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Experienced and results-driven senior strategic leader with a demonstrated track record…
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Bryan Myers posted thisWhy I Wear a Pink Suit to Important Meetings In late 2024, [solidcore] went through a private equity process that ended with our acquisition. That meant a lot of "fireside chats" — one-on-one meetings where I sat across from leaders of major investment firms and made the case for why this business, and this team, was worth betting on. I wore a pink suit to many of those meetings. I own it, and I think I look good in it. But that's not really why I wore it. When you walk into a room full of finance people, you'll usually see the same uniform: loafers, black or blue slacks, a white or blue shirt. I didn't want to walk in and feel like I had to conform to the traditional picture of what a CEO looks like. I wanted to be myself. So I showed up in a pink suit and white sneakers, and it signaled, before I ever said a word, that this business is different. Yes, showing up as myself has cost me a few rooms. I've watched a "whoa, this is too much" expression cross someone's face mid-meeting. That's fine. I'd rather know upfront that we're not the right fit than get to the other side of a deal and realize it there. Companies don't just buy a business; they buy into a team. If someone can't get behind the team, it's better to find that out before the handshake than after. The same principle applies to how I show up online. I reply to DMs. I post on TikTok. I do this because I want people to understand that there are real humans behind this business. It's easy to be angry at "the brand" until you connect with an actual person and realize they're doing their best with the information they have. Not too long ago, a rumor started that we were "confirmed" for London, when we hadn’t actually decided on our first international location. It didn’t really make sense for our brand account to address it, but it made sense for me to. So I posted: "Girl, this is not true. When we have something to share with you, you'll be the first to know." Here's the advice I'd give to leaders who want to stay authentic: First, decide how much of yourself you're comfortable putting out there, and protect the rest. For me, that's my family: my husband and our son. I share moments with them, but sparingly, because that's my retreat. I'm not the CEO when I'm with them. I'm just Bryan, their partner and their father. Second, a personal brand isn't marketing, and it isn't a performance. It's picking the things you genuinely care about, forming a real point of view on them, and showing up consistently. Don't start with what's trending. Start with what's true for you. That's the only version of it that lasts, and it's the only version that doesn't feel fake the moment you try to keep it up.
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Bryan Myers reposted thisBryan Myers reposted thisGrowing a store footprint fast means there’s a LOT happening behind the scenes. Heidi Blesy of [solidcore] sat down with Zia Durrani and gave RetailSpaces a look at what it takes to keep growth moving without letting timelines, budgets, or the brand experience slip. Site selection, prototypes, construction, existing locations... When you’re scaling fast, it all has to move together.
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Bryan Myers reposted thisBryan Myers reposted thisHispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebrations continue as we shine the spotlight on Head Coach & Community Managers Rosemary Rodriguez, Juan Zapata and Letticia Camacho 💙 [community] shows up in the details - a grandmother's recipe still made the same way, Bad Bunny and Daddy Yankee playing in class, an open-door instinct passed down from home. It's the belief that family is who shows up for you, not just who you're born into. Different backgrounds, one common thread: heritage isn't separate from the work, it's woven into how we show up for each other, one class at a time. #solidcore #HispanicHeritageMonth #EmployeeSpotlights
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Bryan Myers reposted thisBryan Myers reposted thisMeet the [solidcore] Brand Marketing Team 💙 The team behind our voice, our visual identity, and the consistency that makes our brand instantly recognizable, no matter where you are. These talented people ensure that whether it's your first impression of us or your fiftieth, it feels unmistakably consistent. Are you ready to help shape the [solidcore] brand? We're growing our team, and are looking for people who care as much about the details as we do. Explore our open roles and apply through the links below! 🔹Senior Manager, Brand Marketing & PR https://lnkd.in/e4hTqgxh 🔹Manager, Creative & Design https://lnkd.in/eQDnK9ms 🔹Coordinator, Creative & Design https://lnkd.in/e7jtRcBz 🔹Brand Marketing Coordinator https://lnkd.in/eHcZThUT #solidcore #BrandMarketing #NowHiring #StrongerForIt
