Fractional leadership for healthcare fitness and wellness
Developing policy-informed strategies to operationalize and monetize emerging opportunities
About ActivSport Advisory
Welcome to ActivSport Advisory, your trusted partner for strategies and solutions for workforce development, competency assurance and the integration of physical activity assessment, prescription and referral as a standard of care and integral part of healthcare. At ActivSport Advisory, we are dedicated to empowering organizations that educate, train, certify, employ or refer patients or clients to exercise professionals and health coaches.
Our Why
Over the past decade the health and fitness sector has made significant progress towards its goal of securing a place on the healthcare continuum to provide programs, leadership and expertise to individuals seeking to improve their health, fitness or sports performance. Physical activity assessment, prescription and referral as a standard of care and coverage determinations for physical activity programs will have a profound impact on the fitness industry if facilities and practitioners are prepared. Today, most organizations lack a member in their leadership team with the expertise to develop or implement policy-informed strategies to harness the preventive health and physical inactivity chronic disease management opportunities. ActivSport Advisory provides the fractional leadership to fill that gap.
Who We Are
Led by recognized industry authority Graham Melstrand, ActivSport Advisory brings decades of experience and a deep understanding of the evolving needs and opportunities for the health and fitness sector. Our passion for advancing the fitness and wellness industry through establishing standards for exercise professionals and the facilities that employ them, combined with our extensive background in education and credentialing make us the trusted advisor for organizations, institutions or governments seeking to expand the fitness sector and improve the availability of quality programs, services and interventions for health, fitness or sports performance.
Who We Serve
● Training Providers and Credentialing Organizations
● Continuing Education Providers
● Health and Fitness Employers
● National Governing Bodies that establish or inform standards facility or credentialing standards
● Health Advocacy Organizations that have physical activity as part of their portfolio
Meet Our Founder
Graham Melstrand is a 35-year veteran of the health and fitness industry focused on advancing the exercise profession and both improving access to, and participation in physical activity programs and interventions. His extensive experience in health advocacy and government relations have helped shape the best practices and requirements for the education, professional credentialing and employment of exercise professionals and health coaches domestically and internationally.
Over the course of his career he has served in leadership positions at the American Council on Exercise and on a variety of industry and health advocacy boards including: the Coalition for Registration of Exercise Professionals (CREP) which maintains the United States Registry of Exercise Professionals (USREPS), the Physical Activity Alliance, the Committee on the Accreditation of Exercise Science (CoAES), the Medical Fitness Association (MFA) Facility Standards and Outcomes Committees, Special Olympics Fitness Advisory Committee, and on workgroups for NSF International, World Active and others.
Prior to entering the health and fitness space, Graham was a nationally ranked endurance track cyclist that competed in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Trials and earned a degree in Physical Education/Athletic Training from California State University, Long Beach. His hobbies include cycling, sailing and traveling with his wife Holly to cheer on their daughter Evy, a Division I collegiate rower.
Advisory Services for ActivSport
Education and Training Program Development
Assistance with CEC/CEU approval for courses, conferences and events
Workforce/Staff Development and Training
Fitness Facility and Program Assessment (including preparation for MFA Facility Certification)
Consulting for Exercise Professional Registration and International Portability (government and NGO)
Public and Health Policy Monitoring and Risk/Strategic Opportunity Management
- Medical Assessment, Prescription and Referral
- Opportunities with Payers and Reimbursement
Testimonials
Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., FACSM
President & Chief Science Officer at American Council on Exercise
I am delighted to recommend Graham Melstrand for his exceptional consulting services in Fractional Leadership. I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Graham over the past two-plus decades and I consider him to be one of the most competent and professional individuals I’ve known. He specializes in helping organizations at the intersection of healthcare, fitness, and wellness navigate emerging opportunities and has a track record for translating them into successful programs that drive engagement, retention, and revenue growth.
Graham's expertise will benefit a wide range of organizations and objectives in this sector, and his proven experience can assure anyone that his services yield progress and success., including Training Providers, Credentialing Organizations, Continuing Education. Providers, Health and Fitness Employers, National Governing Bodies, and Health Advocacy Organizations. His services include Education and Training Program Development, CEC/CEU Approval Assistance, Workforce Development, Fitness Facility Assessment, Consulting for Exercise Professional Registration, Public and Health Policy Monitoring, Medical Assessment and Referral, and Opportunities with Payers and Reimbursement
Graham’s deep industry knowledge and strategic insights make him an invaluable asset. I highly recommend him for his dedication, expertise, and the meaningful results he delivers.
Danielle Vitogiannes
Executive Officer, CREP
Graham is undeniably an incredible force in the health and fitness industry. As a founding member of the Coalition for the Registration of Exercise Professionals, his passion, dedication, and forethought have brought the mission to life. His service to his fellow board members, affiliates, and industry stakeholders is nothing short of remarkable. Graham possesses tremendous knowledge of advocacy and outreach in our space, making him an invaluable asset to the industry. His commitment and expertise continue to inspire and elevate the standards of health and fitness professionals.
Francis Neric, MS, MBA
AVP of Certification and Credentialing, ACSM
I have had the great pleasure of serving alongside Graham Melstrand on the Coalition for the Registration of Exercise Professionals (CREP) and the Committee on Accreditation of the Exercise Sciences (CoAES). Graham consistently sets the bar for professionalism, not only within our boards but across the entire health fitness industry. As one of the preeminent thought leaders, Graham's insights and expertise have profoundly shaped the direction of our field. His dedication is matched only by his kindness and compassion, making him standout among his peers both professionally and personally. I strongly recommend Graham as a premier consultant for any organization that is seeking expertise in business management, strategic planning, and advocacy/outreach.
Brian Biagioli
Graduate Program Director Kinesiology and Sports Science, University of Miami
Executive Director Board for Certification, NCSF
Chairman of the Board, iCREPS
Graham is a recognized global leader in education and credentialing in the fitness and wellness sector. He has been instrumental in the development of the regulatory standards for exercise professionals, fitness facilities and collegiate athletic settings. His contributions to workforce development through efforts to establish and prioritize the availability of qualified people, programs and places for physical activity have been unmatched. And his work has observably impacted the movement for prevention and management of inactivity-related chronic disease as part of healthcare which are helping shape the future landscape of health, fitness and wellness.
Laurie P. Whitsel, Ph.D., FAHA
National Vice President-Policy Research and Translation
Senior Advisor-Physical Activity Alliance
Graham Melstrand is a long-time friend and colleague as we’ve worked together on policy and systems change solutions in the physical activity and fitness space for many years. Graham has played pivotal roles at the American Council on Exercise, the Physical Activity Alliance, and CREP advancing best practices, industry standards educating policy makers to improve population health and fitness and support the field and qualified exercise professionals. He is an expert at fostering strategic relationships and he has tremendous situational awareness about the direction and impact of the fitness industry both domestically and globally. His background as a competitive cyclist and his various advisory roles throughout his career exemplify his commitment to advancing the most evidence-based standards and approaches to physical activity promotion.
Clients, Partners and Coalitions
Collaborations
