Meet Tavon Bookman | Icebox Franchise Manager

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

Hi Tavon, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am from the Bronx, NY. I grew up in the inner city and had to learn very quickly how to make the most of my cirucumstances. I did not have access to as many resources, so I was taught to be grateful for what I did have, make the most of it, and most of all ask for help when necessary. I was raised to value education, and still to this day my goal is always to be a sponge and remain in a continued growth mindset.

My committment to learning and utlizing my resources have afforded me opportunities that have help to mold and shape the person I am today. I earned a 4-year scholarship to attend a private boarding school for high-school, and that opporunity has changed my life for the better. I have learned over the years to continue to be humble, but stay hungry at the same time.

When you watch your efforts result in something great, it definitely boosts your confidence in what you are doing. That is exactly how I feel today. I will continue stay hungry for more opportunity and success, continue to ask questions and be a sponge until I reach my goals.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the Franchise Manager of Icebox East Cobb in Marietta, GA. Icebox is an innovative cold-therapy spa and we specialize in pain relief, athletic recovery, and overall beauty & wellness! Cryotherapy is a game changer when it comes to the way people recover their bodies and deal with pains, aches and so much more. Icebox was the first cryotherapy franchise in the United States, and the first location was opened in 2012. I currently manage the number one Icebox location in the country and we have over 300 members and counting!

We pride ourselves on providing our guests with the best 3-minutes of their day! We lead our new guests through the Icebox Experience where we educate them on how our recovery services can benefit them and their injuries or health concerns. At Icebox, our staff will form real relationships with the guests and we become a huge part of their recovery process. Our members entrust us with the responsibility of guiding them on the correct path to feel and look like their best selves and we do that proudly.

I have been managing health & wellness boutique studios for the past 5 years since I moved to Atlanta. I started out managing gyms such as Orangetheory Fitness and several others, and during those years I belive I have found a series of systems that proved to be successfull in running operations. I have an established sales track record for my work, and have excelled specifically in sales, training, customer experience, retention, culture, membership, and total revenue.

As a former college athlete, I like to run my team very similar to a basketball team. Eveyone on the team has a role, and we all hold our own weight but rely on each other to reach our team goals. As the leader/coach of the team, I do anything that I ask my team to do and that has allowed me to build some very special teams over the past few years.

There are always challenges in life, and especially for anyone in a managerial role. Managing people is a lot more than spreadsheets and payroll. I beleive that the best managers understand people at a high level, are accountable and solution oriented, and are in a constant growth mindset. These are some of the many lessons I have learned throughout my journey of managing at different studios and they were not easy lessons to learn.

I have overcome a lot of obstacles in my professional career by remembering to learn from all of my experiences whether I succeeded or failed to meet an obejctive. Most people think that you can either succeed or fail at something. I believe that you either succeed or you learned something. Every day you are granted a new opportunity to try something new until you succeed and reach your goals.

Never give up, always change up!

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?
There is so much to do in Atlanta; it’s definitely an up an coming city. If someone was coming for a week long trip, I would say they should definitely check out the Beltline downtown. It is perfect for a late night walk or bike ride and the scenery is priceless. There are plenty of stores to shop an eat at, rofftops bars and is always a good time with friends.

I would also tell them to check out the Battery in Marietta because whether you like baseball or not, there is something there for everyone. They have great sports bars and places to grab dinner and hangout. I personally like to go out to eat in the Marietta Square and they have food for any and all tastes! I like to go to Taquiera Tsunami which serves latin-asian food and the cocktails are a must try!

For the people who like to go out, I recommend checking out Buckhead or Midtown ATL because they have the best bars, clubs, and there’s always a food or music festival of somewhere in those areas. I like this place downtown called the Red Phone Booth. It is a speak-easy style private cigar lounge and they have the best cigars and borubon in town.

You can also check out the sports teams like the Hawks when they are in season, the Falcons, the former world champs (Braves), and ATL United Soccer team.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my wife because she has played such an integral role in my success thus far in my career and where I am at in life today. My wife has helped me elevate the way I communicate with others, which has paid big dividends in my success as a Franchise Manager at Icebox and other studios I have managed as well.

She has always believed in me as a person and my strategies in business, and I always say that it only takes 1 person to believe in you for you to do something special. Everyone should strive to surround themselves with others that not only belive in them but challenge them to be their best. My wife definitely deserves credit for helping support me in more ways than one!

Website: https://iceboxtherapy.com/home/icebox-east-cobb/

Instagram: @icebox_eastcobbga

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tavon-bookman-a306b7221