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Surgeon General Graces the Stage at IHRSA 30 Industry’s premier event attracts more than 10,400 from some 70 countries
By Patricia Amend R
egina Benjamin, M.D., MBA, the 18th Surgeon General of the United States, headlined IHRSA’s 30th Anniversary International Convention and
Trade Show, which took place March 16-19 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. The largest fitness industry event in the U.S., IHRSA30
attracted more than 10,400 health club operators, suppliers, and fitness industry professionals from some 70 countries, who learned about the latest trends and best practices at the convention, and viewed the industry’s newest equipment at the trade show. Dr. Benjamin, known as “America’s Doctor,” spoke about
her “vision for a healthy and fit nation,” and described how she intends “to change the discussion about obesity from what people can’t do to what they can do to stay healthy and fit.” The Surgeon General was joined by an impressive lineup
of celebrated motivational speakers. They included: Daniel Pink, the author of four provocative titles on the changing world of work, whose appearance was sponsored by Matrix Fitness; Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos, sponsored by Tech- nogym; management consultant Patrick Lencioni, sponsored by Precor Incorporated; and Phil Keoghan, the host of the reality television show, The Amazing Race, sponsored by SPRI Products, Inc. The 7,000 individuals who attended the convention also
had their choice of the more than 140 seminars, panels, workshops, and educational sessions that took place over the event’s four days. Topics ranged from “The Skinny on Group Wellness Coaching for Weight Management,” to “Corporate Fitness Unleashed: Time to Wake Up the Workforce of Amer- ica,” to “The Experts Speak Out on the Financial State of the Industry & Near Term Future.” International attendees connected with one another in the
International Reception Room, as well as at the Planet IHRSA networking reception. Special programs for them included the “Canadian Forum: The State of the Canadian Fitness Industry,” the “Latin American Forum,” and “Global Club Certification Standards: The Need for Self-Regulation.” Audio recordings of select IHRSA30 Convention sessions
are now available for purchase at
www.ihrsa.org/store. IHRSA also honored six club operators for their contribu-
tions to the fitness industry. The association presented the President’s Award to Waldyr Soares, the founder and president of Fitness Brasil, in São Paulo, Brasil; the Julie Main Emerging Woman Scholarship to Jane Clark, a personal trainer and cancer exercise specialist at the Western Athletic Clubs, San Francisco, and a cancer exercise counselor at UCSF; the Outstanding Community Service Award to Laury Hammel and Myke Farricke, founders of the Long- fellow Clubs in Wayland, Massachusetts; and the Dale S. Dibble Distinguished Service Award to Zoe Veasey, cofounder
18 Club Business Internat ional | MAY 2011 | www.
ihrsa.org
U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, M.D., l., with Augie’s Quest cofounders Augie and Lynne Nieto
of Cedardale Health and Fitness in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Motionsoft, Inc., of Rockville, Maryland—a leading pro-
vider of member-relationship products and services in the active-lifestyle industry—was honored as Associate Member of the Year. “I’m pleased to acknowledge this year’s award recipients
for their outstanding commitment, service, and innovation to the health and fitness industry,” observed Joe Moore, IHRSA’s president and CEO. “On behalf of IHRSA and the industry, I sincerely thank them for their tireless service and commitment to this industry.” The 30th Annual International Trade Show, which was
sold out, featured 305 exhibitors in 74 different product categories, who occupied 141,000 square feet of space. As always, the show brought suppliers together with buyers, dealers, and distributors for meetings, sales planning, and purchases. Some 83 exhibitors displayed their products at an IHRSA gathering for the very first time. One special event, the 6th Annual B*A*S*H for MDA’s
Augie’s Quest, which benefits the Muscular Dystrophy Associ- ation’s ALS research program, attracted 800 attendees, and raised more than $1.3 million to fight ALS (amyotrophic lat- eral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. To date, Augie’s Quest has raised over $28 million for ALS research. “The many IHRSA club members and associate members,
who have been an important part of IHRSA for three decades, have good reason to be proud,” reported Moore. “First and foremost, they’ve been there every step of the way as our industry has evolved in its global reach, market penetration, and product sophistication. This year’s convention and trade show celebrated that fact. Now, we’re looking forward to marking the beginning of the next 30 years at the 31st Annual IHRSA International Convention and Trade Show, which will be held March 14-17, 2012, in Los Angeles.” —|
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