Designed to educate and motivate, Spear’s #LetsKeepMoving Blog is our official stream of fitness tips, exercise advice, and healthy lifestyle inspiration. Our articles and features are written and produced in direct partnership with our physical and occupational therapists! Disclaimer
“It is our belief that we are not put on this earth to simply be who we are. We are here to evolve, develop, self-actualize.” – Dan Rootenberg
I wrote these words when we unveiled our new logo in 2016. That logo served us well these last five years, as we were named the nation’s top physical therapy practice, not just once, but twice. Those accolades are special, and the fact that the industry recognized the unique strength of our team will always be a point of pride. However, I feel something even more important taking hold in my consciousness now. Since that time, the world has changed, the city has changed, and I found myself changing as well in how I think and lead.
As we lived through the pandemic together, I felt a deep and acute sense of empathy for the uncertainty and anxiety that many of our team members were feeling. For the first time, we became a safety net for our team, both by keeping our clinics open throughout that challenging time and by being there for one another and our community in a time of need.
My fuel for leadership changed from “hustle” to “love.” While in my heart, I will always be that kid from Brooklyn who leads with drive and grit, I believe this new evolution focusing on synergy and what brings us together as human beings should now be reflected in our company image.
This summer in Tokyo, I witnessed another phenomenon of humanity. With COVID depriving fans from witnessing, in person, the most elite athletes on the globe competing, the winning of world records and gold medals played out in the absence of the typical fanfare. People depended on their teams and even on their competitors—neighbors in the Olympic village from other countries—to celebrate the medals that were brought home. I stood in awe, with tears in my eyes, the first time I saw this happen as Team Ireland sang and chanted, forming a procession, as the team’s first medal-winner walked through the gauntlet to get home to their building which we shared. To me, this was humanity at its best, and the synergy of people supporting each other, rising above challenging conditions. Spear’s new logo hopes to embody this new feeling of Synergy, Community, and Love.
To learn more about the new logo and what it stands for, please read on.
-Dan Rootenberg, Spear CEO & Co-founder
The Details Behind The Logo:
From the Spear Marketing and Communications Team
Above: A collage of photos that inspired our new look.
With a focus on the synergy that keeps us moving and helps support our communities, we realized it was time for an update.
Above: A timeline of Spear’s logo evolution.
The new synergy mark combines with a bolder wordmark that no longer includes the words “PHYSICAL THERAPY.” This is because we are more than just a physical therapy company; we are an active part of our community, we are your fellow neighbors and friends, and we are here to build relationships that motivate and inspire those around us.
Above: The final 2021 Spear logo with its Synergy mark.
The deep, dark purple in the wordmark is called Aubergine, and it represents transformation and power. The burnt orange color in the mark is called Carmine, and it represents heart, love, compassion, and (shared) determination.
We look forward to this logo becoming a new, iconic symbol of belonging and unity in our communities.
Last week, the team at Brooklyn – Park Slope congregated to commemorate the one year anniversary of the clinic’s launch! The team excitedly celebrated the eventful occasion with many laughs, pictures, cake, and of course—ribbon cutting!
Opening up just two months into the pandemic in April 2020, it was a tough (and admittedly scary) time to try new things. There were many questions up in the air about whether or not it was the right moment to make such a big decision.
Now, one year later, it’s clear our leadership team made the right choice. Park Slope has evolved into a beaming example of where hard work, determination and grit can take you. With the leadership of Clinical Director Austin Afshar, PT, DPT, CSCS the clinic has already become a beaming illustration of our company values and community impact. Austin addressed each team member directly at the ribbon cutting event, thanking each individual person for their specific contribution in the clinic’s success, and that of our patients.
CEO and Co-founder Dan Rootenberg also spoke to the team, admitting he had his doubts about taking such a big jump during a volatile time. Ultimately, he learned the leap was in good faith. Speaking of the clinic opening, Dan expressed: “It brought hope. It brought inspiration. This was the team, that showed everybody the future, and the positivity—knowing it’s going to be okay.”
