small and underserved businesses. Novelli explains why simply offering discounted gym memberships just isn't enough, how accountability and personal connection make all the difference, and what companies can do to create healthier, more engaged teams.

Whether you're a business leader, HALO sector professional, or just passionate about corporate wellness programs, this conversation offers fresh ideas on boosting both individual and organizational performance.

On empowering smaller businesses, Rich states, "I am targeting these smaller scale companies because that's where I feel the underserved market is at this point. It's getting with these small companies and really making a difference in an impact."

Key themes discussed

• Growth of corporate wellness sector and market projections.
• Importance of personalized coaching for employee wellness.
• Challenges with low health club participation rates.
• Leveraging tech and apps for scalable wellness programs.
• Targeting underserved small businesses with wellness solutions.
• Team building and increased employee engagement through challenges.
• Removing barriers: Affordability, participation, and personalization.

A Few Key Takeaways:

1.Corporate Wellness Is No Longer "Nice to Have"—It's Essential: Novelli highlights how the convergence of technology and corporate culture has pushed employee wellness from a "fringe" benefit to a strategic necessity. The sector is rapidly growing, with market projections to hit $25 billion in the next five years.

2. Small Businesses Are an Underserved Market: Most corporate wellness solutions target large organizations, but Rich is focusing on smaller companies (5–300 employees), arguing they need accessible, scalable wellness programs. His app-based platform, Alegria Wellness (powered by Nuvita), is designed specifically for this demographic.

3. Participation Is Key—And Personalized Coaching Drives It: Traditional health club memberships often yield low participation (only ~10%), but Novelli is aiming for 30–40% by leveraging both personalized coaching and tech. The program includes exercise, nutrition, stress management, socialization, and uses a blend of digital tools and personal touch to keep users engaged.

4: Team Building and Engagement Creates ROI: Wellness programs can be gamified for small teams, with six-week challenges that foster team spirit and healthy competition. These short-term commitments help boost engagement and can lead to growing participation rates, delivering meaningful ROI for employers beyond just health metrics.

5. Personalized, Hands-On Approach Removes Barriers: Rich stresses the need for tailored coaching and accountability, adapting to individual needs whether or not employees use a health club. His system also removes the heavy lifting for companies—providing marketing materials, analytics, and all necessary support—making wellness both affordable and easy to implement, especially for businesses without a dedicated HR department.

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In this episode of HALO Talks, host Pete Moore sits down with Reka Gobis from Kisaco Research. They discuss how their Connected Health & Fitness Conference is evolving to bring together industry leaders—from boutique gyms and major brands like Nike and Adidas, to healthcare giants like Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. They discuss the importance of creating actionable, science-backed insights and meaningful connections in an intimate setting, all designed to help operators deliver tech-enabled solutions and drive real change in the HALO sector.

If you're looking for fresh ideas, strategic partnerships, and inspiration for 2026 and beyond, this episode is a great guide to why you should be at next year's Connected event in LA on Feb 18-20!

Gobis states, "At Kisako, and especially at our Connected event, we focus on content all of which is based in hours and hours of research with the industry and most importantly the primary market. The gyms, boutiques, wellness clubs, hotels, spas, longevity clinics we spoke to . . . are based on the key challenges that they are experiencing in the industry, and what we're trying to do over the year is find potential solutions to these key challenges."

Key themes discussed

• Evolution of the Connected Health & Fitness Conference.
• Integrating the health, wellness, fitness, and technology sectors.
• Senior-level industry attendance and networking opportunities.
• Science-backed, actionable conference content and research.
• Partnerships between operators, brands, and healthcare providers.
• Dedicated focus on women's health and longevity.
• Emphasis on community, member experience, and practical takeaways.

A Few Key Takeaways:

1.Evolution and Focus of the Connected Event: Rika explained how the Connected Health & Fitness event has evolved over seven years, expanding beyond just connected fitness to now fully encompass health, wellness, fitness, and tech. The goal is to create an ecosystem that enables operators to deliver science-backed, holistic, and tech-enabled solutions for the industry.