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Bryan Myers reposted thisBryan Myers reposted thisYesterday, [solidcore] had the opportunity to attend and support the L.O.V.E. Fiesta, an event hosted by one of our nonprofit partners, Latinas On the Verge of Excellence - L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program. L.O.V.E.'s mission is to empower young women to identify their innate strength to fulfill their personal and professional goals through mentorship and health education spanning mental, reproductive, and physical health, as well as college and career readiness. Throughout the night, attendees mingled with mentees and mentors in an unforgettable evening full of heart and hope. We are so grateful to Head Coach & Community Managers Letticia Camacho and Juan Zapata, Senior Coach Juan Villafrade Arboleda and Pro Coach Lesley Fernández, for representing our brand. They are all employees who truly live out one of our core values, [community]. This is just the beginning of our partnership with the L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program, and we're excited to continue building [community] together. Special thanks to Dr. Claudia Espinosa, Justine McCormick, and Nancy Mares for their help building this partnership. #solidcore #HispanicandLatinxHeritageMonth #community
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Bryan Myers posted thisThe Higher You Go, the Closer You Should Stay Most people who come to the classes I coach know who I am. But every so often, I'll take a class instead of teach one, and the coach running it will call on me by name and refer to me as another coach, not as a CEO. A few times, someone's come up to me afterward with a coaching or account-related question, and I've said, "Sure, let me get your email so I can follow up." Then I email them from my work account, and the response is always some version of, "Oh my god, I just asked the CEO to help me with this." They’re embarrassed, and they shouldn’t be. My job in that studio is to make sure every client walks out having had an incredible experience, the best we can give them. Someone asking me a question doesn't become less worth answering because of my title. If anything, it makes more sense for me to be the one who follows up. Making sure that person walks away feeling taken care of is the whole point of my job, not a distraction from it. That instinct is why I went through our coach training early on (and why all of our executive team now does the same). I wanted to understand the business on the floor. And I did the same thing recently with our client experience team. I know why that matters. When someone reaches out to the client experience team, it's almost never because things went well. It's because something didn't meet their expectations, and they're looking for a resolution. Will I be answering support tickets every day going forward? No. But spending real time shoulder-to-shoulder with that team, understanding what it’s like on the receiving end of hard conversations, makes me a better advocate for them, and a better leader for our clients. I reply to DMs and LinkedIn messages. I try to get to all of them, but I'm not perfect. I'm not going to pretend it always fits neatly into a day that's already pretty full, but I've come to see it as one of the better uses of my time, not a distraction from it. People don't want to feel like they're shouting at an institution. What all this has taught me is that servant leadership is a series of small decisions, not one big manifesto. It’s taking the follow-up email yourself instead of routing it to someone else. It’s sitting in the training instead of reading the summary, and treating "I'm the CEO" as a reason to be more available to people, not less.
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Bryan Myers posted thisWhy We Don't Franchise As we've grown, one question comes up again and again: Why doesn't [solidcore] franchise? It's a fair question. Franchising has helped many great fitness brands expand quickly, enter new markets, and build national recognition. But early on, we decided it wasn't the right model for us. Ultimately, we don’t want to chase growth for growth’s sake. We want to protect the experience for our members. Consistency is our product When someone walks into a [solidcore] studio, they should know exactly what to expect. They should trust that the machine feels the same, the programming follows the same philosophy, and the coaching reflects the same values. That level of consistency requires constant investment in training, quality control, programming, technology, leadership development, and operational excellence. When every studio is company-owned, we can make decisions with one goal in mind: improving the member experience. Franchising is often the fastest path to expansion. But faster isn't always better. Growth is a responsibility, not just an opportunity. We'd rather open fewer studios that meet our standards than too many that don't. Coaching can't be outsourced People often think they're buying a workout. They're not. They're buying accountability, encouragement, expertise, and the feeling they leave with afterward. That's created by people. That’s why we invest heavily in recruiting, developing, and supporting every coach across the company. We build consistent training. We provide ongoing education. We create career paths. We evaluate quality continuously. Those investments become much harder when operational control sits outside the organization. Culture doesn't scale by accident One of the things I'm proudest of isn't how many studios we've opened. It's the culture we've built. Culture isn't words on a wall – it's how leaders lead and how teams support one another. Those moments happen thousands of times every day across our studios. Maintaining our values and our culture means opening every studio thoughtfully, investing deeply in our people, and making decisions that protect the member experience, even when they're harder or slower. Growth has never been our finish line. Building a brand people trust is. That's something worth protecting.
