John McCarthy: The Visionary Leader Who Made the HFA

John McCarthy is best known as the first executive director of the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), which was renamed the Health & Fitness Association (HFA) in 2024. He was hired shortly after the organization was founded in 1981. In fact, McCarthy was the first hire at the new association.

On his first day as executive director, McCarthy had no office, no employees, and virtually no members. What he did have was a vision, one that was supported by his remarkable organizational skills, an ability to bring people together, and a leadership style that combined a fierce determination with a soft touch.

"From day one, he exceeded our expectations," recalls Rick Caro, one of the founders of HFA who hired McCarthy. "With a minimal base salary, few staff, and no headquarters, he literally created a successful nonprofit trade association.”

For 25 years, McCarthy led the growth of the trade association for commercial clubs, and, really, the entire fitness industry. He was a symbol of stability through booms and busts, growing the HFA’s membership while enhancing the credibility of a still-young industry—an industry that almost missed out on benefiting from his visionary leadership.

A Slam Dunk

McCarthy grew up in Chicago and was a standout basketball player for the University of Notre Dame. He even played on a college all-star team that toured with the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1958, he was drafted by the New York Knicks, but instead of joining the team, he decided to go into the seminary. He studied to be a Catholic priest for six years, was ordained, and served in the Catholic ministry for five years. When he realized he wasn’t cut out to be a single person, he left the ministry.

McCarthy moved into a new role as owner and manager of a tennis and fitness club in Walpole, MA, and the part-time executive director of the New England Racquet Sports Association—a regional association comprised of tennis clubs, racquetball clubs, and fitness clubs—that existed before the HFA was founded.

The “I” in IHRSA stood for “International” and McCarthy made it a priority for the association. During his tenure, he traveled extensively, developing international relations in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South America, helping clubs in those regions to be served with a variety of publications, trade shows, and services.

Michael Levy fondly remembers meeting McCarthy at the association’s 1982 convention in Las Vegas when Levy was with The Sports Clubs of Canada. “He was extremely friendly and took a great deal of time to introduce me to other club owners,” Levy says. “This was important as my company was located in Toronto, Canada, and I didn’t know any American club operators.” He credits McCarthy with helping him to create lifelong relationships with other fitness facility owners.

Levy went on to serve as HFA board chair for two years and is still in awe of McCarthy’s leadership skills. “John has this incredible ability to make you comfortable, even when you disagree with his positions,” he says. “He is a great listener and open to new ideas, even when these contradict his own position.”

Making Advocacy a Priority

McCarthy was active on Capitol Hill, advocating for fitness tax credits, among other things. Levy recalls watching him convince members of Congress to sponsor something that was not popular: fitness instead of drugs.

As the 10th HFA board president, Mitch Wald worked closely with McCarthy. Wald, who served as COO of Maryland Athletic Club among other roles in the industry, describes McCarthy as "the glue" that held the association together and says he had no ego. "It was never about John; it was about what was best for our members and the association,” he says.

“Back then, in the 1990s, our industry was second only to used cars as far as the number of consumer complaints,” Wald recalls. “John knew we needed to establish best practices and to professionalize the industry.”

Under McCarthy’s leadership, HFA did just that. “He created the first research reports and provided basic industry booklets, which he authored—sometimes aimed at the financial community and future club owners,” Caro says.

McCarthy also realized that the industry needed to be educated, so he created a four-day educational program called the IHRSA Institute. In addition, he built up the staff in the Boston headquarters and grew the annual convention and trade show.

Unmatched People Skills

During his career, McCarthy often emphasized that the fitness business is a hospitality business. He practiced what he preached. At each HFA event, McCarthy could be found at the entrance of the trade show and the opening reception, personally greeting every person who walked by.

Wald, a self-described introvert, was apprehensive about walking the trade show floor and shaking hands with each vendor, but he knew he needed to as the HFA board president. “John grabbed me by the hand and walked the show floor with me, and together, we greeted and thanked each exhibiting company,” he recalls.

Larry Krieger, who worked for Saw Mill River Club and Wellbridge, served as IHRSA board president in 1994. He describes McCarthy as being special to work with "because he could always see around the corner to envision the next move or the next solution."

He adds, “John had fantastic people skills and leadership skills, plus an unassuming, kind nature. But he got stuff done.” Krieger credits McCarthy with moving the industry into the mainstream—from a mom-and-pop association to a world-class health and fitness organization.

A Man of Decency Who Made a Difference

Those who were lucky enough to work for him are grateful for that opportunity.

Tom Richards, HFA government affairs support, met McCarthy as a 21-year-old HFA intern.

"He was already a giant in the industry, and from my cubicle vantage point, he truly looked the part, bounding through the office with purpose and enthusiasm," recalls Richards, who later founded The Activist in Motion. "One of my first and most enduring impressions of great leadership came from him—a gentle and brilliant giant who inspired greatness through kindness, positivity, and an unwavering commitment to the cause."

HFA Vice President of Meetings and Trade Shows Marc Gagnon lauds McCarthy’s ability to make everyone feel like a true friend. "His leadership wasn’t just about guiding the organization—it was about creating a community where everyone felt they belonged."

When McCarthy was preparing to retire, the HFA staff decided to feature him on the cover of Club Business International. "We had to keep it a secret from him, as he disliked attention and was always quick to deflect praise onto others," recalls Michele Eynon, HFA vice president of advertising.

Since his retirement in 2006, McCarthy has remained active in the industry, most notably with Augie's Quest to Cure ALS, which raises funds to fight the disease.

"The industry as a whole benefited from John every day," Caro says. "When he retired—at too young an age—it lost a true leader who never knew how gifted he was and the difference he made."