| News & Know How | news
Wilkins Wins McCarthy
Merit scholarship
| Green Scene |
Cooper staffer shines at IHRSA’s Institute
harder-Working for Professional Club Management
Hardwood Floors
B
rad Wilkins, the director of fitness man-
agement and development for the Cooper
Fitness Center, in Dallas, has been named
the recipient of the 4th Annual John McCarthy
Institute Merit Scholarship.
Wilkins received full tuition and a $500 travel
stipend to attend the 21st Annual IHRSA Institute
for Professional Club Management, which was
held last month at the Resort at Squaw Creek,
in Lake Tahoe, California.
Wilkins has worked at the Cooper Fitness
Center for 13 years. He’s held the position
Bamboo ‘floors’ fitness fans of director of fitness man-
agement since 2005, and
By Jennifer H. McInerney
serves as the team leader
of the Cooper Corporate
Let’s face it: hardwood floors look amazing in health clubs’ yoga, Pilates, Solutions commercial
and group-fitness studios, but they’re not exactly the “kindest” option with consulting line. In that
respect to the environment. capacity, he’s responsible
“Most hardwood trees that are milled for flooring can take anywhere from for the daily operations
40 to 80 years to grow to a size that’s suitable for harvesting,” explains Steve and strategic business
Chase, the general manager of Fitness Flooring, Inc., in Indianapolis, Indiana. development of a multi-
In general, recycled rubber flooring and recycled-content carpeting are million-dollar department.
more environmentally friendly, but not necessarily ideal for aerobics and Wilkins was also instru-
mind/body classes. mental in restructuring the
Brad Wilkins
the solution? Bamboo, which is considered a renewable resource because club’s fitness department
it grows—and re-grows—to its full height within a matter of months and can and creating its Trainer Advisory Board.
be utilized for flooring material in about five years. “that means that, at a “Brad has done an exceptional job of growing
minimum, bamboo provides flooring boards eight times over in the same the personal-training services and establishing
amount of time it takes for a maple tree to be harvested once.” a team approach among the staff at the Cooper
For 25 years, Fitness Flooring has offered a popular line of hardwood group- Fitness Center,” observes Roger Ralph, the
exercise flooring, under the brand Exerflex. the wood used in this product, co-owner of the Hockessin Athletic Club, in
Chase explains, is derived from sustainable managed forests and certified by Wilmington, Delaware, and a member of the
the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). scholarship-selection committee. “The great
However, the company wanted to go even “greener.” results produced by Brad’s Trainer Advisory
Earlier this year, it introduced Zenterra, a bamboo flooring offering Board are a testament to his leadership and
designed specifically to be durable—and beautiful—enough for commercial team-building talents. He’s very deserving of
fitness applications. this award.”
“the timing for developing Zenterra coincided with advances in harvesting The John McCarthy Institute Merit Scholarship
technology that allow for a product that’s actually harder than maple or was established in 2006 to honor IHRSA’s
oak,” Chase continues. “It also has a lower voC (volatile organic compound) executive director emeritus. It’s funded through
content, which makes it environmentally safer.” donations from industry founders and friends.
Aesthetically, there’s only a slight difference in the appearance of Zenterra The other members of the selection committee
bamboo flooring when compared with traditional hardwood: instead of dark included: Rick Caro, president, Management
streaks and knots, bamboo is characterized by a subtle “knuckle” pattern Vision, Inc.; Jarod Cogswell, general manager,
indicating where the cane ends. ClubSport Oregon; Nestor Fernandez, vice
Predictably, clubs are lining up to install this rapidly renewable resource— president of operations, Western Athletic
which also happens to be Fitness Flooring’s fastest-growing product line, Clubs; and Karen Wischmann, president,
with sales outpacing even its historically best-selling Exerflex brand. —| Total Woman Gym and Day Spa. —|
Please contact
j.mcinerney@fit-etc.com with your ‘green’ initiatives.
www.ihrsa.org | SEPtEMBER 2009 | Club Business International
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