Our People
WORKING TOWARD OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES
WHERE EXPERIENCE MEETS ASPIRATION
At Midtown Health, we’re proud of our history of innovation in the fitness and wellness arenas. That history is not only a result of innovative corporate leadership, but also a mindset of excellence that extends across our organization, including more than 2,400 club-level associates, regional managers and central services team.We aim to engage all our employees in careers at which they can excel. To foster excellence, we provide continual training and skills development, and we promote from within. The average tenure of our club-level general manager is more than 11 years. That longevity benefits not only us but our clients, too. We confidently offer career-committed seasoned professionals who provide the cutting-edge, service-focused programming that club members and wellness participants expect.
OUR KEY LEADERS
Alan G. Schwartz, Chairman of the Board
Alan Schwartz founded Midtown Tennis Club, the world's largest indoor tennis club, in 1969.
Mr. Schwartz is an accomplished player, winning eight National Public Parks Tennis Championships and seven Illinois State Tennis Championships. He has a passion for tennis and has worked tirelessly to grow the game.
Mr. Schwartz has served as Chairman, President and CEO of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and President of the National Indoor Tennis Association. He serves on the Boards of the Tennis Industry Association (TIA), the Tennis Channel and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and its Davis Cup Committee. He also co-developed the National Tennis Rating Program.
Mr. Schwartz received the 1987 Distinguished Service Award from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association and was honored as Tennis Industry Magazine’s 2003 Man of the Year.
Under his leadership, TCA Holdings has grown to own and operate health and fitness facilities and corporate fitness centers throughout North America. Mr. Schwartz also sits on the Board of the Duke University Fuqua Graduate School of Business and is a Trustee of Roosevelt University and the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES). He previously chaired the Executive Committee of First Colonial Bankshares (now merged into U.S. Bancorp).
Mr. Schwartz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Yale University and an M.B.A. “with Distinction” from the Harvard Business School.
Mr. Schwartz is an accomplished player, winning eight National Public Parks Tennis Championships and seven Illinois State Tennis Championships. He has a passion for tennis and has worked tirelessly to grow the game.
Mr. Schwartz has served as Chairman, President and CEO of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and President of the National Indoor Tennis Association. He serves on the Boards of the Tennis Industry Association (TIA), the Tennis Channel and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and its Davis Cup Committee. He also co-developed the National Tennis Rating Program.
Mr. Schwartz received the 1987 Distinguished Service Award from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association and was honored as Tennis Industry Magazine’s 2003 Man of the Year.
Under his leadership, TCA Holdings has grown to own and operate health and fitness facilities and corporate fitness centers throughout North America. Mr. Schwartz also sits on the Board of the Duke University Fuqua Graduate School of Business and is a Trustee of Roosevelt University and the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES). He previously chaired the Executive Committee of First Colonial Bankshares (now merged into U.S. Bancorp).
Mr. Schwartz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Yale University and an M.B.A. “with Distinction” from the Harvard Business School.
Steven L. Schwartz, President/Chief Executive Officer
Steven Schwartz joined TCA Holdings in 1987, became its president in 1990 and assumed the role of CEO in 1998. Prior to joining TCA, Mr. Schwartz was Director of Development for Hyatt Hotels and an associate in the hospitality industry consulting group at Laventhol & Horwath.
Mr. Schwartz serves on the Boards of Classic Residence by Hyatt and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He is a Trustee of the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film and the Chicago Architecture Foundation. He also sits on the Advisory Boards of the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and Club Industry’s Fitness Business Pro magazine.
Previously, he has served as a Director, Vice President and Treasurer of IHSRA and chaired the committee which authored the “Uniform System of Accounts for the Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Industry.” He was also a member of the American Hotel and Motel Association Committee on Market Research and Feasibility.
Mr. Schwartz received a Bachelor of Science degree “with Distinction” from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration in Ithaca, New York, where he was captain of the water polo team. He also played on the Concord Club team at the University of California in Berkeley with coaches and players from the U.S. National Team.
