Fitness Movin' & Shakin': Patrick Hald, Coast Fitness, Busy Body, Precor, BH North America, and more…

Patrick Hald has been named president of the International Council on Active Aging. He was formerly the president and COO of FreeMotion Fitness. At the ICAA (www.icaa.cc), he will lead the growing association’s business development. ICAA focuses on wellness, fitness and health professionals in the active-aging industry…. Cybex has rebranded as the Cybex Institute for Exercise Science (www.cybexinstitute.com) its Cybex Institute led by Paul Juris. It will continue to partner with exercise research universities and other organizations….

The new tenant of the former Busy Body Home Fitness site in Newport Beach, Calif., is Coast Fitness (www.coastfitness.com). A number of retailers put in applications for the store, which was snapped up in two days. It is diagonally across from OC Gym Equipment, which is part of the new Busy Body business. Coast co-owner Robert Mendez is managing the new Coast store, which opened Aug. 21. Co-owner John Griffith told SNEWS they are still moving in and although they are talking to other vendors, the lineup at this point included Vision, SportsArt and TuffStuff, among others. Focused at the other two stores on repair, installation and vertical markets, Griffith said, “This is going to really be our retail store….”

Bill Van Eron is the new vice president of marketing for water-resistance-focused manufacturer First Degree Fitness. Van Eron has worked as a brand manager, consultant and marketing director for HP Computers, Denver University and others. “We all know we are in a health crisis. While most seem to be looking at ways to lower the cost, I see a world of opportunity to address the causes that have led to this and helping to shift our sedentary majority toward a more accountable and comfortable path to fitness,” he said. Van Eron can be reached at billvaneron@comcast.net or 970-221-0751…. Larry Domingo and Precor have parted ways as of Aug. 14. Domingo was most recently the vice president of sales at Precor….

A few more changes at BHFitness North America: John Kipper is the new director of marketing at BH North America. Kipper was formerly a product manager at Star Trac. Steve Lindal is no longer at BH Fitness. Kipper can be reached at johnkipper@bhnorthamerica.com…. American Home Fitness, which filed for Ch. 11 bankruptcy reorganization on July 2, 2009 (click here to read a July 8 SNEWS story), will move forward with 10 stores in Michigan and Ohio. The court has approved the company rejecting certain leases and renegotiating others, and the retailer should exit the court soon….

In a recent Inc. magazine story, restaurateur Stephan Starr, owner of STARR restaurants based in Philadelphia with 19 restaurants nationally, named several things he can’t live without. Included was a True Fitness ES 9.0 Treadmill. Guess if you live for food, you gotta counter that too. Click here to see that story…. Lifeline USA has expanded its sales team with Rick Pawlak, vice president of sales, and Scott Logan, managing medical rehab product. “Without question, these hires are an important part of our renewed focus on proactive outreach and relationship building, which will be critical to our continued success and growth moving forward,” said Bill Sotis, president and CEO for Lifeline USA….

A few more store closures: Superior Fitness as of early summer had closed more stores, taking it to down to three in the Southeast in Cary and Charlotte from a recent high of 13…. Fitchix closed in late spring its Gilbert, Ariz., location (Santana), moving its inventory to the Scottsdale store… And a few openings: Ron Mendola has opened four more Leisure Fitness stores in the last few months, bringing the total to 13, while Precor Home Fitness now has five, including Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and New Hampshire, with more news coming soon from the group….

And long-timer, American Home Fitness of Massachusetts, said goodbye to retail in early summer after 32 years in the industry after owner Joe Cedrone shut down his store to retire. SNEWS received emails from some who had nothing but praise for Cedrone, calling him an “icon in this business,” and noting he did it “the right way” by paying everybody off and saying goodbye. Click here to read a story about the business in a local newspaper.

Cedrone has said his son plans to keep the company’s website running (www.americanfitnessequipment.com), and staff will still be available to service machinery. “He is one of the most honest, ethical, and loyal fitness dealers I’ve ever had the pleasure to know,” Alan Gore of BodyCraft told SNEWS. 

Got any news or tips about somebody, some product, or some company doing some moving or shaking? Let us know so we can slip it into our occasional Movin’ & Shakin’ updates. Just email snewsbox@snewsnet.com.