Dare Wyrick Peed is the Vice President of Operations at Spartan Fitness Holdings, based in Tampa, Florida. In her current role, she oversees the operations of over 100 Club Pilates locations across 12 states and manages two VIO Med Spas. Dare is also driving the expansion of VIO Med Spas, with plans to open 28 new locations in Greater Houston, Texas, and Southwest Florida.
Dare Wyrick Peed | Vice President of Operations | Spartan Fitness Holdings
Her expertise spans management, operational excellence, sales, and team building, honed through impressive growth over the past three years. With over a decade of experience in the fitness industry, Dare brings a diverse skill set to her role. She holds a miniMBA from Clemson University, has studied sociology and criminology at North Carolina State University, and is certified as a yoga instructor, Pilates instructor, and nutritional therapist. Beyond her professional life, Dare is a dedicated mother of four boys and has been married to her high school sweetheart for 20 years. Together with their two dogs, they enjoy the natural beauty of Florida. At EliteX, we are proud to feature Dare Wyrick Peed on the cover of our edition: Prominent Business Leaders Making Waves in 2024.
Dare’s journey to becoming a business leader is a testament to her dedication and passion for growth. She started as a Pilates instructor, balancing part-time teaching with raising her children and volunteering. In 2017, she was introduced to Club Pilates by David Schuck, the CEO and Founder of Spartan Fitness Holdings. What began as an interview to teach classes quickly turned into a management role, helping to open and manage a second studio. Her initial training in Costa Mesa, CA, was a challenge, with new operational and sales concepts that were unfamiliar to her. Despite feeling overwhelmed, Dare embraced these concepts and applied them successfully, leading to the launch of a record-setting studio. This experience ignited her passion for operational excellence and drove her to pursue further education in sales and management. Her role grew from General Manager to Area Manager, and eventually Regional Manager, overseeing six studios and a team of 80.
“Balancing work and personal life is about setting clear priorities and staying organized, so you can give your best to both your career and your loved ones.” — Dare Wyrick Peed
In early 2021, David Schuck invited Dare to lead a new venture to build the largest Club Pilates portfolio. This led to the formation of Spartan Fitness Holdings, LLC, and Dare’s promotion to Vice President of Operations. Under her leadership, Spartan Fitness has expanded from six to 100 studios across 12 states and earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies two years in a row. The company has also ventured into the med spa industry with VIO Med Spa, continuing its rapid growth. Dare’s inspiration for her role comes from her deep commitment to health, wellness, and leadership. She is passionate about helping others achieve their personal and professional goals, aligning with Spartan Fitness’s mission to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. When the opportunity to drive expansive growth and impact even more lives arose, Dare eagerly embraced it.
Among the challenges she has faced, the pandemic was a significant test for Dare’s leadership and operational skills. The company’s success relies on strong community engagement and high-quality services. To overcome these challenges, Dare’s team quickly adapted by implementing new operational channels to maintain member engagement and generate income during closures. This adaptability helped mitigate member churn and reinforced the importance of a resilient community and culture. During this challenge, the studios under her leadership were awarded as 2020 Best Pilates Studios — an honor received for the 3rd year in a row by Indy Week Magazine.
As Spartan Fitness continues to grow through mergers and acquisitions, Dare’s focus is on integrating new teams and processes while respecting their existing strengths. Her approach, known as the “studio of one” mentality, emphasizes understanding and addressing the unique needs of each location, fostering a strong community and culture. This mentality is key to Spartan’s ongoing success and growth. Dare Wyrick Peed’s journey and leadership exemplify her commitment to excellence and her passion for helping others thrive in both fitness and life. Dare Wyrick Peed, Vice President of Operations at Spartan Fitness Holdings, remains deeply motivated and focused on her goals through a disciplined approach. She is a strong advocate for SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This method helps her break down goals into manageable steps, bringing clarity and focus to her work. Dare also emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with the underlying purpose of her goals, which helps reignite her motivation when she feels off track.
What sets Dare’s leadership style apart is her combination of deep operational insight and an approachable, relatable demeanor. Known as the “Pilates girl next door,” Dare has worked in every role within the company—from front desk sales and class instruction to studio and regional management. This hands-on experience has given her a genuine understanding of the daily challenges faced by her teams. Unlike many corporate leaders, Dare has “walked a mile in their shoes,” earning the respect and trust that comes from shared experiences. This perspective enables her to craft strategic initiatives and operational support that directly address her team’s needs, making her leadership practical, effective, and deeply connected to the pulse of the company.
To keep her team motivated and engaged, Dare sets clear goals, provides regular feedback, and celebrates achievements with the motto “celebrate the wins and learn from the losses.” She fosters a collaborative culture, encourages continuous learning, and empowers her team with autonomy. Leading by example, she demonstrates the enthusiasm and commitment she expects from her team. The success of Spartan Fitness Holdings is driven by the ability to translate strategic vision into operational excellence. Dare believes that while a clear vision is essential, it is the day-to-day execution that truly drives results. Balancing strategic foresight with rigorous implementation ensures that operations remain efficient and aligned with long-term objectives. Building authentic relationships with staff, members, and potential franchise sellers is also crucial. Dare and her team invest time in nurturing these connections, recognizing that meaningful relationships are vital to sustained growth and success.
