Newtown Athletic Club Entrance

The Newtown Athletic Club Celebrates Linda Mitchell's 30th Anniversary

As many folks in Bucks County know, the Newtown Athletic Club is a landmark, and a keystone of community events for many residents in and around Newtown. What many don’t know is that within the NAC, Director of Marketing and Public Relations Linda Mitchell serves as the keystone of gym life and events for members as well as employees.

If you’ve been to the NAC this past week, you can’t miss the large banner on the way into the club that announces “Linda Mitchell Day,” to be held next Thursday, May 19th, 2011 from 7:00 – 10:00pm.  The event will commemorate Linda’s 30 years of dedicated service to the Newtown Athletic Club.

Linda is in charge of all marketing and public relations efforts for the Newtown Athletic Club, but it doesn't stop there. She manages no less than a dozen brands under the NAC umbrella including sub-businesses like the new salon and spa, Urban Allure, the Big League Baseball Academy and others.

While Linda Mitchell Day isn’t national holiday (though some think it should be, myself included), it will certainly be a fun event for all, with food by the NAC Cafe, drink, decor, and great friends.  Most importantly, is the recognition of the Guest of Honor, Linda Mitchell.

Linda Mitchell

Linda Mitchell, "Queen of the NAC!"

Linda has had many nicknames through the years, including “Mayor, “Linda-Loo” and “Queen of the NAC.”  The person who has been there through all of Linda’s nicknames and job titles? Jim Worthington.

Worthington, owner of the NAC, is throwing this event for Linda because he recognizes the huge contributions she has made through the years.

“I met Linda in 1981 when she came to the NAC to teach aerobics,” said Worthington, “and in one short year she became the Director of the entire program. During the next decade the program grew from 3 class levels with 3 teachers on staff, to more than a dozen class levels with a staff of 30 plus teachers.”

Indeed, it was Linda who began identifying trends in exercise and group fitness, and was responsible for the introduction of such programs as:  Step, Spin, Small Group Training, Yoga, Pilates and more.  Her passion for these programs prompted her to advertise them within the club, and her efforts to get people to participate did not go unnoticed. Worthington recognized her natural talents for promotions and not long thereafter transitioned her into sales, marketing and public relations.

“Linda is a great example of someone who saw opportunity and took advantage of it by re-educating and re-inventing herself as she saw the need.  She learned every computer program necessary and developed design and writing skills to take the NAC’s marketing to the next level,” said Worthington.

Reinvention is something that Linda knows a bit about.  As a dance major in college, Marketing and Public Relations was not the career path Linda originally trained for.  But it certainly made a smooth transition into fitness, where her interest in the industry and passion for growth propelled her forward.

Linda Mitchell at Urban Allure Salon & Spa Event

Linda Mitchell hosting the recent "Mini Bridal Affair" event at Urban Allure Salon & Spa

“In the late 1990's we were poised to expand from a small club to a large club with indoor pools, gymnasium and the Youthplex,” said Worthington.

“We needed the right person to get the word out. Linda was in charge of the sales department and during  one short year, club membership more than doubled.   We then concentrated on becoming a business that puts community first by supporting local causes, contributing to charities and participating in community events.”

Mission accomplished. Anyone in Newtown can attest to the NAC's participation in the community – from acting as venue for First Night Newtown, to attending and sponsoring events like Welcome Day, and helping support community projects like the Newtown Skate Park. Anyone who has ever served on committees for these events will surely know Linda Mitchell as the face of the NAC.

“It was under Linda's direction,” said Worthington, “that we established our position in the local community as a business with a heart and a conscience.”

It is wonderful to see an employer recognize an employee in this way.  Anyone who has ever hit the job market knows it is unusual in this day and age for anyone to stay with the same company for 30 years.  But Linda Mitchell is dedicated to the career she has created at the NAC.

Linda Mitchell Day: May 19, 2011

“Here we are 30 years later, the better and the wiser for it,” said Worthington.

Please join us in celebrating Linda! Community members, NAC members, employees and anyone who knows the lovely Linda Mitchell – come enjoy food, drinks, fun surprises and more on May 19th!

Party Details:

Linda Mitchell Day: Celebrating 30 Years of Dedicated Service
Thursday, May 19, 2011, from 7:00-pm – 10:00pm
NAC Brown Gym: 209 Penns Trail, Newtown, PA 18940
Open to the Public – RSVP Required!

RSVP on Facebook or call the NAC Front Desk: 215-968-0600

 

Event décor donated by Liz Battaglia Designs

Tables donated by Newtown Party Rental

 

This article was written by Liz Battaglia, founder of LB Design Group, LLC in Bucks County, PA.  Liz lives in Langhorne and enjoys networking with fellow Bucks residents and business owners.  As freelance writer for Bucks Happening, Liz loves covering special events, the arts and generally, anything that strikes her fancy. For more on Liz, visit www.LBDesignGroup.com or follow her on Facebook.

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