President, Club Industry Consulting

Stephen Tharrett is president of Club Industry Consulting, a private consulting company formed in 2006 to provide advisory, consulting and management services to the global health/fitness club industry. From September 2008 until October 2009, Tharrett served as the CEO and as a board member of the Russian Fitness Group, a privately held fitness company operating 30 clubs and franchising 18 clubs throughout Russia, with annual revenues of approximately $150 million. Club Industry Consulting’s clients have included Boston College, Brinker International, Massachusetts General Hospital, LLOG Exploration, Global Leisure Partners, Tennis Corporation of America, Therapy Solutions, Technogym and World Class Fitness. In addition to serving as president of Club Industry Consulting, Tharrett is involved in public speaking, having served as an international keynote speaker at conventions in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, England, Ireland, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, as well as speaking at domestic conventions such as Athletic Business, CMAA, IHRSA and SIBEC.

Prior to forming Club Industry Consulting in 2005, Tharrett had a 20-plus year career with ClubCorp, a billion-dollar private club company based in Dallas. At ClubCorp, he served in several roles ranging from director of athletics to senior vice president for athletics, golf and tennis, as well as serving on the company’s leadership cabinet and business planning committee.

Tharrett is the author of four management textbooks: "Fitness Management, 2nd edition," "The Health/Fitness Operator’s Guide to Recruiting and Retaining Great Employees," "ACE’s Fitness and Business Forms Handbook," and "Legends of the Trade: A History of the Artisans, Influencers and Innovators of Fitness." He also is the co-editor of the second, third and fourth editions of ACSM’s "Health and Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines." He is a former board member and president of IHRSA, having served as president of the international association from 1996-1997.

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