2. High-Level Attendees and Diverse Ecosystem: One of the distinctive aspects of the event is its seniority of attendees—50-60% are C-level executives. The audience isn't limited to traditional fitness operators but also includes hotels, spas, healthcare providers (like Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic), insurance, pharma, and big brands like Nike and Adidas. This diversity encourages powerful partnerships and networking across adjacent industries.

3. Research-Driven, Actionable Content: The programming is based on extensive industry research, focusing on real, current challenges faced by operators, boutiques, hotels, and clinics. The format emphasizes rapid-fire, specific sessions (typically 20-30 minutes) driven by data and science, not just generic panel discussions. Rika personally ensures all sessions deliver tangible ROI and actionable takeaways.

4. Special Emphasis on Emerging Topics: Women's Health & Longevity: A unique aspect of the 2026 event is a multi-hour Women's Health Symposium—a significant step up from the usual short panels—tackling issues like hormones, fertility, training around the menstrual cycle, and case studies from operators leading in this space. There's also a significant focus on longevity and how fitness operators can position themselves as preventive health "hubs" in partnership with healthcare.

5. Opportunities for Hands-On Learning, Networking & Fun: Attendees will have access to workshops, a workout room, media lounge for podcasts, workout/recovery pop-ups, and the chance to try the latest in equipment and wellness experiences. Rika guarantees not just actionable business insights, but meaningful connections and enjoyable experiences that can reshape attendees' strategic plans for 2026 and beyond.

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In this episode of HALO Talks, industry veteran CJ Bouchard opens up to host Pete Moore about the realities of entrepreneurship in the fitness industry, sharing candid stories of risk, resilience, and what it really means to build from the ground up. From betting his savings on a fledgling franchise in North Carolina and initially making daily two-hour commutes, to pivoting and learning tough lessons about club size, site selection, and market expansion, CJ reveals how grit, adaptability, and a clear mission have fueled Excel Fitness's phenomenal growth.

Planet Fitness (NYSE:PLNT) is one of the largest and fastest-growing operators of fitness centers in the U.S, and Excel Fitness Holdings is one of their largest franchisees currently operating 150+ clubs in Austin, Dallas/Ft Worth, Tulsa, Northwest Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Georgia, and Virginia. Their mission is to build a team culture and atmosphere constructed on trust, humility, and strong relationships, always leading by example and putting others first with the utmost integrity, dedication, and accountability.

Pete and CJ also dive into how partnering with private equity has transformed the business, what it takes to be a successful operator in today's market, what to expect when working with a PE firm, and the importance of building a strong team and community-driven approach. CJ also shares the meaning behind his "Hope is not a strategy" tattoo, and why execution—not wishful thinking—remains his guiding principle.

Whether you're a club owner, aspiring HALO sector entrepreneur, or curious about how major fitness brands expand, this episode is packed with actionable insights, real-world advice, and plenty of inspiration from one of the industry's top leaders.

Key themes discussed

1. Entrepreneurial journey and early struggles in fitness industry.
2. Evolution and disruption of the Planet Fitness business model.
3. Challenges involved in club building and expansion.
4. The critical importance of location for a gym's success.
5. Strategic growth: Acquisitions, private equity, and territory development.
6. Leadership style: Clarity, vision, and execution over hope.

A Few Takeaways:

1. Entrepreneurial Grit & Humble Beginnings: Bouchard started in the fitness industry as a personal trainer without a college degree, working in Connecticut's gym scene and grinding through tough times. He didn't take a paycheck for two years and put payroll on credit cards when launching his first Planet Fitness in North Carolina. Real entrepreneurship often means sacrifice, resilience, and relentless commitment.

2. Evolution from "Hardcore" Gyms to Disrupting the Market: CJ's transition from traditional gyms (Gold's, World Gym, etc.) to Planet Fitness highlights a change in business philosophy. It went from focusing on "results" to focusing on "access." He recognized Planet's disruptive model early on, betting on a concept that many were skeptical about and ultimately building one of the largest Planet Fitness area development companies in the country.

3. Importance of Site Selection and Operational Knowledge: Both Bouchard and Moore emphasized how crucial it is to understand the nuances of real estate, site selection, and the operational details of running clubs. The value of personally touring sites and knowing the history and layout of each location is essential. Software and reports can't replace firsthand experience.

