Poised for Growth in Fitness Club Franchising, Charter Fitness Strengthens Management Team
Orland Park, IL (PRWEB) February 27, 2014 -- Charter Fitness, one of the Chicago area’s largest and fastest growing fitness centers, announced management changes today as the health club franchisor sets its sights on ambitious growth beyond its local roots.
Dan Collins, former director of sales for Charter Fitness, has been named the new chief operating officer. Franchise development veteran Michael Vogel joins the company as senior vice president of development.
“Over the past several years, we’ve effectively transformed Charter Fitness into one of Chicago’s premier and most popular clubs; and as a franchise offering, we’ve strategically developed the Charter Fitness concept into one of the most attractive in the business,” said Peter Vrdolyak, chief executive officer. “With Dan and Michael strengthening our management team, we look forward to ambitious growth outside of Chicago into new markets in the Midwest and across the country.”
A fitness enthusiast, Collins, has more than fifteen years experience as club manager and owner/operator, held senior management positions with Cardinal Fitness before transitioning to the Charter Fitness leadership team in 2008. In 2011, he helped to convert more than 30 Cardinal Fitness locations to Charter Fitness clubs throughout Chicago, Northwest Indiana and Central Illinois, and has since helped the company add nearly 20 more locations.
“Dan knows the ropes of running and operating successful health clubs inside and out,” Vrdolyak said. “At once, he is able to wear the hats of the two types of individuals who are most important to our brand: the member who is looking for the best overall experience a fitness club can offer, and the business person who is looking for the best return on his or her investment.”
Vogel comes to Charter Fitness with more than 20 years of franchise development experience most recently at Del Taco, one of the nation’s largest Mexican quick-serve chains with more than 550 restaurants in 17 states. At Del Taco, Vogel advanced from the position of vice president to senior vice president of development and led a team responsible for opening 50 new openings in one year. He successfully brought more than a dozen new franchise groups to the Del Taco system with plans to open more than 100 new locations. Prior to joining Del Taco, he was director of franchise development at a national sandwich chain and a dessert chain.
“Michael is an extremely results-oriented, experienced leader in franchise development and he also knows how to build and maintain strong relationships once franchisees are on board,” Vrdolyak said. “We appreciate his passion for the business as Charter Fitness recruits qualified new franchisees and grows our overall market share and presence.”
About Charter Fitness
Currently one of the Chicago area’s largest and fastest growing health-club businesses, Charter Fitness, based in the Chicago suburb of Orland Park, IL, has more than 35 locations with 10 additional locations planned to open in the next year. The community-minded clubs are enjoyed by a wide-ranging membership looking for a state-of-the-art fitness experience that is straightforward, value-based (memberships begin at $10 per month), no-hassle and convenient. For business entrepreneurs, Charter Fitness offers a best-in-class concept providing a solid return on investment. For more information, visit http://www.charterfitness.com.
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Barbara Caruso, Caruso Communications, +1 (714) 841-6777, [email protected]
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