# Michael D. Olander Jr.

> Michael D. Olander Jr. is the Raleigh-based owner and CEO of MDO Holdings and founder of O2 Fitness. His career spans operating clubs, startup investment, commercial real estate and restaurant ownership, including the development of BB’s Crispy Chicken with Ashley Christensen and a 2017 property sale supporting Marbles Kids Museum’s expansion plans.

- **Role:** Owner and CEO at MDO Holdings
- **Organizations:** MDO Holdings, O2 Fitness Clubs, MDO Ventures, BB’s Crispy Chicken, Photofy, Groundfloor, Perkville
- **From:** Raleigh, United States
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, College of Charleston
- **Known for:** Expanded O2 Fitness across North Carolina and South Carolina, including the twelve-club East Shore acquisition in 2013., Developed a career combining operating companies, venture investments and commercial real estate., Helped develop and launch BB’s Crispy Chicken with Ashley Christensen.

## Career timeline

- **2002** — O2 Fitness founding year given in Olander’s 2014 interview and 2013 acquisition reporting; some profiles instead give 2003.
- **2004** — Graduated from the College of Charleston, according to Groundfloor securities filings.
- **2005** — MDO Holdings inception year recorded in Groundfloor securities filings.
- **2013** — O2 acquired twelve East Shore Athletic Clubs in the Charleston area, doubling to twenty-four clubs.
- **2014** — Joined Groundfloor’s board in December, according to its securities filings; participated in Photofy funding announced in October.
- **2015** — Recruited Shawn Stewart as O2 chief operating officer late in the year.
- **2017** — MDO sold an adjoining property to Marbles Kids Museum for $3.1 million.
- **2020** — BB’s Crispy Chicken name announced for the restaurant collaboration with Ashley Christensen.
- **2021** — BB’s opened its first restaurant at Midtown East in Raleigh.
- **2023** — MDO purchased Christensen’s minority interest in BB’s, becoming its full owner.
- **2025** — O2’s return to Wake Forest at Grove 98 was documented in April.

## Achievements

- Expanded O2 Fitness across North Carolina and South Carolina, including the twelve-club East Shore acquisition in 2013.
- Developed a career combining operating companies, venture investments and commercial real estate.
- Helped develop and launch BB’s Crispy Chicken with Ashley Christensen.
- Made a property available to Marbles Kids Museum below competing offers, enabling expansion planning.

## Latest updates

- **2025-04** — O2’s new 40,000-square-foot Grove 98 facility in Wake Forest was profiled by the local Business & Industry Partnership.
- **2025-01** — Former MDO president Doug Warf publicly reflected on Olander’s mentorship after returning to the Carolina Hurricanes in July 2024.
- **2023-05** — MDO announced its purchase of Ashley Christensen’s minority stake in BB’s Crispy Chicken.

## Links

- Website: https://www.mdoholdings.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-d-olander-jr-b125734/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-d-olander-jr
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20