Health and wellness platform selects IHRSA founding members, health club
owners and other experts to guide future trajectory

AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ladder,
the digital marketplace for health and wellness coaching, today
announced that it has established a Fitness Advisory Board comprised of
six leaders within the commercial fitness space. The new Fitness
Advisory Board will offer strategy and guidance as the company looks to
drive change within health clubs.

Rick Caro will serve as chairman for the group, which also includes
Richard Beusman, Joe Cirulli, Mel Kleist, Tim Rhode and Rodney Steven.
All six members bring decades of experience in health club ownership and
have served as strategic advisors for other organizations within the
fitness industry.

“Our new Fitness Advisory Board has lived and breathed the commercial
fitness industry for decades, so they understand what it takes to create
change within such a massive space that has remained stagnant for too
long,” said Brett Maloley, CEO and co-founder, Ladder. “These industry
leaders will provide the necessary guidance and help open the right
doors for our team as our vision continues to expand. With their
insight, we can help transform the way people think about and experience
fitness, both inside and outside the four walls of a health club.”

Mr. Caro is a 40-year veteran of the club industry and previously owned
an eight-club organization of multi-sport facilities in the Northeast
U.S. He is also the founder, past president and director of the
International Health, Racquet and Sports Club Association (IHRSA), which
consists of over 9,750 clubs in more than 78 countries. His resume also
features his work as the secretary-treasurer of the American Council on
Exercise (ACE) and of Operation FitKids, in addition to his role as a
consultant for over 2,000 health clubs.

“I truly believe that Ladder will be an asset to the club industry in
many ways – from identifying consumers who want 24/7 fitness expertise,
mentorship and guidance on their health and wellness journeys; to
helping clubs gain new clients; and empowering personal trainers with
the technology they need to grow their businesses and increase
clientele,” said Rick Caro, chairman of Ladder’s Fitness Advisory Board.
“Whether it’s the consumers, clubs or trainers, I believe that anyone
who intersects with Ladder will see a benefit, and I am looking forward
to helping the company become a more powerful voice in the overall
wellness movement.”

Mr. Beusman is the president of Saw Mill Sports Management (SMSM) and
the owner and operator of four multi-sport health clubs located across
New York and Connecticut. SMSM is a founding organization of IHRSA, and
Beusman has served on its board of directors in 2006 and 2010.

Mr. Cirulli is the owner and CEO of Gainesville Health and Fitness and
has focused his career on helping people get healthy and on building a
corporate culture that inspires people to be their best. Cirulli grew
Gainesville Health and Fitness to a high level of national recognition,
and in 2016, it was named one of the top 25 small businesses in America
by Forbes.

Mr. Kleist, a Chicago-based commercial fitness veteran, is the president
and executive director of The East Bank Club, a Chicago health club that
is widely recognized as the country’s most successful standalone fitness
center, with annual revenue topping $60mm, more than 700 employees and
11,000 members. Before joining the East Bank Club, Kleist spent over a
decade at X-Sport Fitness. He also brings substantial experience in the
real estate industry and currently serves as an advisory board member
for the Habitat Company, a leading Chicago-based real estate firm.

Mr. Rhode is a fitness industry veteran, having personally operated
health, wellness and racquet sports clubs since 1986. he has served as
president of the Mid-Atlantic Club Management Association (MACMA) and
has also been a member of the IHRSA Board of Directors. As an industry
innovator and business consultant with Rhode Management Company, Tim now
works with owners and managers in the US and overseas to improve their
strategy, systems, training and motivation.

“Ladder and the commercial fitness industry are working toward the same
goal: to make health and wellness accessible to more people, regardless
of age, location, experience and means,” said Tim Rhode. “I’m thrilled
to be a part of helping health clubs modernize their offerings and
attract new people within their community, while offering more to their
existing clientele through a platform like Ladder.”

Mr. Steven is the president and owner of Genesis Health Club, an
organization comprised of 45 facilities across Kansas, Missouri,
Nebraska, Colorado and Oklahoma. Steven and his brother co-own the
Wichita Thunder and Tulsa Oiler Hockey teams, both part of the ECHL
affiliate program, under Steven Brothers Sports Management. The brothers
also founded the Genesis Foundation for Fitness and Tennis (GFFT), which
operates with the purpose of allowing all citizens, regardless of
background and means, the opportunity to participate in recreational
and/or competitive fitness activities.

About Ladder
Ladder’s mission is to bring health and
wellness coaching to anyone, anywhere. Through its digital marketplace,
Ladder matches health and wellness professionals with people who want to
experience all of the benefits of customized fitness on their own terms
– affordable, convenient and rewarding. Ladder also helps personal
trainers build their business by optimizing their time and talent,
expand their client base and providing them with the tools and support
they need to be successful.

To learn more, visit https://www.joinladder.com/,
or follow us on Instagram @joinladder and
Twitter @joinladder.

Contacts

March Communications
Kalyn Schieffer, +1 617-960-9948
[email protected]