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Bryan Myers reposted thisBryan Myers reposted thisCelebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month at [solidcore] 💙 This month, we're honoring the strength, joy, and resilience of our Hispanic and Latinx community and are committing to building spaces where every person feels seen, celebrated, and supported. We're proud to partner with Latinas On the Verge of Excellence - L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program - an organization empowering young women through mentorship and health education to become the next generation of Latina leaders. Here's what you can expect this month: 🔹Employee stories from across our [community] 🔹Hosting branded partner classes with the Latinas On the Verge of Excellence - L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program across 160+ studios on October 1st 🔹Uplifting resources that reflect the full richness of Hispanic and Latinx identity across experiences, cultures, backgrounds, and generations #HispanicHeritageMonth #LatinxHeritageMonth #LOVEMentoring
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Bryan Myers posted thisSomething new is coming to [solidcore] Earlier this year, we ran an Innovation Lab at our Navy Yard studio in DC. We tested a new format – heated, mat-based conditioning to complement our reformer workout. While this idea was something that was born out of consumer research that we completed in 2025, the strength of the feedback from participants in the test surprised even me. 83% of members who tested it said that this new modality fills a genuine gap in their current fitness routine, and an overwhelming majority went on to say that offering this in conjunction with their [solidcore] membership would make them inclined to retain their membership for longer. So we're moving forward. Later this year, we're opening a dual studio in New York City, officially introducing this new format alongside our reformer classes – multiple class formats that combine heavy weights, mobility, and recovery to build the kind of strength that compounds over time. This isn't a pivot. It's a progression. To be clear, this is not mat pilates. It’s a class format unique to [solidcore] to build strength, stability, and mental fortitude. And the reformer workout is still the thing. It works, and our members are deeply committed to it. We are not pulling reformers from studios. We are not slowing down expansion of the core product (in fact, we’re speeding it up!). What we heard over and over from members was a real tension: they want to come to [solidcore] more. But they want variety. And doing the same workout every single day doesn't always serve the goal. Some days you push hard to build muscular endurance. Other days our body needs heavier weight that helps build muscular strength and focused time on mobility that helps us come back stronger the next time. The new modality is built to the same standard our members expect. Every member gets a custom station. Each station is fully equipped with a variety of equipment, including a mat, resistance bands, and free weights. And the workout itself is built to challenge you - both physically and mentally. It’s a new way to build muscle and train in more planes of motion that complements the results of the reformer. We'll be holding live coach auditions this month. More details on the auditions, the studio, and what's next are coming in the days and weeks ahead! 💙
Bryan Myers replied to a comment
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Stephanie Ko By far it was how mentally exhausted you feel after coaching — giving your undivided time, attention, and energy to a room for 50 minutes (or hours if you’re coaching multiple classes!), is far more draining than I had imagined!
Bryan Myers replied to a comment
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We have a blog post sharing our perspective here: https://solidcore.co/blog/infrared-strength-training
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Bryan Myers reacted on thisBryan Myers reacted on thisFor decades at the Washington Business Journal, I had a front-row seat to the world of community banking. I watched community banks, watched them grow and evolve, and saw firsthand how deeply they can become woven into the fabric of the DMV. Now, as I begin my next chapter, I’m honored to move to the “other side” — joining the board of Founders Bank. I’m grateful to Martin McCarthy and Jonathan Higgins for inviting me to be part of what they are building. I’ve long admired them both, and I’m excited to support Founders Bank as it continues to grow and serve businesses and communities across the region. https://lnkd.in/edKNQmmgFounders Bank Appoints Alex Orfinger to Board of Directors - Founders BankFounders Bank Appoints Alex Orfinger to Board of Directors - Founders Bank
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Bryan Myers reacted on thisBryan Myers reacted on thisOn October 1, Cindy Lesker marks 50 years with the Kurt J. Lesker Company - officially the longest tenure in our 72-year history. She joined in 1976, when we were a small regional business. What she built from there shaped everything that came after. She installed our first company-wide computer system in the 1980s as a department of one. She created the part numbering conventions we still use today. She built our IT organization from nothing and led the team through major technology implementations working right alongside them. If my grandfather and my father were the entrepreneurs of our products, strategy, and relationships, Cindy was the entrepreneur of our infrastructure; the very systems that made growth possible. She tells a story about the 1980s, when our vendors told her a report-writing program she wanted couldn't be done. So, she stayed up all night for a week (with young kids and a full-time job) and wrote it herself. That's a perfect example of the lesson she's handed down to all of us: GIGO, Greatness In, Greatness Out. Today she serves as our Chairwoman of the Board, still focused on building a company that lasts for generations and provides good careers for the people in it. Cindy Lesker (Mom 😊), congratulations on 50 years. We could not have done it without you!
