Dear Burn Boot Camp Supporters,

Thank you again for your continued support and for standing with the 171 members who have signed the petition demanding meaningful change at Burn Boot Camp Beachwood.

We’ve reached out to Christina and have included our attempts to communicate with Christina and her response so you can stay informed about the ongoing communication and the concerns we’ve raised.

Since our last update, we want to acknowledge that the petition signers voted to escalate the matter to Burn Boot Camp Headquarters. As a courtesy, we reached out to Christina directly before doing so. In the meantime, Christina has hired an Operations Manager—presumably to help address the ongoing issues.

Missed Deadlines: There has still been no meeting with staff to establish clear timelines for resolving these concerns. While the addition of an Operations Manager may be a step forward, it does not replace the need for transparent leadership or a concrete, actionable plan. No staff meeting has been held (as promised in May) and staff are still not being communicated with, including when they reach out to her with questions and concerns. 

At this time, we have not yet contacted Burn Boot Camp HQ, but we are preparing a communication strategy to engage both HQ and local media in July.

Our strength is in our unity. By continuing to show up together, we send a clear message: this community deserves better.

We remain committed to restoring the leadership, integrity, and stability that once defined Burn Boot Camp Beachwood—for the benefit of both staff and members.

Thank you for standing with us in this ongoing fight for accountability and meaningful change.

Warmly,

Ariel Annemarie and Katie 

INITIAL EMAIL TO CHRISTINA PEEBLES, BURN BEACHWOOD OWNER (sent June 8th, 2025)

Hi Christina,

We’re reaching out on behalf of the 166 Burn Boot Camp Beachwood members who have signed a petition expressing ongoing and serious concerns about the state of the gym under your leadership. 

These concerns reflect not only member experiences but also issues raised by staff. Our first and foremost concern is the wellbeing of the team and the continued decline of the gym—something that has become increasingly apparent across multiple areas and has gone unaddressed for over a year.

While we recognize that improvement takes time, there has been no clearly communicated plan of action to either the membership or staff—with timelines or accountability—to restore the stability, leadership, and community that once defined Burn Beachwood.

To ensure transparency and collective voice, we recently polled the petition signers. Of those who responded, 87% voted to escalate our concerns ahead of the stated deadlines. Despite this, we’re reaching out to you directly one last time as a courtesy and in hopes of having a constructive dialogue.

If we do not hear from you by end of day Wednesday, June 12, we will move forward with submitting a formal appeal to Burn Boot Camp headquarters. Should headquarters also fail to respond meaningfully, we are prepared to share our concerns publicly with the media.

We remain committed to seeing Burn Beachwood thrive—for both its staff and members—and believe that honest, solution-focused dialogue is still possible.

Sincerely,

Annemarie Grassi Amefia and Katie Paris

CHRISTINA PEEBLE'S RESPONSE (received June 14, 2025

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to clarify a few important points regarding Burn Boot Camp Beachwood and recent communications.

That said, certain matters—such as internal business operations or any potential sale—are confidential and will be shared only if and when it becomes appropriate to do so. As the sole owner, I kindly ask for your understanding and trust as I navigate any such decisions.

Additionally, I respectfully ask that we all continue to foster a positive and supportive environment within our gym community. Unkind behavior, including negativity or bullying, is not only unhelpful but can also harm the spirit of the community and the gym’s overall reputation.

If there is a shared hope for local ownership, it's important to acknowledge that past conduct has, unfortunately, influenced the interest of some potential local buyers. Moving forward with mutual respect will only strengthen the gym’s future and possibilities.

I’d also like to remind everyone that our staff members are bound by confidentiality agreements and are not permitted to discuss certain internal matters. It’s important to respect their position and understand that they are not authorized to share information beyond their role.

Please know that great changes are currently underway, but as with any meaningful improvements, they will take time. If, at any point, you feel that continued membership is not the right fit, I’m happy to discuss options to end the membership amicably.

Thank you for your understanding.

Christina Peebles

Owner | Operator Burn Boot Camp Beachwood

704.607.8073 | christina.peebles@burnbootcamp.com

LAST COMMUNICATION TO CHRISTINA PEEBLES (June 19, 2025)

Hi Christina,

We received your reply last week. We are still requesting a meeting with you to discuss a constructive path forward and do not wish to continue an ongoing exchange over email. However, we do feel compelled to respond directly and with clarity to your reply. 

First, contrary to the implication that our communication has been rooted in bullying or unkindness, our petition and outreach have been conducted with respect, transparency, and concern for the well-being of Burn Beachwood’s staff and community. Over 170 members have united—not in negativity, but in shared purpose—to advocate for a gym and a team we deeply value.

Let us be clear: we are not acting out of dissatisfaction with the community within the gym. In fact, it is the strength of that very community—our members and, most importantly, our staff—that fuels our action. We are standing up for our current trainers and team, who show up daily with an unwavering commitment, even amid ongoing uncertainty and a lack of clear leadership. We are also standing up for the many trainers, ops managers, and support staff who have left—many of whom did so as a direct result of the ongoing absence of leadership. Our unified voice reflects our care, not conflict.

Second, regarding your statement about confidentiality and staff discretion—we want to clarify that no confidential information has been shared by any team member. However, under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), employees have the legal right to discuss their wages, working conditions, and concerns about unfair treatment—including with fellow employees, the public, and advocacy groups. These rights cannot be waived by confidentiality agreements. It is their right and our responsibility to speak up when conditions are unacceptable.

Third, your statement that “past conduct” has impacted potential local buyers is unfounded.  Your attempt to shift blame onto the very community working to hold things together only deepens the disconnect.

If you are unable or unwillingly to address members’ valid concerns laid out in the petition, then at the very least, we ask that a representative from Burn Boot Camp headquarters be actively engaged with our membership. Silence and distance only continue to erode trust.

True leadership is present, accountable, and responsive to the voices of the community. Our goal has always been for Burn Beachwood to thrive. 

If you are unwilling to meet, we will move ahead with the course of action previously outlined.

Sincerely,

Annemarie Grassi Amefia and Katie Paris