Below: Jim Snow, President GGI 

Gold’s Gym Announces Partnership with Veterans Fitness Career College to Create Viable Careers for Qualified Military Veterans

 DALLAS (November 9, 2012) – With historic unemployment rates reaching an all-time high, Gold’s Gym, the world’s leading authority on health and fitness, today announced a new commitment to our nation’s military veterans. The company will officially partner with Veterans Fitness Career College (VFCC), an organization that provides fitness education, certification, job placement, career guidance, advocacy and support to veterans and their dependents looking to launch a career in the fitness industry.

VFCC is the only academic institution with an all-veteran staff and extensive experience in the fitness industry, providing veterans a non-college degree personal trainer certificate program.

“The unemployment rate amongst our nation’s veterans is unacceptably high and Gold’s Gym is proud to provide an opportunity for veterans to work at our gyms and transition into civilian life,” said Todd Scartozzi, chief operating officer of Gold’s Gym. “This partnership will allow veterans to begin a new chapter in their lives. We’re excited to welcome all of the men and women who have sacrificed so much to preserve our freedom into the Gold’s Gym family and we look forward to launching their careers in fitness.”

Click here to view the fulll article published in Club Solutions Magazine.

This partnership is part of a larger commitment that Gold’s Gym and its corporate-owned facilities have made with VFCC and the military veteran community. In addition to Gold’s Gym Holding Corp providing practical job training to veterans, the company’s corporate-owned gym locations will provide active duty and veterans with free enrollment and/or a one month complimentary membership with one free personal training session.

"It was a natural progression of my journey to combine my passion for fitness along with my commitment to help veterans into this social-venture. Gold’s Gym really stepped up to the plate to serve our veterans and we’re extremely excited to partner with Gold’s Gym corporate," said Chris Paschane, founder and CEO of VFCC. “Everyone at Gold’s Gym proved to us they really care about our veterans and are willing to do whatever they can do help veterans make a successful transition into a fitness career with their organization. We look forward to a great relationship with Gold’s Gym.”

About Gold’s Gym
Established in Venice, Calif. in 1965, Gold’s Gym is the largest full-service gym chain in the world with more than 650 locations in 35 states and 30 countries. The iconic brand ranks in the top 15 percent of Entrepreneur magazine’s 2011 “Franchise 500.” Gold’s Gym offers the latest equipment and services, including group exercise, personal training, cardiovascular equipment, group cycle, Pilates and yoga. With 3 million members worldwide, Gold’s Gym helps all kinds of people achieve their individual potential through fitness. For more information please visit www.goldsgym.com or www.facebook.com/goldsgym.

Ashland University’s Founders School of Continuing Education Partners with Veterans Fitness Career College to Offer Personal Fitness Training for Adults and Veterans                                 

1/19/12 ASHLAND, Ohio - In response to addressing the need for high-quality career training, Ashland University's Founders School of Continuing Education has developed a new partnership with Veterans Fitness Career College (VFCC) to offer workforce training in the fitness industry.

Click here to open full publication.

"We're excited to embark on this partnership as part of our commitment to veterans in our community," said Dr. Dwight McElfresh, dean of the Founders School of Continuing Education. "As an addition to our dedicated office of veteran services, this program has been added in order to better accommodate the growing number of veterans on campus as well as our general public seeking careers in fitness."

According to McElfresh, the wellness industry is one of the 30 fastest growing job markets in the country.

"Because of VFCC's employment partnerships with Gold's Gym International, 24 Hour Fitness, and other health clubs, students acquiring VFCC's Fitness Training Certification will have a unique advantage in securing employment as a personal trainer or fitness instructor in a gym or health club," he said.

McElfresh said military veterans are targeted for enrollment to help them develop a niche in the fitness industry, but noted that the course is open to non-veterans as well.

Those interested in the personal fitness training course can sign up at the start of Ashland University's second semester, which begins Jan. 14, 2013. The students can enroll in this course any time after the start of the semester, and are able to go at their own pace.

"The time of instruction is very flexible, depending on the individual student's schedule," McElfresh said. "The online course is taught by 27 of the most well-known, progressive health and fitness educators in the fitness industry and comprised of professors, physical therapists, exercise physiologists, biomechanics and some of the top personal trainers in the world."

McElfresh said program support and guidance is provided by highly qualified veterans of the armed forces, all who have extensive experience in the fitness industry.

The eight-week personal fitness training program consists of online instruction, including videos, downloadable text, video-based questions and answers, questionnaires, and online workshops and webcasts. Enrolled students have access to support services, tutoring, counseling, and a 24/7 crisis line. Students also have electronic access to a Global Fitness Community and library.

Students completing the program will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Ashland University's Founders School of Continuing Education and be prepared to take the PTA Global Certification test, which is recognized internationally. To receive a certificate and to have the course documented on an Ashland University transcript, students must complete 65 hours of instruction and pass an exam at the end of the course.

Those interested in the program or wanting more information, can contact Dr. John Sikula, director of the Division of Adult Studies & Veteran Services at Ashland University, at 419.289.5751 or jsikula@ashland.edu.

Created in 2010, the Founders School of Continuing Education brings together outreach programs, continuing education (CEUs), professional development, economic education, post-secondary options and adults studies and veteran services. Veterans Fitness Career College was founded in 2011 by Chris Paschane, a service-connected, disabled USAF Gulf War veteran, seasoned fitness expert, and industry strategist.

Ashland University, ranked in the top 200 colleges and universities in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities category for 2013, is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.

24 Hour Fitness health clubs is one of VFCC's Career Partners who  approve/except the Veterans Fitness Career College Personal Training certification.  However, VFCC graduates seeking employment at 24 Hour Fitness must be processed directly through our back door “pilot program” which has been coordinated directly through Zen Nguyen, Manager of Fitness Services and Lance Sapera, Director, Talent Acquisition | Human Resources and approved by the other relevant executive stakeholders at 24 Hour Fitness.  Local General and Fitness Managers will not be directly notified of this pilot approval; therefore, when a student graduates from VFCC who is interested in working at 24 Hour Fitness, they must apply directly through VFCC channels because 24 Hour Fitness has not officially accept our certification into the published “approved certifications list” until we’ve successfully completed this "pilot period" with them. The key to officially being excepted comes down to the job performance of the veterans we refer to them. So, let's be sure to represent ourselves well.

"When I left active duty, finding a job/career was a nightmare. 11 years in the USMC, exemplary record, good civilian education creditials--didn’t matter. In the course of literally hundreds of applications/interviews, I was told in a round about way by many employers, ‘so you led a Platoon of Marines in combat and you traveled all over the world in leadership positions-so what?' I know what it's like to be a veteran looking for a career niche in a world that doesn’t appreciate our credentials. So, in the absence of any other direction, I carved out my own niche in the fitness industry and I'm thankful I did.  Now, that I have my own gym, I'm always looking to hire motivated veterans certified by VFCC at our gym". --USMC Captain Tommy Dunaway, Owner of Snap Fitness - North Arlington, tX

Since Dunaway has partnered with us at VFCC, many other Snap Fitness health clubs have also partnered with VFCC. Contact us directly to find which Snap Fitness health clubs in your area are in our career partner network.