Anytime Fitness purchased by husband and wife team, Karen and Dan Wehde

HURON — Anytime Fitness in south Huron was recently purchased by husband and wife, Karen and Dan Wehde, plus daughter, Jayme Smid, who is a co-owner of the Huron franchise, and the manager at the family’s other Anytime Fitness location in Brandon.
“Our daughter, who is also part owner, had graduated from college with an Exercise Science and Business degree, so she was looking to manage. Then we looked into the franchise and it grew from there,” Karen explained.
“Jayme spent some time working here with Carole after college, almost like an internship, so that’s how we were first introduced to Anytime Fitness,” Dan said.
“She interned here, and four years later she’s part owner,” Karen added.
The family started the Brandon location as a brand new club in October 2014, and after watching the growth and positive feedback from the community, took the steps to purchase the club here in Huron.
“We’ve enjoyed seeing Brandon’s club grow, we established a fitness culture in that community. And when this opportunity arose we thought it would be great to be closer to home,” Karen said.
“Huron has always been home,” Dan added.
Fitness and health have always been a common interest in the family, and with Jayme’s added enthusiasm, the steps to develop that brought the extra motivation.  
“I would say it was Jayme’s passion for wanting to get involved with Anytime Fitness,” Dan said. “But we’ve always enjoyed sports and fitness as a family.”
New owners bring new visions that are in the works for the business, with the helping hand of the Huron Anytime Fitness Manager, Carole Wiedenman, who has been there since the club opened in 2012.

“Carole has been here since the beginning, I think that’s wonderful, we feel like we’re in good hands,” Karen said.
Looking into becoming involved with a franchise was a process that was exciting, but also taken with caution for the family, as they searched for the right opportunity and eventually found what they were looking for.  
“When we looked at franchises we tried to look at ones that had a good business model and convenience; that was what we saw in Anytime Fitness,” Dan said. “They are growing tremendously, they’ve been the top global franchise in the last few years, and the convenience of 4,000 gyms that you can use your key wherever — your one membership at your local club gets you all of that.
“We were looking for opportunities the past four years, and the reason we didn’t purchase another franchise is because we couldn’t find the right one,” he explained. “The opportunity in Huron came up with Carole being the manager since the beginning, and Carole has such a good relationship in this community and with these members, she drives the club and so that’s the first thing we looked at. With Carole and her rapport with the members here and it being local, this one we felt was right.”
Wiedenman is an enthusiastic manager, with community involvement, plus she offers the advice and comfort the members want or need when they come into the club.
“It’s an amazing job which I thoroughly enjoy, I look forward to working with Dan and Karen. I think us together are going to make an astounding club culture,” Wiedenman said. “It will be a great team, I feel very positive about us all moving forward together.”
Wiedenman also teaches yoga with a co-owner at a downtown studio, Wildflower Yoga, “I hope to teach more here at Anytime in the future. We hope to build more live classes,” Wiedenman said.
The new owners and manager coming together as a team take great joy in helping those who are wanting to improve their health, and have a safe place where they feel they can do that with the necessary guidance.
“Fitness is the number one preventative thing you can do for you health,” Wiedenman said.
“That’s what makes it so rewarding is you see that you’re impacting people’s lives in a positive way,” Karen said. “Carole has seen members who have dropped numerous pounds and given up medications. Plus she is a good people person. If a member joins or is speculating, then she does a great job going through things with them, fitness orientation and making sure they are comfortable with what is available to them.”
“It’s fun to know you’re making a difference in their lives, helping them feel better,” Dan added.
The Wehdes are excited to have a greater presence by owning Anytime Fitness in Huron, where they know the business is in good hands with Wiedenman as the manager, plus the ability to have more involvement with a hometown location.
A celebration and Grand Re-Opening is set to take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 23. Everyone is welcome to attend, see the facilities, ask questions, plus fun games, snacks and prizes will be up for grabs.
“The Chamber will do a ribbon-cutting, we invite the public to come and check it out, there’s no obligation,” Karen said. “We’re certainly welcoming feedback from members and potential members. It’s a very member-driven club, which is what we want. Everybody has a unique style and fit, there’s lots of opportunity for people to experience different kinds of workouts.”
Personal training is offered at the club — approximately 50 classes offered — which is easily accessible to view and register for on a kiosk in the club. A variety of equipment and amenities such as circuit/resistance training machines, free weights, cardio equipment, group fitness classes, private changing and showers, plus a relaxing hydro massage bed is available for member use, plus much more. There is a positive atmosphere and enthusiasm to bring health, physical and mental wellbeing to the community.
“We hope people come in and tell as what they would like to have available to them, which will help us set our vision for the future based on what the community is looking for,” Karen said.
“One of the biggest goals that I always have is when people walk in the door and they join is that they are comfortable in the club, not intimidated by the machines. One of the reasons why we see sometimes people not continue in the club is because they’re not comfortable running things, and it’s my goal to make sure they are comfortable. It’s a great club with a great culture, we’re here for assistance,” Wiedenman explained.
“We want to make it a non-threatening environment, sometimes you go into a gym and the feeling is intimidation. Our thought is to have something for everyone, from cardio to weights, and you can get that and easier pace too,” Dan said. “We want it to be inviting. And we invite people to just come out to look and see what it’s all about.”

COURTESY photo
The new owners of Anytime Fitness pose with manager Carole Wiedenman, left, including, from left, Karen Wehde, Jayme Smid and Dan Wehde