American Council on Exercise (ACE) has added two new team members to help the nonprofit continue to increase the reach of its advocacy efforts and expand strategic partnerships aimed at helping increase access to physical activity opportunities nationwide and eradicate the obesity epidemic.
Tom Richards, who has more than 10 years of experience in the fitness industry as a member of the public policy staff at the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), and Jamie Costello, a 20-year veteran of operations and consulting services for health and fitness clubs, both bring diverse backgrounds to the team.
“The addition of Tom and Jamie will help us enlist partners who share our vision of eradicating the obesity epidemic, leaders committed to increasing access to physical-activity opportunities to all people, across all social segments,” said Scott Goudeseune, the president and CEO of ACE. “That hefty task can’t be accomplished alone. Getting other like-minded organizations and leaders in government, healthcare, fitness and education to join us will make us more effective at making the strides we know we need to make.”
At IHRSA, Richards specialized in curating strategic partnerships, health policy and legislative counsel. His role at ACE will include identifying opportunities that build a culture of health and support and encourage physical activity, with a focus on integrating well-qualified fitness professionals and health coaches into the healthcare system. Richards, a graduate of the Northeastern University School of Law, will also serve as president of the National Coalition of Promoting Physical Activity (NCPPA), assuming the role from Goudeseune.
Costello brings a diverse background in operations and sales, strategic planning and execution, customer-relationship management, and business-to-business and business-to-consumer sales. With more than 20 years of experience in the fitness and wellness industry, he has served as a luxury health club owner, president of a boutique fitness and wellness consulting company and regional director of San Diego-based Fitness Together. At ACE, he will lead the new business development team to form and cultivate strategic alliances that expand current markets, add innovation and increase impact.
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
