Build a “Work Hard, Be Kind” Culture: How Fitness CEO Jon Rowley Scaled Community, Kept Talent, and Stayed on the Floor

From four clients in a garage to a 15,000-sq-ft hub with 500+ members, Jon Rowley shares the playbook racquet clubs can use to grow with standards, systems, and heart.

In this Racquet Fuel episode, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Jon Rowley, founder and “Chief Exercise Officer” of a thriving Kansas City fitness community. Jon’s journey (from moonlighting trainer in Chicago to leading a 500-member operation) mirrors the realities club leaders face: hiring for culture, avoiding burnout, and turning standards into belonging. If you’re building a modern racquets department or club business, Jon’s blend of operational discipline and people-first leadership is a masterclass in sustainable growth.

What You’ll Learn

• Culture you can feel: The simple values (“Work hard. Be kind.”) and everyday standards (no hats/shirts-on, no profanity) that create psychological safety and professionalism.
• Hiring that sticks: Why having candidates take a class reveals fit under light pressure, and how hiring from within preserves culture.
• Upskilling smartly: A practical education model—baseline certs plus ~$2K/year per coach for horizontal learning (e.g., women’s health)—that deepens service without bloating budgets.
• Leader on the floor: How staying in the trenches keeps your ear to members and your team, while still steering long-term vision.
• Delegation that works: Moving from “I’ll just do it” to training others—accepting the short-term time cost to win back hours forever.
• Business model guardrails: How operations, bookends, and clear systems prevent burnout and make the role attractive as a real career.
• Community > classes: Turning daily workouts and lessons into life-improving habits that keep people coming back.

Connect

Guest – Jon Rowley
• Website: https://www.2020fit.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-rowley-23688020/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2020.fit/

Hosts
Kim Bastable – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-bastable-uf/
Simon Gale – https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongaletennis/

Learn More & Get Certified (UF DORS)

Level up your racquets leadership with the University of Florida Director of Racquet Sports Certificate Program—three self-paced online courses designed with today’s club realities in mind:

• Personal Brand Management (open now - use code RF25 for $25 off for a limited time)
• Course 1: Operations & Programming (open now - use code RF100 for $100 off for a limited time)
• Course 2: Leadership & Finance (coming soon)

Learn more and START TODAY!