The Human Kinetics Podcast How to Successfully Manage a Fitness Facility with Steven Trotter and Chris Stevenson
What does it take to run a successful fitness business? It can seem overwhelming for some to jump into a management position in the fitness industry. Steven Trotter and Chris Stevenson are experts in the industry, and have built careers on successful fitness facility management, and consulting to help others do the same. In this episode, Steven and Chris discuss important areas to consider when running a fitness business like defining your mission and values, recruiting and retaining top talent, layout and design, and being adaptable in your business. The duo co-authored Fitness Facility Management to serve as a resource to help other managers and fitness professionals be successful in their careers.
Fitness Facility Management
Steven A. Trotter, MS
Steven Trotter is a global well-being consultant and adjunct professor. With over two decades of experience in the fitness and wellness industry, Trotter is renowned for his expertise in people management and the development of programs and facilities. He founded Globetrotter Wellness Solutions, LLC, in 2017 after seven years of providing independent consulting services. His firm collaborates with universities; health clubs; organizations; and morale, wellness, and recreation (MWR) units to improve organizational and employee well-being and to build systems for success.
Trotter is an international speaker and presenter, regularly presenting at local, state, regional, national, and international conferences on subjects such as facility management, employee engagement, organizational development, project and priority management, and strategic marketing. He is a regular contributor to Campus Rec Magazine and the website of American Counsil on Exercise (ACE). He has served as a subject matter expert for ACE since 2014 and works with the credentialing department to develop and continuously improve the four NCCA-accredited ACE certifications.
Trotter has a master of science degree in health and physical education from Virginia Tech and a bachelor of science degree in exercise science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He holds the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) exercise physiologist certification, four certifications from ACE, and multiple specialty certifications from Les Mills. He is an American Red Cross instructor in CPR, AED, and first aid; a certified mental health first aid trainer; a Green Dot bystander intervention facilitator; and a Gallup-certified strength coach. He is also a continuing education provider with ACE, National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA).
Instagram: @globetrotterwellness
Chris Stevenson, BA, CSCS
Chris Stevenson is the founder of The Empower Group, a comprehensive consulting firm headquartered in Westlake Village, California. The firm specializes in delivering keynote presentations, interactive workshops, and strategic advising services to facilities worldwide. The Empower Group collaborates with facilities of varying scales and types, spanning domestic and international markets. Their core competencies encompass business planning, strategic design, fostering exceptional workplace culture, optimizing staffing strategies, enhancing marketing and sales efforts, refining member experiences, and more.
Stevenson has over 25 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, from personal training and group exercise classes to owning and operating a full-service health club. For six years, he was a faculty member at the California Health and Longevity Institute (CHLI), located at the Four Seasons in Westlake Village, California, and named one of the top 10 executive health programs in the nation by Worth magazine. He presented on exercise science and behavioral change and oversaw a team of exercise specialists who performed one-on-one assessments and training sessions for the executives.
Stevenson is an international speaker and has presented keynote speeches and breakout sessions in over a dozen different countries and throughout the United States. He regularly presents at fitness and business events, including those of Health & Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA), Athletic Business, IDEA, NASM Optima, and Club Industry. He has written for Club Business International (CBI), Health Club Management (HCH), Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), Club Solutions, and Club Industry, and he is a regular columnist for Athletic Business.
He serves on the board of directors of the Health & Fitness Association, the largest nonprofit trade association for the health and fitness industry; the owners committee of IDEA; and the events committee of the Climbing Wall Association. In those roles, he advises on strategic planning, standards, policies, values, and vision to increase the organizations’ benefits to their members.
Stevenson has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. He holds the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) credential from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and is certified as a Technogym master educator.
Instagram: @thechrisstevenson
Human Kinetics
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