In order to ensure we are best prepared to pursue our purpose – providing an EPIC fitness experienced to all – we are making changes in the marketing department effective immediately.
First, Jim Wright will be leaving Fitness Connection to pursue other opportunities, effective immediately. We appreciate the leadership Jim provided in his short tenure but recognize at this time the CMO role is not the most effective use of our resources. Please join us in wishing Jim and his family well as he moves forward.
Second, Katie Ackels will take leadership of the marketing team in her current role of Vice President of Marketing. The Executive Leadership Team is exploring options that would give Katie the support she needs in this role, including the possibility of contracting consultant support.
Third, earlier this week Brandon Gabay informed us that he will be taking a new role away from Fitness Connection. His last day will be August 23rd, 2024. While this is bittersweet for Brandon and the Fitness Connection team, we hope you can join us in celebrating the opportunity this provides for Brandon in his career growth.
These organizational changes give us the opportunity to evaluate and reallocate the appropriate marketing resources and structure necessary to achieve our goals of growth in and for the communities we serve. We are committed to sourcing and developing talent from within whenever possible. In that regard, there are plans for Phil and Katie to meet with Marie to identify talent development strategies that will provide paths for existing teammates to fill some roles needed in the future.
We recognize these announcements come on the heels of several other significant changes in the past year, which may feel upsetting or unsettling to our teammates. Fitness Connection is in a transformative period of refinement where change will be a conduit to success. We are committed to building a mission-focused, resilient organization that brings to life our EPIC values in all we do and invite you to join us in support of the mission.
Executive Leadership Team