Crunch Celebrates Momentous Year at Annual Franchise Convention; Announces Appointment of Molly Long to Chief Operating Officer
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NEW YORK, N.Y. - Crunch Fitness, a leading high-value, low-price gym, has wrapped its global Franchise Convention in Arizona, where executives reflected on the momentous year with approximately 600 attendees and laid out plans to further fuel Crunch's continuous growth. The convention's theme, "Feel the Good," represented the spirit and inclusive values of Crunch and featured dynamic content, such as leadership development, strategic discussions, beneficial training courses and the introduction of new initiatives for the brand.
2024 has been a significant milestone year for Crunch, with the brand celebrating its 35th anniversary; strengthening its leadership team with strategic hires, including Chequan Lewis as President and John Kersh as Managing Director of International Development, and landing the #1 fitness spot in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list.
"We've had an incredibly successful year at Crunch, and bringing our franchisees together is always an extraordinary experience. Averaging more than one new club opening every week, our expansion shows no signs of slowing down," said Jim Rowley, CEO of Crunch Fitness. "Our franchisees and members are the cornerstone of Crunch, and we're excited to forge ahead on this remarkable journey."
Awards and Recognition: The convention honored outstanding achievements within the Crunch franchise network, including awards for Revenue Champions, Outstanding Partnership and Brand Builder. Winners included:
2023 Revenue Champions:
- 1. Fitness Management Enterprises, LLC - Bellmore, N.Y.;
- 2. Undefeated Tribe, LLC - League City, TX;
- 3. CR Fitness Holdings, LLC - St. Petersburg, FL (Northeast).
- Outstanding Partnership: Fitness Ventures, LLC;
- 2023 - 2024 Brand Builder: Undefeated Tribe, LLC;
- Upswing Award: Affordable Fitness Group, LLC;
- 2024 No Limits: CR Fitness Holdings, LLC and Harman Fitness, LLC.
2024 5-Star Brand Excellence:
- 1. Red Brick Fitness, LLC - Crunch Swansea;
- 2. Bay Area Crunchers, LLC - Crunch Fairfield;
- 3. Fitness Ventures, LLC - Crunch Urbandale.
Crunch Cares Initiative: Aligned with the "Feel the Good" theme, this year's convention featured an Olympic-style charity event benefiting Future for KIDS, a local organization providing mentor-driven after-school programs. Teams competed in a relay race, with the winning teams donating 75 sports bags filled with athletic gear to support youth in need.
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NEW YORK, N.Y. - Crunch Fitness, a leading high-value, low-price gym, announces the appointment of Molly Long, its Chief Experience Officer, as the company's new Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective August 12, 2024.
Since 2023, Long has played a pivotal role in enhancing the member experience by driving club innovation and redefining the entire member journey. Bringing 14 years of experience between her time at Crunch and 7-Eleven, Long has a proven track record for leading transformational change and championing the member experience for large organizations.
"We are thrilled to appoint Molly as our new Chief Operating Officer," said Jim Rowley, CEO of Crunch Fitness. "We're looking forward to Molly bringing her profound expertise, enthusiasm and drive to this new role as she looks to enhance the company's daily operations, support our franchise network and greatly impact Crunch's greater strategic goals. Molly's dedication to the Crunch brand has been instrumental, and we believe that she is uniquely qualified to step into this role."
In Long's new role as COO, she will be responsible for driving operational excellence, delivering high-quality experiences to members, and supporting the company's growth and long-term vision.
"Molly is a seasoned veteran who has made a remarkable impact and deepened our commitment to growth and operational excellence," said Chequan Lewis, President of Crunch Fitness. "She arrived with a mission to enhance the member experience and improve the entire member journey. In her relentless pursuit of excellence, Molly has engaged franchise partners, turned ideas into tangible products and enhanced the experience of our members. With this wealth of experience, we are confident that Molly is ready to help lead Crunch into our next growth phase as COO."
This appointment marks a significant step in Crunch Fitness' ongoing commitment to driving growth, promoting excellence and prioritizing innovation while delivering value to its members, team members and franchisees.
"I am honored to step into the role of Chief Operating Officer and further support the team as we forge ahead in the fitness space," said Molly Long, COO of Crunch Fitness. "In driving day-to-day business objectives across our business and in partnership with our franchisees while supporting long-term growth strategies, I'm excited about what's ahead at Crunch."
Crunch recently celebrated a milestone year at its global Franchise Convention, where the team celebrated its 35th anniversary, its #1 fitness spot in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list, and the achievements of its exceptional franchise network. This appointment of Long comes as Crunch continues to lay a path for significant growth and expansion.
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