From High Tech to Local Ownership: StretchLab First Coast on The Owner Seat Podcast
- David Ramos
- Dec 16, 2025
- 5 min read
What happens when a global tech executive decides to bet on local wellness instead of chasing the next gig.
That’s the story behind StretchLab First Coast, and it’s the conversation our owner, David Ramos, recently had on The Owner Seat podcast with host Albert Ramos.
The episode (release December 22, 2025) on YouTube digs into the real story behind our studios in St. Augustine Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Mandarin—the good, the hard, and the hopeful.
🎧 Watch the episode on YouTube:
Why We’re Sharing This
Most people meet StretchLab First Coast on the bench.
You walk in with a tight back, stiff hips, or sore shoulders. You meet a Flexologist. You feel relief. You go on with your day.
What you don’t always see is:
The risk it took to bring assisted stretching to the First Coast
The decisions and numbers behind keeping local studios open and healthy
The faith and perseverance it takes to keep going in the tough seasons
This podcast episode pulls back the curtain a bit—on David’s journey, on the business, and on what we’re really trying to build here in Northeast Florida.
From Tech to StretchLab First Coast
Before StretchLab, David spent years building and leading large-scale tech, data, and AI platforms for companies like Aetna/CVS, Rakuten, and high-growth startups.
Then came a leadership shift and a layoff.
In the episode, David talks about:
How that layoff forced a hard reset on identity and direction
Why he and his family chose to plant deeper roots in the First Coast instead of immediately jumping back into another corporate role
The moment StretchLab shifted from “interesting concept” to “we’re actually going to own studios and put our name on the door”
That setback became a setup for something radically different: a family-owned wellness brand focused on helping people here move, feel, and live better.
Building Multiple Studios on the First Coast
Today, StretchLab First Coast operates multiple studios across the region:
StretchLab St. Augustine Beach
StretchLab Ponte Vedra Beach
StretchLab Atlantic Beach
StretchLab Mandarin
On the podcast, David shares what that journey has really looked like:
The gap between the business plan and day one reality of opening the first studio
Which studio was the hardest to launch or turn around—and why
How each location serves a slightly different mix of people: surfers, golfers, desk workers, pickleball players, retirees, busy parents, and more
Underneath it all is one simple idea:
Flexibility isn’t just physical—it’s making space in your life for the things that matter.
For some members, that means less pain and more play. For others, it’s about recovering from surgery, staying in the game, or being able to keep up with kids and grandkids.
The Numbers Behind the Stretch Bench
We care deeply about how you feel when you walk into the studio—but we also take the business side seriously, because healthy studios stay open and serve more people.
In the episode, David and Albert get into:
The 3–5 key metrics used to run the studios each week (think: active members, utilization, churn, and payroll as a percentage of revenue)
The biggest financial “gut punch” so far—what went wrong, and what changed afterward
How David uses his M&A and due diligence background to look at each studio’s unit economics, not just top-line revenue
If you’re curious what it takes to keep a local wellness studio healthy and growing, this part of the conversation gives a transparent look at the numbers and decisions behind the scenes.
Valley Seasons, Faith, and Finding the “Owner Seat”
Not every month is a record month.
On The Owner Seat, David talks about the valley seasons too:
Months when traffic dips and expenses don’t
Moments where the question “Is this studio going to make it?” feels uncomfortably real
How faith, family support, and community anchors have helped him stay in the owner seat when things get hard
You’ll hear about:
“Faith in the valley” moments where the only option was to keep moving forward
The importance of not letting negativity—external or internal—set the tone for the team
How we coach our staff to own what they can control without carrying all the anxiety of the business
If you’re a small business owner or someone walking through a tough season, these parts of the conversation may resonate deeply.
Where AI, Tech, and In-Person Wellness Meet
One of the unique things about StretchLab First Coast is the mix of cutting-edge tech experience and hands-on wellness.
In the episode, David and Albert explore:
How tools like AI can help with lead follow-up, member retention, and decision-making behind the scenes
Why in-person work—hands-on stretching, conversation, encouragement—is still at the center of what we do
What a future “Owner OS” could look like for franchise and studio operators: a system that integrates data, operations, and human touch instead of creating more noise
For members, this simply means our owner brings a data- and systems-driven mindset to running the studios—so we can make better decisions, serve you more consistently, and keep improving your experience.
What This Means for Our Community
At the end of the day, this podcast isn’t just about business.
It’s about why StretchLab First Coast exists in the first place:
To help people in St. Augustine Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Mandarin move with more ease
To create spaces of restoration, resilience, and renewal, not just quick fixes
To build a business that’s deeply local, creates jobs, and gives back to our community
If you’re already part of the StretchLab First Coast family—thank you.
If you’ve been curious about what we do and why we do it, this episode is a great way to get to know the heart and story behind the studios.
Watch the Episode
🎧 The Owner Seat x StretchLab First Coast
Episode title: From Global Tech Exec to Multi-Unit StretchLab Owner
Host: Albert Ramos, The Owner Seat Podcast
Guest: David Ramos, Owner & President, StretchLab First Coast
👉 Watch on YouTube:
(Look for the episode featuring “David Ramos – StretchLab First Coast”)
Ready to Experience StretchLab First Coast?
If this story resonates and you’re ready to focus on your own mobility and recovery, we’d love to meet you in person.
Learn more about our studios and locations
Book an intro stretch
Ask about corporate wellness or on-site stretching for your company or event
👉 Visit us online: Locations
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