The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) announced that Chuck Runyon and Dave Mortensen, co-founders of Anytime Fitness and Purpose Brands, are the final inductees into the 2026 class of the Health & Fitness Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony will take place on March 15 in San Diego, CA, ahead of the opening of The HFA Show.

Runyon and Mortensen, who also serve as co-chairs of the Purpose Brands Board of Directors, launched Anytime Fitness in 2002 as a more accessible alternative to traditional big-box gyms. In 2024, their original parent company, Self Esteem Brands, merged with Orangetheory Fitness and was rebranded as Purpose Brands. The portfolio also includes The Bar Method, Basecamp Fitness and Waxing the City.

With over 20 years of leadership, Runyon and Mortensen have built Purpose Brands into one of the largest fitness franchise networks worldwide, reportedly serving over six million members across more than 7,000 locations in over 40 countries and on seven continents, including Antarctica.

Runyon and Mortensen also developed a franchise program tailored for military veterans, designed to leverage their discipline and leadership skills, and have been advocates for the fitness industry, actively lobbying at both the state and federal levels to promote health and wellness initiatives.

“Chuck Runyon and Dave Mortensen didn’t just build a brand; they reshaped the fitness landscape,” said HFA President and CEO Liz Clark. “Their vision for Anytime Fitness sparked a global movement rooted in accessibility, authenticity and community. More than two decades later, that same vision powers Purpose Brands. Their franchising model has empowered thousands of entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams of business ownership.”

Purpose Brands and its affiliated companies have received numerous accolades for growth and performance, including Best Franchises in America, Forbes; No. 1 Top Global Franchise, Entrepreneur Magazine; Fastest-Growing Fitness Club in the World, Entrepreneur Magazine; No. 1 Fitness Franchise in the World, Entrepreneur Magazine; No. 1 Franchise for Veterans, Entrepreneur Magazine; Best Company to Work For in Minnesota, Minnesota Business Magazine; Top Military Friendly Franchise, GI Jobs.

In 2009, HFA (then known as IHRSA) honored Anytime Fitness with the John McCarthy Industry Visionary Award.

“We’re honored, humbled, and thrilled to be selected for the HFA Hall of Fame,” Runyon and Mortensen said in a joint statement. “We love this people-and-purpose-driven industry as much as we ever have, and we’ll continue dedicating resources to protect, promote, and grow it worldwide. There’s never been a better time to be in the wellness sector—and the best days are ahead. A heartfelt thank you to our employees, franchisees, and suppliers across the Purpose Brands global network.”

Runyon and Mortensen will be inducted into the second class of the HFA Hall of Fame with Gainesville Health & Fitness Center Founder and CEO Joe Cirull, ResetOne Co-founder and CEO Annbeth Eschbach, fitness evangelists Jack and Elaine LaLanne, Fitness Formula Clubs Founder and CEO Gale Landers, and Les Mills Founder Phillip Mills.

The HFA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose contributions have elevated the profiles of the association and industry, set new standards for excellence in leadership, and supported the industry’s commitment to improved physical and mental health for all.

Inductees are chosen based on the following criteria:

  • Health and fitness business community leaders who have invented, innovated, created, and grown services, products, and programs that have shaped the industry.
  • Those who have expanded the industry over time and its impact around the world, and/or driven key development and improvement of the association over time.
  • Exceptional advocates whose message has resonated with non-governmental organizations and government officials on behalf of association and industry goals.
  • Seminal industry, academic, and allied organization leaders as determined by the Hall of Fame selection committee.

Image courtesy Anytime Fitness/Scott Takushi (shown: CEO and Co-founder Chuck Runyon, left, and President and Co-founder Dave Mortenson, right)