Industry Impact Award

It's the same as he has done every year.   A leader, a sounding board, and a voice to help all clubs.  He truly cares to help all organizations generate move revenue, and is always volunteering ideas and ways for clubs to get sponsors, partners or free swag (like the Gatorade water bottles, even if it didn't work out as planned for all!).   He also happens to be the leader the industry needs right now.

Publishing a book is an amazing accomplishment.  And much like Shawn Madden's, this is one of the best book's someone in this industry can learn from.  There is so much helpful and relevant information, that I hope clubs managers take an opportunity to read it.  We all could benefit from better culture, especially in a hybrid and remote working world, regardless of whether an organization has two employees or 20. 

Louis has quietly worked behind the scenes doing a lot of work on multiple committees with extensive work on working on the prospects for a National SSIA event; partnerships; work on a regional club gathering and more.  I don't think people recognize how much time he puts into making the SSIA a better organization.  Definitely one of the hardest working of us all!  All while being a part-time owner operator. 

Richie from LI-KICK has always been an open book and a fountain of ideas and is never shy to share them with anyone willing to learn. He fits in perfectly either talking large club issues or the trials of a small startup club. He has an avid appitite to visit clubs and learn their ways, plus appears to be a great host for those visiting his area. He has been a great addition to the conference committee helping shape Cancun 2026. Keep it up Richie!

Christian has consistently been an incredible resource to the SSIA community, particularly when it comes to knowledge sharing and data-driven decision-making. He has a true passion for running numbers, analyzing trends, and comparing business ideas—and, more importantly, he openly shares those insights so others can learn and grow.

Over the past year, Christian and his team have conducted in-depth analyses to determine average pricing by sport, shifts in sport participation percentages, and market share trends across clubs. He regularly shares these findings within the SSIA Facebook group, giving operators valuable benchmarks and clarity in an industry where reliable data is often hard to come by.

What truly sets Christian apart is his transparency. He has openly shared years of profit and loss statements, providing smaller and newer clubs with real-world examples of what sustainable growth looks like. This level of openness has helped countless organizations better understand their finances, identify opportunities, and make more informed business decisions.

This past year, we also had the privilege of bringing Mix & Match events to our city—an initiative Christian has successfully run in Charlotte for years and generously shared with the SSIA community. Using his model and guidance, we sold out our first Mix & Match event and plan to continue hosting them throughout the year. This is a direct example of how Christian’s willingness to share proven ideas leads to real, measurable success for other clubs.

Christian is someone who consistently puts the greater good of the industry first. His contributions have helped elevate not just individual organizations, but the SSIA community as a whole. For his leadership, transparency, and ongoing commitment to helping others succeed, we wholeheartedly believe Christian Crute is deserving of the Industry Impact Award.