Change the Game, Change the Results!

When the fitness industry shut down a few years ago, it was not operational ideas but good, authentic, visionary, strategic, and decisive leadership that brought us back. This is an opportunity for you to become one of those leaders!

The fitness industry faces ongoing challenges with staffing, leadership development, and professional growth opportunities. Many facility managers find themselves stretched thin, handling responsibilities once distributed among multiple team members. REX Leadership Academy addresses this critical need by offering hands-on, comprehensive leadership training tailored for health and fitness professionals who aim to strengthen their leadership capabilities. To change the results, you need to change the game!

From July 15 to 17, 2025, the beautiful Crotonville Conference Centre in New York will host this immersive leadership experience. The academy provides attendees with actionable strategies, professional networking, and expert guidance from industry veterans. This educational experience fills the void, creating a modern solution for today’s leadership challenges. 

What is REX Leadership Academy?

REX Leadership Academy is a premier educational event focused on developing strong leaders within the fitness industry. Over two and a half intensive days, participants engage with critical leadership topics that directly apply to their roles in health and wellness. Unlike operational training found in typical webinars, this academy cuts the fluff and dives straight into real leadership training you can use every day. 

The academy brings together a diverse faculty of industry experts, including successful club owners, financial specialists, and dynamic speakers. Attendees learn in an environment characterized by exceptional honesty and straightforward communication, which are values that define the REX approach to professional development. 

Set on a spectacular 62-acre property previously serving as General Electric’s Leadership Development Center, the venue offers hiking trails, biking paths, a fully equipped fitness center, and four-star accommodations. This all-inclusive environment enhances networking opportunities and creates a distraction-free space for learning and growth. 

Leadership Development Matters

Eddie Tock, CEO of REX, shared, “In 2019, you had three managers doing three jobs. In 2021, you had one manager doing three jobs. This changed the dynamics of clubs and eliminated time for learning and professional development.” This compression has eliminated time for professional development, creating a noticeable gap in leadership skills within many facilities. 

This educational void affects every level of fitness facility management. Department heads lack the mentorship previously available, while regional managers face increasing pressure without additional support. Many talented professionals have left the industry entirely, seeking better work-life balance and compensation in other industries. 

The REX Leadership Academy aims to reverse this trend by providing targeted education for rising stars, department heads, general managers, and regional managers. The curriculum addresses challenges these professionals face daily, emphasizing practical solutions over theoretical concepts. With incredible leaders like Dan Duran, Justin Tamsett, Lesley Carr, Brent Darden, Allison Flatley and Mark Miller leading immersive & intensive classes, each session will provide real guidance from those who have been very successful in their roles. The content is both engaging and informative. 

Attendees also benefit from connecting with peers facing similar situations. These relationships often extend beyond the academy walls, creating valuable professional networks that support continued growth and problem-solving throughout participants’ careers.

Your Chance for a Free Scholarship 

REX welcomes fitness professionals from various leadership roles who demonstrate a commitment to career growth within the industry. The ideal candidates include club and studio owners looking to elevate their business skills, facility managers aiming to inspire their teams, department heads working to maximize their department’s effectiveness, and leaders preparing for the future. 

“If you want to make a career in this industry, this is an opportunity to learn from the best and get amazing preparation and support,” Eddie notes. “Many successful REX members attended similar education early in their careers when IHRSA, now HFA offered their IHRSA Institute that all of the REX team had taught at for 10 + years each, learning from faculty while networking with other rising stars.”

REX offers a sponsored ticket for free so they can support at least one rising star in their dream. They are excited about this opportunity and want to build on their career. One deserving fitness professional will receive free admission to the academy (normally $2,295 for REX members or $2,595 for non-members), with the recipient responsible only for food and lodging.

Keep your eyes peeled for information on how to apply for a free ticket to REX, which is coming soon! 

Many attendees also opt in for an additional experience after the main program. This optional add-on includes transportation to Manhattan, accommodations at a boutique hotel near Grand Central, and guided tours of premier fitness facilities in the city, such as Chelsea Piers & Mercedes Club and trendy studios. This experience will provide valuable exposure to innovative concepts in metropolitan fitness settings.

Final Thoughts

Professional development often takes a backseat during challenging times, yet these periods demand more powerful leadership. REX Leadership Academy recognizes this paradox and creates space for fitness professionals to strengthen their capabilities when needed.

The academy is an investment in individual careers and the industry’s future. With a focus on leadership, this educational experience addresses the root cause of many challenges facing facilities and fitness businesses today. Participants leave equipped with practical strategies, professional connections, and renewed confidence, which benefit their personal career trajectories and the organizations they serve.

About Elisa Edelstein
Elisa is a curious and versatile writer, carving her niche in the health and wellness industry since 2015. Her lens is rooted in real world experience as a personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder and extended out of the gym and on to the page as a writer where she is able to combine her passions for empowering others, promoting wellness, and the power of the written word.