A Senior Executive in the Fitness Industry
Doug Hawxhurst is Chief Operating Officer of Jersey Strong (previously known as WOW, Work Out World). On his journey from personal trainer to the senior executive in the fitness industry, Doug has never lost sight of what matters most: helping and empowering others to make the most of themselves. From managing large teams to integrating CRM platforms to growing community outreach, Doug has cultivated a diverse skill set all geared toward success, both on individual and company-wide levels.
Doug got started with WOW in 1998. Still a junior in high school, he was too young to be a personal trainer — so instead he did whatever he could to get his foot in the door of the fitness industry. After some early experiences of helping with construction and maintenance of this local facility, Doug got his chance: he turned seventeen and became a certified personal trainer. He soon needed to leave for college, but between semesters, he always resumed his role as a personal trainer. Doug graduated Summa Cum Laude from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania with a degree in athletic training and sports medicine.
Driving Revenue Growth
Cultivating True Leaders
Creating Streamlined Systems
Fresh out of college, Doug embraced being a personal trainer full-time at WOW in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Even as a newcomer he quickly distinguished himself, often earning top sales numbers in a month or a quarter. Even as he competed against the veterans of his industry, he always made sure to learn from them and help strengthen his own approach to personal training. Within two years Doug was named to the position of Personal Training Manager of the WOW in Red Bank, New Jersey. He steadily built the staff to excel in their work and doubled the personal trainers’ revenue for the club.
In 2007 Doug was promoted to the position of Director of Personal Training for multiple WOW clubs. This was a significant task in leadership as he was responsible for 100+ personal trainers as well as about a dozen Personal Training managers. Doug had a major role in building out the personal training department for the company, and he held this role through 2015, when he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales and Personal Training. He was in charge of hundreds of staff members and oversaw Personal Training and membership payroll, client and member acquisition, front desk operations and more across 11 facilities.
Current Work
Now, as Chief Operating Officer, Doug Hawxhurst has helped spearhead WOW’s brand change into Jersey Strong, growing the 12 clubs and maintaining high-quality services while reestablishing its presence and involvement in the local community. He has helped implement successful sales and marketing tactics to grow membership, while also improving and streamlining analytics to ensure that the company is fully meeting the unique fitness goals and needs of each of its members while driving and improving revenues.
Doug’s position also allows him not just to help customers find their passions, but his staff too as they receive the encouragement, support, and up-to-date tools and resources that they need to excel at their work.
On this blog, Doug Hawxhurst will share his insights into leadership, management, marketing, and much more, informed by his extensive experience in various areas of business.