Franchisee Profile: Allen Lasky of Dallas, Texas

Name:  Allen Lasky

Location: Dallas, Texas

Q: Where are you from?

A: I am originally from Chicago but grew up in Wisconsin.  When I turned 18, I graduated and left to join the U.S. Air Force.  After I got out of the service, I moved to California and lived there for 13 years.  Then we got wise and moved to our final resting spot – the Great State of Texas.

Q: What was your career before franchising?

A: I have been in aviation my whole life.  I started as an aircraft electrician in the Air Force.  I stayed in aviation after I got out and did everything from working on engines to overhauling aircrafts.  After many years as a mechanic, I moved to quality control (QC) as an inspector and spent majority of my career in aviation in this role.  Incidentally, I have never worked for a large airline; I always worked for independent repair stations or aircraft manufacturers.

Q: Why did you decide to open your own business?

A: I always wanted to be in business for myself.  I looked into different concepts, such as video stores and ice cream shops, but I wasn’t really prepared to undertake those types of ventures while raising a family.   Plus, it was hard to imagine myself renting out DVD’s or scooping ice cream on a day-to-day basis. 

Then, two years ago, I went through a drastic transformation and found something I was passionate about.  I was 51 years old, weighed 230 pounds and was at 30% body fat.  The realization that I wasn’t in shape and aging terrified me, so I joined a gym and hired a trainer.  Now at 53 years old I am in the best shape of my life at 165 pounds 8.2% body fat.

As part of my transformation I discovered nutritional supplementation from MMSN. The franchising opportunities caught my eye.  I originally started looking to purchase a franchise about a year ago but wasn’t in the financial and career position to do so at that time.  So I put the idea on the backburner but, in the meantime, I got my financial and job situation squared away.  On the job front, I was travelling a lot and couldn't dedicate the time to prepare for starting a franchise.  After some time, I got to this point and decided to take the opportunity seriously, which brings me to my present situation.

Q: What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?

A: I have never run a business and liked their business plan and franchisee support.  It’s a turnkey operation.  Don’t let the term “Turnkey Operation” fool you, though; it’s also a lot of work, but a lot of the work has also been done on the front end by MMSN.  So I thought it would be the best way for me to go into business for myself.  Along with the training MMSN will provide (and it’s a lot!), they will prepare me well for opening my business. I am so excited; it’s all I think about all day long! My family will be involved. My daughter-in-law will be my manager.  I went into this with the thought of having my family involved and that is very important to me.

Q: With regard to your previous experience, what skills do you feel helped you in your business?

A: In every prior position I’ve held, I’ve managed to move into supervisory positions and find success.   It’s probably because I know how to deal with people and run a quality department. I am a fast learner and my attitude and my enthusiasm is going to serve me well. 

Q: What obstacles have you overcome to get where you are today with your business?

A: I have to learn about business and about dealing with people from a different angle than I have been accustomed.  In addition, I could not secure a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan due to collateral rules in Texas (the Texas Homestead Act prevents banks from seizing homes, which are traditionally used as collateral on loans in most other states). 

However, this ended up being a blessing because in the process I learned about a way to roll my retirement funds into a 401(k) trust, and so I am funding my business from my retirement funds.  Therefore, when my business is open it will be paid for, and I will just have operating costs to deal with. Some may question sinking all of my retirement savings into this business, and to that I would answer “this is my retirement”.  If I were working for another company, I would look to retire in thirteen years.  Because I own my own business and am in great shape, I will probably never retire.  Putting my retirement funds into this business is a risk, but I think it is a good risk.

Q: What are some of your achievements (professionally or personally) that you think will help you along the way in your business?

A: When I set out to do something, I really put everything into it.  A lot of the things I have learned over the years in my career are self-taught.  Aside from the obvious point of getting into shape during a time when most are out of shape, I am also proud of my prior aviation history and the way it will serve me in business.  For example, I was appointed as a designee by the Federal Aviation Administration to do work on their behalf, which is not an easy designation to get.  So whenever I put my mind towards something, I get it done.

Q: What are your expansion or development plans?

A: We are hoping to expand at 3-5 years down the road. Of course that will depend on the success of my store.

