We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Fishman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Maverick Community is creating a platform for wellness and fitness professionals to be successful business owners and entrepreneurs. We subdivide fitness space into private and group studios, provide fitness equipment, team member help (check-in, cleaning), and production equipment, and then rent the studios to fitness and wellness professionals.
Wellness professionals work AT Maverick Community, not FOR Maverick Community, and, therefore, will be able to enjoy more freedom, brand building opportunities, and income without having to take on the risk of opening their own facility and hiring employees.
We are passionate about giving tools and support to people who want to earn a living doing what they love.
The fitness and wellness industry has been growing over the past 30 years but the person who provides the most value to a class or session, the wellness professional, is often ignored and Maverick Community exists to spotlight and support the rockstar fitness and wellness creator.

In addition to creating more entrepreneurs and helping wellness professionals help more people, we have also created a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to help make health and wellness accessible to everyone.
We do not take our success and privilege for granted. Obesity rates have risen to 42% despite the $4.2T wellness economy boom, and poor and underserved communities are the most impacted.
‘Maverick Community’ is the engine that helps drive ‘Maverick Forward,’ our 501(c)3 nonprofit initiative, committed to supporting professionals in their fields, helping more individuals in poor and underserved communities live more free, healthy and happy lives.
We pledge to work with these community members to promote health, fitness, and entrepreneurship, by offering no cost mentorship, training and certifications for aspiring wellness professionals, including low and more flexible rent and a scholarship fund to allow for low or free client fees.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Maverick Community is building a network of flexible, on-demand studios for fitness and wellness. Think CloudKitchens, SolaSalon, WeWork for the fitness and wellness industry. We’re unbundling the gym, putting the wellness professional first, and building a purpose-driven social enterprise to create more entrepreneurs and make health and wellness accessible to everyone!
Our studios are meaningful environments that empower wellness professionals to become success entrepreneurs and produce their best work, whether in person or digitally.

We are most proud about empowering fitness and professionals to make more income and enjoy more freedom. There is nothing better than giving someone the ability to earn a living doing what they love. We have a couple yoga instructors who’ve made over $1,000 in one-hour!

We’ve been working on this concept for the past 1+ year and we’ve spoken to over 300 trainers and instructors to understand what they truly want. We opened three months ago (August 2021) and we’re all hands on deck cleaning the bathrooms and checking people in. Starting a new business is not easy or glamorous work but it is fun and worthwhile!

Overcoming challenges is never easy but the key is to never lose sight of the company’s mission and take the long-term view.

Previous to starting Maverick Community I started a bicycle company called Pure Cycles that I started in college 11 years ago. I ran this business for 11 years before selling it to a bicycle distribution company last year. My biggest lessons learned over the 11 year period are: (1) tell the truth and be overly transparent, (2) always be friendly. You can’t always give everyone what they want but you can always be kind, (3) you must be passionate and obsessed with your business if it is going to work, and (4) hire and hang around people with a great attitude > good skillset.

Come support fitness and wellness professionals directly!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting Los Angeles I’d take them to Dodger Stadium. There is no better place in LA than Dodger Stadium as it has a great, open atmosphere, and you get to enjoy the amazing culture that exists because of all the different races and genders and ages at the stadium.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My dad and mom, Steve and Jodie Fishman My wife, Alexa, and kids Jay and Lyla

Website: https://www.bemav.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bemav.co/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fishman-michael/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/maverick-community-playa-vista-los-angeles-3

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.