Every month, Club Solutions sits down with an industry expert to share in their wealth of knowledge. In the March issue, we sat down with Carol Nalevanko, the president at Village Health Clubs & Spas.
1. How did you get started in the fitness industry?
In 1980, I graduated from the University of South Dakota and moved to Arizona. I answered an ad in the local newspaper which was looking for someone who liked people, organizing activities and events, and sports. The position was for an activities director. I interviewed for the job and was hired on the same day. I have been with the same company ever since and am now the president.
2. What’s been a key to your organization’s success? What are you most proud of?
The key to our organization’s success is our employees. We hire people who care about other people and are passionate about fitness and health. We all share the same goals and values. I’m most proud of the fact we have remained true to our business model, even in challenging times like the recession and the pandemic. We don’t let fear cause us to stray away from who we are but remain committed to strengthening our model year after year.
3. What has been one of the biggest accomplishments of your career?
Leading our company out of the pandemic where we lost 42% of our memberships to being back at 92% of our membership base from 2019.
4. What has been one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your career? And how did you overcome it?
I would have to say managing my staff through the pandemic is the biggest challenge I have had to face in my career. I was able to overcome it by staying calm and not panicking during the uncertain times we faced. Having never experienced a pandemic before, we had to navigate through a lot of unknown territory. I involved my employees in the decision making and we communicated all of our plans, policies, etc. to all employees and members. Frequent communication was the key.
5. What is one lesson you have learned that other fitness professionals can learn from?
It’s OK to not always have all the answers. Stay calm, consult other people you trust, take the time to find the solution and then see it through.
6. Tell us one fact about yourself others may not know.
I was in several musicals in college. I’m not a very good singer but I usually got chosen for the cast because of my enthusiasm and energy.
Connect with Carol Nalevanko on LinkedIn.
