by Sasha Reddy
Leadership, at its best, is almost invisible. When the right systems, the right people, and the right vision align seamlessly, members and staff feel supported without even thinking about it. This philosophy guided John Peoples throughout his sixteen-year career as General Manager of Hockessin Athletic Club (HAC). John guided our organization through some of our toughest times from the Great Recession to the COVID-19 pandemic, all while fostering a culture of collaboration, empathy, and respect. John knew that the continued success of the club would require the leadership of not one individual but a talented team.
With eighteen departments to oversee, John knew that the continued success of the club would require the leadership of not one individual but a talented team. Thus, as he prepared for his retirement in early 2024, he insisted that the responsibilities of the future GM be split between two separate positions.
Come March of 2024, two familiar and tenured faces stepped up to take HAC into its next chapter. After an extensive search, Jordan Biscoe, formerly HAC’s Customer Service Director, was promoted to General Manager, and Dave Mulvena, long-time Sports Director, was named Assistant General Manager.
“The club’s in great hands with Jordan and Dave,” notes Bob Carpenter, HAC owner and operator. “I’m happy to have filled the GM and AGM positions from our ranks.”
Jordan’s and Dave’s journeys are deeply intertwined with the origin and growth of Hockessin Athletic Club. Both men began at Pike Creek Fitness Club, with Dave coming on board to coach youth sports in 2004 and Jordan joining the front desk team in 2005. Hockessin Athletic Club was still in the planning at that point and would not open its doors until June of 2007.
Now with a combined 41 years of tenure with the company, Jordan and Dave aim to innovate according to current challenges and trends while still honoring the HAC culture they’ve each spent half of their lives immersed in.
Two Roles, One Mission
Dividing the responsibilities of the GM position quickly proved to be the right call. In their new roles, Jordan and Dave play to their strengths: Dave focuses on youth offerings, like the YES Program, childcare, and swim lessons, while Jordan oversees the financial aspects and all other departments, such as group fitness, facilities, and membership. This separation has not only made customer service smoother and more efficient but also ensured that a member of HAC’s senior leadership is almost always in the building.
“I’d be ripping my hair out without Dave’s help,” Jordan admits gratefully.
Their many years at HAC have come with many face-to-face interactions with members, and these conversations have become the foundation for Jordan and Dave’s leadership approach.
“I know the members’ expectations,” Dave says. “They are comfortable coming to me and offering feedback on the club and their experience here.” Having coached hundreds of children and become a father himself during his time at HAC, Dave has developed invaluable relationships with fellow parents in the community. The insights, ideas, and frustrations gleaned from each conversation have strongly influenced his leadership journey.
“Somebody’s made that commitment to us to be here,” Jordan adds. “We want to make sure that they’re happy with that decision and they’re getting that value out of it. And that looks different for every member. But it’s important that we try to make decisions that are great for the masses.” If 15+ years of manning the Front Desk has taught Jordan anything, it’s that members’ needs don’t always align, but the first step in improving the member experience is simply listening to determine what needs are out there.
“We were fortunate enough to inherit a very veteran team of directors who all run great programming,” Jordan continues. The past year and a half has been a period of transformation for HAC. Under Jordan and Dave’s leadership, and with the input and expertise of each department head, many exciting initiatives have been launched or expanded in the last year and a half:
Member Experience Improvements
YES Program Alignment
As part of the HAC YES Program, members ages 3-13 receive one complimentary dance, tumbling, or martial arts class each week, plus one complimentary weekly youth sports class. However, a historic pain point for members has been misalignment between each of these offerings. One program might’ve started a week before the rest, or registration for different disciplines may have opened weeks apart, causing unnecessary confusion for parents. This year, schedules across each YES Program discipline were aligned, easing stress for parents; all programs start and end in unison and follow the same holiday and registration schedules.
Spa Revamp
“Revamping the Spa was huge,” Dave proudly recalls. On May 1st, 2025, HAC officially announced the rebranding of the HAC Massage Center to The Spa at Hockessin Athletic Club, celebrating the milestone with a beautiful Open House. The celebration included tours of the service rooms, complimentary chair massages, and raffle prizes. With the rebrand, HAC also introduced several new services, including HydraFacials, waxing, dermaplaning, lash services, and a new line of Environ skincare products. For our existing massage client base, several massage add-ons were also added to the menu, from scraping and hand treatments to aromatherapy.
Return of Birthday Parties
After a several-year hiatus, poolside birthday parties are back at HAC! Since resuming in September 2024, the birthday party program has grown steadily, now accommodating up to four parties each weekend.