ABOUT MAX MUSCLE SPORTS NUTRITION:

Established in 1991 by former NFL linebacker Joe Wells, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition (MMSN) is America's premier sports nutrition retail outlet and franchise system, selling a combination of scientifically proven nutritional supplements at more than 150 outlets in 32 states. Rated by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top Retail Franchise 2010, a Top 500 Franchise 2010 and by Military Times Magazine as a 2010 Best for Vets business, MMSN provides a one-of-a-kind in-store experience through its unique design and one-on-one customer counseling from extensively trained Certified Fitness Nutrition Coaches™. MMSN's aggressive expansion plans include offering its unique opportunity to qualified, business-savvy candidates. For more information, call 888-MAX-MUSCLE ext. 2 or visit maxmusclefranchise.com.

Max Muscle Sports Nutrition was recently featured in the Lawrenceville Patch

Max Muscle Sports Nutrition was recently featured the Lawrenceville Patch in an article titled, "Former Atlanta Falcon Opens Sports and Nutrition Store." Max Muscle franchisee Mike Pringle discusses why he decided to open a Max Muscle Sports Nutrition and the way that it fit into his background in the sports industry. He also talks about what he hopes to bring to the community and the individualized experience he strives to bring to each person that comes into the store. Bill Warner, VP of Franchise Developing, talks about why Lawrenceville is a great location for the company and a client of Mike’s discusses the change that she has seen from the store products and the suggestions that Mike made to align with the changes she wanted to make. Click here to view the entire article.

Former Atlanta Falcon Opens Sports and Nutrition Store

By: Crystal Huskey

Former Atlanta Falcon Mike Pringle continues to make a name for himself in the sports world, but this time it’s for something a little different. 

In mid-December, he will launch the third Max Muscle Sports Nutrition franchise in the Atlanta area at the Avenue Webb Gin. 

“I was looking for a business that was more in tune with my background,” Pringle explained.  “As I was doing my due diligence, I came across this sports nutrition company.”

 (Read More)

Max Muscle Sports Nutrition featured in the Triad Business Journal

Max Muscle Sports Nutrition was featured in the Triad Business Journal in the article entitled "Bulking up in Triad." The article announces Max Muscle Sports Nutrition's expansion plans for the Triad area in North Carolina. You can view the article below.

MMSN TriadBusinessJournal 10 07 11

Franchisee Profile: Kristin Wood - MMSN Franchisee & Renaissance Woman

Fairfax, Virginia franchisee Kristin Wood, a former intelligence officer with the CIA and special to CNN national security commentator, links dedication, information, and recognition in her career to benefit almost everybody who comes into contact with her and Max Muscle Sports Nutrition.

"Community involvement became a natural extension of owning a Max Muscle Sports Nutrition store." said Wood, on the eve of launching the Max Muscle Virginia Celebrity Golf Tournament benefiting the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation. "As a Certified Fitness Nutrition coach as well, we meet a lot of people with varying needs. The three things they seem to always have in common is the desire for camaraderie & fellowship, to feel better, and to have fun. I just love being able to facilitate these things!"

Owning a Max Muscle store also means getting involved in her community. Every person who walks through her doors has a story. Every person is a piece of a puzzle, she says. "We are all connected to one another."

With nearly two decades as an Intelligence Officer with the CIA, Wood knows a thing or two about research. A skin cancer survivor, Wood left the agency and partnered with Corry Matthews to open their first Max Muscle store in Manassas, Virginia. Shortly after that, their cumulative success grew and a second store in Fairfax, Virginia was added. Her zeal for community-based programs blossomed as she introduced police departments, fire departments, government agencies, professional sports franchises, high school coaches and players, neighboring businesses, and a host of inter-connected networks of people to nutrition-centric promotions based in competition and fun.

"With my own kids sports, the team element has always been essential." said Wood. "What seems to happen every time is the domino-effect of these campaigns. The Fire Department has a challenge, the police department hears about it and wants to do the same. The two then 'challenge' each other in nutrition and fitness goals...that's what happened when we began the 'Maintain Don't Gain' challenge. It all began as an effort to not gain weight over the holidays and now Police & Fire Departments across the country are doing the same thing with their local Max Muscle Sports Nutrition stores."

"I'm doing the same thing you see in every Max Muscle Sports Nutrition store across the country. We're different. We have third party accreditation as Certified Fitness Nutrition Coaches...which often becomes a 'life coach'...and we're all passionate about that." Two decades later CNN, the world leader in online news and information delivery, contacted Wood in an effort to lure her to the network as their CNN Intelligence Authority. Never leaving the Washington DC area, or the intelligence community in which she still plays a vital role, Wood jumped at the chance."Within a few days they flew me to the studios and handed me an agenda of items to address...starting with the Gadhafi terror efforts and what was next for that regime, and most recently the 'after effects' of the death of Osama bin Laden."

