Kelly Mattfeld’s 25,000 square foot Laurel fitness center earns top recognition from The Maryland Small Business Examiner for its holistic wellness vision, all inclusive environment, and the small business loans and personal investment that built it from the ground up
LAUREL, MD. Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD, the 25,000 square foot Laurel fitness center built and owned by entrepreneur Kelly Mattfeld, has been named the Best Woman Owned Gym in Maryland for 2026 by The Maryland Small Business Examiner as part of its annual Best of Maryland Small Business Awards program.
The recognition celebrates a small business with a powerful founder story. Located at 3321 Corridor Marketplace in Laurel, Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD is owned and operated by Kelly Mattfeld, who built the gym from a personal vision into a fully equipped wellness destination using small business loans and her own years of experience as a personal trainer. For Anne Arundel County and Prince George’s County area members, Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD has quickly become a community fixture in one of the most competitive fitness markets in the region.
A Woman Owned Business Built on a Personal Vision
What sets Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD apart is the story of its owner. Kelly Mattfeld began her path in the fitness industry working part time as a personal trainer for six years, building a relationship with the Powerhouse brand as a member at the Hanover, Maryland location. When the opportunity came to open her own location, she relied on small business loans, invested over $500,000 in equipment, and built one of the largest fitness centers in the Laurel area from the ground up.
Mattfeld has been candid in interviews about how hard small business ownership truly is, telling local reporters that “it’s a struggle, for sure, but every business is hard,” and noting that “as a small business owner, there aren’t enough classes or things like that to give you other means of how to make it easier.” That honesty about the difficulty of small business ownership, combined with the tangible reality of what she has built, is exactly why her gym has earned the loyalty it has across the Laurel community.
A Vision for Holistic Wellness and an All Inclusive Environment
Beyond the equipment and the square footage, what truly sets Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD apart is Mattfeld’s vision for the future of her business. As she has said publicly, “I want it to be a holistic wellness center long term. I really like to focus on having an all inclusive environment.”
That vision shapes every detail of the gym. The facility includes 30 strength training machines, 26 cardio machines, executive style locker rooms with showers, a 25 yard track, and plans for the addition of a $70,000 sauna. Members have access to personal training, group fitness classes, athletic training, and physical therapy. The gym employs 15 staff members including 6 personal trainers and an in house boxing coach.
A Gym That Supports Other Small Businesses
One of the most genuinely meaningful details about Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD is Mattfeld’s commitment to supporting other small businesses. Robert Crawford, a boxing coach who has run Crawford Training and Fitness for over 20 years, moved his independent business inside Mattfeld’s gym to reduce costs and reach new clients. As Crawford has said, “it takes a community to make something truly work.”
That spirit of small business solidarity, of building something that creates space for other entrepreneurs to thrive, is increasingly rare in any industry. Mattfeld has built it directly into the foundation of her business.
Community Centered in a Crowded Market
Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD entered one of the most crowded fitness markets in Maryland, with Fitness Evolution, Planet Fitness, LA Fitness, 9Round Kickbox Fitness, and Cloud 10 Transformations all operating within a three mile radius. Mattfeld’s strategy has been simple and powerful: community over chain, hospitality over hype, and a member experience that no national franchise can replicate. Members have specifically credited Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD’s sense of community and customer service as the reason they chose it over larger competitors.
The official grand opening took place in February 2026, with Laurel Mayor Keith Sydnor, a member at the gym, performing the ribbon cutting ceremony despite the location being outside city limits. As Mayor Sydnor said, “we all benefit because they all travel through our region.”
Recognition Earned Through Vision and Grit
“Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD represents exactly what this award was created to recognize,” said a spokesperson for The Maryland Small Business Examiner. “A genuine woman owned small business, built from scratch by an owner who put her time, her training, and her own financing on the line to create something for her community. Kelly Mattfeld has built a holistic wellness destination in the heart of a saturated fitness market, and the loyalty of her members speaks louder than anything we could say. She has earned every bit of this recognition.”
Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD was selected for the 2026 Best of Maryland Small Business Award in recognition of exceptional fitness services, outstanding woman owned leadership, and commitment to Maryland’s wellness community.
About Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD
Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD is a 25,000 square foot, woman owned fitness center located at 3321 Corridor Marketplace, Laurel, MD 20724. Owned and operated by Kelly Mattfeld, the gym offers personal training, group classes, athletic training, physical therapy, a 25 yard track, an in house boxing program through Crawford Training and Fitness, 30 strength training machines, 26 cardio machines, and executive style locker rooms with showers. The gym is open Monday at 5am through Friday at 11pm, Saturday 6am to 7pm, and Sunday 6am to 6pm.
For day pass information, membership inquiries, or training questions, call 443.332.3267 or visit powerhousegym.com/locations/laurel. Follow Powerhouse Gym Laurel MD on Facebook at facebook.com/PowerhouseGymLaurelMD and on Instagram @powerhousegymlaurelmd.
About the Best of Maryland Small Business Awards
The Best of Maryland Small Business Awards, presented annually by The Maryland Small Business Examiner, recognize outstanding small businesses across the state for excellence in service, customer experience, and contribution to Maryland’s communities. Winners are selected through editorial review based on customer feedback, business reputation, longevity, and industry recognition.
For more information, visit mdsbexaminer.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: The Maryland Small Business Examiner 6340 Security Blvd, Ste 100 #1176 Baltimore, MD 21207 mdsbexaminer.com
