The day after being installed as ACSM’s president, I led my first Board of Trustees meeting. Looking out over the faces of my fellow board members and the ACSM staff, I reflected on what an honor and privilege it was to lead this esteemed group. I was also a bit nervous because I wanted to be sure I ran the meeting well.
Then it occurred to me. These are my colleagues, my friends and my co-laborers sharing a common passion to move the organization and profession forward. I did not need to be nervous because we are in this work together. My theme for my presidential term was born the night before at the ACSM Honors event, and I shared it again with the board and staff on that first day: “We Are ACSM!”
That message was not just a simple theme. It turned out to be an ever-present reality that permeated through our planning and work over the past year. Our volunteer leaders and ACSM staff rallied around the concept that we can do little alone but much together. I was gratified to watch and observe as our board, committees and staff carried the banner and lived the message that “We Are ACSM!”
As important as themes and passion and unity are, they mean little if they do not drive the intended results. So, I am grateful to report that – together – “We Are ACSM!” and we accomplished wonderful things this past year.
2024 to 2027 Strategic Plan
The first year of our plan was an exciting display of determination, discipline and drive. More than just a document, our strategic plan came alive thanks to the tireless work of our Strategic Planning Committee, standing committees, strategic health initiatives and ACSM staff. More than 100 tactics supporting our five bold goals were developed and implemented, and 85% have been completed or are in progress. That is a phenomenal result, and I thank our Strategic Planning Committee for their excellent leadership. A special shout-out to Heather Chambliss, PhD, FACSM, who led strategic planning this year. As you will see, our strategic plan forms the outline for this year’s annual report, and I know you will enjoy learning more about the progress we are making together, because “We Are ACSM!”
Member Engagement Task Force
I love our organization and the people who make it so special. Members are the life blood of ACSM, and I have been wholly committed to inspiring member engagement, ensuring high levels of satisfaction, and cultivating a sense of belonging. That is why I established a Member Engagement Task Force to identify strategies for increasing the engagement and retention of our members. We need to ensure that our early career members are well served and engaged in the work of ACSM because they are our future, while making sure our longer-term members stay involved and provide institutional knowledge. Following the lead of Chair Katherine (Katie) Collins-Bennett, PhD, the task force is hard at work, and we look forward to reviewing and implementing their recommendations. At a most basic level, our members are the organization, which is why, “We Are ACSM!”
Youth Fitness Recommendations Approved
The health of our nation’s youth has become critical. To address these challenges Past-President Irene Davis, PhD, FACSM, appointed a Task Force on Youth Fitness during her term as president, and the work was completed in early 2025. Led by Task Force Chair Rebecca (Becki) Battista, PhD, FACSM, the task force presented five recommendations that were approved by the Board of Trustees and designed to shape a healthier future for our children and youth. You can learn more about the recommendations and next steps by reading further in the annual report. Impacting the health and wellbeing of our children is a common vision for all of us because, “We Are ACSM!”
Exercise is Medicine’s Active Aging Initiative
ACSM’s vision is to extend and enrich lives through the power of movement, and that cuts across the lifespan. Just as we are committed to impacting our youth, we are equally dedicated to extending and enriching the lives of our aging population. I am excited about a new initiative introduced at our 2025 Annual Meeting called Active Aging. Under the auspices of ACSM’s Exercise is MedicineÒ Program, Active Aging will leverage member expertise and partnerships to create a healthier and safer future for this growing demographic group. This effort will be built on the pillars of expanding education, advancing research and policy, and raising awareness. I want to thank Active Aging champions Liz Joy, MD, FACSM and Paige Denison for their inspiring leadership. We are partners for the health and fitness of all populations because “We Are ACSM!”
New Leadership
Certainly, a highlight of my year as president was the hiring of new Chief Executive Officer Katie Feltman, CAE. Uniquely qualified to serve as CEO, Katie’s experience, knowledge, drive and love for ACSM are already reaping significant benefits for our members, certified professionals and ACSM staff. I encourage you to read her retrospective in this annual report. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am so grateful for Katie’s leadership and the healthy partnership she creates between our member leaders and staff, which is fitting because “We Are ACSM!”
