Richard Synnott

Vice President

Simply stated, Rich Synnott is one of the most successful and experienced leaders the industry has ever seen. With over 40 years of experience successfully operating entities throughout New England, Rich has led industry giants such as Weymouth Club, The Works, Cederdale, Healthpoint, and Upper Valley Aquatic Center to nationally recognized prominence. His achievements in navigating both for-profit and non-profit facilities have been recognized as he’s been a featured speaker at industry conferences, written numerous articles for business and trade publications, and served as President of New England Health and Racquet Sports Association overseeing 400 facilities throughout the region. Rich’s reputation for generating revenue, containing expenses, and attaining profit is unmatched as evident by his impeccable track record for success.

States Active Entities Founder Bobby Verdun: “If our industry had a Hall of Fame Rich would clearly be in it. His ability to inspire, educate, and communicate is the best I’ve ever worked with”.

Mel Tempest

Senior Partner

Mel Tempest is a mover, a shaker, and international treasure who has spearheaded results wherever she has gone. Founder of the Gym Owners’ Fitness Business Network and Podcast, and owner of the Ignite Fitness Business events throughout Australia and Asia, Mel is considered one of the most innovative and successful leaders that the industry has ever seen. A consultant for business owners and operators of all levels, Mel has a unique talent for transforming business challenges into innovative solutions that deliver profitable results. A passionate key-note speaker, Mel is known for her hard-hitting, brutally honest, and game-changing delivery that inspires participants and ignites results.

Mel’s journey began in 2003 as she created and opened Body and Soul then in 2005 opened Australia’s first men’s only gym WizeGuys. Her passion for innovation was recognized in 2017 as she became the first Australian to win an IHRSA scholarship as Mel’s club, the Ballarat, was recognized for its excellence being a finalist for the prestigious Smart Company Award. Later that year Mel founded two dynamic podcsts: The Gym Owners’ Fitness Business Podcast and the Women’s Leaders Fitness Business Podcast, which quickly garnered over one million hits.

States Active Entities Founder Bobby Verdun:
“Mel stirs the heart and inspires imagination. She defines all that our industry should represent as her energy, passion for supporting others, and ability to provoke change is unmatched. She brings it, expects it, and finds it in everybody who is lucky to work with her.”

Pam Wetherbee-Metcalf

Senior Partner

Pam joins Active Entities as a proven leader and innovator, bringing with her a tremendous wealth of sport/fitness facility and recreation program management experience. Throughout her career, Pam has managed and directed multiple sports/recreation/fitness facilities on behalf of four different universities since 1996. This has resulted in her honing her expertise in the areas of facility daily operations, customer care, policy formation, personnel management, budget management, risk
management, student-development theory, programs design, renovation, capital project management, maintenance and new construction. She has also had the unique opportunity to oversee the day to day operations and management of 3 multi-use air structure facilities (permanent and seasonal) and more recently was selected to be on the project team for a fourth air structure as part of a large multi-purpose field complex.

Additionally, Pam has managed 4 competition aquatics throughout the east coast. Pam initiated chloramine mitigation initiatives on two of them – systems that were proven to be essential in creating exceptional member experiences. Her attention to detail resulted in being chosen to lead several external reviews of Athletics/Recreation departments throughout the East Coast.

Pam earned her bachelor’s degree in Sports, Fitness and Leisure Studies at Salem State University and her master’s degree in Sport Management from the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama. She also has a storied athletic career resulting in being inducted into four Halls of Fame as a member of the 1986 Women’s Basketball National Championship Team at Salem State University:

States Founder Bobby Verdun: “P-Dubs’ ability to identify pathways for College and University centers to overcome challenges has proven to profoundly impact every facility she’s worked with. Her attention to detail, insightfulness, and versatile experience, particularly with developing new facilities or rehabbing tired facilities, has resulted in millions of dollars of cost savings for clients. Without question, Pam is an expert in this very specific space and a valuable resource for any Director looking to improve their current program.”

Brian Goodman

Partner

Brian Goodman has spent over 20 years at the intersection of innovation and entrepreneurial thinking; data analytics and modeling; and “triple helix” partnership development between government industry and academia.In addition to this consultant work, Brian has acted as the Innovation and Systems Manager for the City of Boston as well as the Director of Corporate Relations at Boston University.

