The Lessons in Fitness Leadership series highlights IHRSA’s industry leaders and thanks them for their continued commitment to growing, promoting, and protecting the health club industry. By sharing their business expertise, we hope that you will get to know them, what they've learned along the way, and how they view leadership.
For This Fitness Industry Leader, It’s All About Positivity
For Rochester Athletic Club’s Matt Remick, the ability to spread positivity and impact members’ lives is what makes being a leader in the fitness industry so rewarding.
The interior of Rochester Athletic Club.
Matt Remick
President and Owner
Rochester Athletic Club
What is the most fulfilling part of being a business leader in the fitness industry?
The most fulfilling part of being a business leader in general—and in the fitness industry—is getting to spread positivity. What our team does and offers our members has a positive impact on our member’s lives. Working with associates offers people the ability to do what they were born to do. I am always in awe of people who are doing work that brings them joy—whether it is in our industry or someone who brings joy to others by serving them great coffee with a smile that impacts someone’s day.
We also get to be the first job for a lot of people and my hope is that we get to share with them a positive employment experience and culture that will shape what they expect from their future employers.
If you were able to go back in time, what is one piece of leadership advice you would have given your younger self about working in the fitness industry?
Put yourself in your member’s place or perspective. This has gotten easier with age, but I believe that is vital to creating a place where people want to spend their free time and resources.
What prompted you to join the Industry Leadership Council?
We have been members of the ILC since I have been a part of our club, and I am second generation. The value is in uniting as an industry with other clubs, experts, and IHRSA staff to leverage the best of the best to improve as an industry.
“The most fulfilling part of being a business leader in general—and in the fitness industry—is getting to spread positivity.”
Matt Remick, President and Owner
Rochester Athletic Club - Rochester, MN
What has been your most memorable experience as part of the ILC?
I enjoy the opportunities to network with other ILC members at the Convention. As ILC members, we get access to a few special things that give us a chance to learn as a group, see familiar faces and friends, and network with new people. This networking is always a highlight of the Convention for me.
The Personal Health Investment Today Act, or PHIT, is legislation that would make access to physical activity more affordable. How will the passage of this bill help America get fit?
Any time tax savings can be leveraged to make the out-of-pocket expense of something cheaper it is a win. How often do we get to be in direct control of some of our tax dollars? I do not feel like I have much of a say in where my tax dollars go. PHIT makes access to clubs more affordable for everyone, and it should reduce the barrier that some may have for getting the exercise they need.
IHRSA does a significant amount of advocacy work to Grow, Promote, and Protect clubs across the country. How do you feel that work benefits your business or the industry at large?
The value I see is in leveraging the drive, passion, knowledge, and other talents of the group to benefit us all. The other important thing to note is as a member of the ILC we need to be ready to step up when it is our turn. Just like the best team in sports usually wins, the ILC gives us the opportunity to be part of a great team.
Kaitee Anderson Fernandez previously served as IHRSA's Director of Creative Content—a position that created digital, print, and video content to help tell the story behind IHRSA's advocacy and public policy efforts.