Club Solutions Magazine

Matt Goebel, CEO and founder of Woven, sat down with Club Solutions Podcast host Rachel Chonko to discuss the platform’s creation to streamline operations for multi-location fitness businesses.

Goebel shares how simplifying operational processes can help improvement, engagement and consistency. He also touches on technology, how it should be used and the challenges that come with it. Lastly, he advises that it’s never too early to scale your business.

Listen to the conversation below.

Chad Shaw, COO of Fit Athletic Club in San Diego, sat down with Club Solutions Magazine podcast host Rachel Chonko to discuss community, recovery and wellness in the fitness industry.

Shaw discusses the luxury fitness brand's signature events, its wellness day-club concept Fit Social and the integration of recovery amenities directly into membership. He also touches on rising trends such as strength training and the influence of wellness podcasts. And lastly, he focuses on Fit's number one priority — community.

Listen to the conversation here.

With the ongoing AI-craze, there’s newfound potential for clubs to bridge gaps in service quality and sales execution for lasting improvement. That’s why companies like AI Front Desk are stepping up to offer promising results amid this national trend.

Taylor Gabhart, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with Brian Holmes, the CEO of AI Front Desk, to discuss how the company was created, how it’s helping the club industry and what Holmes believes the next years of AI will look like.

He also discusses how challenges with staffing and customer communication inspired the creation of AI-powered front desk tools that drastically reduce response times and improve sales follow-up, resulting in better member engagement and operational efficiency.

Listen to the conversation below.

Every health club leader should understand the importance of their most valuable participants. They stay and visit longer at clubs and are often your loudest advocators.

Taylor Gabhart, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with Mario Tarquinio, the head of key accounts/verticals at Les Mills U.S., to discuss how to best build a loyal, engaged membership base.

Recently, Les Mills completed their most valuable participants (MVPs) report, which analyzed 2.6 million members to understand club growth dynamics. The key findings reveal Les Mills group training participants visit the gym 59% more and stay 39% longer than average members.

Tarquinio emphasizes the importance of motivation, group training, and creating an inclusive environment where instructors and members build a supportive community.

Listen to the conversation here.

Luke Carlson, the founder and CEO of Discover Strength, sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Chonko to discuss everything regarding efficient, research-backed strength training.

Carlson details how the company was founded with a mission to bridge the gap between exercise science and practical workout methods, focusing exclusively on personalized, evidence-based strength training. He also debunks common fitness myths, emphasizes the importance of staying current with scientific literature and highlights the growing popularity of strength training. Carlson covers topics such as the misconceptions about weight training, recovery modalities and the critical need for fitness professionals to base their practices on current scientific research.

Listen the conversation here.

The most influential generation that’s shaping the fitness industry right now is Gen Z members. This value-driven, tech-savvy group is redefining what it means to be a fitness consumer. They prioritize authenticity, sustainability, mental well-being and meaningful community.

Taylor Gabhart, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with Ruben Mejia, the executive vice president of SportsArt, to discuss how clubs and the fitness community can best fulfill the needs of Gen Z.

Mejia also shares how this group is reshaping expectations and how health clubs can better adapt today to connect with this very powerful generation of gym-goers.

Listen to the conversation here.

Blair McHaney, the president and CEO of MXM, sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Chonko to discuss everything regarding member experience from creating memorable moments to intentional service.

Key strategies include empowering staff to foster positive memories, such as sending handwritten cards, making personal introductions and anticipating member needs. McHaney also stresses the importance of operationalizing these practices — focusing on root cause solutions rather than just symptoms — and measuring member experience systematically. He believes clubs should view themselves as hospitality businesses where every interaction matters and creating a sense of belonging is crucial to member retention.

Listen to the full discussion here.

Jenn Hogg, the director of group fitness at East Bank Club in Chicago, sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Chonko to unpack what it really takes to build a thriving group fitness program.

They cover everything from aligning instructors with your club’s brand identity to designing smarter class schedules and delivering evaluations that inspire your team. Hogg also shares why she believes group fitness is the “secret sauce” of a club and what many operators get wrong when integrating it into their brand.

Whether you’re running a boutique studio or managing a large-scale facility, Hogg offers clear, actionable insights to help your group fitness program not only grow — but thrive.

Listen to the full discussion below.

Recovery and biohacking innovations continue to be a major focus of the fitness industry. One company excelling with this current trend is Power Plate. With comprehensive staff training, digital resources and proven results used by pro teams and celebrities, Power Plate offers fitness facilities a competitive edge in the growing recovery and wellness market.

Taylor Gabhart, the editor of Club Solutions Magazine, recently sat down with Laura Wilson, the director of training and curriculum for Power Plate. The two discuss Wilson’s role in developing Power Plate's program and the company's evolution, which includes the release of two new products: the MOVE — a hybrid commercial/home Power Plate — and the REV, a self-powered vibration bike.

It's a must-listen for industry professionals who want to learn more about the benefits of effective recovery offerings in clubs and Power Plate’s value in efficient, biohacking-style workouts.

Listen to the conversation below.

Bryan Myers, the CEO of [solidcore], recently sat down with Club Solutions Magazine Podcast host Rachel Chonko. The two discuss the brand's recent majority investment from L Catterton, what sustainable growth really looks like in boutique fitness, and how [solidcore] is doubling down on product excellence, community and innovation.

They also discussed Myers’ philosophy on leadership, the challenge of scaling culture and how [solidcore] is working to set a new industry standard for long-term success.

If you’re interested in having success with boutique fitness, then this conversation featuring the leader of one of the most recognizable and fastest growing brands in the industry is for you.

Listen to the full discussion below.