Equipment Upgrades
New Exercise Machines
Fourteen assorted treadmills and three Smith Machines have made their way to the club over the last few months. HAC additionally plans to replace the Life Fitness selectorized exercise circuit on the Main Fitness Floor with 14 new machines from Realleader Fitness. The new machines are due to arrive in mid to late October.
Recovery Amenities
Two state-of-the-art Chilly Goat tubs were installed in the Aquatics Complex in April 2024, followed by Zero Gravity Chairs in the Black Card exclusive Recovery Realm in April 2025. These additions are part of HAC’s broader wellness and recovery initiative, aligning with trends across the fitness industry.
Community Partnerships
Elite Physical Therapy
HAC and Elite Physical Therapy have continued to strengthen ties by introducing exclusive benefits to each other’s client base. While receiving treatment at Elite PT’s Hockessin location, clients are now offered a complimentary two-month membership to Hockessin Athletic Club to aid their recovery beyond physical therapy sessions. Similarly, active HAC members are invited to book a free injury screening appointment at Elite PT in Hockessin.
Cancer Support Community of Delaware
“Unfortunately, cancer is something that touches everybody one way or another,” Jordan says. With fitness being a proven tool for cancer prevention, HAC has joined the fight in a new way. As of July 2025, Personal Trainer Renee Paoli has begun teaching strength training classes to program participants at the Cancer Support Community of Delaware (CSCDE) location on Lancaster Pike. Additionally, class participants who wish to delve further into their fitness journeys are invited to enjoy a complimentary two-month membership to HAC. HAC and CSCDE are excited to continue to expand this partnership in the near future.
LifeMed Institute
In the spirit of expanding the club’s wellness offerings, HAC has brought in LifeMed Institute, a Med Spa practice specializing in preventative medicine. As of September 8th, LifeMed is accepting a range of IV nutrition services here at HAC every Tuesday. For more info or to book an appointment, visit https://lifemedinstitute.com/hockessin-athletic-club-members-exclusive/
Capital Improvement Projects
Not all progress is flashy — much has happened behind the scenes to keep HAC running smoothly. Over the past year, significant reinvestments have included:
- Necessary repairs of the parking garage (May–September 2024)
- Driveway and parking lot resurfacing (September 2024)
- Sidewalk repairs (ongoing)
- Upkeep of the Tweed’s Park walking trail (ongoing)
- Replacement of the Aquatics Natatorium Heater (ongoing)
Giving Thanks
Jordan and Dave admit that their new positions have come with a steep learning curve, but both praise HAC’s owner, Bob Carpenter, and their predecessor, John, for the support they’ve received during their transition.
“Working for Bob for 20 years at this point, I couldn’t ask for a better owner/operator,” Jordan says. “He’s here, he’s available, he’s excited. Twenty years later, he still loves this place – he’s very passionate about what we do, who we are, and maintaining a brand that truly helps the community and the members and staff alike.”
Dave concurs. “Both [Bob and John] were very helpful and supportive in the transition into my new role. Just knowing that John is always available as a resource is a great feeling. I have learned so much and continue to learn new things about HAC and the industry every day.”
Another boon during this new chapter has been HAC’s REX Roundtable participation. “I’m definitely punching above my weight class with this group of folks,” Jordan says of his fellow roundtable members. The group, now 18 clubs strong, is comprised of industry leaders from premier fitness clubs across the country – East Bank Club in Chicago, The Houstonian in Texas, Merritt Clubs in Baltimore, and many more. Its members stay in touch regularly to exchange ideas and discuss how they are overcoming current challenges. “Sometimes it’s nice to hear that, if we’re facing an issue, it’s not just us,” Jordan adds. “As much as it’s nice to talk about what’s going well, it’s just as nice to talk about what isn’t.” Each member shares what’s working in their business and what’s not, promoting mutual learning and innovation.
Dave has had a similarly positive experience with REX, having attended a leadership seminar in New York earlier this year. “The industry is always changing and evolving,” he says. “We have to continue to strengthen our culture and stay on top of trends.” He appreciates the investment in his growth as a leader and has swiftly begun implementing the lessons learned from the trip in his day-to-day.
Looking Ahead
As they continue to adjust, the team hopes to keep filling programming gaps to ensure that HAC remains a one-stop shop for all populations. This requires keeping an ear to the ground and an eye on industry shifts at all times.
It also requires an engaged community, and that goes for members and staff. Jordan and Dave remain grounded in gratitude for the people they serve and work alongside. Even the smallest gestures, like a member thanking them for new treadmills, are meaningful. “Some people think the little things don’t matter,” Jordan reflects. “They do. And when you lose sight of that, it’s not good business.”
With a year and a half of leadership under their belts and a clear vision for the future, Jordan and Dave are proving that the best leaders don’t just maintain a legacy — they grow it.
