| IHRSA Report | Board Profiles
Introducing: Jasmin Kirstein and Robert Brewster
As the newly elected members of IHRSA’s board of directors begin taking their seats, you might well be wondering, who are they? Well, we'd be delighted to introduce Jasmin Kirstein, the owner of My Sportlady, in Munich, Germany, and Robert Brewster, the president of The Alaska Club, in Anchorage, Alaska.
Jasmin Kirstein
u JASMIN KIRSTEIN My Sportlady
Preface: In the early 1980s, Jasmin Kirstein worked as a model, and, during a visit to Boston, discovered Health- works. Inspired by this inno- vative women’s club, Kirstein returned to her native Germany to open the first-ever fitness facility for women in Munich. In 1984, she launched My Sportlady, a 3,000-square-foot unit that offers women a holistic approach to fitness and well-being. Shortly after opening the
club, Kirstein’s daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, but the new entrepreneur was able to continue developing her business while caring for her child. Fortunately, her daughter prevailed over the disease and inspired Kirstein to open her club’s doors—for free or at reduced rates—to struggling mothers. The original facility has
since been expanded to nearly 20,000 square feet, and now has a sister operation in
Taufkirchen. Kirstein also launched the My Sportlady Trust Fund, which supports women and children both locally and in other countries. Her efforts led to her being awarded the 2010 Julie Main Woman Leadership Scholarship for excellence, professionalism, courage, and perseverance.
Preview: “I learned so much through IHRSA,” Kirstein reflects. “The association made it possible for me to face the risk of opening a studio, and encouraged me to go further. So now, it’s time for me to give back.” As a member of IHRSA’s
board, Kirstein would like to develop ideas designed to attract new members to IHRSA, and help create an educational component that encourages women in leader- ship positions. She’d also like to help grow IHRSA’s international membership. “The industry has to
recognize that it needs to provide club members with additional benefits, some-
thing more than just exercise,” she says. “We have to listen to our members, and make them feel welcome again, and again, and again.” —|
u ROBERT BREWSTER The Alaska Club
Preface: Robert Brewster has a lifelong history of partici- pation in competitive sports, primarily cross-country skiing, for which he received a gold medal in the 30-km freestyle at the World Masters Cross Country Ski Championships in 1983. Over the past 28 years, he’s managed a diverse assortment of health clubs, including multipurpose, tennis-only, sport-specific, high-end gyms, and low- price/high-volume units. Today, Brewster serves
as the president of The Alaska Club (TAC), a company that operates a network of 18 multipurpose facilities; Acceleration Alaska, a sports- training center; and Alaska Fitness Equipment, a com- mercial equipment distribu-
www.
ihrsa.org | Robert Brewster
tion company. His broad experience, longstanding relationship with IHRSA, and participation in the REX Roundtables for Executives have provided him with a clear understanding of the unique circumstances confronting the industry.
Preview: “The perspectives I’ve gained will help me iden- tify critical industry problems, effective solutions, and the resources that clubs need to prosper,” says Brewster. During his time on IHRSA’s
board, Brewster intends to focus on ensuring the asso- ciation’s financial stability through revenue diversification and resource management, and on strengthening its public policy and advocacy efforts to protect IHRSA members from unfair com- petition and burdensome government regulation. “I’m excited at the pros-
pect of being able to help shape direction and policy at this important moment in the association’s develop- ment,” he explains. —|
JULY 2011 | Club Business Internat ional 93
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110