Get to Know
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & ENGAGEMENT
Caitlin Kelleher
2025 Issue 3 | GearedUp
14
Could you tell us about your title and your role? What are some of your day-to-day responsibilities? I am currently the director of Planet Fitness Club Support Center( PFCSC) operations & engagement. In this role, I oversee all PFCSC operations, from facility management and front desk operations to building renovations and design. I also manage engagement, recognition, safety and security for the CSC. Some of the awesome events I get to plan at Planet Fitness ® include New Year’ s Eve in Times Square( this will be our 11th year!), our franchisee conferences and Huddles, annual summer outings and holiday parties for our CSC team. Every day is different – and busy, but I love it!
Tell us about your career before PF ®. Before joining the PF team in March 2013, I worked in politics and TV news. I started out my post-college career at the NBC station KOB-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico. From there, I spent 10 years working as a spokesperson and advisor to New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson – from his time as governor, to working on his 2008 presidential election, to traveling to places like North Korea on diplomatic missions. It was a wild ride.
Transitioning to PF was an easy one, believe it or not! Starting out as the former CEO’ s first assistant( ever), every day was different, and there was no lack of things to do. It was and has been a great career move.
What inspired you to get into the health and fitness industry? Funny enough, I found my first job with Planet Fitness on Craigslist. The position was in Newington, New Hampshire, which, at the time, was 15 minutes from home. It sounded perfect. When I came in for my first interview with Chris Rondeau and Richard Moore and learned more about the brand, I knew PF World Headquarters was a great fit.
What are some of the goals you would like to accomplish in your position? One key pillar of my role is engagement, engaging our team members and also our franchise system. Whether it’ s managing a monthly social event at the CSC or planning a larger franchise event like our Conference or Huddle, my goal and my team’ s goal is the same: to connect the people that drive our brand.
How does the collaborative partnership between PFCSC and the PFIFC assist you in your role? Over the last 10-plus years, I have really valued working closely with Kristi Hoffman and the IFC Board of Directors. That partnership is key to many of the initiatives that I quarterback, including our franchisee conference and our New Year’ s Eve event in Times Square.
What makes the Planet Fitness franchisee community special? The people, hands down. Our franchisees aren’ t just passionate about their individual businesses; they’ re also invested in the success of the entire system. They are constantly sharing best practices, offering support and working together to ensure every member, in every club, has a positive experience. That spirit of partnership is what truly makes our franchisee community unique.
From your view, what are some of the biggest challenges for the brand and franchisees? While every business faces challenges, witnessing our brand’ s growth over the past 12 years has shown me that we are on the right track. I’ m confident in our ability to continue to grow and excited for the future.
What are your favorite things about the PF brand? I love the people, and I love our mission. We help to make high-quality fitness accessible to more people in a welcoming, judgement-free fitness environment – what’ s not to love?
What are three things that people would be surprised to know about you? I love any sport that includes a motor – ATVs, jet skis, snowmobiles and boating. We vacation in Aruba every year. Before coming to PF, during my time with the governor, we formed and ran a 501( c)( 3) called the Richardson Center for Global Engagement. This took me all over the globe from Nigeria and Myanmar to North Korea, and allowed me to meet foreign leaders and a handful of U. S. presidents.
Tell us a little about your personal / family life. I live in Alton, New Hampshire,( home of Lake Winnipesaukee) with my partner, Mike, and my son, Hunter( 8), Sabrina( 15) and Ben( 18). When we have downtime, I enjoy spending time with family, whether it be on the water in the summer or hitting the slopes in the winter. G