How Western Racquet & Fitness Club Transformed with WellnessLiving

What began as a family-run tennis club is now a thriving wellness community—thanks to a team that kept evolving to meet members’ needs, and software that grew with them.

Intro: From Tennis Club Roots to Green Bay’s Wellness Destination

Western Racquet & Fitness Club has been a trusted name in Green Bay, Wisconsin’s wellness community since 1974. What began as a family-owned tennis club has steadily evolved—responding to the changing needs of its members while staying true to its welcoming, community-first ethos.

The transformation accelerated in 2009, when long-time member and local entrepreneur Mary Thomas purchased the club. Mary envisioned something more than just a traditional fitness facility—she wanted to build a holistic wellness destination that served the whole person. Her vision included not just high-quality fitness programming, but also recovery, rehabilitation, community, and care.

Today, you’ll still hear the sound of serves echoing off the courts. But just steps away, you’ll find over 60 group fitness classes, cryotherapy and infrared sauna rooms, Rock Steady Boxing for people with Parkinson’s, and a full-service recovery lounge with massage and grounding therapies.

Under the day-to-day leadership of Special Projects & Programs Director & Director of HR Katie Kane and her dedicated team, Western has grown into a regional hub for holistic wellness—serving multi-generational families, college athletes, and local sports teams like the Green Bay Glory, Blizzard, and Rockers.

“We’re more than just a gym. We’re a community dedicated to transformation, connection, and long-term wellness.” — Katie Kane

But as Western expanded its offerings, its old systems couldn’t keep up. Siloed tools and outdated workflows were slowing staff down and creating friction for members. To deliver the high-touch service they were known for—at scale—they needed the right platform.

The Challenge: Growth Without the Right Tools to Support It

Western’s legacy system, Club Automation, had served its purpose during earlier phases of the business. But as the club evolved from a tennis-centric model into a multi-service wellness destination, the software began to show its limitations.

“It wasn’t one big problem—it was everything growing at once. The system just couldn’t grow with us,” Katie explains.

Behind the scenes, staff were juggling multiple workarounds to manage an increasingly complex operation:

• Manual scheduling for personal training, recovery services, and group classes

• Fragmented tools for billing, communications, and member tracking

• Limited visibility into real-time activity across services and departments

• A front desk overwhelmed by phone calls and walk-ins for bookings that should have been self-serve

• A CRM system that didn’t support meaningful, long-term member engagement

The result? A capable, passionate team spending too much time chasing paperwork instead of delighting clients.

The Solution: One Platform for a Multi-Faceted Wellness Business

When Katie and her team discovered WellnessLiving, it felt like the missing piece. For the first time, they had a system that could unify the entire club—fitness, recovery, racquet sports, retail, and wellness education—under one platform.

“We needed something more responsive—something that could evolve with us as we expanded.”

With WellnessLiving, Western was able to:

• Launch online booking and branded app access for members

• Consolidate payments, services, and retail into one POS

• Automate confirmations, reminders, and billing alerts

• Give staff real-time access to schedules and client visit history

• Track key performance metrics with reporting and dashboards

“Now members can sign up and manage things themselves. It’s taken so much off the front desk—and helped us focus more on the experience.” — Katie

The system didn’t just replace outdated tools—it helped staff feel more empowered, and clients more supported.

The Results: Greater Efficiency, Stronger Member Experience, and Space to Grow

Since adopting WellnessLiving, Western Racquet & Fitness Club has:

• Improved scheduling and onboarding, even during high-volume periods

• Reduced administrative load, especially at the front desk

• Given members more control and clarity over their accounts

• Consolidated software, cutting costs and complexity

• Gained real-time insight into revenue, retention, and class trends

“It’s helped our front desk significantly, because now members are signing up on their own online, and they’re not walking in and having to wait.” — Katie

The result? A club that operates more smoothly—without losing the human touch that makes it special.

Favorite Features (According to the Team)

✔ Branded Member App
Members can book, manage visits, and view their accounts anytime.

✔ Integrated POS & Billing
All transactions—from cryotherapy to class passes—run through one system.

✔ Automated Communications
Reminders and confirmations go out automatically, reducing no-shows.

✔ Staff Access & Permissions
Instructors and coaches can see up-to-date schedules and client notes.

✔ Real-Time Reporting
Leadership makes faster decisions with live dashboards and performance insights.

What’s Next: A Future Built on Scalability and Service

With a solid foundation in place, Western Racquet & Fitness Club is already planning what’s next:

• Expand recovery and performance services

• Launch an online store for products and packages

• Add a chatbot to assist prospective members

• Grow partnerships in corporate and educational wellness

“We’re building more than a fitness club—we’re creating a destination for lifelong wellness.”

Katie’s advice for other business owners?

“Get really clear on what your future looks like. Choose a system that supports that vision—not just today, but years from now.”

Read more about Western Racquet Club’s transformation story here.

Ready to grow your fitness or wellness business?

WellnessLiving helped Western streamline operations, reduce manual work, and focus on delivering standout service to every member.

👉 Book your free demo today to see how our all-in-one platform can help you build the business you’ve envisioned.