2025 In Review
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Justin Cates
In many ways, this year has been surreal and seemingly unreal. Some things remained the same, but in that "sameness," many things have changed and in very large ways. Personally, this year has been very difficult for me, accented by the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Prior to this year, knowing what was on the horizon for me, personally, and to relieve some pressure, professionally, I created the idea of our Cover Story Classics series. The goal of the series was for those new to or even veterans of this industry to experience the stories of the greats and learn from them. Little did I know what an emotional roller coaster that would be.
Not knowing what the near future would hold, I selected our first-ever cover story subject (February 1994), Red Lerille, to spearhead this series. Sadly, he passed away shortly thereafter. That was very tough because his experience and knowledge was now lost, not to mention who he was as a person. And, here at Club Insider, it felt like the series was doomed from the start, but conversely, I am thankful to have been able to provide one final memorial to his greatness in this industry. His experience and knowledge lives on.
Then, on August 31, we lost our dear friend and someone we personally considered family, the Industry's Best Friend, the one we called "Uncle Rick" Caro. What he meant to us and the industry cannot be overstated, and I consider the gift of knowing him my entire life, as well as working with him on many things for many years one of the truly great experiences of my life.
Along the way, throughout this series, we have covered others who are no longer with us, as well as those who still are and deserve their story to once again be known across the industry while we have their continued wisdom. In addition to the Who's Who, we also sprinkled in some of our special interest stories from years passed. Beyond this year's cover stories, as always, we also presented a great slate of articles from our Contributing Author Team, covered industry news and presented another volume of Norm's Notes by our Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993, Norm Cates, who is turning 80 on January 17, 2026! Stay tuned for that upcoming cover story...
Thank You All!
Before moving on, we must take a moment to thank those who make it possible for us to publish Club Insider each and every month.
First, we THANK YOU!!! If you aren't reading, we would have no reason to do this. So, we thank you for helping us fulfill our purpose.
Next, we'd like to thank all of the Club Insider Authors this year, as they took time out of their busy schedules to share a great mix of informative articles across a vast array of topics. Beyond our monthly cover stories and news coverage with both press releases and Norm's Notes, we try to bring Best Practices to you from the trenches. Our authors this year included: Anton Severin, Bruce Carter, Chris Stevenson, Eddie Tock, Frank Guengerich, Herb Lipsman, Jeffrey Pinkerton, Jim Thomas, Mike Manning, Nancy Trent, Sara Kooperman, JD, Steve Vucovich, Terry Browning and Thomas Plummer. If you have a story to tell or expertise to share, we would love to hear from you! Email justin@clubinsideronline.com.
Finally, we'd also like to thank all of the Club Insider Advertisers this year, because we could not have come to you each month without their financial support. Our advertisers this year included: Augie's Quest, Business Finance Depot, Crunch Franchising, Health & Fitness Association, HWLS, JLR Associates, LA Fitness, MOSSA, Sports and Fitness Insurance, Step Fitness and Recreation, TG - The Gym, Vending.com, World Gym and Workout Anytime. If you would like to learn more about joining this great group of companies making a difference in our wonderful industry, go to www.clubinsideronline.com/advertise.
And Now, 2025 In Review
January 2025
Cover Story Classics: Red Lerille - By: Norm Cates
January 2025
Front Page Article Headlines:
- Crunch Fitness Celebrates the Three-Million-Member Mark and Launches Crunch 3.0
Inside the Insider:
- When Struggling Becomes Comfort: Breaking Free from Familiar Chaos in the Gym Business - By: Jim Thomas
- Use PIPs to Address Culture Fits Who are Falling Short - By: Chris Stevenson
- Beyond the Finish Line: The Evolution of Running from Niche Sport to Mainstream Movement - By: Nancy Trent
- A Strength Training Resolution Revolution - By: Terry Browning
- ACE and the Mental Wellbeing Association Introduce a New Certification Focused on Mental Wellbeing
- Health, Exercise and Fitness Dominate Americans' New Year's Resolutions
- And, of Course, Norm's Notes
February 2025
Cover Story Classics: The late Dr. Gerry Faust - By: Justin Cates
February 2025
Front Page Article Headlines:
- Crunch Fitness Takes #1 Fitness Spot in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 Ranking
- HFA Announces Its First Class of Inductees into the HFA Hall of Fame
Inside the Insider:
- Integrating New Members into Your Fitness Facility - By: Sara Kooperman, JD
- Why Every Gym Owner Needs a "Think Day" - By: Jim Thomas
- CES 2025: AI Fitness Take Over - By: Nancy Trent
- Instructor Recruitment: Rules of the Road - By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
- "Insider Speaks" - New Research Highlights the Global Potential of Affordable Fitness
- And, of Course, Norm's Notes
March 2025
The Inaugural HFA Show and Hall of Fame Class
March 2025
Front Page Article Headlines:
- Lloyd "Red" Lerille Passes Away Crunch Fitness Announces Major - By: Norm Cates
- Crunch Fitness Announces Major Franchise Expansion into India
Inside the Insider:
- "Insider Speaks" - One Club Owner's Opinion - HFA's Surveys Need More Scrutiny To Be of Value - By: Steve Vucovich
- Recap of HFA 2025 (formerly IHRSA) - By: Frank Guengerich
- Here Are Five Things You Must Do When You Return to Your Gym - By: Jim Thomas
- Fitness Forward: Wellness, Recovery and Tech Innovations Lead the Charge at HFA 2025 - By: Nancy Trent
- Lessons Learned from Listening to Members - By: Herb Lipsman
- Group Fitness Instructors: Bartenders, Baristas or Bespoke? - By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
- After 40 Years of Wellness, Technogym Launches Healthness
- A Cambridge, Maryland Gym is Available for FREE to a Qualified Operator
- And, of Course, Norm's Notes
April 2025
Cover Story Classics: The Schwartz Family - 50 Years of Success at Midtown Athletic Club - By: Norm Cates & Justin Cates
April 2025
Front Page Article Headlines:
- CR Fitness Holdings Opens 75th Location with State-of-the-Art Facility in Colleyville, Texas
- Workout Anytime Names Jerry Pugh as New CEO, Ushering in New Era of Growth and Innovation
Inside the Insider:
- Clearing Up Misconceptions About HFA Research on Public Policy - By: Anton Severin
- The REX Leadership Academy - By: Eddie Tock
- Harnessing Data for the Ultimate Health Club Design - By: Bruce Carter
- The Intersection of Fitness, Finance and Behavior - By: Nancy Trent
- The Benefits of Benefit Selling - By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
- Why Most Gyms Fail at Retention and How to Fix It in 30 Days - By: Jim Thomas
- U.S. Health Club and Studio Memberships Increase to Record 77 Million
- REX Roundtable Founder Will Phillips Passes Away
- Bay Club Acquires Harbor Square
- And, of Course, Norm's Notes
May 2025
Cover Story Classics: Will Phillips' Generating a Waterfall of Leads - By: The Late Will Phillips
May 2025
Front Page Article Headlines:
- North Castle Partners' Awards Prestigious "CEO of the Year" Award to Crunch's Tony Scrimale
- Workout Anytime Welcomes Larry Brayman as Chief Marketing Officer
Inside the Insider:
- Planning Your Summer Programming: Creating Engaging and Effective Fitness Experiences - By: Sara Kooperman, JD
- The Second Wind: What Gym Owners Do After They Almost Quit - By: Jim Thomas
- Connected Health Shares the Fitness Industry's Next Chapter - By: Nancy Trent
- Stop Selling Everything: The Paradox of Choice - By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
- High-Leverage Activities: Multiplying Your Impact - By: Herb Lipsman
- TSG Consumer to Acquire EōS Fitness
- And, of Course, Norm's Notes
June 2025
Cover Story Classics: Rodney Steven II - A Rapidly Budding Club Business Titan Powers Ahead! - By: Norm Cates
June 2025
Front Page Article Headlines:
- CR Fitness Holdings Opens 85th Crunch Location with State-of-the-Art Facility in Gainesville, Georgia
- World Gym International Signs Master Franchise Agreement for Brazil
Inside the Insider:
- Customer Service at its WORST! - By: Frank Guengerich
- Are We Really as Good as We Think We Are? - By: Thomas Plummer
- The 15-Minute Daily CEO Routines for Gym Owners: Small Habits That Lead to Big Growth - By: Jim Thomas
- Kale and Exercise: The Recipe for Results - By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
- Bay Club Continues Investment Sprint with the Acquisition of 425 Fitness
- And, of Course, Norm's Notes
July 2025
Cover Story Classics: Barry's: Inside the Red Room With CEO, Joey Gonzalez - By: Justin Cates
July 2025
Front Page Article Headlines:
- Fitness Ventures Opens 60th Crunch Fitness Location, Marking Major Milestone in Nationwide Growth
- The Health & Fitness Association's New Board Term Has Begun
Inside the Insider:
- The Power of Appreciation: How Gratitude Drives Membership Sales in Your Gym - By: Jim Thomas
- Cold Plunging and Older Adults: A Caution for Strength-Focused Fitness Professionals - By: Sara Kooperman, JD
- Sound Baths: A Harmonious Path to Profitability - By: Nancy Trent
- The Future of Fitness is Fun - By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
- Planet Fitness Awards $250,000 in Scholarships to 50 Boys & Girls Club Teens
- And, of Course, Norm's Notes
August 2025
Cover Story Classics: Club Marketing - Then, Now, Always - By: Justin Cates
August 2025
Front Page Article Headlines:
- Crunch Franchisees Making Big Moves!!!
- Workout Anytime Accelerates Growth in 2025
Inside the Insider:
- Developing Tomorrow's Leaders, Today: Inside the REX Leadership Academy - By: REX Roundtables
- Beyond Bright Lights: The Allure of the Darker Gym Trend - By: Bruce Carter
- Recovery Trends Outpacing Fitness in Today's Club Industry - By: Nancy Trent
- Look in the Mirror: A Leadership Wake-Up Call on Hiring Accountability - By: Herb Lipsman
- A Three-Question Interview with ChatGPT - By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
- The Fitness Industry's Global Momentum Continued in 2024, New Report Shows
- And, of Course, Norm's Notes
September 2025
The Industry's Best Friend, "Uncle" Rick Caro Passes Away
September 2025
Front Page Article Headlines:
- Workout Anytime Teams Up with Viral Baseball Star Kyle "KJ" Jackson to Inspire Fitness Journeys Nationwide
- Health & Fitness Association Launches The HFA Show 2026 Registration and Announces First Keynote Speaker
Inside the Insider:
- What I Learned from Rick Caro - By: Frank Guengerich
- Why is Teaching Soft Skills so... Hard? - By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
- Skincare as the Next Revenue Stream: What Gyms Can Learn From Cosmoprof North America 2025 - By: Nancy Trent
- Health & Fitness Association Announces Strategic Reorganization to Drive Industry Growth
- Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Services and Fusion Fitness Announce Partnership
- And, of Course, Norm's Notes
October 2025
October 2025
Cover Story Classics: Big John McCarthy... One of a Kind! - By: Norm Cates
Front Page Article Headlines:
- Club Studio Brings Top Tier Fitness Without the Luxury Price Tag to Miami Worldcenter
- World Gym Advances Global Growth with Mexico MFA and Australia Expansion
Inside the Insider:
- Things I Have Seen and Learned - By: Mike Manning
- Group Fitness Music: The Bride or the Barbecue? - By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
- 2025 HFA European Congress Draws Fitness Leaders from 30 Countries
- JLR Associates Welcomes Hannah Karass as Senior Executive Recruiter
- Bay Club Deepens its Los Angeles Campus with Acquisition of Griffin Club
- Unapologetically Bold: Redefining Women's Leadership in Fitness & Business
- And, of Course, Norm's Notes
November 2025
Cover Story Classics: TRUST - By: Norm Cates
November 2025
Front Page Article Headlines:
- Workout Anytime Announces National Partnership with the American Cancer Society
- Medicare to Reimburse Doctors for Physical Activity Assessments and GLP-1 Medications
Inside the Insider:
- "Insider Speaks" - One Club Owner's Opinion #2 - We Should Scrap the PHIT Act... I Know, OUCH! - By: Steve Vucovich
- How Interior Design Influences Physical and Mental Wellbeing - By: Bruce Carter
- How to Get Intimate with Your Clients: Lessons From Pixie Acia - By: Nancy Trent
- The Future of Fitness is Friendship - By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
- HealthFitness Celebrates 50 Years of Transforming Corporate Fitness
- Bay Club Expands Greater Seattle Campus with Acquisition of Arena Sports
- HWLS Partners with Millennium Health and Fitness
- World Gym Q3 Results: EPS Jumps 82.5% on Record Revenue
- And, of Course, Norm's Notes
• • •
Stay Tuned in 2026!