With the strategic plan as our guide, I can confidently say that ACSM is well on its way toward achieving our vision and mission. Please take the time to read the rest of the annual report and learn more about how we are progressing toward our bold goals. I am so grateful to each one of you for your support of ACSM and me during my year as president. I will always be thankful for this amazing opportunity to serve and represent you! Indeed, We ARE ACSM!
Most Sincerely,
Stella Volpe, PhD, RDN, FACSM, ACSM-CEP
ACSM President
Dear ACSM members, certified professionals, partners, friends, and supporters,
When I wrote to you last year, I had just completed four months as interim CEO. ACSM was celebrating its 70th anniversary, welcoming new volunteer leadership, thanking outgoing board and committee members for another year of going above and beyond to serve ACSM, and reflecting on a year of growth, service and opportunities. At the same time, we began tackling major initiatives to strengthen our foundation and ensure a vibrant future. While continuing to deliver on our core commitments—like publishing six scholarly journals and hosting premier educational events—we also advanced our new strategic plan with determination and care.
As we looked ahead to 2024, we knew it would be a year of intense work with mission-critical, one-time initiatives planned. Like any leader facing a steep climb, I was confident in our ability to reach the summit, though admittedly the path ahead felt daunting. Newly installed President Stella Volpe, PhD, RDN, FACSM, ACSM-CEP reinforced her presidential theme during the May 2024 ACSM Board of Trustees meeting which she had revealed during ACSM Honors the night before: “We Are ACSM!” It was that theme, coupled with ACSM’s powerful mission and vision, that galvanized the collective ACSM community around this organization’s “why” and became the force behind the achievement of the lofty 2024 goals that enabled ACSM to get to the summit.
Thanks to your collective efforts, 2024 became a year of remarkable progress.
Together, we:
Strengthened Our Financial Foundation
Modernized Our Brand and Technology
These upgrades represented the most significant technological transformation in
ACSM’s history, positioning ACSM to serve all stakeholders well into the future.
Advanced Knowledge and Education
Promoted Scientific Integrity and Communication
Strengthened Governance and Partnerships
Delivered Premier Educational Events
This letter offers only a snapshot of ACSM’s accomplishments. I encourage you to explore the Annual Report for a deeper look at the incredible work made possible by our Board of Trustees, hundreds of volunteer leaders and our exceptional staff.
During the 2024 Town Hall, I spoke about ACSM’s historical text Out of Many, One, which illustrates the power of collective efforts from the organization’s earliest days. That message resonates even more today, beautifully echoed in President Volpe’s theme: “We Are ACSM.” It’s a reminder that while we can do little alone, we can achieve so much together.
With gratitude and optimism,
Katie Feltman, CAE
The ACSM 2024-27 Strategic Plan took effect in January 2024 with a new vision and mission, five bold goals and 25 supporting strategies. Since then, ACSM’s leadership, members, certified professionals and staff have driven significant progress toward the plan’s objectives. The strategic plan’s five bold goals serve as the outline for this year’s ACSM Annual Report, documenting the organization’s many efforts and achievements over the past year.
In 2024, 124 tactics have been developed by ACSM committees and staff to focus work toward progress on the five bold goals of the strategic plan. To date, 85% of those tactics have been completed or are currently in progress.
ACSM members and certified professionals are the lifeblood of our organization. Our main focus is to leverage their expertise and support their professional development to advance ACSM’s mission and vision. Through continuing education, networking, leadership development, professional opportunities, advocacy, research grants and more, ACSM is driven to deliver an unsurpassed customer experience for its stakeholders.
The primary goal of the ACSM Foundation is to support the mission and vision of ACSM by fulfilling fiduciary oversite and monitoring of all funds dedicated to research grants and travel awards. In addition, the long-term targets of the ACSM Foundation are to further optimize and grow existing funds, as well as identify new programs and funds which can further advance ACSM’s mission and vision and support ACSM members.
Most funds are restricted by the board to spending 4% of the gross reserves of that specific fund annually. A select number of funds will be spent in full and then sunset as determined by the fund’s initiating donor(s).
