Inside Empire
The Monthly Newsletter of Empire Portfolio Group
October 2026
October Observances
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
All month: pink-out classes, studio fundraisers and local chapter partnerships
Cybersecurity Awareness Month
(aka Jared Lipton Month)
All month: think before you click, report phishing and use strong passwords
World Mental Health Day
Sat, Oct 10: fitness and wellbeing go together. Check in on yourself and your team
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day
Mon, Oct 12: federal holiday. Check your studio hours and the corporate office schedule
First Responders Day
Wed, Oct 28: a day to thank the fire, police and EMS teams in our communities
Halloween
Sat, Oct 31: costume classes and themed workouts, on a Saturday this year
Around the Empire
🍬 Trick or Treating with New Jersey
Twizzlers, Kit Kat, Reese's... a little Halloween spirit and candyology from the New Jersey team.
Sammy as Kesha
Sammy Benes
Favorite Halloween movie
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
Favorite tradition
Making the Halloween Pillsbury cookies and driving around to look at Halloween lights and decorations! Also dressing up and going out with my friends (specifically Hoboken!)
Dressing up this year?
Last year I was Kesha one night and Sharpay from High School Musical the second night! I'm thinking of doing Kesha again, or I might be Aquamarine from the movie!
Favorite candy
🍒 Twizzlers (cherry is the best)
Greg now
A younger Greg
Greg Rubino
Favorite Halloween movie
Halloween, directed by John Carpenter
Favorite tradition
Going pumpkin picking and carving out pumpkin designs. After carving, taking the leftover seeds and roasting them. So good!
Dressing up this year?
I'm coaching on Halloween, so hell yeah I am! I'm usually Captain America or a gorilla lol
Favorite candy
🍫 Kit Kat bars
Her pick: Hocus Pocus
Jacqueline Molloy
Favorite Halloween movie
Hocus Pocus
Favorite tradition
My oldest sister throws a Halloween party every year! I also love trick-or-treating with my nieces and nephews. They get so excited to dress up and fill their bags with candy. Plus, it gives me an excuse to feel like a kid again and walk around the neighborhood with them.
Dressing up this year?
I'll probably throw on some type of animal ears and call it a day!
Favorite candy
🥜 Reese's cups, the only correct answer!
Her pick: Halloweentown
Linda Saleh
Favorite Halloween movie
Halloweentown, the entire series!
Favorite tradition
Making Halloween treats, like chocolate-covered pretzels that look like mummies or cake pops that look like witches' hats.
Dressing up this year?
I'm usually a last-minute costume person, so we'll see what I come up with! Last year I was Wonder Woman, so who knows what this year holds.
Favorite candy
🎃 Reese's, the pumpkin-shaped ones taste betterMovers & Shakers
SB
SiSi Barksdale
Charlotte
⬆️ Multi-Unit Sales & Operations
Promoted
JC
Jordan Carpenter
Connecticut · 3-unit manager
⬆️ Multi-Unit Sales & Operations
Promoted
BG
Brian Guerriero
New Jersey
⬆️ NJ Facilities Coordinator
Promoted
Team Member Showcase
Facilities Delivers
Better Studios in 2026
Members are walking into better studios this year, and that's the work of Ashley and the facilities team: Cassie, Jack, Wes, Matt, Galo and Andy.
13
Studios refreshed
32
Studios with Y‑Bells
65
Treadmills upgraded
37
New HVAC units
🎨
Studio refreshes · 13 studios in 8 states
Hackensack, Brick, Charlotte-Arboretum, Charlotte-South End, Charlotte-Ballantyne, Fort Mill, Westport, Sterling, Reston, North Manchester, Bedford, Burlington and Portland all got refreshed between March and July.
🏋️
Y-Bells · 32 studios
From Vermont to Charlotte, 32 studios now have Y-Bells on the floor.
🏃
Treadmill upgrades · 65 treadmills
65 treadmills moved across our network into Harrisburg, Darien, Foggy Bottom, Shelton and Freehold, so each of those studios now runs on better equipment.
❄️
Budderfly HVAC · 19 studios
New units went in at Hackensack, Ashburn, Rock Hill and South Riding this year. That makes 37 high-efficiency HVAC units running across 19 studios.
The team got it done studio by studio, working side by side with studio staff.
Connecticut Supports The Tommy Fund
Our Connecticut studios came together in September for the All Out donation class for The Tommy Fund, supporting children and families impacted by childhood cancer. The events brought members and local families together while raising awareness for an important cause.
$3,515 raised
NYC Marathon
It's almost time for the New York City Marathon, and a number of runners will represent our team and our members again. Sara Malgieri is taking it on for the second time, running for Team for Kids. They raise money for youth fitness programs and give more kids access to physical activity.
Want to support Sara? Every donation helps. See you out there, runners!
❤️ Donate to Sara's Run
Want to support Sara? Every donation helps. See you out there, runners!
❤️ Donate to Sara's Run
A Few Fun Facts — Widow's Bay Edition
Have you watched Widow's Bay yet? If not, what are you doing? Coaching and making sales... ok, that's fine. It's the perfect October binge. Here are a few fun facts. 👻
🦈
Jaws
Tom's house was built as a deliberate copy of Chief Brody's house, right down to the matching kitchen curtains and light fixtures.
🏚️
Psycho
The Breakwater Inn's exterior is a nod to the Bates house. The cupola was added in post-production to complete the look.
🪓
The Shining
Tom hears a party through the radiator while alone in the Captain's Suite. The hotel's blue Victorian damask wallpaper is a second tribute.
🎈
IT
The killer clown Tom meets in the hotel crawlspace is a straight Pennywise homage.
🏝️
Lost
The sacrifice videos Dale finds were modeled on the Dharma Initiative orientation films.
👑
Carrie
Patricia's tiara in episode 4 mirrors the prom queen crown, and the book club members play the mean girls.
📶
Location
OTbeat wouldn't work on the island. They don't have wifi!
🍊
Your turn
Got a better one? Send it in for next month.
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