Meet the RX

Management Team

Charles Hoffman grew up locally in Anaheim Hills, attending Canyon High School directly across the street from our Anaheim Hills location. After completing high school, Charles joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He believed the Marines would afford an opportunity to make a difference in the world and improve lives in the event he was ever deployed. Charles served during the Persian Gulf War in both capacities of Security Forces and Infantry Marine. After the Marine Corps, Charles worked in Finland for two years before returning to the States, where he continued his college education while concurrently working as an auditor in the grocery industry for eight years.

Charles had accumulated a wealth of life experience, a strong affinity for fitness, and a sincere desire to help others achieve their goals and improve their lives. In 2004, this prompted him to follow his passion: selling high-end fitness equipment. Before acquiring Rx Fitness Equipment in 2020, Charles owned and operated three BodyWorks Home Fitness locations from 2004 to 2020; the acquisition expanded his footprint to four retail stores across Southern California.

He enjoys spending time with his wife, Merlyn, and their three boys, or playing with his beloved English Bulldog, Chesty. Charles also follows his passion for hiking and climbing as often as possible, exploring our local hills and 14k mountains.

For Merlyn Hoffman, fitness is about more than just machines—it’s about caring for the person as a whole. With 12 years of experience running her own skincare clinic in Indonesia as an aesthetic doctor, she understands the dedication required to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Since joining her husband at RX Fitness five years ago, she has used that same care to help our Southern California community find the perfect equipment for their homes.

Whether you are visiting our Anaheim Hills or Newport Beach locations, Merlyn’s goal is to make your experience seamless and supportive. Outside of the showroom, Merlyn is an avid hiker and world traveler who loves nothing more than a day spent outdoors or in the kitchen baking for her husband and three boys.

Delivery Manager Byron Arriaza is a true veteran of the fitness industry, beginning his career in 1995 with LA Gym Equipment. Over the course of three decades, Byron has worked with a variety of premier fitness companies, developing a deep, specialized expertise in the mechanics and logistics of high-end equipment.

At RX Fitness, Byron is responsible for the most critical phase of the customer experience: the successful assembly and delivery of equipment to our clients. His vast technical knowledge ensures that every installation is seamless, safe, and professional. Byron is a vital part of our mission to prioritize client satisfaction, bringing a "white-glove" standard to every delivery and installation service he manages.

Byron has been happily married for 35 years and is the proud father of three daughters and a grandfather to two beautiful grandkids. On his days off, he finds his greatest joy in spending quality time with his family.

Service Manager Fernando Alvarez started his career in the fitness industry working for Olympia Health and Fitness in 1990 as a delivery and assembly technician. Olympia was subsequently purchased by LA Gym Fitness, where Fernando worked his way up to Service Manager. He went on to work as Service Manager for Pronto Installations, covering California, Arizona, and Nevada through 2011, when his current company, Fastech Fitness, was born.

Fernando is a certified service tech for most major brands in the fitness industry, also performing service training throughout Southern California and Latin America. Fernando loves the fitness industry and takes pride in helping customers solve issues. He is so experienced in his trade that he can frequently remedy a problem over the phone. How’s that for rapid service?

Fernando is also an avid hiker and the proud father of two young boys.