HFA Board Elects New Chair, Welcomes Five Leaders

At its March 11 meeting, the HFA Board of Directors elected five new members and a new chair, vice chair, treasurer, and secretary with terms starting July 1.

The four-year term of Chris Smith, current HFA Board chairman and president and CEO of Fitness World Canada, ends June 30, but he will continue to serve as ex-officio for the next term. Luke Carlson, founder and CEO of Discover Strength, was elected to serve as the next chairman, his one-year term beginning July 1.

Carlson has served on the HFA board for four years. He speaks around the world on leadership, management, and evidence-based exercise, and his Discover Strength personal training studios are among the highest volume and revenue training facilities in North America. Carlson holds an honorary Ph.D. from Solent University and graduated from the Executive Leadership, Strategy and Innovation program at Stanford University. He is an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Exercise Physiologist and has a BS and MS in kinesiology from the University of Minnesota.

The other elected officers, all of whom already were serving as board members, are:

• Vice-chair: Al Noshirvani, CEO, Fitness Club Management
• Treasurer: Ahmar Azam, founder and CEO, TriFit Ltd.
• Secretary: Jeff Sanders, chief growth officer and partner, Energy Fitness Club

The five board members elected at the March meeting will join the HFA board of directors for four-year terms starting July 1, 2025. They are:

• Shafiq Ahmed, founder, CEO, and chairman, NRG Gym Limited
• Cory Brightwell, co-founder and CEO, Chuze Fitness
• Dimple Manghnani, general counsel and vice president, [solidcore]
• Chyna Willman, founder and CEO, Grit City Wellness
• Mark Harrington Jr., president, Healthworks

“This association is made stronger by the combined talents and passionate commitment of its members and leaders,” said Smith, HFA Board Chairman. “I look forward to watching the association continue to elevate and expand as it works to grow, promote and protect the industry through its three guiding pillars of advocacy, education and research.”

Awards were presented to the three outgoing board members, whose four-year terms end June 30:

• Chris Smith, president and CEO, Fitness World Canada
• Loni Wang, CEO, Catic Wellness Group Ltd.
• Aaron Moore, president, Vida Fitness & Aura Spa

HFA thanks them for their service and unwavering commitment to the association and the growth, promotion, and protection of the industry.