PRESS RELEASE
New York, January 12, 2026
JOEY GONZALEZ, BARRY’S LONG-TIME CEO AND CURRENT EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, JOINS LUNGE AS STRATEGIC ADVISOR TO ACCELERATE THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL FITNESS
Lunge, the fast-growing social fitness and dating app that connects Gen Z through overlapping fitness communities, announced today that Joey Gonzalez - long-time CEO and current Executive Chairman of global fitness brand Barry’s - has joined the company as a strategic advisor.
Gonzalez bringing decades of leadership in brand building, consumer experience, and operational scale, having helped transform Barry’s from a small studio concept into an international fitness powerhouse with a passionate global community.
At Lunge, Gonzalez will advise on strategic growth, brand development, experiential programming, and expansion of the company’s IRL + digital ecosystem, supporting Lunge’s mission to help people meet through fitness communities and shared experiences.
Founded in New York City, Lunge blends social discovery, IRL experiences, and shared athletic culture, creating an environment where meaningful connections form naturally through activity and community rather than traditional dating app mechanics.
Lunge’s app has already facilitated more than 1,000,000 connections though overlapping fitness communities and is the newest way Gen Z is dating and making friends. More than an app, Lunge hosts some of the largest fitness events in the world, including Lunge Run Club that attracts 1,000+ NYC runners every Wednesday.
“Lunge is redefining how people connect - not through endless swiping, but through real human interaction rooted in fitness and community,”Gonzalez said. “The intersection of social connection, wellness, and lifestyle is one of the most powerful consumer forces today. Lunge has tapped into that energy at scale - already crossing one million connections - and I’m excited to help the team build this movement.”
Lunge continues to expand across major markets, partnering with gyms, studios, and leading consumer brands while hosting large-scale run clubs, community events, and city-wide activations that merge fitness with social connection.
“Joey is one of the most respected leaders in modern fitness and experiential brand building,” said Steve Cole, Founder & CEO of Lunge. “His track record scaling Barry’s - while preserving culture, belonging, and brand identity - makes him an invaluable partner as Lunge enters its next phase of intentional, high-impact growth.”
Gonzalez’s experience shaping consumer journeys - from first-time participants to lifelong loyalists - will support Lunge as it deepens community engagement while scaling its national footprint.
“What Lunge is building feels inevitable,” Gonzalez added. “People crave connection, purpose, and belonging - and fitness has always been a place where relationships form. Lunge is simply bringing structure, technology, and brand experience to something that already happens naturally.”
About Lunge:
Lunge connects people though overlapping fitness communities (gyms, run clubs, marathons, etc.) and is revolutionizing the way Gen Z socializes and dates.
By blending technology with IRL experiences, Lunge has facilitated more than 1,000,000 connections across its platform and is continuing to scale rapidly.
Lunge is free to download on the app store.
Contact: Steve Cole
Website: www.lungeapp.com
Instagram: @Lunge_official @LungeRunClub
Email: steven@lungeapp.com