Brian has extensive knowledge in market and consumer research, consumer profiling, business modeling and analytics, often in R, ranging from large-scale object-based modeling; statistical analysis; financial modeling and complex system modeling using system dynamics platforms such as Stella or Vensim. Brian also has extensive experience assessing opportunities and developing go-to-market strategies for new initiatives and has worked with over 50 new start-ups or corporate initiatives in building business cases and executing early-stage market strategies.

Brian earned his MBA in entrepreneurship from Babson College in Wellesley, MA, and holds a degree in Business Administration from UMASS Amherst. Additional studies on business, innovation and systems dynamics have been completed at MIT, Harvard, and the University Of Manchester in England.

States Active Entities Founder Bobby Verdun: “There is nobody in the industry who possesses the background and knowledge Brian has with regards to statistical analysis and financial modeling. His ability to translate a vision to numbers is incredible and his feel for the industry is significant. Most importantly, Brian’s ability to communicate his findings to our clients, no matter how complicated they may be, in a way they understand them is amazing. He’s one-of-a-kind and someone I’m so happy is part of our team.”

Cindy Scibetta-Butts

Partner

Cindy Scibetta-Butts is a passionate professional obsessed with health and wellbeing while providing opportunities for personal and professional development for executives around the country. Cindy launched her coaching and consulting business, Grow with Strengths, in early 2018. Her coaching and facilitator style is energetic and thoughtful because she believes that learning works best when it’s enjoyable and relevant to our lives. To that end, Cindy prides herself in creating safe places for people to be vulnerable as they explore the growth journeys that she leads. The result is hundreds of professionals who have improved both personal and company productivity while decreasing stress and anxiety.

Cindy is an experienced Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and an ACE Certified Coach. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BA in Interpersonal Communications and French and lives with her husband in Barrington.

States Active Entities Vice President Rich Synnott: “Working with Cindy helped make me better understand my executive strengths and weaknesses to better manage the people around me. I have used her tools to help my staff to better understand and communicate with me and each other to foster a high performing organization.”

Mary Falkenstern

Partner

Mary is an Executive Communication Coach and Voice Expert with over ten years of experience coaching, facilitating and consulting leaders and organizations around the world. As an Executive Trainer and highly sought after Communication Coach, Mary has worked with leading executives from Fortune 100 and 500 companies. She has delivered dynamic presentations and trainings at national and international conferences. She is the founder of Speak Sense, a boutique communication coaching firm specializing in high potential talent.

Mary holds a Masters Degree in Speech-Language Pathology, with a specialized focus in the Professional Speaking Voice. She trained extensively at Mass General Hospital’s renowned Voice Center, an affiliate of Harvard and MIT.

A classically trained actor, seasoned comedic improvisor and Registered Yoga Teacher, Mary brings a deeply diverse skillset to her clients.

States Active Entities Founder Bobby Verdun: “I am beyond excited to have Mary join our team. Communication is arguably the most important skill set in any team setting and to have an expert with such a winning track record as a resource for our clients is a remarkable find. I cannot wait to see the results Mary will create throughout the industry.”

Tinashe Musakanye

Partner/ Business Development for Australia and New Zealand

Tinashe Musakanye is a seasoned operations and management expert who leads our business development efforts in Australia and New Zealand. For over ten years, Tinashe has had proven success developing and leading organizations throughout China, New Zealand, and Australia. Known for his dynamic energy and business savvy, Tinashe graduated from the Queensland University of Technology and earned his MBA/concentration in Management from the prestigious Brisbane University.

States Founder Bobby Verdun: “We are incredibly lucky to have connected with Tinashe Musakanye!! His dynamic leadership style combined with his passion for the industry makes him a remarkable collaborator. We look forward to seeing him bring Active Entities’ methodology to Australia! ”

Nicole Freddo

Events and Speaking Coordinator/Consultant

Nicole comes to Active Entities with a background in hospitality and special event planning as well as has served as an intern at Active Entities for several months working with boutique studios and specialty clubs. Nicole played a key role in the success of the sold out live symposiums Active Entities put forth in 2020 and will look to expand on that role moving forward. Nicole is a standout athlete having played multiple sports throughout High School and is a standout basketball player for Salem State University.