Mr. Schwartz serves on the Boards of Classic Residence by Hyatt and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He is a Trustee of the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film and the Chicago Architecture Foundation. He also sits on the Advisory Boards of the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and Club Industry’s Fitness Business Pro magazine.
Previously, he has served as a Director, Vice President and Treasurer of IHSRA and chaired the committee which authored the “Uniform System of Accounts for the Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Industry.” He was also a member of the American Hotel and Motel Association Committee on Market Research and Feasibility.
Mr. Schwartz received a Bachelor of Science degree “with Distinction” from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration in Ithaca, New York, where he was captain of the water polo team. He also played on the Concord Club team at the University of California in Berkeley with coaches and players from the U.S. National Team.
Debra Siena, President, Midtown Health
Debra Siena joined TCA Holdings in 1986. She is currently President of Midtown Health, a provider of health enhancement solutions to clients, including on-site coaching, stress management workshops and fitness and wellness center management.
During her career with TCA, Ms. Siena has been involved in health club development, acquisition and management, adding amenity clubs, corporate fitness centers and hospital integrated wellness centers to TCA’s management portfolio. She has had responsibility for operations of more than 20 clubs, ranging from 2,000 to 200,000 sq. ft.
Ms. Siena has been a featured speaker at fitness and wellness industry conventions since 1989, including the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), Club Industry, the Medical Fitness Association, the World Fitness IDEA convention, and several international organizations in Europe, South America, and Asia.
Ms. Siena served on the IHRSA board of Directors from 2003 through 2007. She is a certified Stress Transformation trainer with HeartMath and co-Chairs the Building a Healthier Chicago Worksite Wellness Committee.
Ms. Siena received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree “with Honors” from the University of Illinois in Champaign and taught Kinesiology at Columbia College.
During her career with TCA, Ms. Siena has been involved in health club development, acquisition and management, adding amenity clubs, corporate fitness centers and hospital integrated wellness centers to TCA’s management portfolio. She has had responsibility for operations of more than 20 clubs, ranging from 2,000 to 200,000 sq. ft.
Ms. Siena has been a featured speaker at fitness and wellness industry conventions since 1989, including the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), Club Industry, the Medical Fitness Association, the World Fitness IDEA convention, and several international organizations in Europe, South America, and Asia.
Ms. Siena served on the IHRSA board of Directors from 2003 through 2007. She is a certified Stress Transformation trainer with HeartMath and co-Chairs the Building a Healthier Chicago Worksite Wellness Committee.
Ms. Siena received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree “with Honors” from the University of Illinois in Champaign and taught Kinesiology at Columbia College.
Frank Nusko, Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer
Frank Nusko joined TCA Holdings in 1985, became Controller in 1990 and was named CFO in 2001. He oversees all financial reports, insurance purchasing, benefits administration, information systems, cash management, and banking relationships.
Under Mr. Nusko’s direction, TCA was among the first national health club chains to centralize accounting functions. He was the principal author of the “Uniform System of Accounts for the Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Industry,” adopted as the standard by IHRSA.
Mr. Nusko is a certified public accountant, a member of the Illinois CPA Society, and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Before joining TCA, he was a Senior Accountant at Laventhol & Horwath.
Mr. Nusko holds a Bachelor of Accounting “with Honors” from DePaul University.
Under Mr. Nusko’s direction, TCA was among the first national health club chains to centralize accounting functions. He was the principal author of the “Uniform System of Accounts for the Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Industry,” adopted as the standard by IHRSA.
Mr. Nusko is a certified public accountant, a member of the Illinois CPA Society, and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Before joining TCA, he was a Senior Accountant at Laventhol & Horwath.
Mr. Nusko holds a Bachelor of Accounting “with Honors” from DePaul University.
Tony Janca, Director of Development
Tony Janca has joined Midtown Health as Director of Development. Mr. Janca has 28 years industry experience in the development, management and leadership of military, public, corporate, park district and hospital-based health & fitness centers. Prior to joining Midtown Health, Mr. Janca was Director of Operations for Power Wellness Management from 1997 – 2011.
