From Corporate VP to the Boxing Ring: How One Long Beach Mom Bet on Herself

LONG BEACH, CA — If you drive past the intersection of Spring Street and Bellflower Boulevard, you likely know the 24 Hour Fitness that anchors the corner. But inside that gym lies a story of reinvention that is distinctly Long Beach.

Angela Gomez, a local resident and single mom, spent years climbing the corporate ladder as a Vice President of Global Mobility at a company that specialized in corporate relocation. She had the title, the salary, and the stability. But like many women hitting midlife, she felt a pull for something more—what she calls a "midlife awakening" rather than a crisis.

"It was now or never," Gomez told hosts Adreana Langston and Alison Evors on a recent episode of the locally-produced podcast, Girls Gone Menopause.

Gomez took a massive leap of faith. Instead of buying a sports car or taking a sabbatical, she utilized a little-known financial strategy called a ROBS (Rollover for Business Startups) to use her corporate 401k to self-fund her dream business: hwD Fitness Long Beach.

Now, instead of managing corporate relocations, she manages hooks, jabs, and a growing community of fitness enthusiasts right here in East Long Beach.

More Than Just a Gym

What makes Gomez’s business unique isn't just the female ownership in a traditionally male-dominated sport; it's her dedication to the local youth.
hwD Fitness has become a haven for neurodivergent children in the Long Beach area. Gomez, drawing from her own life experiences, offers specialized boxing programs for kids with ADHD and Autism. She provides a physical outlet that helps with focus and confidence, and she even helps local families navigate Regional Center reimbursements to cover the costs—a resource many parents don't know exists.

Local Voices, Local Stories

Gomez’s story will be featured in the January 15th episode of Girls Gone Menopause, a podcast hosted by Long Beach resident Adreana Langston and Los Alamitos resident Alison Evors. The show focuses on Gen X women navigating life’s transitions with humor, honesty, and a distinctly local flavor.
"We wanted to highlight Angela because she represents the grit and spirit of Long Beach," says Langston. "She didn't just open a business; she built a community hub right under our noses."
Residents can visit Angela and see the gym for themselves at hwD Fitness (located inside the 24 Hour Fitness) at 2200 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA.

To hear Angela’s full story, including the financial details of how she funded her start-up, you can listen to the January 15th episode of Girls Gone Menopause on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform.