Carl Wierks, 39
Matthew Wilber, 31
CONDUCTING APPROXIMATELY 250 hip surgeries a year, Dr. Carl Wierks still has managed to volunteer his surgical skills to the benefit of professional athletes and numerous humanitarian efforts throughout his career. Wierks is a partner of West Michigan Orthopaedics, a Grand Rapids-based private practice orthopaedic group, where he specializes in the treatment of hip, knee and shoulder pain. In May, Wierks shared his insight in hip arthroscopy with 200 orthopaedic surgeons at the Orthopaedic Technology and Information Forum in Naples, Florida. “There are still many questions about this surgical specialty,” Wierks said, “but I am proud to help make each patient outcome a little bit better, and safer, through sharing my own knowledge about the topic.” Wierks also is a team physician for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Teams. After completing his residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, he applied and was certified in 2009 to be a member of the U.S. teams’ medical pool. Wierks has co-authored 10 book chapters and has been published in nine academic/trade journals. Remembering the hard work ethic, honesty and creativity his grandfather displayed as a farmer, Wierks said he tries to bring the same values and perspective to treating his patients. “From the outside, the lives of my grandfather and I could not be much different, but the internal values of commitment to hard work, honesty, seeing the positive and being creative influence me every day,” he said.
WHEN MATTHEW WILBER opened the Grand Haven Fit Body Boot Camp (FBBC) location in 2013, he had no clear goal of where he wanted the business to go or even how he would manage to pay the bills. After one month in business, Wilber had one client and zero revenue. Today, the five FBBC locations in West Michigan have collectively helped more than 3,000 people lose 100,000 pounds. “When I first started this journey four years ago, I was the trainer, the admin, the sales guy, the marketing guru and the janitor,” Wilber said. Wilber’s business now employs more than 40 people and generated $5 million in revenue in 2017. FBBC is an international fitness and weight loss franchise. The company recognized Wilber’s franchise as the No. 1 FBBC franchise in the world. The ranking is determined by number of clients, greatest results and highest revenue. The FBBC West Michigan team and its clients have collectively donated more than $100,000 to local charities. Their 2017 goal is to reach $200,000. FBBC’s Christmas Giving Campaign works with local schools to deliver presents to children in need. Wilber’s team also partners with Charity Water, an organization that helps provide clean water to places in need. FBBC donates one dollar for every pound its clients lose. “Our goal in 2017 is to help our clients lose 30,000, so we can transform three communities with a $30,000 donation,” Wilber said.
Orthopaedic surgeon West Michigan Orthopaedics
40 Grand Rapids Business Journal | 40 UNDER 40 2017
Owner Fit Body Boot Camp