Michael Stack, ACSM-EP, EIM, ACSM-PAPHS has been named the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Professional of the Year for 2025. Stack received the award today during the 2025 IDEA & ACSM Health & Fitness Summit in Denver, CO.
ACSM’s Committee for Certification and Registry Boards developed the Certified Professional of the Year award to recognize an outstanding ACSM certified professional for their dedication and exceptional contributions toward enhancing the health and wellness of individuals in their community.
“We are excited to recognize Michael as the 2025 Certified Professional of the Year,” said Lauren Korzan, M.A., ACSM-EP, ACSM-GEI, chair of ACSM’s Certification Board. He embodies the spirit of ACSM through his work in advocacy and education, as well as using his public platform to champion physical activity as an essential element of health care. As an educator, we applaud his impact on current and future fitness professionals and the influence this will have on the fitness industry.”
Based in Ann Arbor, MI, Stack has been an exercise physiologist for more than 25 years. He is the founder and CEO of Applied Fitness Solutions, which has served the southeast Michigan community since 2007. He also founded the Michigan Moves Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to collaboration, advocacy and actions that ensure all Michiganders lead healthy, active lifestyles throughout all stages of life. Stack also serves as a faculty lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology and is the Creator/Host of the Wellness Paradox Podcast.
Stack’s extensive career has evolved to focus on entrepreneurship, education, health policy and advocacy, all in the physical activity sector. His passion for advocacy reflects a dedication to advancing the policy and system changes needed to ensure that exercise professionals become an essential part of health care delivery. This work led to him being a founding board member of the Michigan Fitness Association (MFA), where he was instrumental in securing an $8.5 million grant for the organization. Stack is also president of the Physical Activity Alliance, the nation’s largest coalition dedicated to advancing regular participation in physical activity.
“I’m grateful for my three ACSM credentials because they allow me to achieve the ACSM vision to “extend and enrich lives through the power of movement” in all the communities I serve,” said Stack. “When combined, they have been an asset where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. My ACSM credentials have provided the holistic view necessary to make a deep impact across individuals, industry sectors, the state of Michigan and the nation. Simply put, I wouldn’t be able to make a broad and deep impact without the educational foundation I’ve received through ACSM.”
Learn more about the ACSM Certified Professional of the Year Award and criteria by clicking here.
Media Contact: Paul Branks, Chief Communications Officer
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About the American College of Sports Medicine
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world, with nearly 50,000 members and certified professionals in more than 100 countries. Together, ACSM is committed to the mission of educating and empowering professionals to advance the science and practice of health and human performance. ACSM advocates for legislation to help the government and health community make physical activity a priority.