States Founder Bobby Verdun: “Nicole is exactly what our industry needs right now as she has such tremendous feel for people, a creative program and marketing mind, and an unmatched work ethic that produces wins and results for our clients. Nicole’s energy, competitive spirit, and problem solving skills make her a terrific asset to anyone who is lucky to work with her.”

Jenn Nickerson

Website Designer

Jenn has lived on the North Shore of Massachusetts for 15 years and has spent 12 of those years developing websites for everyone from local non-profits to national brands. Her passion is to give each client the tools they need to maximize their web presence to its fullest potential.

States Active Entities Founder Bobby Verdun
“Jenn is a true artist who combines her ability to make things look amazing with being one of the most knowledgeable web designers in the industry. She’s the perfect collaborator as she can take a vision and bring it to life! Most importantly, she is an absolute joy to work with!!”

Genevieve Myers

Social Media Director

Genevieve grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine and has spent every summer in Sandy Cove, Nova Scotia. She lived in New York for 11 years working as an actress and singer, and recently moved to Atlanta, Georgia to continue her creative work. While living in New York, Genevieve also ran her own small holistic wellness business as a Certified Medical Reiki Practitioner and Certified Life Coach. She is certified to give Reiki in OR during surgery, as well as pre-op, post-op, and hospice. She has worked with many cancer patients, survivors, and their caretakers while working as a Medical Reiki Practitioner and continues to support the movement.

Genevieve received a Digital Marketing Certificate from Columbia Business School, and helps support wellness businesses, and small theater companies through managing their social media platforms. She works with businesses to build social media platforms that are tailored to their authentic brand or experience. Genevieve is excited to continue her work as a creative and is passionate about creating a healthier, happy environment for everyone!

States Active Entities Founder Bobby Verdun:
“The essence of great social media comes from having the ability to tell a story people will want to see and hear about. Genevieve possesses the perfect blend of industry experience, performing arts background, and incredible passion to make a difference in the lives of others. Not only will you get results from what Genevieve does, you’ll absolutely LOVE working with her!… We certainly do!!”

Sofia S. Lingos, Esq.

Advisory Board Partner

Sofia S. Lingos, Esq. is the founding and managing attorney of Trident Legal, a Boston based law firm providing innovative transactional legal services to small business and start-ups. Selected services include: business formation and limiting liability, licensing, financing and capitalization, securities compliance, franchising (franchiser and franchisee), buying and selling a business, corporate compliance, contract drafting and review, industry compliance, employment matters, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and exit strategies. Her goal is to ensure that her clients are always represented throughout every aspect of the business lifecycle.

She is involved with numerous professional and philanthropic organizations where she holds various leadership positions. She is widely published and a consistent invited speaker in the national arena on the topics of business, entrepreneurship, innovation, access to justice and law practice management. She loves to get out from behind her desk and pursue many active endeavors.

She has received several awards and honors highlighting her professional achievements including being selected as Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly 2022 Go-To Business Attorney; the American Bar Association’s Top 40 Young Lawyers; New England Super Lawyer Rising Star consecutively since 2013 (recognizing the top 2.5% of attorneys); Top Women in the Law consecutively since 2013; Mass Lawyers Weekly Excellence in the Law recipient; Greek America’s Forty Under 40; and the Distinguished Alumni award from her undergraduate alma matter.

States Active Entities Owner Bobby Verdun:
“Sofia has a wealth of experience in the Fitness/Wellness space and is familiar with all the unique nuances the industry brings forth. We feel so lucky to be able to bring forth Sofia and have her available to support clients and future clients as they move forward with their dreams of owning their own fitness business”.

In Memoriam: Geoff Hampton 1952-2021

Throughout his career Geoff was known as one of the top speakers in the industry as he has presented to “full houses” at conferences for over 40 years. Additionally, he authored management and wellness columns for websites such as Fitness Management, Fitcommerce, and World Gym as well having his unique community wellness initiatives featured on television and newspapers around the country.

States Active Entities Founder Bobby Verdun:
“There isn’t a successful leader in our industry who didn’t feel the impact of Geoff Hampton. His passion for the industry, support of independent owners, and his ability to communicate set a standard of excellence that hundreds of successful entities followed. He was the very best best of the best and we were so fortunate to have him in our lives. While he is no longer with us, the impact he had on others will live on forever.”