Meet Ricky Nelson, the new membership services representative at Elite Sports Club-Brookfield. A lifelong athlete with a background in collegiate wrestling and a passion for fitness, Ricky recently transitioned from a 27-year career in commercial real estate to pursue his love of health, wellness, and helping others. Whether it’s staying active with family or encouraging members to embrace the journey of self-improvement, Ricky brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the club. Learn more about Ricky Nelson.
Get to Know Ricky Nelson
- What position(s) do you currently hold at Elite and any you have held in the past?
I’m currently a membership services representative at Elite-Brookfield.
- How long have you been working in the health/fitness/tennis industry and how long have you worked at Elite?
I started working in the industry in 2022 and joined Elite in 2025.
- What made you want to start working in this industry and/or for Elite?
I have been an athlete my entire life. My fitness journey began on the wrestling mat at age 6 and I was in sports and fitness my entire life, including wrestling through college at Minnesota State University.
After spending 27 years in the commercial real estate industry, I decided to pursue a 2nd career in the fitness, nutrition, and personal wellness space as a way to add value to clients’ respective personal lives. I love the idea of and process involved with improving one’s overall sense of physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
- What is your favorite part about your job?
While it is difficult to pick just one aspect of fitness as my “favorite,” I would say seeing clients getting satisfaction out of “enjoying the process” of changing their diet and fitness patterns. Looking in the mirror or at the scale over time is rewarding as well, however, my favorite part of the journey is seeing people actually enjoy the process of getting to the point where they have reached their defined goals.
Gradual lifestyle change incorporating healthy habits and enjoying this every day IS the ultimate goal.
- What activities do you participate in at the club or outside of the club that are health/fitness/tennis related?
Golf.
Cribbage (exercise for the mind and soul).
Crossword puzzles (exercise for the mind).
Aggravation (marble board game for the mind).
Watching my son, J.R., play college baseball (shortstop at the University of Illinois).
Fitness, neuroscience, and philosophy podcasts.
Current events.
Family trips including partner Susan, son J.R., and Winston the Dog – always filled with “active” during our recreational time.
- What has been your biggest personal struggle with health/fitness/tennis?
All of the struggles during my fitness/health/sports journey have ultimately ended up being rewarding. My biggest challenge to date has been a physical one, as I endured a series of back surgeries (spinal fusion) for my lower back. Tailoring a new fitness lifestyle around this sort of injury is a daily consideration and a worthy challenge for my fitness programming and overall health and well being.
- What has been your biggest personal accomplishment with health/fitness/tennis?
Receiving an athletic scholarship for collegiate wrestling at Minnesota State University, Mankato and subsequently being inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 1993-94 national runner-up team.
- What advice do you give people who are coming to the club for the first time?
It is important to view the club as NOT just a fitness center but a true club. There is something a full-service club is able to offer anyone and everyone. The trick is finding what you enjoy, what resonates you from a fitness standpoint, and identifying what one hopes to gain out of it socially.
- What advice do you give people who are struggling to make health/fitness/tennis a priority or are getting bored/burned out?
My advice is always for one to make health, fitness, and sports a true priority in their life. For some, this is about making it the first thing they focus on each day (i.e. early morning training sessions). For others, it is dedicating financial resources for a club membership and/or a home gym. For others still, it is simply making the conscious decision to “be kind to yourself/invest in your physical and emotional well being.” Prioritize yourself first. Without health and well-being, not much else matters.
- What personal advice do you give someone who is looking to get to a healthier point in their life in general?
There is no finish line! Fitness and wellness is a gift that gives but that also needs to be fed each and every day. Intermittent goals are important and provide a framework for your diet and training, but the work and thankfully the enjoyment, are never finished. It is a constant, ongoing, way of life that gives much more back than it takes from you.
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