Personally, Wood's son Logan had a condition literally reversed with the assistance of nutrition and supplementation. Logan, 12-year-old, had Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism which experts believe affects 3 out of every 10,000 children in the United States. You can read this incredible story HERE!

This experience has been related to many a family across the nation, featured in Max Sports & Fitness magazine, and - of course - has made the Max Muscle Sports Nutrition store in her community the focal point for many a 'diet-related' illness.

When the world's news leader needs US Intelligence insight, they turn to Kristin Wood. When the communities of Manassas & Fairfax, Virginia need nutrition insight, they turn to Kristin Wood. When the various public and private entities that make our communities stronger - literally - need nutrition and fitness 'intelligence', they turn to Kristin Wood. Wood doesn't see herself as any different from the other 150 franchise owners in the Max Muscle system. "We all work hard to contribute to our communities. The only difference for me is that mine comes with hair and makeup!"

"Since we're all connected to each other in one form or another, and nutrition and diet effect the well-being of everybody, I see myself in a perfect situation that's different every day, and incredibly gratifying."

Franchisee Profile: Mary Leeds, Franchisee of Grand Junction, Colorado

Q: What were you involved with before Max Muscle Sports Nutrition?
A: I have worked in advertising for publications and also have about 23 years of retail experience. My partner, Donnie Tanner, has had a background in several different areas including agricultural pilot for 20 years, a rancher, human resources with an international construction company and even as a firefighter. We both attended Mason State College where I studied business.

Q: How did you learn about the brand?
A: Donnie and I learned about the brand through our friends who were already into Max Muscle products. I had done fitness competitions and personal training and Donnie’s work in firefighting had required him to use supplements for extreme conditioning. We helped our friends get the Max Muscle Sports Nutrition store in Loveland up and running which really got us interested. We thought it was as great company and wanted to be involved.


Q: What specific steps did you take in validating the brand prior to joining the system?
A: Our friends already owned a Max Muscle Sports Nutrition and we saw their success first hand. We truly believed in the quality of the products. We already used Max Muscle in our daily lives and had already seen the potential of the business.

Q: Why was this brand the right fit for you?
A: We saw Max Muscle Sports Nutrition as a great business opportunity in terms of longevity and profitability. Both Donnie and I lead active lifestyles and we already knew the incredible results that the products delivered. With our advertising and retail experience coupled with product knowledge and passion for fitness, we knew Max Muscle was the right choice.

Q: How do you see the brand connecting with your local community?
A: The Western Slope of Colorado is an agriculturally based community. A lot of people are farmers and ranchers who can benefit from the supplements to improve the quality of their performance of their everyday lives. These people need core strength to do their jobs and we hope to provide quality products that appeal to the many different lifestyles of our community.

Q: What have been some career milestones for you/your business?
A: We hope to expand to 5 locations in the next 2 years.

Franchisee Profile: Bob and Kris Ireland Franchisees of Aurora, Colorado

Location: Aurora/Centennial, Colorado
Expected opening: Early July 2011


Q: Where are they originally from?
A: Bob and Kris Ireland are originally from Seattle, and have lived in the Denver area they are proud to serve since 1999 (and in Colorado for over 22 years).

Q: Before Franchising, what were they involved with?
A: Prior to joining the Max Muscle Sports Nutrition family, Bob spent decades in the corporate world, including a 30-year career with United Airlines as the Managing Director for the Flight Training Center. A graduate of Princeton University with a degree in aeronautical engineering, he began his career in his hometown of Seattle with Boeing.

Kris is a 30-year professional in the legal field having served as a paralegal with multiple firms in Denver, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area. She is also known as the mother of Katy and Jeanne, their daughters, and the center of Bob and Kris’s lives even though they’ve left the nest.


Q: How did they learn about the brand?
A: Bob has always been into fitness and after his career with the airline industry ended, he was able to focus his time on fitness. He developed a passion for leading a healthy lifestyle. His learning about the MMSN franchise opportunity came at the perfect time as he was very eager to continue down the path of health and wellness and could now do so through an exciting new career and help others as well.


Q: Why was this brand the right fit for them
A: Bob’s fitness roots started with managing and competing on his high school gymnastics team and college cheerleading squad. Challenged with family genetics of obesity, Bob has maintained his fitness through biking and working out, taking his regime to new levels during the run up to Max Muscle ownership with the support of Max Muscle’s superior products.
Kris is equally dedicated to her personal fitness, having long extolled the virtues of healthy eating, and growing up as the only kid at grade school with brown bread in her lunch sack. She has avoided “fad” diets while sticking to healthy alternatives, and made sure the kids knew the meaning of “complete protein”. Prior to their Max Muscle commitment, Kris also used Max Muscle Sport Nutrition’s products and became an advocate of the MMSN’s proteins, weight loss supplements, and nutrition plans.

