Gale Landers to Be Inducted into the Health & Fitness Association Hall of Fame
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
A champion for industry advocacy and community health, Gale Landers, founder and CEO of Chicago’s Fitness Formula Clubs, will soon join the ranks of the Health & Fitness Association Hall of Fame.
The Health & Fitness Association announced Landers’ induction in recognition of his decades-long leadership, his service to the association, and his enduring impact on both the business of fitness and the well-being of Chicago communities.
He joins Les Mills founder Phillip Mills and fitness and nutrition icons Jack and Elaine LaLanne as part of the Hall of Fame’s second class. Additional inductees for the 2026 class will be announced in the coming weeks. The ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026, in San Diego ahead of The HFA Show.
“Gale Landers has been a driving force behind some of the most impactful advocacy efforts in our industry,” said HFA President and CEO Liz Clark. “From leading the HFA board to chairing the National Health & Fitness Alliance, Gale has consistently stepped up to serve, guide, and elevate the fitness industry. His tireless work, from shaping national policy to mentoring state coalitions, has left an indelible mark. We are proud to induct him into the HFA Hall of Fame in recognition of his extraordinary leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to our mission.”
Landers reflected on the recognition, saying, “It is a true honor to be inducted into the HFA Hall of Fame. From the beginning, my vision for Fitness Formula Clubs was to inspire people to live stronger, healthier, and more connected lives. This recognition reflects the incredible commitment of the vast FFC team and the communities we have built together. I am humbled and inspired and optimistic about the bright future of our industry.”
Throughout his career, Landers has played a central role in strengthening advocacy and advancing collaboration across the health and fitness sector. He has served on the HFA board twice, including a term as board president in 2000, and helped the association pivot toward a stronger advocacy focus. During the early years of Clark’s leadership, particularly amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Landers provided mentorship and strategic guidance.
He was the inaugural chair of the National Health & Fitness Alliance, an advocacy initiative launched by HFA, and continues to serve in that role. Landers also co-founded the Illinois Fitness Alliance, which helped guide operators through the pandemic and shared its advocacy framework with other states.
Working alongside U.S. Representative Mike Quigley and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, Landers helped introduce the GYMS Act in response to the pandemic’s impact on fitness businesses. A regular participant in HFA’s annual Fly-In and Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., he continues to champion the PHIT Act and other legislative priorities. In 2023, HFA named him Advocate of the Year.
The HFA Hall of Fame honors individuals whose contributions have advanced both the association and the broader fitness industry. Inductees are recognized for elevating industry standards, expanding global impact, and strengthening advocacy for health and wellness.
The inaugural class included Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Rick Caro, Red Lerille, Julie Main, John McCarthy, and Augie Nieto, who were honored during The HFA Show 2025 in Las Vegas. A new class will be inducted each year, selected by the Hall of Fame committee based on leadership, innovation, advocacy, and lasting influence on the industry’s growth and mission.
