Meet Maureen Rzeppa | Owner of Perspire Sauna Studio Paradise Valley

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maureen Rzeppa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maureen, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My career had been in financial services. In my last position, where I spent almost 20 years working for an amazing wealth management/investment advisory firm overseeing operations, finance, and regulatory compliance, I was an equity partner. I loved working with the firm and the team, helping the firm grow and develop over two decades. However, we had an opportunity to sell the firm in late 2020, and monetizing my ownership with the sale allowed me the opportunity to think about options. The thought of starting my own business was top of mind. However, since I did not have a product or service on my own to build from, I began researching franchising opportunities. I quickly found that I gravitated to the health and wellness opportunities and researched several extensively. And of course, I found one that was an extraordinary fit. Perspire Sauna Studio.

What should our readers know about your business?
Perspire Sauna Studio. Wow. I am so excited to bring this amazing brand to the Scottsdale/Paradise Valley market. This infrared sauna experience is a great addition to anyone’s health and wellness routine, whether daily or weekly. As soon as I was introduced to the brand and the people who are involved and who are growing Perspire, I was 100% certain I found the perfect fit for me to open a business. My prior experience running all things back office at the wealth management firm prepared me so well to be successful at opening and running Perspire locations. (Paradise Valley is my first location to open; I plan to open two more.) The challenges I have experienced in my career and the lessons I have learned from those challenges and experiences allow me the hindsight to make good decisions now and in the future. Primarily, the most important ingredient to a successful business is good people. My highest priority is to have excellent team members serving our members and guests, caring about the customers’ experiences as much as I do, believing in the benefits we are providing to our customers, and being aligned with our company’s goals.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I take all guests who visit me hiking. We are so blessed here in Phoenix to have an amazing mountain preserve, with hundreds of miles of trails, in the middle of our city. Depending on their abilities, I would take them hiking several times. If they are able, I take them to summit Camelback Mountain via the Echo Canyon trailhead. Piestewa Peak is a must at sunrise, as you will experience Ken, the Japanese taiko drummer, at the top at sunrise to play music with his drum and flute, as well as perform his prayer ritual. It is a goosebumps and tears experience. Typically, a trip to Sedona is in order when guests come to town. There are not many places in this world as beautiful as Sedona. Another of my favorite things to do with my friends and in-town visitors is stand-up paddleboard (SUP). I own several inflatable boards and you can find me out at Canyon Lake frequently enjoying a morning paddle. As far as where to eat and drink, there are so many amazing restaurants and venues in the Phoenix metro area. There’s no way I can call out only a few.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been influenced positively by many people in my life, both personally and professionally. My life partner and my three children have always been my biggest fans and cheerleaders throughout my career. They have been my sounding board for all things, and have had the greatest influence on me to strive for and achieve my goals. I have become an successful professional due to the experience I gained in my 20 years at my former firm. My fellow partners were my peers, and in many cases my mentors, as I grew in my role. My employees were just as influential in my growth and development. I often think they taught me more than I taught them. I have also had amazing women in my life who have encouraged me and served as mentors. For five years, I was involved in a fantastic women’s group called Ellevate Network, which is a global community of women supporting gender equality in the workplace through networking, education, inspiration, and opportunity.

Website: https://www.perspiresaunastudio.com/az/paradise-valley/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perspire.paradisevalley/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenrzeppa/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perspire.paradisevalley/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDmep0oSzDY&list=PLYMTBuucAdq4x7E6ejMzaIvDAeeRxG8ZF&index=2