Brent Darden

Partner / General Manager

• Honored by International Health, Racquet and Sports Club Association as their inaugural “General Manager of the Year”.
• Received thirteen “Nova 7 Awards” from Fitness Management Magazine for innovations in facility design, marketing, customer service, exercise programming, and overall management.
• Formerly managed the wellness programs of numerous corporations including: Texas Instruments, Nortel Networks, Perot Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Page Net. Recognized by the National Employee Service and Recreational Association for “Best Employee Wellness Program”.
• Continues to provide consulting services within the health/fitness/spa industry. Clients have included; Duke Center for Living, Marriott Resorts, Quaker State, Salvation Army, Christian Broadcast Network, Dr. Pepper, Lucent Technology, Vero Beach Resort, and the United States Navy / Marine Corp. Has extensive experience with concept, design, programming, and operations.
• Volunteered as Executive Director of Shape Up Texas!, a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the health and well being of all Texans.
• Served as Vice President of Cooper Aerobics Enterprises, overseeing the Cooper Fitness Center, Cooper Spa, Ventures Consulting, and Cooper Wellness Program.
• Has been involved in the health/fitness industry for over 25 years in a wide variety of settings including private and church based programs.
• Current Member of Certification Governing Board - Cooper Institute for Research.
• Founding Board Member of the Texas Health, Racquet and Sports Club Association.
• An accomplished author, he is a faculty writer of Club Success Magazine, and has been a major contributor of content for Winning Habits.com, American College of Sports Medicine Resource Manual, IHRSA’s periodicals “Why Members Stay” and “Why Members Quit”, and the U.S. Navy / Marine Corp.-Wellness Center Implementation Guide.
• Voted “Top Convention Speaker” by IHRSA and the Medical Fitness Association, he is a requested industry speaker and has been interviewed by Good Morning America, Good Day Dallas, and numerous network newscast and talk shows.
• Enjoys a personal passion for fitness that has included the “White Rock Marathon”, “Hotter Than Hell 100”, competitive sports, backpacking, adventure racing, and Discovery Channels’ “Eco – Challenge: British Columbia”.
• Native of Dallas with M.S. degree from Baylor University. Married for 24 years to Melanie with teenage sons Chase and Cody.