Siblings-in-law Makayla Payne and Evan Hurn are the new owners of Sequim’s Anytime Fitness, 10131 Old Olympic Highway.
The Sequim High grads transitioned from employees to owners of the franchise after completing a deal with Art and Erin Green — also SHS graduates — about a month ago.
“It was not part of the plan at all,” Payne said, laughing.
“Somewhere along the way we got into the entrepreneurial spirit,” Hurn said.
“It was a win-win for everybody. We were basically managing the club already and they were ready to move on.”
Payne (nee Bentz) was a freshman on SHS’s state 2A title winning softball team in 2011 and was the Olympic League MVP in her senior season (2014). In looking to complete her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Central Washington University, she needed an internship. So in the summer of 2018, she started at Anytime Fitness.
Hurn, a standout for Sequim High’s baseball squad who after graduation in 2016 starred at Edmonds Community College squad (third in NWAC in 2018) along with stints at Marshall and the Port Angeles Lefties, admitted he wasn’t at Marshall University to focus on the degree, but that health science “was something I was passionate about.”
He came to work at Anytime Fitness as the COVID pandemic kicked into full gear (June 2020), simultaneously holding down a stocking position at Costco as he saved money to buy a house. In August 2021 he married Makayla’s sister, McKenzie.
The deal to switch ownership from AEG Fitness to PH Fitness (DBA Anytime Fitness-Sequim) was about a year in the works, Hurn said.
He said the Greens have been extremely helpful to understand the management side of running the business.
“They’ve been super helpful along the way; we’re very fortunate to have their support,” Payne said.
“We wouldn’t have been able to do this without them.”
Erin Green, who co-owned the facility with her husband Art for seven years, said they were considering a change as their youngest child (Keenan, now a junior at Sequim High) approached graduation.
The timing, everything … seemed good,” Green said. “They’re young, energetic. They were just tailor-made for this.”
In the gym
Hurn said the Sequim exercise facility will continue to offer plenty of ways for users to get fit.
“Art and Erin, and (previous owners) Jay and Heidi (Bryan) before them, did a great job of building a great atmosphere. I don’t see any major changes,” he said.
Though it has about 1,000 active users, Sequim’s Anytime Fitness still has a feeling of familiarity, Payne said.
“Everybody knows everybody, not just for us but the members,” she said. “[It’s for] all fitness levels, all different ages.”
In addition to the variety of exercise machines and free weights, workout rooms, mats and other equipment, along with coaching and personalized fitness plans, Hurn said they are excited about rolling out a new group program that takes a holistic approach to fitness. Anytime Fitness users can be part of one of two groups — one includes “active aging” participants who may move at a slower pace — that also offers nutrition guidance.
He said the business is also working on a phone app to provide exercise motivation and accountability.
“Anytime Fitness has been a staple in the Sequim community … [and] as a franchise, is growing; it’s not staying stagnant.”
He said the parent company offers monthly meetings with a consultant to offer advice on marketing and programs.
The Sequim facility is available for members 24/7 by way of key fobs. Staffed hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Thursday, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Fridays.
The staff includes trainer Patrick McCrorie, another Sequim High graduate.
A number of current Sequim High athletes use the facility every day of the week.
Payne and Hurn both said they feel comfortable being family members who co-own a business.
“I feel like we’re both easy-going,” Payne said.
“We have a lot of the same values,” Hurn said.
Erin Green said she and Art were happy to be able to pass on ownership to two individuals with deep Sequim roots.
“[They are] very, very community-minded,” she said.
I feel like they’re going to run things very similarly. The members all know them, have worked with them. The timing felt right.”
Green said she’ll miss connecting with members at Anytime Fitness.
“But I’m not going anywhere; I’ll still be around.”
PhotoS courtesy of Anytime Fitness-Sequim Evan Hurn and Makayla Payne, new owners of the Anytime Fitness Sequim business, are both Sequim High graduates.
Sequim’s Anytime Fitness facility offers a variety of cardio machines and ellipticals, free weights and other exercise equipment, as well as group classes and coaching.