Park Slope has been a successful venture thus far because of the dedication of the team. Everyone has input much soul and passion into making the clinic great, and that’s why it will continue to grow and progress. We’re so proud to reach more patients in Brooklyn who need our care. Congratulations to the entire Park Slope team—we know the future is bright!
The Union Square team stands ready to cut the famous big red ribbon!
The unexpected arrival of the pandemic last year put many of our lives on pause. With New York at a standstill, plans and ideas were forced to be placed on hold. For our newly opened Union Square – 14th St clinic, this meant postponing our ribbon cutting ceremony, meant to celebrate the launch of the location, leadership and team.
A year and a half year later, on May 6th, 2021, we were finally able to properly celebrate the opening of this amazing clinic! Led by Clinical Director Michael Virgile, PT, DPT, CSCS, Union Square has already made momentous progress in helping bring New Yorkers back to life. The team has built a close rapport in such a short amount of time; the camaraderie is palpable, and stands a true testament to the fantastic care they bring to patients each day.
Centrally located, the clinic is conveniently situated in a commutable area of Manhattan for ease of accessibility and convenience for our patients. With over 4,000 square feet of space, the clinic provides ample room to give patients the best treatment in comfort and style. The clinic is located right in the center of one of NYC’s most popular neighborhoods, making treatment more easily accessible than ever before. All areas, equipment, rooms, etc. are also always thoroughly cleaned and sanitized per CDC guidelines.
It was amazing getting our team together to celebrate this momentous date together (safely, of course!). We’ve got one and a half years in the books, we can’t wait to see what else our clinic accomplishes!
The SPEAR team getting ready to cut the ceremonial red ribbon!
April 2019 was a historic moment for SPEAR: it marked the grand opening of our Long Island City—CityView clinic! The first of its kind, the launch of this clinic is our first venture into Queens. This was a momentous occasion, as it brought us one step closer to achieving our goal of reaching as many New Yorkers as possible to continue providing top-notch patient care.
While the clinic did open on time, we never did get a proper celebration for this launch due to the pandemic. It’s never too late to commemorate, however—so we hosted our ribbon cutting now! Our SPEAR leaders and teammates congregated safely at Long Island City – CityView to commemorate the launch of the clinic, which opened almost two years prior down to the day. Clinical Director John Mackarey, PT, DPT did the official honor of cutting the ribbon, symbolizing the ceremonial grand opening of this clinic and all the amazing opportunities for healing it has to offer!
CEO and CO-founder Dan Rootenberg addresses the team in a rousing speech
Introducing a new clinic location allowed us to be more easily accessible and accommodate more appointments for those who need it most. SPEAR’s partnership with CityView Racquet Club truly provides an elevated experience for patients within a premier luxury facility with plenty of incredible amenities. Long Island City – CityView is equipped with many treatment areas, updated workout equipment, locker room facilities, and is always thoroughly cleaned and sanitized per CDC guidelines.
We’re so excited we had the opportunity to finally celebrate such an eventual marker in SPEAR’s history. We look forward to continuing to expand and grow in the NY area, helping more residents get Back to Life!
“To be recognized as the Ascend Practice of the Year is an incredible honor, and one that is especially meaningful after the challenging year we — along with so many of our colleagues — have had. By staying true to our community, our core values, our therapists and our patients, we were able to rapidly innovate our services and take calculated risks that have propelled us through the COVID-19 storm. This recognition is extremely meaningful to the entire SPEAR team and will fuel our continued efforts to expand our impact and improve the world’s healthcare system.”
Dan Rootenberg, PT, DPT, CSCS, CEO & Co-founder of SPEAR, discusses why the award is so meaningful to him and the entire SPEAR team.
Also in the release, Web PT states the reason SPEAR won the award:
“SPEAR was selected as 2020’s Practice of the Year for the team’s ability to incorporate new technologies and strategies that kept their practice afloat throughout the COVID-19 lockdown.”
2020 was an incredibly tough year for many companies. What helped us flourish was our dedication to helping our community and our ability to adapt swiftly to change. Together, we were able to weather the storm, and are ready for anything else that may come our way. Thank you for the official recognition, WebPT!
