IHRSA, the trade association for commercial health clubs, is restructuring, starting with the elimination of four senior-level positions, IHRSA CEO Liz Clark announced on Dec. 13.
The positions were eliminated because the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected IHRSA’s financial stability, Clark said.
“The cancellation of IHRSA 2020 impacted us dramatically and understandably,” she wrote, causing association membership to decline.
Despite mitigating costs, the association needed to take additional steps, including eliminating the positions of chief operating officer, executive vice president of public policy, executive vice president of global products, and executive vice president of human resources and operations, Clark wrote. The people leaving IHRSA due to the elimination of these positions are Anita Horne Lawlor, Helen Durkin, Jay Ablondi and Regina Satagaj, respectively.
Lawlor not only served as COO but also chief financial officer, and she was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the association along with business plan development and implementation, management of senior staff and oversight of finances, according to her bio on IHRSA’s website.
Durkin had been with IHRSA since 1989 and developed the health club industry’s first government relations and legal service programs, according to her bio. She had been in the role of the association’s director of public policy since 1999.
Ablondi started working for IHRSA in 1990 in the public policy division. Most recently, he was heading the research, publishing, education, convention, trade show, online media marketing and information technology departments for IHRSA.
Satagaj had been with IHRSA since 1994, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Clark, who took on the role of CEO in August, wrote in an open letter announcing the changes: “The professionals who have served in these important functions have supported IHRSA for many years, including my onboarding. I am grateful for their contributions and professionalism throughout our time together and look forward to celebrating their many contributions to our industry and our association in the weeks ahead.
“These strategic organizational changes, while difficult, will support both our refocus and IHRSA’s financial well-being. Transitions are challenging, but I am focused on delivering greater value than ever for your investment in IHRSA.
“I am confident that these strategic decisions will create the foundation for us to deliver on that promise, and that our plans for near- and long-term success will pay off.”
IHRSA is making intentional moves to refocus the association on the industry’s highest priorities, she wrote.
The letter also shared some of the accomplishments of IHRSA during Clark’s first 100 days as CEO, including hosting the IHRSA show in October in Dallas as a hybrid event because international attendees were not able to attend due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. IHRSA membership renewals at the premium level have also increased.
IHRSA will focus on advocating more for the industry and showing it helps to enhance the mental and physical well-being of people, alleviates pressure on healthcare and is an employer of millions of people, Clark wrote.