[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Next Gen: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_color=”#3a3f54″ custom_padding=”2%|0px|2%|0px||” locked=”off” collapsed=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Time of Covid Row: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.5.1″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”15px|0px|22px|0px||” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||” custom_width_px=”1280px”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”NextGenRadio” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_font=”Oswald|||||on|||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”60px” header_letter_spacing=”5px” header_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_2_font_size=”27px” header_2_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”600px” module_alignment=”center”]<\/p>\n
Finding, coaching and training public media’s next generation.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”In the time of COVID: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#4cbbf8″ header_2_font_size=”37px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”600px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”87px|||||”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Texts: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”18px” header_font=”Oswald||||” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”600px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-30px|||” locked=”off”]is a set of audio and digital stories highlighting the experiences of people whose lives have changed dramatically during the pandemic. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/kfJgyTZA5Sw” admin_label=”YouTube Video” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”16px”]<\/p>\n Daniel Marks is the owner of a private gym in South Florida. The pandemic forced him to stop in-person training sessions. He found a way to stay in business by allowing his clients to take home his gym equipment and exercise virtually. Now, he\u2019s back training in-person, and he\u2019s enforcing safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”HERO IMAGE OPTION 1: Background image: DELETE IF NOT NEEDED” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/01\/Amber_Gym_Story_web.png” background_blend=”multiply” custom_margin=”-2px|||||” custom_padding=”12%||39.4%|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”6px||3px|||”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”3px||6px|||”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Illustrator credit” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Illustration by Natalia Polanco<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”7px||35px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_post_title date=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”Oswald||||||||” title_font_size=”42px” title_letter_spacing=”2px” title_line_height=”1.2em” meta_text_color=”#04a3e3″ meta_font_size=”18px”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n Daniel Marks, the owner of a private gym in South Florida, hustles to save his business by loaning out his equipment and providing virtual workout sessions during the coronavirus pandemic.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cHow am I going to continue to operate and run my business even though I’m shut down physically?\u201d Daniel Marks, the owner of Exclusive Performance gym near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said he asked the day he had to close down his business.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_audio audio=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/01\/AmberMaster.mp3″ title=”Gym owner keeps clients exercising and business alive after shutting down” artist_name=”Amber Amortegui” album_name=”Next Generation Radio | Florida Newsroom | January 2021″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#3251a3″][\/et_pb_audio][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”4px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n The coronavirus pandemic forced Broward County gyms to shut down from mid-March to May, making them among the hardest-hit industries in 2020. Marks complied with the county\u2019s orders and closed his gym, but he knew he had to figure out a way to still train his clients to maintain his livelihood.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Break here” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n The day he was forced to close, he sent a mass text to his clients letting them know his game plan.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI took out my pen and paper and said, \u2018Listen, we’re going to create a contract. I’m going to have all you guys sign it, and you’re going to rent out the equipment,\u201d he said. \u201c\u2018The moment you rent out the equipment, it’s your responsibility.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Marks owns two Exclusive Performance gyms in South Florida. He scheduled one five-hour time slot in each location so every client could pick up equipment that day. When the time slot at the first gym finished, he drove half an hour to his other location.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n His clients waited outside as he called them in one-by-one to take out any equipment they needed according to the fitness plan Marks created specifically for them. He loaned out barbells, benches, weight plates, sandbags, medicine balls, and anything else that could be physically carried out of the facility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If clients returned the equipment damaged, or didn\u2019t return it at all, then Marks planned to charge their credit cards however much the equipment cost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis is my life savings, and it is a lot of money that’s invested,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I had everything leave, it was very disheartening. It was, wow, I don’t know if I’m ever going to get this back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/01\/Amber01.jpg” alt=”Daniel Marks standing next to gym equipment.” title_text=”Amber01″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.7.7″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Daniel Marks is the owner of Exclusive Performance gym in South Florida. (Photo by Amber Amortegui)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A standard barbell could cost anywhere from $100 to $500, not including the weights. Collectively, other pieces of equipment could cost up to $12,000.