Mike Gaglione, a new franchise owner in Sutton Square, North Carolina, knew from his first visit that Redline Athletics would be a perfect fit for his family and community. We asked Mike about what appealed to him about opening a Redline Athletics Center –– and what it was like to do so during a pandemic.
Why did you choose to get involved with Redline Athletics?
It really felt like a mom-and-pop operation at heart! I knew this would be a perfect match for the Raleigh area and what I was looking for. I have four kids who are all into sports, and I just felt like it would be so great to give them –– and other kids in the area –– the opportunity to develop their skills year-round in this kind of environment.
What specifically attracted you to a Redline Athletics franchise?
I could tell from the first time I walked in that Redline was about putting athletes first. I think other athletic centers or sports programs geared toward young athletes can sometimes feel like a bit of a money grab, and maybe not always focused on safe, age-appropriate body movement and training. With Redline, I knew I’d be able to train developing athletes in a way that puts their health first and emphasizes injury prevention –– especially overuse injuries.
I knew that finding the right space would be important. We found a great location and then right after we signed the lease, we basically had to sit on it for 10 months while people were getting a handle on the COVID-19 situation. That was hard. The site looked amazing and we were so excited to get going, but we just had to wait.
I have to tell you, though, that everyone at Redline was so great to us every step of the way. They’d already put us in touch with great vendors and loan providers, and they were amazingly patient. We’re so thankful for the patience and grace everyone at Redline showed us while we were waiting to open.
What kind of background does your staff have?
Meghan, our Director of Business Development, has over 10 years of teaching experience and a strong background in playing youth sports. Remember that mom-and-pop feel I was talking about? She’s also my sister!
Nick Shuping, our Director of Sports Performance, is a North Carolina native. He graduated from UNC Charlotte with his bachelor’s in Exercise Science, where he also played and coached football. He previously worked at Redline Athletics in Cary as a Sports Performance Specialist. Nick now comes from North Carolina Central University, where he held the position of Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistant while he pursued his Masters of Kinesiology in Sports Administration. At NCCU, Nick was in charge of designing and implementing the training programs for the softball and volleyball teams, while also assisting with football, baseball, men’s basketball, and track and field.
Abby Dunkin, our Lead Sports Performance Specialist, began training with the San Antonio ParaSport Spurs Wheelchair Basketball Team in 2015 and was recruited by the University of Texas at Arlington’s Lady Movin’ Mavs where she helped the team win their first national title in 2016. After only a few months with the Movin’ Mavs, she was selected for the U.S. national team, which won gold at the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto, CA. In 2016, she was part of the U.S. team at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, winning a paralympic gold medal. She retired from wheelchair basketball after the Tokyo 2020 postponement and now calls North Carolina home, and she loves using her Kinesiology degree and athletic experience to help others reach their goals –– on and off the court.
Devin Burrowes, our Sports Performance Specialist, Coach Devin is a former New York native who brings his knowledge and expertise to the Raleigh area. Devin is a former walk-on for the LIU Post Men’s Basketball team. He made the decision to transfer and pursue his degree in Exercise Science at SUNY Brockport. It was during his undergraduate studies at Brockport that he decided to get into coaching. During his time in school, Devin has had the opportunity to assist in the design and implementation of training programs for various sports across all age groups, including those at the professional level. Since finishing his undergraduate studies, he has earned his CSCS and CPT certifications, and we love the no-athlete-left-behind mentality he brings to Redline.
What are some of your goals for your first year open?
Right now we’re mostly excited about spreading the word that we’re finally open! We’re going to run some contests and promotions, like an AirPods giveaway, and just let people know we’re here.
If you have a passion for helping young athletes develop their confidence, grow as athletes and achieve their goals, learn how you can join a thriving industry as a Redline Athletics franchisee. Click here for more info: https://redline-athletics-franchise.landify.io/.