“Making decisions, even the wrong ones, keeps you moving forward and ultimately leads to better outcomes.” — Dare Wyrick Peed
When faced with setbacks or failures, Dare adheres to the Spartan Fitness principle of “make mistakes, just not fatal ones.” She views mistakes as essential to growth and learning. By assessing situations carefully and ensuring that mistakes are not catastrophic, Dare focuses on learning from experiences, adapting quickly, and applying lessons to future endeavors. This approach allows her to take calculated risks, innovate, and progress without fear of failure holding her back. Looking ahead to 2024, Dare anticipates several key trends shaping the fitness and wellness industry. There is a growing emphasis on inclusivity and personalized experiences, with Pilates studios and Med Spas tailoring their offerings to diverse body types, ages, and abilities. Technology and innovation are also making an impact, with advancements such as virtual reality and smart equipment enhancing the accessibility and engagement of Pilates. Med Spas are incorporating cutting-edge technologies for personalized treatments, while improvements in customer experience through technology, like app-based loyalty rewards and AI customer service, are becoming more prevalent.
To stay ahead of the competition, Dare prioritizes the client experience by continually updating offerings based on feedback and evolving preferences. Investing in staff development ensures that her team remains skilled and aligned with industry best practices. Relationship building and community engagement are central to their approach, creating a sense of belonging that strengthens the brand. Additionally, leveraging data and analytics allows Dare and her team to track performance, identify trends, and make informed decisions, keeping them agile and responsive in a competitive market. Dare Wyrick Peed’s leadership exemplifies a commitment to operational excellence, client-centered innovation, and meaningful connections, positioning Spartan Fitness Holdings for continued success and growth.
Innovation plays a crucial role in Dare Wyrick Peed’s strategy for Spartan Fitness Holdings. In the fast-evolving Pilates and med spa industries, staying ahead requires continuous innovation. At Spartan Fitness, Dare leads the way by integrating state-of-the-art equipment and refining class offerings to meet clients’ ever-changing needs. This commitment to innovation not only enhances the client experience but also opens new revenue streams.
In their Pilates studios, the focus is on adopting the latest equipment and continually improving class offerings to provide exceptional experiences. The med spas, too, are at the forefront of the wellness industry, offering cutting-edge treatments that align with current trends and client demands. Spartan Fitness Holdings has embraced advanced systems and streamlined processes to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain high quality across all locations. Their role as beta testers for franchisor-focused projects has influenced improvements across the franchise system, setting high standards and contributing to rapid growth.
“Innovation is not just about adopting new technologies; it’s about continuously improving the client experience and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.” — Dare Wyrick Peed
Balancing work and personal life is a priority for Dare. She manages this balance through efficiency and clear boundaries. At work, she prioritizes high-impact tasks and delegates responsibilities to her team, ensuring smooth operations. Family time is sacred to her, so she dedicates specific times daily to her loved ones and sets boundaries with work to protect this time. For personal rejuvenation, Dare engages in activities like outdoor workouts and yoga. Staying organized and flexible helps her maintain balance in all aspects of her life.
As a business leader, Dare has learned several valuable lessons. One key lesson is the importance of making decisions. Even incorrect decisions keep momentum going, help you learn, and eventually lead to better outcomes. Decisions drive action, and without them, progress can stall. Mistakes provide critical insights and help refine judgment, making them valuable learning opportunities. Indecision can create uncertainty and anxiety, so taking action, even imperfectly, fosters a culture of responsiveness and initiative within the organization.
For aspiring business leaders, Dare advises grounding decisions in data and metrics. Understanding key performance indicators (KPIs) is essential for guiding strategies and driving improvements. If a decision cannot be directly linked to a KPI, it’s worth reassessing its value. Aligning choices with measurable outcomes is crucial for achieving business success.
Looking to the future, Dare has ambitious plans for Spartan Fitness Holdings. As the company continues to grow, her goal is to optimize the systems and processes that have driven success while building a resilient infrastructure to support rapid expansion. A significant challenge is keeping pace with the demand for Pilates instructors, so a key objective is to find innovative ways to increase enrollments in their teacher training program. Ensuring a steady pipeline of highly qualified instructors while maintaining high standards is essential for sustaining the brand’s excellence. Dare Wyrick Peed’s leadership is characterized by a commitment to innovation, a balanced approach to work and life, and a focus on actionable insights and continuous improvement. Her vision for Spartan Fitness Holdings reflects a dedication to operational excellence and an unwavering drive to meet the evolving needs of the fitness and wellness industry.
“Mistakes are valuable lessons that refine our judgment and help us grow, turning setbacks into stepping stones for future success.” — Dare Wyrick Peed
Inc. 5000: https://www.inc.com/profile/spartan-fitness-holdings
Company Website: www.spartanfitnessholdings.com
Dare’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dare-peed
Fitt Insider: https://insider.fitt.co/snapdragon-capital-puts-30m-into-xponential-franchisor/