South Windsor Top Business Nominee: THE MAX Challenge

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — Recently, South Windsor Patch asked readers to nominate their favorite local business for Business of the Year. Many South Windsor businesses have managed to navigate the turbulence of 2020 with steadfast determination and an unwavering commitment to the clients they serve.

THE MAX Challenge of South Windsor CT, located in the Wapping Shopping Center, is owned by Kim Lachapelle and her husband John. Although Kim runs the day-to-day business, John plays a very important role behind the scenes.

The couple had been searching for years to find the right business where Kim could incorporate all of her retail management, leadership coaching and health and wellness experience into one place. When they found THE MAX, they knew they found the perfect spot. The difference THE MAX of South Windsor CT is making not only in people’s lives, but in the community, is huge.

Several readers sang the praises of THE MAX Challenge; here are a few excerpts.

• "Like many other small businesses, the MAX Challenge of South Windsor has faced many challenges since the pandemic started in March 2020. The MAX Challenge is not your regular gym. It's a place where you can transform your mind, body and spirit through daily exercise, a nutrition plan, power talks, seminars, opportunities to give back to the community and as much individual attention as you need to reach your goals. Because the MAX Challenge community is so unique in those ways, it relies on the face to face contact, high fives and hugs that THE MAX culture is so well known for. Or so we thought. In the face of adversity, owner Kim Lachapelle has stepped up in huge and amazing ways to not only keep her business afloat, but to keep her commitment to her members. Seemingly overnight, she transformed her business in countless ways from a place where you went in person to exercise, see your MAX friends and get the support that you need, to a place that offers multiple live virtual classes a day, in center socially distant classes with masks (as defined by state regulations), outside classes, a host of new recorded workouts to choose from every day, virtual kickoffs and end of challenge celebrations, outside classes to raise money for worthy local causes, virtual 5K training plans, healthy recipes, daily Facebook live talks to keep her members informed, extra challenges and opportunities to win various giveaways. Kim also offered members that stuck with her when she was forced to close her doors a significantly reduced monthly membership fee. Throughout this pandemic, Kim has done a tremendous job of asking for employee and member input and is constantly changing and evolving to meet the needs of her members while strictly adhering to state regulations." - Sharon Saylor
• "I was invited to the MAX Challenge of South Windsor for a free class in September 2019. After the very invigorating class we had a nutritional session. The entire team was very friendly, you could feel the energy and love and right away I knew that I wanted to be part of this team. I can’t say enough about the owner, Kim Liddle LaChapelle. When COVID took over she went and still is going above and beyond for her members. I have taken outside classes in the rain and sunshine, live zoom classes with some of the best instructors who motivate you to keep going. This team is very deserving of this nomination. Take it to the MAX!" - Juliet Relph
• "Kim is an amazing humanitarian. She's part of the Hunger Action team in South Windsor, and she was very sympathetic when the coronavirus pandemic hit. She held classes near the gazebo and provided all equipment and comfort levels they needed - and all free." - Claudia Bernstein

Lachapelle told Patch, "It's amazing - our membership is second to none, so it doesn't surprise me that they're nominating us, but it does feel validating in this time we've been in these last nine months. People can see we're doing everything possible to ensure the health and wellness of our community."

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