Transforming Passion and Community into Success

Within her first year of teaching fitness classes at a Pure Barre studio when she was 23, Kendra Northgard realized she had found something special. “I knew I wanted to own a Pure Barre studio one day. I didn’t know how it was going to happen, but I was determined to make it happen,” she said.  

Today, Northgard is the owner of Pure Barre West Chester and Pure Barre Oakley in the Greater Cincinnati area. Pure Barre studios offer group fitness classes that feature high-intensity, high-energy, low-impact exercise. 

“I fell in love with so much more than just the workout itself. The Pure Barre community truly changed my life,’” Kendra reminisced. She met her friend and future business partner Susannah Croci through a Pure Barre class, and in 2018, the pair took over Pure Barre Oakley’s studio operations. 

When searching for business financing, Northgard felt that ECDI aligned with her personal and professional values better than other lenders. As a female business owner and local Cincinnatian, it was important to her that the decisions she made for her studio were female- and locally focused. Access to in-person office locations, resources, and a community for small business owners sealed the deal for her decision to partner with ECDI. 

Northgard took over Pure Barre Oakley as she purchased the studio from Croci and continues to grow her team and community.