Mr. Janca has presented throughout the United States to leaders of hospital-based medically integrated Centers in many areas including turnaround management, fiscal responsibility, sales and marketing, expense control and employee leadership. In addition, Mr. Janca has also presented to the Florida Hospital Association and Medical Fitness Association.
Mr. Janca received a Master of Science degree “with highest departmental distinction” from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a certified personal trainer and strength and conditioning specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Mr. Janca has presented throughout the United States to leaders of hospital-based medically integrated Centers in many areas including turnaround management, fiscal responsibility, sales and marketing, expense control and employee leadership. In addition, Mr. Janca has also presented to the Florida Hospital Association and Medical Fitness Association.
Mr. Janca received a Master of Science degree “with highest departmental distinction” from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a certified personal trainer and strength and conditioning specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Michael Combes, Regional General Manager, Midtown Health
Michael Combes joined Midtown Health in November of 2009 when Midtown Health was contracted by Mercy Health Partners (MHP) to manage and operate the Mercy HealthPlexes. Mike serves as the Regional Vice President of the Mercy HeathPlexes which consists of three hospital based fitness, wellness and athletic centers throughout Cincinnati, Ohio.
Prior to his position with the Mercy HealthPlexes, Combes was the Vice-President of MedSport Enterprises from 1991 – 2007. During his tenure with MedSport, Mike’s primary responsibility was being the General Manager of MedSport’s flagship club, the Michigan Athletic Club (the MAC) for the Sparrow Health System in Lansing, Michigan. As Vice-President of MedSport, Mike also opened and managed the Genesys Athletic Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan for the Genesys Health System.
Mike has Masters of Arts (1980) and Bachelor of Science (1979) degrees from Michigan State University.
Prior to his position with the Mercy HealthPlexes, Combes was the Vice-President of MedSport Enterprises from 1991 – 2007. During his tenure with MedSport, Mike’s primary responsibility was being the General Manager of MedSport’s flagship club, the Michigan Athletic Club (the MAC) for the Sparrow Health System in Lansing, Michigan. As Vice-President of MedSport, Mike also opened and managed the Genesys Athletic Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan for the Genesys Health System.
Mike has Masters of Arts (1980) and Bachelor of Science (1979) degrees from Michigan State University.
Melissa Haase, Regional General Manager, Midtown Health
Melissa Haase has been working in the health and fitness industry for over fifteen years. She joined TCA Holdings, LLC in 1998 and is currently a Regional General Manager for Midtown Health's Midwest clients.
Ms. Haase is a presenter at fitness industry conventions, and holds current certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Personal Trainer, from Stott as a Pilates Instructor, and from HeartMath as a certified Stress Transformation trainer.
She earned a BA in Communications. She also received a Fitness Specialist Certification from the University of Illinois Chicago’s School of Kinesiology Graduate Program.
Ms. Haase is a presenter at fitness industry conventions, and holds current certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Personal Trainer, from Stott as a Pilates Instructor, and from HeartMath as a certified Stress Transformation trainer.
She earned a BA in Communications. She also received a Fitness Specialist Certification from the University of Illinois Chicago’s School of Kinesiology Graduate Program.
beREMARKABLESM: THE FOUNDATION OF ALL WE DO
Midtown Health has pioneered a dynamic customer service training initiative called beREMARKABLESM. Unprecedented in the health club industry, it was developed in conjunction with Ritz-Carlton and is designed to empower associates to “do ordinary things extraordinarily well.” beREMARKABLESM training includes:- The importance of the internal customer
- Handling the difficult member
- Employee empowerment
- Excellent member/customer service
- Communication
- Measuring success
This training is reinforced onsite through “Daily Outlook” meetings and is supported by our ongoing Performance Management Process.
In addition, our TCA University provides ongoing education for all associates in areas like club-management skills, business functions, strategic planning, leadership, operations, HR, financial analysis, sales, marketing, and fitness and wellness programming.
After all, how can we expect end-users to achieve their personal best unless we’ve achieved it first?
“I have never seen a more committed group of senior leaders; their efforts have been, in a word, remarkable.”
Diana Oreck
Vice President of Global Learning & Leadership Center
Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company