| IHRSA Report | Success by Association An athlete in college, he earned a master’s degree


in exercise science, and then worked as the director of fitness and recreation for the Army Corps of Engi- neers in Saudi Arabia. Following that assignment, he became the fitness director for Athletic Express, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Shortly thereafter, Mandley was hired by The Fit-


ness Company to open its West End Executive Fitness Center, a prestigious facility in Washington, D.C. He was subsequently promoted to regional director for the Washington, D.C., area, overseeing 12 clubs, and then to senior vice president. By 1996, when he was named president, The Fitness Company had 78 clubs under ownership or management. However, four years later, in 2000, Mandley cashed


in his stock in The Fitness Company, and, along with a business partner, Bob Wagner, launched ProFit, a new ownership-and-management firm. “Currently, we have 14 clubs under management


and own two, The Energy Club, in Arlington, Virginia, and the ProFIT Executive Fitness Center, in Washington, D.C.,” Mandley explains. “Our core business is residential, office, hotel, and amenity fit- ness management in the Washington metro area. Our client list includes the Fairmont, Marriott, and Destination Hotels, Jones Lang LaSalle Real Estate, Manulife Real Estate, and the Aspen Hill Club.”


The IHRSA connection Both Bouchard and Mandley have turned to IHRSA for information, encouragement, support, and inspi- ration as they, their clubs, and the industry have come of age over the years. Bouchard recalls one particularly memorable


example, when, in 1989, the management of AHC changed hands for the third time in just 12 years. “IHRSA became a bigger part of who we were then,” she recalls. “Six of us attended the IHRSA convention that year. I remember that the roundtable discus- sions were very valuable, providing good ideas and producing lasting friendships. I especially appreciated the speakers at the opening and closing ceremonies. We also took full advantage of the trade show, where we tried new equipment and made appropriate purchases for our club. In 1993, when the Fitness Company took over the


management of AHC, Bouchard had the chance to attend the IHRSA Institute for Professional Club Management. “It was an opportunity to learn from some of the industry’s top leaders, including John McCarthy, the founding director of IHRSA, and consultants Rick Caro and Sandy Coffman.” Like Bouchard, Mandley was also introduced to


IHRSA when he held his first job in the industry. “Our general manager took five department heads


AHC is 120,000 square feet big


to the convention in Nashville in 1982,” he recalls. “It was truly an eye-opening experience. I realized then that I’d really enjoy a career in fitness. I’ve probably attended about 80% of all the IHRSA conferences and trade shows since then.” Mandley reports that he’s found the keynote and


general-session speakers to be consistently excellent. Among his favorites: McCarthy, on his vision for the industry; Caro, on financials; club owner Joe Cirulli, on building a business and managing a team; and authors Marcus Buckingham (Go Put Your Strengths to Work: 6 Powerful Steps to Achieve Outstanding Performance) and Jim Collins (Good to Great). “It’s been invaluable to me to be able to meet some


of the top movers and shakers in this business,” reflects Mandley. “And it‘s amazing how open and helpful people have been.” Bouchard and Mandley have both, in turn, shared


what they’ve learned, and found those experiences equally gratifying. “In 1990, I, along with two other individuals, spoke about women in the fitness industry at the convention in San Diego,” Bouchard recalls. “At the time, there were few women in leadership positions in this field.” Mandley, for his part, has spoken on relationship-building, and on managing fitness centers in hotels and resorts, and has served on IHRSA’s board of directors. “Being on the board really helped me to connect


with others,” he says. “It was one of the most enjoy- able experiences I’ve had in the industry.” —|


– Patricia Amend, pamend@aol.com www. ihrsa.org | OCTOBER 2010 | Club Business Internat ional 105


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