IDEA Announces New Ownership

As IDEA prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary, we are thrilled to tell you that Amy Boone Thompson, former vice president and general manager of IDEA, is now owner and chief executive officer of our iconic association! She will continue to lead IDEA as a new generation of fitness and wellness professionals Inspire the World to Fitness®.    

IDEAfit, Inc. (dba IDEA Health & Fitness Association) is poised to enhance its membership offerings and elevate its world-class conferences and gold-standard content guided by Thompson’s vast experience in the industry. Here is a quick Q&A with our new CEO to explain what the future holds. 

Q: How did this opportunity present itself, and what makes you uniquely qualified to own, operate and lead IDEA?   

A: Owning IDEA is something I never thought could be possible, but which I’ve imagined since I started leading the organization back in 2019. Now, it’s a reality for me and my family.   

Many of you know my story, because you are part of my story having grown up in the fitness, wellness and sports industry. Every role I’ve held since I was 23 years old—from practitioner to executive to presenter—has prepared me for the important and impactful work we are doing at IDEA. Through every stage of my career, I looked to this great association as the standard of excellence and the global platform to reach, educate and advocate for more professionals. I am proud to say that this platform, this community and this support system will be here for many more years to come and will be owned and led by someone who understands your needs—because I am you! 

Q: How does your ownership affect initiatives with IDEA’s former parent company, Outside Interactive?   

A: While we are no longer owned by Outside Interactive, IDEA will maintain a strong strategic relationship with our Outside family to further connect our professionals and partners with their audience to inspire more people to fitness and activity. 

Q: How does this acquisition impact IDEA Members?  

A: Short-term, you probably won’t notice much between now and IDEA World Convention, as our team is hyper-focused on creating that world-class experience. Long-term you can expect continued investment in our members, our community and our industry.    

 This association will continue to be led by someone who brings first-hand experience, personal passion and a determined commitment to leading our industry into the future by enhancing and inspiring the careers of fitness, wellness and sports professionals. We will continue to advocate for our place in the healthcare continuum and to educate and regulate for quality and consistency in our profession.  

 The common thread through all the roles I have held in the industry is that I bring a relentless obsession to improving the careers, benefits, standards and opportunities for professionals and owners so they can change more lives with the gift of movement and wellness. IDEA’s platform and global authority makes it possible to impact even more professionals to create more positive outcomes for our communities.   

Perhaps you have a question for IDEA’s new CEO? Please reach out to the content team at content@ideafit.com.