Business Spotlight: For Curves, Community Involvement As Important As Fitness

By Rochelle Karina
When Barbara Drane took over the Severna Park Curves location, she realized the club already had an active clientele and an involved community. She also realized that to fulfill the Curves mission to strengthen women, she’d have to continue reaching out into the local community.

In 2008, the club was renovated, remodeled and upgraded for a more modern image, and just last December they added another 1,000 square feet of floor space. The traditional Curves formula, a 30-minute circuit that covers all five components of a complete workout is being added to. The Severna Park club is now featuring Zumba Fitness, offering more cardio, and longer more intense workouts. And if that isn’t enough, this summer they will be introducing a new weight management program as well. The advantage of the Curves system is, unlike most fitness clubs where you pay extra for a personal trainer, here your coach is part of the program and they’re on duty all the time.
Drane has made community involvement as much a part of her business as fitness. Curves participates in the American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer awareness program, and in March they worked with SPAN donating over 2,000 pounds of food during the food drive. They have contributed to Saint Jude, worked with schools to help provide supplies, donated items to deployed military and sponsored numerous walks, and offered free memberships, all in the name of community.
“Severna Park thinks of itself as a village,” explains Drane. “The charity events we do are integrated into the community. We offer unity between community and business, all growing together.”
Drane explains that at Curves women find a supportive environment and a staff that is committed to the best service possible. Staff members take great pride in the fact they walk clients through the entire workout and are present at all times to answer questions.
“You have one on one service available at all times,” states Drane proudly.
The Severna Park location is run by Drane and manager Katie Huerta, who have a big message to convey. “We have an identity within this community and we are growing together with the community.”
Curves can be found at 474 Ritchie Highway in Severna Park.