Knowing that diet and exercise go hand-in-hand, both Kris and Bob have maintained and used their health club memberships continuously for many years. They look forward to serving the Centennial-Aurora-Southlands area and helping members of the community reach their health and fitness goals.


Q: How do they see the brand connecting with their local community?
A: Both Bob and Kris are extremely active in their community already and will use MMSN as a new way to provide value to the community. Currently, Kris is a volunteer chaplain at the Medical Center of Aurora and will complete formal education for the chaplaincy. Bob is a member of the Colorado Symphony Board of Trustees (and of the CSO Chorus), and a board member of the Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network.

They plan on connecting with the local high schools and proposing to create nutrition plans for student athletes. Similarly, they would like to become involved with the local fire and police departments to help develop nutrition plans for firemen and policemen.

MMSN featured in The Press-Enterprise

Max Muscle Sports Nutrition was recently featured in The Press-Enterprise in an article called “Max Muscle franchise expands to Moreno Valley.” The article features Austin Browne, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition franchisee, discussing his expansion into Moreno Valley after opening the successful Riverside store. The article discusses the economic upturn and how it prompted Austin to begin expansion. Also, Austin talks about hopes for opening yet another location in the area and how he is beating the odds by expanding and building clientele in a economy still on the rise. Click here to view the full article!

Max Muscle franchise expands to Moreno Valley
By PE Business

Austin Browne spent 10 years as a sheet metal mechanic in the aerospace industry and another 10 as a maintenance mechanic, but what he really loved was nutrition and fitness.

Eight years ago he turned his personal passion into a business, opening a Max Muscle Sports Nutrition franchise in a 1,200-square-foot space on Trautwein Road in Riverside. He was on the verge of leasing a second site in Moreno Valley for another franchise a couple of years ago, but the economy's abrupt and alarming turn caused him to step back and re-examine.


(Read More)

Never Give Up: How One Max Muscle Mom Fought To Heal Her Son’s Autism

Watching a child blossom into a happy, healthy individual is every parent’s dream. There is nothing more joyful or rewarding. For Kristin Wood, that dream morphed into a nightmare when her son – who seemed completely healthy and normal at birth – started drifting into another world as a result of autism.

The 44-year-old mother-of-two knew something was wrong with Logan when he was an infant. She noticed he was developmentally delayed compared to other babies his age. But it wasn’t until kindergarten that his odd behavior played out in everyday social situations.

“There was a fog around his intelligence and he had a hard time connecting with other kids,” says Wood, who owns Max Muscle Sports Nutrition stores in Manassas and Fairfax, Virginia. “He couldn’t carry on a conversation, he didn’t understand humor and he couldn’t perform well in school. When I would look him in the eyes, he would just give me this glassy-eyed stare. It’s like he wasn’t really ‘there.’”

Thus began a heart-wrenching six-year quest to find out what was wrong with Logan. Wood sought help from countless doctors, therapists, academic counselors, psychologists, social workers and physical and occupational therapists, but with very little results. Some experts even told Wood that her son “just wasn’t that smart” and that his troubling behavior was all in her head.

Logan was put on brutal medications that often made him sick. Eight months of intensive antibiotic treatment left him extremely fatigued and nauseous. He was almost failing in school. The family had accumulated some $30,000 in medical bills. And then everything hit rock bottom one day.

Logan would often fly into fits of rage spurred on by seemingly insignificant things like a slight change in routine or an adjustment to the day’s schedule. “I told him we weren’t going to the post office because I found a stamp, for example, and he just completely lost control,” Wood remembers. “He was rabid. He would spit, throw things, break glass, punch holes in walls and use vile language. It was like he was possessed.”

Wood and her husband had to ask themselves, “Can we allow our son to live here?” When someone is that out of control, anything could be a weapon, she thought. “It’s so devastating for a parent when a child has these kinds of issues,” Wood says.

Then fate intervened. A social development therapist suggested 12-year-old Logan had Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism which experts believe affects 3 out of every 10,000 children in the United States. At first, Wood was skeptical. Then she came across a series of books written by actress Jenny McCarthy, including “Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism.” In it, McCarthy chronicles her own odyssey with finding a cure for her son’s debilitating autism. She identifies alternative treatments – like a gluten-free, casein-free diet and nutritional supplements – as key factors in his recovery.