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Once his clients had the equipment they needed, he started hosting virtual training sessions on video conference platforms like Zoom, Facetime, and WhatsApp. Marks didn\u2019t charge patrons any more or any less than what they were paying for training before the pandemic. He figured it wasn\u2019t their fault they couldn\u2019t workout at his gym, and it wasn\u2019t his fault he couldn\u2019t allow them to enter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPeople were very skeptic because, \u2018Hey, my house is dirty,\u2019 or \u2018Don’t mind my dogs. I’m training and here comes my dog or cat running across the screen,\u2019\u201d Marks said.<\/span><\/p>\n He changed his style of training by relying on verbal cues and sometimes demonstrating the exercises on camera.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn’t something that I would enjoy doing because I’m more of a hands-on, person-to-person,\u201d he said. \u201cI need to see what’s going on in order to be able to make the adjustment and get you moving in an optimal way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He was worried these virtual sessions wouldn\u2019t work for his clients.<\/span><\/p>\n “When I saw people enjoying their workouts, I saw them constantly getting on the video conferencing, it made me feel so much better,\u201d Marks said. \u201cI’m like, \u2018Wow, they’re going to enjoy this enough to where we’re going to have good success with this. But I don’t want this to go too long because I want them to return to a [gym] that they miss.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Marks continued virtual training sessions for more than two months until Broward County gave gyms the green light to reopen for in-person training. That same day, he said he contacted his clientele and gave them 24 hours to return everything he loaned to them.<\/span><\/p>\n To his surprise, he said everyone brought back all of his equipment in one piece.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat moment of relief, \u2018Wow, I’m still able to do my livelihood,\u2019 and \u2018Wow, everyone’s still coming back,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n In addition to getting all his equipment back, Marks has been able to stay in business without applying for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.<\/span><\/p>\n But things didn\u2019t necessarily go back to the way they were before the pandemic. Now, back in-person, Marks has started enforcing safety precautions like wearing masks, sanitizing equipment, and asking people to bring their own towels. He advised everyone of the new protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through a mass text.<\/span><\/p>\n Marks told his clients to let him know if they\u2019ve been exposed to the virus or if they\u2019re not feeling well. When two of his clients tested positive for COVID-19, they told him and didn\u2019t go to the gym. Once they recovered and tested negative, Marks welcomed them back.<\/span><\/p>\n Marks isn\u2019t hosting any virtual training sessions now that his gym is operating in-person. It\u2019s a \u2018new normal\u2019 for him and his clients. Still, the pandemic has changed him, his gym, and the relationship with his gym family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDuring tough times, people do come together, people are willing to sacrifice … being at home and training and working out with my own equipment,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I know if you’re going to do that, then we’re pretty much coach and athlete\u2013or trainer and client\u2013\u2013for life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/01\/Amber02.jpg” alt=”Weighted plates on a rack at a gym” title_text=”Amber02″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.7.7″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”600px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Marks loaned weighted plates and exercise bands to his clients while his gym was shut down because of the pandemic. (Photo by Amber Amortegui)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/01\/Amber04.jpg” alt=”Gym owner disinfects workout bench” title_text=”Amber04″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”600px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Marks and his staff frequently sanitize all the equipment at Exclusive Performance gym to prevent the spread of COVID-19. <\/span>(Photo by Amber Amortegui)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/WnQQF2HAJz4″ admin_label=”Video 2: workout” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”992px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Ariana Reyes, a competitive weightlifter, completes her exercise routine as Marks coaches her from a distance at his gym, Exclusive Performance, on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. <\/span>(Video by Amber Amortegui)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Footer – DO NOT EDIT BELOW HERE” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_image=”https:\/\/flnewsroom2021.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2020\/09\/water_footer_wusf.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_module=”44″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”Footer Row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px||” animation_style=”fade” make_fullwidth=”on”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”100px|10%|100px|10%” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Oswald||||” link_font=”||||||||” ul_font=”||||||||” ol_font=”||||||||” quote_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#04a3e3″ header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_font_size=”40px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” header_2_line_height=”1.5em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||4%|” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Texts” _builder_version=”4.6.3″ text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_text_color=”#DCA57D” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#DCA57D” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||6%|” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n\u201cIn the Time of COVID-19\u201d<\/h2>\n
About NextGenRadio<\/h2>\n