Every month, Club Solutions sits down with an industry expert to share in their wealth of knowledge. In the June issue, the conversation features Jason Reinhardt, the owner of Go M.A.D. Fitness.
1. How did you get started in the fitness industry?
I started with a shoulder injury playing football and was sent to a Health South rehabilitation center inside of a Q The Sports Club in Arlington, Texas. The manager at the time saw me there daily, asked if I’d like to work there, and here we are 21 years later.
2. What’s been a key to your organization’s success?
Being locally owned and operated, open 24/7, and having multiple locations with something for all ages and fitness levels. In terms of what I’m most proud of, that’s hard to answer, but having staff members who have been with me since we opened — seven years later — would be at the top.
3. What has been one of the biggest accomplishments of your career?
Founding and starting my own company from scratch and serving as the chair of the IHRSA Board of Directors.
4. What has been one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your career?
What’s been both challenging and exciting has been adapting to the changes of our industry — 24/7 clubs, low price points, studios, etc. The ability to stay relevant and modern has proved challenging. We’ve overcome that challenge by adjusting to the community’s demands, opening all clubs to 24/7 access, offering a low price point membership option, upgrading equipment when necessary, and adding technology like Myzone and recovery stations like HydroMassage, as examples.
5. What is one lesson you have learned that other fitness professionals can learn from?
People will always offer advice. Only take advice from people you’d like to be financially or professionally alike, and that will help weed out the confusion at times.
6. Tell us one fact about yourself others may not know.
I work a lot, but my goal in life is to be dad and spouse of the year, not employee or employer of the year. Family will remember you and be with you longer than any staff member, so I make the choice to always put them first. You should too, by the way.
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
