More than 700 Gold’s Gym owners, master franchisees, corporate executives, managers, staff and vendors gathered last month at the Gold’s annual international convention.
Gold’s Gym International (GGI), Irving, TX, and the Gold’s Gym Franchisee Association (GGFA) collaborated on the convention, held at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Angel Banos Jr., who owns 12 Gold’s Gyms in the Los Angeles area, won the Gold’s Gym Hall of Fame Award. Other franchisees who were honored included:
- Todd Levine, owner of Gold’s Gyms in Webster, NY, who was named Franchisee of the Year.
- Andres Capriles, the master franchisee for Gold’s Gym in Venezuela, won the Master Franchisee Award.
- The Lowell Group, longtime franchise owners in the Milwaukee, WI, area, who won the President’s Award given to the owner that exemplifies the commitment Gold’s Gym franchisees have to serving their members and their community.
- John Burriss, owner of four Gold’s Gyms in Columbia, SC, won the Visionary of the Year Award for his work on behalf of the Gold’s Gym brand and fellow franchisees.
Gold’s Gym convention attendees voted Lindsey Cotter, a member of Gold’s Gym in Grand Junction, CO, to receive the Most Inspirational Member award.
Matrix Fitness, the commercial brand of Johnson Health Tech North America Inc., Cottage Grove, WI, was named the Gold’s Gym Equipment Vendor of the Year, its second such honor in the past four years. The Vendor of the Year award is voted on by all Gold’s Gym franchisees, who determine rankings in areas such as customer satisfaction, likelihood of referral and overall product quality. Matrix also won the award in 2009.
“Matrix has been a true partner to Gold’s Gym International and our franchisees,” Todd Scartozzi, chief operating officer for GGI, said in a statement. “Over the past year, we have spent substantial time meeting with Matrix and visiting their facilities in Wisconsin to get a deeper understanding of their new product lines, their impressive research and development and their state-of-the-art equipment. In turn, Matrix has brought forth innovative ideas and solutions that will deliver powerful new experiences for our members.”
Jeffrey Gitomer, entrepreneurial expert and author of “The Little Red Book of Selling,” delivered the convention’s keynote speech.
“This convention is a true celebration of our Gold’s Gym family and the service we provide our 3 million members every day across the globe,” Jim Snow, president of GGI, said in a statement. “As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2015, we continue to focus on delivering innovative programs, providing top customer service and accompanying our members on their fitness journeys.”
Mike Epstein, president of the GGFA and owner of Gold’s Gym Paramus (NJ), added: “It’s always great when the whole Gold’s Gym family is together. Seeing all of the domestic and international franchisees, as well as meeting some of our most inspirational members and employees, really bring to life how much our Gold’s Gym brand positively affects lives all around the world. Jim’s message about taking our brand’s customer service to a whole new level was right on target. The educational sessions were excellent, and the passion for Gold’s Gym is truly one of a kind.”