For this week’s Feature Friday, meet …
NAME: Carol Nalevanko
TITLE/COMPANY: President of the Village Health Clubs and Spas
WEBSITE: Villageclubs.com
Carol Nalevanko has been with Village Health Clubs and Spas for more than 40 years. She currently serves as is president. She is very involved in the health, fitness, and wellness industry, and in addition to her role with the Village, has served two terms on the board of directors for the Health and Fitness Association, which is an international trade association.
Nalevanko enjoys an active lifestyle, which includes playing tennis, hiking, cycling, and Pilates. She also enjoys traveling. This past September, she walking the Camino Portuguese, walking 184 miles in 11 days.
Here, she talks hot yoga, red wine, pep talks, and her favorite hidden gem at the Village Health Clubs and Spas.
What’s your secret to keeping Village Clubs strong for nearly 40 years?
Staying involved in the health and fitness industry and keeping up with all the current trends in fitness, wellness, and active living. This has allowed the Village Clubs and Spas to remain relevant for over 40 years.
How do you keep fitness fun when it’s your full-time job?
Fun is our number one core value at our company. The social element is one of our distinct differentiators. Our employees become members of our clubs when they get hired and get to participate, along with our members, in all our activities, programs, and events. This creates a vibrant and fun community for all of us. We have the privilege of seeing, with our own eyes, how our clubs can transform our members and help them on their healthy lifestyle journey.
Biggest “wow” moment of your career?
Purchasing the original Camelback tennis club and transforming it into our flagship club, the Village Health Club and Spa. This was the first step in building our company of luxury health clubs and spas.
What’s one fitness trend you jumped on early?
Hot yoga. To this day, it remains one of our most popular offerings.
Personal favorite exercise?
I love to play tennis. I have been playing with the same friends for over 25 years.
Favorite post-workout treat (no judgment!)?
A good glass of red wine.
Favorite hidden gem inside the clubs?
Our spas and salons. They are full-service facilities with very experienced and knowledgeable therapists, technicians, and stylists.
Favorite places to spend time around Scottsdale (besides the Village)?
Hiking the Gateway Trail or having a nice dinner at one of the many fine, local Italian restaurants.
If you weren’t leading the Village, what would you be doing instead?
That’s a hard question since I have worked at the Village since I graduated from college. If I didn’t work at the Village, I would like to be a photographer for National Geographic so I could travel the world.
Your favorite exercise?
Hiking and walking.
If you don’t feel motivated to exercise, you do _____ to get motivated.
I give myself a pep talk to get myself moving. I exercise every day so I’m usually pretty motivated. Exercise is my time for thinking and for stress management.