4. Strategic Growth: Mergers, Acquisitions & Private Equity: Under CJ, Excel Fitness strategically expanded through acquiring clubs, merging with other operators, and partnering with private equity (Olympus Partners.) CJ shared how growth now includes both new club development and acquisitions of existing gyms (like Texas Family Fitness), always with an eye on preserving legacy and community as much as possible.

5. Culture, Team, and Values: CJ's leadership philosophy stresses execution, daily engagement in operations, and a moral compass focused on building communities through fitness. His tattoo "Hope Is Not a Strategy" clearly shows his belief in preparation and action, not relying on luck. He also spoke passionately about valuing long-term employees and creating opportunities for others in the organization.

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In this episode of HALO Talks, host Pete Moore sits down with long-time friend and industry veteran Tom Muller, owner of Elevate Fitness in Syracuse, NY. With roots that stretch back to the Gold's Gym days, Tom shares his journey through decades of shifting trends, club expansions, and the pivotal decision to rebrand and tech-enable his business for the modern member experience. From innovative fitness programming and thriving tennis and swim programs to the impact of major local investments like Micron and Amazon, Tom reveals the strategies that have kept Elevate thriving in a stable, but fiercely competitive market.

Tom has always focused on building strong programming for his clubs. Under his guidance, both locations have developed powerful personal training programs and dynamic group exercise offerings. Group X classes, including yoga and Pilates, are a highlight, and Tom even launched a dedicated Pilates studio for reformer sessions. As fitness trends changed, he also transitioned away from spinning classes, transforming that area into a personal training studio and expanding turf areas.

Whether you're a fitness entrepreneur, club owner, or just passionate about the HALO sector, you'll find plenty of actionable insights in what Tom has gone through. Stay tuned for a deep dive into leadership, community, and the evolving future of fitness in Upstate New York!

Regarding keeping clubs relevant Muller states, "I think we've done a decent job of keeping our capex up, staying relevant, and having the clubs new. I mean they're built in the 70's! And I don't think when you walked in you probably didn't think you were going back in the 70's."

Key themes discussed

• Club evolution and facility repurposing.
• Strength training's resurgence in fitness trends.
• Member-focused tech and software upgrades.
• Layered memberships and revenue strategies.
• Impact of local economic developments (Micron, Amazon.)
• Tennis and swim programming excellence.
• Real estate ownership and long-term club investment.

A Few Key Takeaways:

1. Club Evolution & Adaptability: Tom shares his story from Gold's Gym to Elevate and explains how adapting the club's facilities (converting tennis and racquetball courts to new amenities, etc) has been key to staying current with industry trends and maintaining relevance in the community.

2. Focus on Programming & Membership Layers: A strong emphasis is placed on diverse programming: Personal training, Group X classes, Pilates, yoga, and more. Tom also highlights the move to layered memberships, allowing for upselling and greater value for members, especially through services like recovery centers.

3. Leveraging Technology: Switching to an integrated platform like Zenoti streamlined operations, combined all member-facing tech under one roof, and has allowed Tom and his team to better track member behavior, manage layered memberships, offer targeted promotions, and drive revenue more efficiently.

4. Real Estate Ownership as a Strategic Advantage: Owning the club real estate provides flexibility for ongoing capital improvements. Muller underscores how continuous investment in capex helps keep the clubs up-to-date and competitive, especially crucial in a stable but slowly evolving market like Syracuse.

5: Strength in Tennis, Swimming, and Community Roots: Tom mentioned that tennis and swim programming are extremely stable parts of the business, with strong staff and high-quality instruction leading to waiting lists despite competition. Tom's approach is to "grow where you're planted," mastering the local market and building deep community ties rather than spreading too thin or constantly pursuing greener pastures.

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Excited to share highlights from this week's HALO Talks FastBreak featuring Kaitlin Miller from Court Kings. A level 5 player herself, Kaitlin and Pete dive deep into the rapid growth of pickleball and how Court Kings innovative court solutions are shaping the industry—especially for health and fitness facilities.

3 key takeaways: