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Eclipse Fitness Welcomes New PF Club into Georgia Market

Opening a new club is always an exciting endeavor. On Feb. 11, Eclipse Fitness celebrated the opening of its new Planet Fitness® club in Douglasville, Georgia, which is about 30 minutes west of Atlanta.

The grand-opening event was a success with over 100 people in attendance. Eclipse Fitness welcomed around 8-10 vendors from the community to celebrate with them and set up tables for handing out giveaways. Local U.S. Marines set up a table at the event and held a pull-up contest, allowing attendees to put their strength to the test. Eclipse Fitness also had a spinning wheel with PF®-branded items to give away to attendees. There was also a raffle for all Black Card members, with winners having a chance to win a 55-inch TV, Skullcandy headphones and a blanket.

The new club opened Dec. 31 inside Arbor Place Mall in Douglasville. The club features a wide range of amenities, including hybrid tanning, Total Body enhancement, a functional training room, Vicki machines, cryo therapy, tanning, massage chairs, HydroMassage loungers and free PE@PF training for all members.

Eclipse Fitness has 24 clubs in Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. They currently have 13 clubs open in Georgia with the 14th club coming this summer in Carrollton.

“Eclipse Fitness Group is proud to expand our presence in Georgia with our new Planet Fitness club in Douglasville. We believe in making fitness accessible to everyone, and we’re confident that our Judgement Free Zone® will resonate with the residents of Douglasville. We’re also particularly pleased to be a part of Arbor Place Mall’s resurgence, providing a valuable amenity to shoppers and the community alike,” said Toby Hines, franchisee with Eclipse Fitness.

Baseline Fitness Shows Giving Spirit During Gobble Gallop 5K

For the second year in a row, Baseline Fitness was honored to participate in the Duluth Gobble Gallop 5K on Thanksgiving Day 2024. The franchisee group partnered with the Duluth Running Co. for the event. Race proceeds went to Safe Haven, a shelter and resource center for survivors of domestic violence in northern Minnesota. This important organization has been helping those in need for over 46 years. In 2024, $10,673 was raised for Safe Haven through sponsorships/partnerships, participant donations and raffle ticket sales.

Baseline Fitness showed its support by donating a pallet of water for the participants in the 5K race, ensuring the runners were well hydrated. The franchisee group also was a Supporting Partner for the event, which means the PF® logo was included in promotional materials, the banner was displayed near the finish line and the PF-branded water was handed out after the race.

“We are so grateful to be a part of this incredibly fun, community-spirited event and are thankful to all the partners and participants who support our work,” said Carin Skoog, director of philanthropy for Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center in Duluth, Minnesota. “The Gobble Gallop gives us a huge platform to spread awareness for domestic violence and to raise vital funds to support survivors.”

Eclipse Fitness Employee Gets Well-Deserved Promotion

Hasan Hammad is proof that hard work leads to results. He was hired as Eclipse Fitness’s VP of finance in March 2023. Only two years later, he was promoted to the company’s chief financial officer. Previously, he has worked for well-known brands, including Enterprise Rent-A-Car for 11 years and Softworld for four years. He received a B.S. in Accounting from Montclair State University.

Hammad believes the path to business success is prioritizing the well-being of customers and employees. His years of experience and hard work has helped him make a positive impact on Eclipse Fitness.

“Hasan’s calm demeanor, dedication to success and open-door policy have made him an invaluable member of our executive team. He has consistently demonstrated the skills and leadership necessary to guide our financial strategy. Within a short period of time, he built our corporate infrastructure, upgraded our systems and identified revenue enhancing and cost reduction opportunities. We have all the right players on the executive team to strive towards exceeding the growth expectations from our board members,” said Toby Hines, CEO of Eclipse Fitness.

Hammad was drawn to Eclipse by the compelling opportunity to combine his passion for fitness with the challenge of driving growth for the company. He was particularly excited about supporting the group’s goal of doubling its portfolio within five years. Being a part of PF® has been a positive experience for Hammad, especially due to his ability to work with such a widely recognized brand.

“What truly resonates with me about the Eclipse team and Planet Fitness® is the genuine, welcoming culture. We’re not just running a business, we’re actively contributing to the health and wellness of our communities, and that’s something I’m incredibly proud to be a part of,” said Hammad.

Eclipse Fitness Employee Springs into Action to Save a Life

Medical emergencies are scary, which is why having equipped and capable employees to help in these situations is key. In December, Allie Brown, a front desk representative at Eclipse Fitness’s Duluth, Georgia, location, showed immense bravery when a member fell ill while working out inside the gym.

The member collapsed on a treadmill from cardiac arrest. This was a scary situation that would have put most people in freeze mode. However, Brown did not hesitate to spring into action. She performed CPR on the member and used the automated external defibrillator (AED) to revive the member. Her ability to act under pressure in a calm and collective way helped save the member’s life.

Brown started working at Planet Fitness® in October 2024, and only a few months later, her hard work was noticed by those around her. The PF® member she saved is immensely grateful for her quick-witted actions toward saving his life. Employees like Brown show that Planet Fitness is committed to helping keep their members healthy and safe. She was also a great example of how PF employees can make a huge difference in the lives of their members by showing compassion and care.

“We are incredibly proud of Allie’s bravery and quick response in saving the member’s life. Paramedics stated that Allie did an outstanding job,” said Tyler Landmon, regional manager for Eclipse Fitness.

IGNITE Fitness Holdings Employee Honored for Acts of Heroism

While going to the gym is an incredibly healthy decision, it can sometimes lead to unexpected medical emergencies. These medical incidents can be incredibly scary for all involved, so it is important that employees in the gym stay calm and respond effectively. That is exactly what IGNITE Fitness employee Teri Lipford did to help two different gym-goers who had medical emergencies.

As the front desk associate for a Planet Fitness® club in Guilford, Connecticut, she is usually the first point of contact a member has when they walk inside the PF® gym. Due to this, she is able to have eyes on many members and develop caring relationships with all of them. She has gone above and beyond by showing bravery during two separate times when PF members went into cardiac arrest – once in November 2024 and again in January 2025.

Since she stepped in to save those two lives, both members have since been released from the hospital and have returned to their daily routines. Those members and other staff members are grateful for her dedication and care.

“Teri is an exceptionally dedicated and hardworking employee, consistently demonstrating a strong work ethic and a positive attitude in all her tasks. She brings a natural warmth and approachability to the team, fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment. Teri’s remarkable communication skills and exceptional customer service abilities allow her to connect with others effortlessly, helping to create a strong sense of community within the workplace. Her commitment to excellence, paired with her genuine desire to support and engage with colleagues and customers alike, makes her an invaluable asset to the team,” said General Manager at PF Guilford Ben Lord.

On Feb. 5, the Guilford Fire Department gave Lipford a “Certification of Commendation” award, highlighting all her swift and thoughtful actions to help those gym members in need. Employees like Lipford help make Planet Fitness not only a judgement-free space but a safe space to exercise.

“Due to Teri’s incredible actions, she has played a pivotal role in fostering a strong and supportive community within our Planet Fitness club. Members frequently approach Teri to express their gratitude, often taking the time to share their appreciation with the team. Many have conveyed how much safer and more secure they feel, knowing that every Planet Fitness staff member is dedicated to offering help in any way possible. The bond we share with our members is truly beyond words – coming into work each day is not just about fulfilling a job; it’s about connecting with our members, serving our community and engaging with friends and family to ensure we provide the best Planet Fitness experience possible,” said Lord.