“I’m not a doctor and I know it’s controversial, but I was willing to try anything,” says Wood, who also has a 14-year-old son. There was also the discovery of Dr. Warren M. Levin, a physician legendary for helping to treat autism – and he lived only a half mile away from Wood’s home in Vienna, Virginia. “After years and years of searching for answers, he was here all this time,” she says.

Dr. Levin diagnosed Logan with Lyme Disease (a bacterial illness which left untreated can lead to serious injury to the joints, heart and central nervous system) and Candida (an overgrowth of Candida bacteria in the digestive system can lead to symptoms including severe allergies, chemical sensitivities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder—or ADHD, according to experts). He also identified a myriad of allergies to foods and pinpointed what vitamin deficiencies Logan had in his body. Once they figured out exactly what Logan needed, Wood immediately turned to Max Muscle’s nutri-tional supplements. “I know the quality of the products since I own Max Muscle stores,” she says. “So I tried those first.”

In addition to adopting a gluten-free and casein-free diet – which meant eliminating everyday foods like pastas, breads and dairy products – Logan’s new regimen included taking 48 pills per day, including Max Nutraceutical supplements CoQ10, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Max One Daily Multivitamin, Enzymes, Immune Probiotic Quattro, Magnesium, Calcium and Zinc.

They began to see changes. Though small at first, they were immediate. Logan started to sleep better. His animal-like craving for carbs stopped. He didn’t wet the bed anymore. Then, in just six months, those little changes became dramatic transformations. Logan’s social skills took a 180-degree turn. He was able to carry on a conversation and understand humor. The once shy, isolated and angry young boy started interacting with his peers, even telling jokes and being the “funny guy” in class. He went from being a C and D student to garnering straight A’s at his middle school. And the violent rages disappeared. It was nothing short of a miracle.

“It’s like he’s seeing the sun for the first time,” Wood says. “His eyes spark with life and his grin is infectious. I feel like he’s able to live his life the way he was meant to.”

But the transformation hasn’t come without a price, especially for a 12-year-old kid. Logan’s favorite foods, like pizza and pasta, are off limits. His new dairy-free diet also means no ice cream, yogurt or milk. “I can’t eat most things kids my age are eating,” Logan says. “Even though I want it, I know I’ll get real sick, so I’ll eat something else like meat or a taco.”

Before his road to recovery, Logan was overweight, had little muscle tone and very little endurance. For a boy teetering on the edge of adolescence, this led to self-consciousness and low self-esteem. But since June, he’s been visiting the gym three times a week and works out with a personal trainer. Regular exercise coupled with a strict diet has enabled Logan to shed almost 30 pounds. He’s stronger, looks leaner and feels healthier for the first time in his life. “It’s a lot better when I look in the mirror,” he says. “I like what I see.”

Wood credits Logan’s transformation to his determination and dogged perseverance. At age 12, he’s an extremely informed consumer of health and fitness, she says. He knows how to care for his body, he knows how to read labels on foods, and he’s the one who’s incorporated all the changes in his life.

“He did this,” Wood says. “He’s totally accepted it. He didn’t complain when he gave up his favorite foods or when the family had something he couldn’t eat. He went from being afraid in the gym to being totally confident and doing a workout program appropriate for his age. I can’t tell you how proud I am of all the hard work he’s put into it.”

Wood says she’s a believer in circumstances and people intertwining for a reason. She looks back on the past six years and her purpose during those dark times. “One of my greatest purposes and mission in life was to help Logan,” she says. It was also a time to rebuild her own life. She spent 18 years working as an officer in the CIA. Wood enjoyed an amazing career, one with endless opportunities that included traveling all over the world. But it was also an all-engrossing job, which left little time for her family and took a toll on her health. She recalls a 6-week span in which she was diagnosed with high cholesterol, thyroid disease and melanoma. And her mother passed away after struggling with poor health for more than a decade. “At some point, I realized I didn’t want to live the life I was living,” she says. “I needed to be there for my family. Especially Logan.”

So Wood hired a personal trainer, who eventually became her business partner and is co-owner of their Max Muscle franchises. They opened their first store in Manassas in September of 2007. A second store opened in Fairfax this past November. “It’s a feel-good business and I can be at home with my kids at the end of the day,” she says.

Owning a Max Muscle store also means getting involved in her community. Every person who walks through her doors has a story. Every person is a piece of a puzzle, she says. We are all connected to one another.