Priority Fundraising
Fund Name | Balance 12/31/23 | Balance 12/31/24 | Minimum Goal |
Doctoral Student Research Fund | $1,662 | $2,386 | $1.25M |
Steven M. Horvath Memorial Fund | $20,578 | $21,869 | $25,000 |
Lisa S. Krivickas Memorial Fund | $20,317 | $25,152 | $25,000 |
Jack Wilmore Memorial Fund | $22,943 | $24,031 | $25,000 |
President
Mark Hutchinson, MD, FACSM, University of Illinois – Chicago
Vice President
Walter Thompson, PhD, FACSM, Georgia State University
Treasurer
William Kraus, MD, FACSM, Duke University School of Medicine
Secretary
Katie Feltman, CAE, ACSM CEO
Directors
Direct queries/suggestions to Mark Hutchinson at mhutch@uic.edu or Gretchen Patch at gpatch@acsm.org.
ACSM’s evidence-based information informs public policy that encourages healthy lifestyles and the safe enjoyment of sports and other physical activity. Our members serve as expert resources for federal, state and community-level policy makers, ensuring that decisions are founded on the latest research. ACSM’s advocacy efforts are guided by the ACSM Board of Trustees, the Health and Science Policy Committee and all ACSM members.
ACSM Advocacy lobbies for bills that promote sports, health, physical activity, physical education and healthy lifestyles. ACSM works with the White House, Federal Agencies and the Congress to ensure that policies are in the best interest of ACSM and its stakeholders.
In pursuit of enhancing ACSM’s technological capabilities, a major step forward was the transition to a new, robust association management system (AMS), a newly built website (CMS), and a new learning management system (LMS) to house and deliver online learning. All systems launched on February 19, 2025.
To ensure support and alignment with its vision and mission, ACSM is conducting a thorough review and update of its articles of incorporation and all committee operating codes. Standing Committee Common Language recommendations were approved by the Board of Trustees last November and will be applied across the organization, and revised Articles of Incorporation recommendations were approved in May 2025.
Strategic goals:
Following the leadership of the Budget and Finance Committee, ACSM demonstrated effective stewardship on behalf of its members and certified professionals. The organization finished 2024 with a strong financial performance that included operating income of $527,131(unaudited). Overall revenue was impacted by six main drivers: membership, certification, publications, sponsorships, education and meetings. Financial reporting processes were refined to ensure timely assessment and nimble adjustments to changing circumstances.
Total Certifieds
Exams Administered
Recertifications
Courses Offered
Online Learners
Revenue Generated
Reviews and assesses its partnerships to ensure continued alignment with the College’s mission and goals.
Recognizes its ethical responsibility to disclose relationships with funding partners. This has been ACSM’s longstanding policy.
Maintains a clear and well-defined separation between the financial support of partners and the programmatic decisions that are made by the College on matters of science, policy and advocacy.
Continually seeks ways to further strengthen its approach to partnership sustainability and development.
ACSM is committed to scientific integrity and transparency and has worked diligently to maintain these ideals in a rapidly changing world. While ACSM values its partners, none interfere with, influence or keep the college from achieving its mission.
Following months of scenario analyses and due diligence, the Board of Trustees approved the sale of its aging ACSM headquarters property in Indianapolis. Leveraging the property’s high market value and significant revenue potential from invested sale proceeds, the transaction bolstered ACSM’s financial reserves and has strengthened our financial position for years to come. ACSM now leases office space that is less expensive and appropriately sized for the needs of its staff and operations.
For more than 70 years, ACSM has been committed to advancing scientific research for the purpose of expanding knowledge, influencing behavior change, promoting safety and recovery and, ultimately, ensuring a better quality of life through the power of movement. ACSM is now established as the profession’s global scientific leader and continues to push through the facilitation and distribution of new research that champions the benefits of exercise for all people.
ACSM’s six academic journals received 1,614 manuscript submissions in the last year.
“ACSM Committee on Certification and Registry Boards Update on Recertification and Continuing Education Credit Provider Policy” July 2024 in ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal®
ACSM maintains a diverse book publication portfolio with content for educational, professional, certification and consumer audiences. ACSM members and certified professionals receive a discount on purchases.
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