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Bryan Myers liked thisBryan Myers liked thisExcited to be on stage at AWNY next week to talk all things social and community! 💙 Gabe Gordon (Reach), Dana Paolucci (Dove) and Amanda Farrand (Upworthy) and I will dive into a conversation around the power of social engagement and community building. The best brands on social aren’t just showing up to talk - they’re listening, participating and hosting a community conversation. Can’t wait to dig into it, share a little of what we’re building at [solidcore] and learn from these other incredible leaders along the way. See you October 6! ✨
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Bryan Myers liked thisBryan Myers liked thisXcel Energy announced a $3.4M investment for Jefferson County Public Schools to acquire six EV school buses and bi-directional charging infrastructure. Really proud of the team's hard work to support our Jeffco communities! Fun fact: These "batteries on wheels" are also grid investments, allowing us to draw power when the customers most need it!
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Bryan Myers reacted on thisBryan Myers reacted on thisWhat an incredible evening celebrating Alex Orfinger at the Deloitte office in #RosslynVA. Looking around the room last night, I couldn't help but smile. Leaders from every corner of our region, representing so many industries, organizations, and communities, came together to celebrate a person who has helped shape all of them. The greatest measure of impact is often the people who show up, and last night was a powerful testament to Alex's legacy. The friendships, partnerships, and respect he has built over the years were on full display, reflecting a career dedicated to strengthening our region and supporting the people and communities that make it such a special place. Grateful to have been part of such a memorable evening and appreciative of all Alex has done for our community. #WashingtonBusinessJournal #ArlingtonVA #DMVLeaders
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Bryan Myers reacted on thisBryan Myers reacted on thisThe fun part about awards is that sometimes the rest of the world catches up to what you've known for years. Congratulations to Warren Thompson on being recognized as CEO of the Year by the Washington Business Journal. His vision, resilience, and commitment to people have created opportunities for thousands and built a company that continues to grow without losing sight of its values. Proud to be on this team. Proud of what we've built. And excited for what's next. #Leadership #CEOOfTheYear https://lnkd.in/eG-JphVEWarren Thompson named WBJ CEO of the Year for 2026 - Washington Business JournalWarren Thompson named WBJ CEO of the Year for 2026 - Washington Business Journal
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Bryan Myers liked thisBryan Myers liked thisTitles are temporary. Relationships aren’t. ⠀ Alex Orfinger offered that reminder last night as a room full of us gathered to celebrate his 30 years as publisher of the Washington Business Journal. ⠀ For most of his adult life, that title had become part of how Alex understood who he was. As he prepares to step away from it, he shared something deeply human. He had wondered whether, without the title, he might somehow lose his place. ⠀ But through this transition, he has come to realize that the things that matter most are still there. The friendships. The relationships. The community he has spent decades contributing to. ⠀ I’ve known Alex for more than 30 years. and what struck me last night was that even in an evening devoted to recognizing him, he gave the rest of us something worth thinking about. ⠀ What Alex’s words reminded me is that a career is about more than the roles we hold. It is also the trust we build, the people we support, the connections we help create, and the institutions we strengthen. ⠀ Many of us in that room have also built relationships with one another over the years through Leadership Greater Washington and across the region’s business and civic community. ⠀ And what I especially loved about his remarks was that they were not really about looking back. Alex is stepping away from one title, not from the relationships, the community, or the work that matters most to him. ⠀ If anything, he now gets to focus even more directly on connecting people and institutions that can make Greater Washington stronger. ⠀ After more than 30 years of friendship, I’m grateful for all Alex has contributed to this region, and very excited to see what he builds next. #StrategyToAction #partneringleadership #leadership #community Partnering Leadership Strategic Leadership Ventures
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Bryan Myers liked thisBryan Myers liked thisLantern found out what 50 minutes under the blue lights is all about last week.💙 Grateful for a team that shows up for each other. A big thank you to Joshua Rainey for organizing, and congrats to him and the [solidcore] team on their continued expansion momentum! #TeamBonding #Solidcore #WorkHardPlayHard
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Bryan Myers reacted on thisBryan Myers reacted on thisThe turnout at Alex Orfinger’s “retirement” party said a great deal about what he means to Washington. So many business leaders from across the region came out to honor him—and I was grateful to be among them. Through his years leading the Washington Business Journal, Alex has helped this business community get to know itself and brought people together in ways that reach well beyond the publication. He has been a friend, mentor and connector for me and for so many others. Seeing that room full of people was a reminder of how much those relationships matter, and how widely his influence is felt. I put “retirement” in quotation marks because anyone who knows Alex knows he can’t sit still. There is plenty more he will do for the DC community, and I look forward to seeing it. Congratulations, Alex, and thank you—for your friendship, your guidance and the people you’ve brought into my life. It was a pleasure to celebrate you. #washingtonbusinessjournal #jubileehousing #leadershipgreaterwashington
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