“What I really want to do is help my customers achieve their health and fitness goals,” Wood says. “From the teenage athlete who wants to gain lean muscle mass to the 80-something grandmother who wants something for a healthy heart. It’s very rewarding and challenging work. I love it.”

MMSN featured in OCMetro

MMSN was recently featured in OCMetro. The article discusses Max Muscle Sports Nutrition’s plans to expand 30 percent over the next year by adding 30 to 35 new locations nationwide. The article also cites California, Massachusetts and Texas as the next areas for development. Bill Warner, VP of Franchise Development, discusses the nation’s increasing interest in health and how this has lead to anticipation for more franchise sales. Bill also discusses Max Muscle Sports Nutrition’s approach to customers by understanding their fitness and nutrition needs and individualizing a plan to help them achieve their goals. Click here to view the full article.

Max Muscle strengthens nationwide reach: The Orange-based sports nutrition retailer plans to expand its franchises by 30 percent this year.
BY SARA FERRER

Orange-based Max Muscle Sports Nutrition seeks to expand its franchises by 30 percent in 2011, adding 30 to 35 new locations this year. The retailer and service provider is targeting new locations in California, Massachusetts and Texas; so far this year, stores in Atlanta and Washington have been added.

The expansion effort come partly as a result of an anticipated uptick in franchise sales as the nation's economy recovers and Americans become increasingly health-conscious, said Bill Warner, Max Muscle's vice president of franchise development.

(Read More)

Franchisee Profile: Mike Pringle Franchisee of Atlanta, GA

Los Angeles native and former NFL and Canadian Football League (CFL) star Mike Pringle is now with Max Muscle Sports Nutrition, and he is gearing up to open his Atlanta, GA location in May, 2011. Pringle is an award-winning athlete whose career highlights include: Being inducted into the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame, scoring the most rushing touchdowns in 2004, and being listed as one of the greatest running backs in CFL history. Pringle had impressive stints with the Montreal Alouettes, the Denver Broncos, and the Atlanta Falcons.

Before franchising, what were you involved with?
Before I was with Max Muscle Sports Nutrition, I was a college, NFL, and CFL football player. I had achieved great success because I built my life around hard work and dedication. I was interested in joining a franchise system that held my same values and centered upon my love of sports, nutrition, and overall health.

How did you learn about the brand?
To research the brand I spoke with a lot of people. I really wanted to know what Max Muscle Sports Nutrition was all about. I found the executives as well as the franchisees to be engaging and energetic. Existing franchisees spoke freely to me about their personal experiences and I felt really welcomed from the get go. After learning about the business model and brand, it solidified that this was where I wanted to be.

Why was this brand the right fit for you?
I knew I needed to do something that really fit my personality. After my football career ended and I began looking into different avenues and even dabbling in franchising, I felt I was missing my passion. I love being around athletes and working out. In fact, to me, working out was often more fun than the game. The culture at Max Muscle Sports Nutrition engages people like me every day.

How do you see the brand connecting with your local community?
There are a few things I do locally, but among my favorites is coaching youth leagues. I see a lot of parents pushing their kids to be the best, but parents often don’t know that kids need to be conditioned. It is imperative that these kids are on the right meal plans, and it has been fulfilling to work with coaches to help guide these youths to optimum health for a potential sports career later in life. I have also worked with other former NFL players to coach NFL hopefuls, track athletes, and even Olympic hopefuls to realize that they can achieve their goals, both in fitness and in life.

What are your future goals?
There are a lot of good areas to target with this opportunity. I am not only striving to reach out to elite athletes, but soccer moms and weekend warriors—anyone who is looking to have more energy. Everyone, regardless of age or ability can benefit from better health and nutrition, and this includes MMSN products and nutrition plans. I hope to continue my work with local students and charities and getting the word out that better health is doable. I am committed to growing this brand and look forward to owning five locations in the future.

Max Muscle Sports Nutrition featured in Tacoma Business Examiner

Max Muscle Sports Nutrition was featured in the Tacoma Business Examiner called “Franchises looking to military for owners,” which published front and center on the February 7 edition. The article was built from an in-depth interview with Ann’e Waisanen and Tom Sampson. Tom notes that Max Muscle Sports Nutrition is a great next career opportunity for military vets because vets value a healthy lifestyle which is core to Max Muscle Sports Nutrition. Their latest franchisees, a husband and wife team, Ann’e and Josh Waisanen, come from a military background and believe the support from the franchisor will help them grow their business. They plan on opening their first location in mid-March and several others after that. The full article is embedded below: