Health and Fitness Club Industry News: Other News
Wednesday, May 1st, 2024
Lyle Ray Irwin, The Original STEP Founder, and Patent Holder, Passes Away
Posted: July 28, 2020 in Other News
Lyle Ray Irwin, The Original STEP Founder and Patent Holder, and partner with Rich Boggs in CourtSouth and then in a partnership with Rich, Lou Off and Gerry Alles in Sportslife in Atlanta, has passed away after a 6 + month battle with lung cancer. Six years ago, Ray won a very tough battle with throat cancer. Then, after surviving that cancer for 6+ years, he was hit with a second battle with cancer in January, 2020. Sadly, this time it was lung cancer, which proved to be more than he could defeat, and Lyle Ray Irwin died the night of July 19th/20th. Read More...
September 2017 Cover Story Preview: The GENAVIX Wellness Network – A Model for the Future
Posted: September 12, 2017 in Other News
Last year, in our November 2016 Cover Story, we featured Mike Benton’s Executive Health and Sports Center (EHSC), located in Manchester, New Hampshire. In the course of that story, Mike introduced us to the GENAVIX Wellness Network, which at its core, is a new business model for our industry that bridges the gaps between health club members, health care practitioners and health insurance carriers. By shifting the health insurance fee paradigm from fee-for-service to fee-for-value, an atmosphere for creating real and measurable results has been created. Now, the facilities that are joining this growing network are experiencing something our industry has been seeking for decades: the integration of health and fitness facilities, health care practitioners and health insurance carriers into a cohesive system that provides results for the end user. In short, GENAVIX is the foothold in helping our industry become a real and recognized part of the health care system. Read More...
August 2017 Cover Story Preview: Thanks and Appreciation to Bill Higgs As He Retires After 35 Years of Service at Shula’s Athletic Club
Posted: August 8, 2017 in Other News
Bill Higgs, 66, has set a high standard for health and fitness club General Managers everywhere to learn from and apply to their own careers. The lessons this man has learned over his 35-year career as GM of Shula's Athletic Club in Miami Lakes, Florida, are numerous, and Bill has shared some of them with you here in this special Club Insider Cover Story, which is being published in honor of Bill Higgs and his retirement. The lessons he's learned and experiences he's had don’t just apply to being a manager of a club business; they're lessons that, if applied to your life, will help you succeed in all of your endeavors. In short, Bill Higgs' story is a tale of 35 years of success that was caused by his dedication, his hard work, his flexibility and his consistency, to name just a few of the positive traits that Bill has applied to his career. Read More...
June 2017 Cover Story Preview: Brooklyn Boulders – Building Community One Climb at a Time
Posted: June 6, 2017 in Other News
It’s a sport that has been around for years, and in 2020, it will make its debut in the Olympic Games, to be held in Tokyo. Coinciding with the sport’s growth, facilities dedicated to the discipline are entering the mainstream instead of being relegated to an empty, unused corner of a multipurpose club. Among the leaders in this segment is this month’s Club Insider Cover Story Subject, Brooklyn Boulders. Read More...
May 2017 Cover Story Preview: Play On at Little Rock Athletic Club
Posted: May 9, 2017 in Other News
“It’s what we do. We’re a big, diverse family of tennis players, swimmers, runners, CrossFitters, cannonballers, stairmaster-ers, weekend warriors, big kids, little kids and kids who never grew up. We love to run, jump, serve, swim, splash, sweat, lap, lunge, squat, compete and do pretty much any other verb you can associate with fitness. We believe that fitness and fun not only can co-exist, but that they are soul mates that should never be apart. It’s why this club exists. And it’s why we come to work. It’s why more than ever we’re committed to helping you, our members, play often, play hard and Play On.” Read More...
April 2017 Cover Story Preview: George Foreman III and EverybodyFights – Train Like a Fighter; Live Like a Champion
Posted: April 11, 2017 in Other News
Everyone has the fighting spirit in them. Because of the daily grind so many of us get used to, we may not realize it still exists inside of us, but it does. We’ve all studied it in school; it’s called the Fight or Flight Response, and it is ingrained in nature. When we perceive a threat, our heart rate increases, adrenaline kicks in and we become hyper-aware of our surroundings. It is in that moment that one chooses the course that best ensures their survival. We all hope we never have to experience this psychological/physiological response in our life, but it is refreshing to know our instinctual nature will kick in if and when it is needed. Now, more evolved, we have learned to tap into this response to propel ourselves to greater heights physical and mentally. At EverybodyFights, the core of their program is to do exactly this. In doing so, they tackle one’s own beliefs, attitude and effort. Read More...
March 2017 Cover Story Preview: Club Northwest – For the LOVE of It
Posted: March 7, 2017 in Other News
The manifestation of love is a beautiful thing. It is sometimes one of those things that can be hard to explain, yet, you know exactly what it looks like when you see it. It creates a warmth inside. It can motivate. It can be a reason for doing something as well as the end result. When you experience it, you want to share it. Even if you don’t have it, you can still give it to others. Love is the fuel of purpose to create something better. Read More...
February 2017 Cover Story Preview: Cherry Creek Athletic Club – The Evolution and Success of One of Denver’s Premier Athletic Clubs
Posted: February 7, 2017 in Other News
Change... Improvement... Evolution... It can go by any of these names. And, possibly even more so than in the general business world, in the health and fitness club industry, those who earn success do so by constantly changing, improving and evolving their craft. A classic tale of this approach, which we have documented in Club Insider numerous times, is that of Red Lerille, Owner of the world-renowned Red’s, located in Lafayette, Louisiana. When it comes to improvement, his mantra is simple but absolute: Each and every month, change and improve at least one thing. Even small changes, in aggregate over time, can create an entirely new identity for a business, one that knows the essence of success. This month’s cover story subject, the Cherry Creek Athletic Club (CCAC), located in Denver, Colorado, is another renowned facility that has evolved and created success. Read More...
January 2017 Cover Story Preview: KUSHH!™ – The New Sound of Exercise!
Posted: January 10, 2017 in Other News
I am pleased to start the New Year off with a special story about KUSHH!™, a new product launching this month by my former business partner, Ray Irwin. Irwin along with Rich Boggs, another of my former business partners, and a few others started what became The STEP Company in 1989. The STEP Company’s product, The Original STEP®, has gone on to become one of the most successful fitness products of the last 25 years. The STEP® is ubiquitous in health and fitness facilities around the world. Irwin, along with Gin Miller, the creator of Step Aerobics, teamed up to produce KUSHH!™, a new product that shares some of its DNA with The STEP®. In preparation for this cover story, I enjoyed spending some time catching up with my long-time friend and former partner, Ray Irwin, at their Marietta, Georgia STEP Company and MOSSA Headquarters. In this cover story, we will discuss the invention of The Original STEP® and its evolution into the KUSHH!™, launching this month. Read More...
December 2016 Cover Story Preview: “2016 In Review”
Posted: December 6, 2016 in Other News
Here we go again! Thanksgiving dinner was delicious; college football’s bowl season is gearing up; and the holidays are upon us, culminating with ringing in the New Year of 2017. That means it’s time for Club Insider’s “2016 In Review.” As always, this year, our goal was to bring you informational and inspirational stories of health and fitness club industry knowledge and success with a fresh lineup of cover stories, in-depth best practices articles from our team of Contributing Authors and timely news and thought-provoking insights in Norm’s Notes. In 2016, we hope you have enjoyed what you have read and have been able to use this information to better run your health and fitness club business. Read More...
November 2016 Cover Story Preview: Executive Health and Sports Center – Showing Members Their Health is Their Wealth
Posted: November 8, 2016 in Other News
What does your health mean to you? Without it, would you be able to do the things you do or accomplish the goals you have set in life? Or, conversely, you are healthy; how would you feel and what would you do if a family member were not healthy? What if it was self-inflicted? Our industry knows all too well how important these questions are in a member’s life. We know our industry can offer the solution to so many woes of a society that, by and large, is unhealthy and doing it to itself. But, is anyone noticing? Read More...
October 2016 Cover Story Preview: The Story of Chuck Richards and Sunset Athletic Club
Posted: October 11, 2016 in Other News
Chuck Richards was born and grew up in Tacoma Washington. Like so many kids, from an early age, he was active at his local Y. From the various sports and activities he participated in, he began to shine in swimming. Through high school, he focused on the sport, culminating in the honor of All American and being ranked #3 in the country. This led to a full scholarship to the swimming powerhouse, University of Indiana. Throughout his collegiate career, he was a 2-year All American and National Finalist. At that time, he was not at the Olympic level; however, upon graduation, his sports career did not end. Instead, he was pursued for the Pentathlon, a multidiscipline sport that included running, swimming, pistol shooting, fencing and riding. He began training and competing out of San Antonio in the summer of 1967. Read More...
September 2016 Cover Story Preview: Todd Magazine and Blink Fitness – Striving to Make “Every Body Happy”
Posted: September 6, 2016 in Other News
The landscape of the health and fitness club industry today is vastly different than it was only ten years ago. At that time, the rise of the high-volume, low-price (HV/LP) segment was in its relative infancy but growing steadily on the merits of what the model proposed to its consumers. Enter the Great Recession, and the pace increased as many consumers in higher-end segments made personal budget adjustments to reflect their new economic realities. Today, well into economic recovery, there seems to be a new HV/LP option every other week, and as would be expected, segmentation within the segment has begun. Led by Todd Magazine, Blink Fitness strives to be the leader in the higher-end of the HV/LP segment. Read More...
August 2016 Cover Story Preview: The Science of Club Marketing – With the Advice of Club Marketing Pros
Posted: August 9, 2016 in Other News
As health and fitness professionals, we know the formula to a healthy lifestyle. It’s not really that complicated. Yet, our industry has developed around it, and it keeps us all employed in a profession we love. Stripping that formula to its simple core, it consists of eating and drinking the right things in the correct amounts, staying active with appropriate exercises in the proper form and resting the body adequately after exertion. Now, in 2016, it’s no secret that the end users of our industry know what used to be our secret... the formula, as well. So, why do they continue to include our industry in the mix instead of doing it on their own? The reason is because knowledge and execution are two very different things. Read More...
July 2016 Cover Story Preview: Dr. Gerry Faust – Doctor of the Grand Problem Solving Event
Posted: July 5, 2016 in Other News
Dr. Gerry Faust, 74, is truly one of a kind... a true gentleman and a vastly experienced and extremely highly qualified man in his field who leaves huge footprints in the world of high-level management training and education for all who follow him. Dr. Faust has produced some of the finest tools there are for business management training. And, he has created a host of Roundtable relationships where his clients share their knowledge, experience and talents with each other. He leads the groups so their sharing is, in essence, a guide for them to navigate the waters of business... no matter what the hazards may be. Read More...
June 2016 Cover Story Preview: Todd Smith and Las Vegas Athletic Clubs – Continuing the Smith-Palluck Legacy
Posted: June 7, 2016 in Other News
Among Club Insider’s Mission and Objectives, being a reporter and guardian of the health and fitness club industry’s history is paramount in supporting those tasks. In January and February of 2002, Club Insider Publisher, Norm Cates, reported on and forever locked into our publication’s archives the story of Rudy and Virginia Smith across a 2-part cover story. Already having completed a legendary career with more than 100 years of experience between them, Rudy and Virginia took on the task of transforming a 4-club chain known as Las Vegas Athletic Clubs (LVAC). Across the totality of their careers, their list of colleagues, business associates and team members reads like a Who’s Who list of the most well known industry pioneers and legends, to whom we all owe so much. Todd Smith, along with his brother Chad, were deeply entrenched in this industry from their own early days, and those whom they were exposed to and learned from during their developmental years ensured a long-term future in the industry their parents helped build and loved so much. Read More...
May 2016 Cover Story Preview: Club Fit – 40+ Years of Health and Fitness Evolution
Posted: May 10, 2016 in Other News
The task of business is a complicated one. The number of moving parts can seem infinite. We plan for everything possible, but it never works out completely to plan. Simplistically, some keys to long-term success include: Always learning from your mistakes, as well as the successes of others. Populating the business with a team of trusted and capable staff members who buy into the company’s mission and values. And, doing everything ethically possible to build a customer base that loves, trusts and values your brand. Embedded within those tasks are thousands of sub-tasks that exponentially complicate things. Read More...
April 2016 Cover Story Preview: IHRSA’s 35 and Counting! The VALUE of IHRSA
Posted: April 12, 2016 in Other News
Club Insider is very pleased to acknowledge and help celebrate IHRSA's 35th Anniversary! After having seen IHRSA in action again March 21-24th in Orlando, Florida, this author came back to his keyboard all charged up...again! That charged up feeling has happened every year for the 35 years that our industry's best friend, Rick Caro, and I have been attending IHRSA's Annual Convention and Trade Show. Read More...
March 2016 Cover Story Preview: World Gym Celebrates 40th Anniversary!
Posted: March 9, 2016 in Other News
This month, we have a cover story 40 years in the making. Congratulations to everyone at World Gym International as they’re celebrating their 40th Anniversary this year, and part of that celebration will take place in Orlando at IHRSA’s 35th Annual Convention in March. Read More...
February 2016 Cover Story Preview: HealthQuest – Reinvesting in the Future of Fitness
Posted: February 10, 2016 in Other News
This month, we are very excited to feature HealthQuest of Hunterdon, New Jersey. The story of HealthQuest we will be presenting is one of reinvention and reinvigoration, culminating in an incredible renewed 105,000 square-foot facility on 38 acres that is among the best of the best. Led by General Manager, Wade Williams, and supported greatly by Owner, Jack Cust, HealthQuest’s list of offerings is incredible. But, this story, like any club’s, is more than just a list of offerings. Read More...
