We are quickly approaching the one-year anniversary of Rich Novelli’s arrival as the General Manager of Midtown Bannockburn.
Over the past eleven months, Rich has impacted many different areas of the club, from landscaping to securing new workout equipment. He truly hit the ground running.
You’ve likely seen him working out or in his office planning and working to improve Midtown. But, have you had the chance to stop and talk with California native?
If not, I encourage you to stop by his office, (located at the top of the stairs) and get to know your General Manager. Recently, I sat down with Rich to talk a about the past year, plans for the future, and a little bit about flying planes.
Tim: What were you doing before you came to Midtown?
Rich: I spent the last 10 years with a private equity firm that purchased private health club operations and provided transitional leadership as they would grow and get ready for the next stage in their evolution. Most recently, I was in Calgary, Alberta, Canada as the Chief Operating Officer of a 25-club chain.
Tim: What has been your favorite part of the past year?
Rich: Building a team of managers and leaders with a passion for Midtown as well as getting to know the members while learning how to best serve the members of this club.
Tim: Is there anything you had to adjust to when you arrived here? Anything you didn’t expect?
Rich:Well, it had been about 10 years since I was really doing the day-to-day operational role of running a club, so it took a little bit of time to get back into handling the daily responsibilities and being around the club all the time. It was nice to get back into that rhythm and remind myself how much I enjoy rolling up my sleeves and being part of everything. It was kind of like riding a bike and has been really fun getting back to doing that. I just came back from Calgary so weather was not a huge issue.
I had heard a lot about the support that Midtown as a company offers its senior management to help them succeed. It has been so good to be part of a company that is always reinvesting in its clubs both financially and personally. They have really given me the freedom to run Midtown Bannockburn as my own business while at the same time assimilating the Midtown brand and its reputation as one of the top health club companies in the country, if not the world, into the product.
Tim: Who are some leaders you try to emulate or have learned from?
Rich: I have been fortunate enough to have some very strong mentors in my professional experience. Thomas Peters and his books Search of Excellence, Passion for Excellence, and really anything he has writing have been great driving forces for me. I worked at Citibank as the Director of Human Resources and learned a lot from my boss, John Phillips. He taught me a lot about hard work and making sure you have the right team around you and a good mix of people for support and to accomplish more than you could by yourself.
He taught me that business is much more than making money; it’s about people and making connections and relationships. You can run on a treadmill anywhere, but people (both members and associates) come to Midtown because of the relationships.
Tim: What are some of your goals for the next year at Midtown?
Rich: I really want to continue to evolve the business and elevate what we do. I want to continue to raise the bar in the way we care for our members and provide them with a unique experience through the evolution of new programs and services as well as building events that hit us where we are socially.
Tim:What do you do for fun and to relax?
Rich:Anyone who is a regular here has seen that I am a exercise fanatic. I like to practice what I preach. I really think the benefits of a healthy lifestyle extend beyond just the physical to emotional and almost spiritual effects. I enjoy all outdoor activies. I love football. I have my pilot’s license but I haven’t flown in a really long time. When you are flying a plane you can’t really be thinking about anything else other than flying; it has to be your priority.
Tim: Anything else you’d like to share with us?
Rich: I think that we have only begun to scratch the surface of regaining our spot as the jewel in the crown of not only the Midtown company but among the North Shore. I want to continue to strive to make this the third place for our members (work, home, and Midtown) and a great place to work for our associates. I want to create an environment where members enjoy working out, and employees enjoy working within.
What would you like to ask Rich?
The weather is starting to turn cooler. Pants and sweatshirts are replacing shorts and tshirts.
Fall is coming.
With the arrival of cooler weather also comes the start of Paddle season, which is played on our four caged courts. Bannockburn is home to both women’s and men’s teams, which compete with other local clubs and teams. Our Paddle Kickoff event this Saturday, September 10th, will be a fun way for others to get introduced to the sport in multiple ways.
Whether you are one of our Paddle regulars or have no Paddle experience at all, Saturday is going to be an exciting kick-off to the season.
The event ends with members playing round-robin-style against our special pro guests.
Here’s the timeline:
We will also have representatives from Wilson, Viking, and Fila at the club showing off the newest lines of Paddle racquets, balls, apparel, and shoes. Everyone will have the opportunity to start the new paddle season with the latest gear designed for both warmth and comfort.
Our own Suzanne McCullough, who is a Paddle Tennis fanatic herself, will also be on hand throughout the day with all of the Midtown brand Paddle equipment available for purchase. Fits Sock Company will be selling their ultra-warm and comfy washable Marino wool socks.
This Saturday is a fun way to celebrate the start of the Paddle season and learn about a sport that you might not have much experience with.
Do you play Paddle?
Just like bell bottoms and Go-Go boots, Group Ex is making a comeback.
Turn on the news or pick up a newspaper and you’ll see that group exercise is all the rage.
Why is Group Ex so hot, what’s involved, and where do you get started?
Group Exercise classes are fun and interactive. It’s hard to get social on a treadmill. First-time participants and more experienced fitness enthusiasts all work out together, encourage and cheer on each other, and then make plans to do it all over again at the next class.
Now that’s motivation.
Our club started the Power Sculpt movement and last month I took my first class. I’m used to working with heavy weights, so when the instructor and students all had 2 & 3 lbs weights, I thought, “This is going to be a breeze!”
Who knew this trend-setting Group Ex class would kick my butt?
Power Sculpt is based on a program from Tracy Anderson, who trained Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kelly Ripa. Unlike many programs that focus on increasing size and bulk, Power Sculpt allows participants to get sleek and toned. I highly recommend you try it!
Along with Power Sculpt, Spin and Kickboxing are also quite popular, because you can achieve a comprehensive workout that delivers excellent cardio, toning, strength, and conditioning in one single hour. Tuesday’s spin class with Robyn left me dripping with sweat and eager to return. One of my favorite parts was the upbeat music she played.
Group Ex participants are a diverse crowd. It is not uncommon to see the 55+ crowd actively engaging in Group Ex classes. Mat Pilates classes draw a large number of participants, as does the Drums Alive class, which focuses on cardio and the upper torso.
Our club offers over 100 classes a month, including Mind/Body programs such as Yoga and Pilates. Our 45 qualified instructors are continuously enhancing their education and certifications.
Now is a great time to take your first Group Ex class, or to try something different. Why not invite a friend to join you? Have lunch, enjoy a spa treatment, and relax by the pool during these final lazy days of summer.
Whatever your preference, just get out there, get fit, and have fun.
Who are your favorite instructors and classes?
Midtown offers a variety of great services and events throughout the year. Between tennis leagues, Dine-In Movies, and wine tastings, there is always something going on at Midtown Bannockburn. Even with these great special events throughout the year there are a few aspects of the club that are offered every day that some of our members might not know about. I have spoken with many of the different department heads throughout the club to compile this list of some of our best-kept secrets of the club.MORE
