Gymnastics Academy Finds Security for Future Growth

Suncoast Gymnastics Academy Inc. of Pasco County

For more than four decades, Arnold Gwinn has helped young athletes across Pasco County build confidence, strength and discipline through gymnastics. What began as a single location has grown into a thriving multi-location operation serving hundreds of families, and with guidance from the Florida SBDC at USF, the business recently achieved a milestone that is positioning it for long-term success: ownership of its flagship facility.

Founded more than 41 years ago, Suncoast Gymnastics Academy has become a staple in the local youth sports community. The company now operates a 30,000-square-foot flagship facility along with two additional 10,000-square-foot locations in Pasco County and over 100 employees, offering preschool and recreational gymnastics, competitive gymnastics, ninja programs, dance classes, and competitive trampoline and tumbling.

For Gwinn, gymnastics has been a lifelong passion. “I did do gymnastics in high school. That led to me getting good enough where I was able to get a gymnastics scholarship,” Gwinn said. “After I graduated, I wanted to pursue a career coaching.”

After beginning his coaching career at Suncoast Gymnastics Academy, Gwinn eventually purchased the business from its previous owner and began shaping the company’s future.

“Bought the previous owner out after about five years in the area, and then I was able to start to expand and build the type of business that I really wanted to have,” he said.

As the business continued to grow, Gwinn identified a major opportunity: purchasing the facility that housed the academy’s largest operation. While the goal promised greater stability and control, navigating the financing process presented challenges.

That is when a banking partner connected him with Brad Mix of the Florida SBDC at USF.

“I was actually first introduced to the Florida SBDC at USF through another banker,” Gwinn said. “They suggested that I get ahold of Brad because he was the expert in getting the financing for what I needed.”

Working alongside Mix and financing partner Anthony DiMauro of the Florida Business Development Corporation, Gwinn received assistance organizing financial information, evaluating lending options and preparing for the loan process.

“Working with Brad was really, really a delight because he took all the numbers that were just clogged in my head that I could not make any sense out of,” Gwinn said. “He was able to take all that information and make it useful for me to be able to go to SBA and to the bank and really make use of all of our finances to make the loan process a whole lot easier.”

Gwinn credits the team’s expertise with helping make the project possible.

“I really don’t think I would’ve been able to do this without their help,” he said. “So truly appreciate them.”

The acquisition of the facility has already transformed the way Suncoast Gymnastics Academy approaches growth. Rather than investing in a leased space, the company can now focus on creating an enhanced experience for athletes and families while building equity in its own property.

“For us, the gymnastics business has been going on for a very long time, but now we own the building,” Gwinn said. “Now we can put our energy into creating a more professional feel for our customers because now we’re investing into our own building.”

Ownership has also delivered something even more valuable: peace of mind. “Our biggest success, especially after working with Florida SBDC at USF, really has been security,” Gwinn said. “Now that we own our building, we have that security knowing that our business isn’t going anywhere.”

For years, concerns about lease renewals and potential changes in property ownership created uncertainty. Today, Gwinn says that concern has been replaced by confidence. “That is a comfort that I really have not had,” he said. “Just that alone has made the business thrive, but more just knowing that we have that security.”

With the facility purchase complete, Gwinn is already looking ahead to the next stage of growth and expects the Florida SBDC at USF to remain a trusted resource as new opportunities emerge.

“We are always having ideas of expansion,” he said. “Working with them the very first time was such a pleasure that they will be the people that we continue to do business with.”

For other small business owners considering expansion, Gwinn encourages them to take advantage of the expertise available through the Florida SBDC.

“They can help you with your numbers. They can help you decide what you can afford and what you can’t afford,” he said. “By relieving yourself of that potential stress, I think it just helps that whole process of expanding a whole lot easier.”