Gary Heavin

Gary Heavin (born c. 1955) is a Texas businessman. He is the founder and Chairman of the fitness chain Curves International.

Career

Heavin dropped out of college at age 20 and took over a failing fitness center in Houston, Texas. Along with his brother David, they built the business into a chain of 14 locations. He was a millionaire by age 25 but then lost it all by age 30 he filed for bankruptcy.[1]

After his first marriage, Heavin was sentenced to jail for failure to pay child support. While in jail he rededicated his life to Christian values, and he has been outspoken about his support for pro-life causes.[2][3]

In 2004 Heavin was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. According to Guinness World Records, Heavin's company Curves is the fastest growing franchise ever. He is also the author of several books, including New York Times best sellers Curves: Permanent Results Without Permanent Dieting and Curves On the Go.

Heavin and his second wife Diane opened their first Curves center in 1992[4] in Harlingen, Texas. Diane Heavin is an exercise enthusiast and advertising executive, and diane Magazine, affiliated with Curves, bears her name. Curves is now based in Waco, Texas; it once had over 10,000 locations and is still is the largest fitness chain in the world.[4] Since selling Curves to North Castle Partners a Private Equity Company, Curves franchises have closed at an alarming rate. North America is now the home of approximately 1,400 Curves franchises in the U.S. However, Curves is highly successful in international markets with locations in 90 countries. With over 1600 locations in Japan, half of all gyms in that country are Curves.

They currently reside in a small community called Mound in central Texas. On April 3, 2011 Gary and his wife Diane were featured on ABC's show Secret Millionaire where they gave away $410,000. They built and operate an orphanage in India near the slums of Mumbai. Gary as a pilot, flys food and medical supplies into Haiti. They feed an estimated 10000 children a day in Haiti and Central America.

Gary and Diane have recently began to produce "movies that make a difference." Mission Air is a Christian movie that has been available since 2013. Amerigeddon is an action adventure film that appears in theaters May 13th.

References

  1. ↑ "Curves reshapes the style of women's fitness clubs". Seattle Times. November 25, 2004. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Curve Ball". Salon.com. May 19, 2004. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  3. ↑ Rosen, Ruth (April 29, 2004). "What's wrong with Curves?". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  4. 1 2 "What I read". USA Today. May 3, 2007. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
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