Our Leadership

This great franchise team is one of the reasons why Romp n’ Roll was named one of the “Top Workplaces” in Central Virginia!

Michael Barnett Co-Founder & CEO

Michael’s first job came at the age of 13, when he was hired to butter toast on Saturday mornings at a busy diner near his home in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. He was fired from that job because he couldn’t butter the toast without spreading the butter evenly to all four corners of the bread. This early interaction with management led him to realize he was destined to work for himself. His Marketing Communications degree from Juniata College, launched Michael’s early career developing marketing campaigns for brands such as Microsoft, Ford and General Mills. He ran promotion divisions for CBS and Clear Channel Communications in New York City and co-founded a marketing agency, which he helped grow to $18 million in just three years. One day, he had the good fortune to meet Babz. They got married, had two kids, and the next thing he knew he was running an international kids franchise. Away from the office, Michael is into long distance running, cooking up something delicious (and occasionally healthy), cheering his kids on in various activities and attending cocktail parties where the conversation often leads to his appearance with Babz on ABC-TV’s Shark Tank. In addition to leading the Romp n’ Roll management team, Michael is an active member of the International Franchise Association, the Virginia Council of CEOs, the National Association for the Education of Young Children and serves on the Board of Directors for Connor’s Heroes.

Babz BarnettCo-Founder

Babz wants to live in a world filled with healthier food, where there’s fitness over fighting, more spontaneous dance parties, and where the new epidemic is of people “paying it forward.” And, of course, a world where every child can “Romp n’ Roll”! A proud “Jersey Girl,” Babz received a degree in Technology from Montclair State College in Montclair, NJ, a college known for its Education program. If only she knew then that one day she would be the co-founder of a growing international education franchise! She’s still scratching her head over that one. However, the variety of positions she’s held prepared her well. Babz enjoyed her early career working in Environmental Engineering. However, after hearing countless friends ask her why she wasn’t in sales, she decided to go for it. She started a second career as an Executive Recruiter and was so successful that she reached the rank of Vice President and moved to New York City to lead the firm’s first office there. (It’s good to listen to your friends!) Eventually, she recruited herself out of that position into one at a cutting-edge company called America Online (AOL) to join its New York City sales team, a position she held up until the birth of her son, Zachary. Daughter Emma joined the family and Babz took being a stay-at-home mom very seriously and spent her days checking out every activity in town for the kids. Conversations with Michael over the dinner table of “If I owned a business like that, I’d…” led to the creation of the Romp n’ Roll business plan. When Babz is not working (ha ha), she can be found searching for the latest motivational quote, training for her next marathon or playing board games with the kids. She’s at the gym most mornings before the sun comes up which can be overwhelming to her family when she bounds back into the house full of energy (usually singing), telling them to get up and make the most of their day.

Paul SummersSr. Director, Franchising

Since Paul was 15 years old, he’s been growing membership and servicing members in one capacity or another. Growing up in Washington State, Paul’s first real job was at a health club providing customer service and sales. What could be better than helping a member to get fit and a business owner with their business’ financial fitness? Over the years, Paul advanced to sales management, regional franchise manager, Sr. Director of US franchise operations, culminating in building and selling his own franchise system. During Paul’s career he’s reviewed and consulted on hundreds of leases, multimillion dollar equipment buys and dozens of business acquisitions.

Paul loves working complex problems and is happiest working with franchisees, a desk full of business plans, proformas, reports and reviewing sales systems tactical marketing tools. Paul is active in his boys’ scout troop and consults with a nonprofit that focuses on youth personal development, health and addiction recovery. Romp n’ Roll’s programs and focus on early childhood development inspired Paul to drop consulting and focus 100% on growing membership and servicing franchisees so they can positively affect more children. Outside of work Paul tries very hard to keep up with his super active wife and high school age sons. A weekend in the Summers household is synonymous with “outdoors” and almost always includes state parks, horses, bird dogs, and hundreds of miles of shuttling his family around to their next adventure.

lisa lichon and sheva lyons (willow grove)

Featured On

A Truly Special and Rewarding Kids Playgound Franchise

With our exclusive focus on 3-month-old to 5-year-old children, Romp n’ Roll is the leading franchiser in early childhood development and enrichment concepts.

Our recurring memberships, single class and punch pass options provide revenue streams and options for parents to choose from without compromising the variety of classes which only Romp n’ Roll can provide. Our model helps children reach critical cognitive and developmental milestones before entering kindergarten. Parents also appreciate our focus on creating safe and structured social growth opportunities that are so important for both parents and children alike.

Our bright, clean and whimsical franchises are specially-designed to capture the imagination and encourage creativity in children – making memories that last a lifetime for both parents and their children; just another reason why Romp n’ Roll is one of the most special and rewarding children’s fitness franchise concepts on the market.

Your room for growth potential is also supported by the fact that we offer even more than gym, music & art classes! Our locations provide special sessions such as Kid’s Night Out, Open Playtime, Events and Winter/Summer/Spring Camps throughout the year that are so fun and addicting, parents learn to reserve early before the spots fill up! We also host the most memorable birthday parties around.

Available Territories