News

Nov 08, 2024

Altitude Trampoline Park Adds Chris Kuehn to C-Suite

Altitude Trampoline Park, a family-friendly entertainment franchise under the Indoor Active Brands umbrella, has tapped Chris Kuehn as chief operating officer. He leverages his extensive franchise

Altitude Trampoline Park, a family-friendly entertainment franchise under the Indoor Active Brands umbrella, has tapped Chris Kuehn as chief operating officer. He leverages his extensive franchise experience to lead Altitude’s operations, marketing and training initiatives.

Kuehn said he has known CEO Mike Rotondo for many years through their work together with Arby’s and Tropical Smoothie Cafe and admires his leadership style. “Working with Mike at Altitude was very attractive for me as it allowed me to build upon my general manager skill set, including marketing, operations and tech, and join a new segment in family entertainment as COO,” Kuehn said. He added that he finds the indoor entertainment space motivating and looks forward to growing the brand and offering guests fun experiences.

Rotondo said Kuehn’s franchising experience makes him a great fit for this role. “As we continue to grow our footprint, it is essential for us to streamline our operations, drive staff capability and elevate our brand communications, and Chris’ broad skill set are precisely what we need to create a more seamless guest experience during this expansion. We are excited to continue to grow our leadership team with industry veterans and are fortunate to welcome such a strong executive who will significantly contribute to our ongoing growth and success.”

Kuehn said he believes Altitude’s growth will be driven by the brand’s parent company, Indoor Active Brands, which launched an indoor pickleball franchise called The Pickle Pad earlier this year. “Having two relevant indoor active concepts focused on different core users is unique in the industry, and we believe this will help Indoor Active Brands scale rapidly,” he said. “Altitude is a proven concept that is re-energizing our new development pipeline quickly coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pickle Pad is on trend with an explosive new sport sweeping the U.S., and our model is well-positioned to deliver substantial returns. Having two proven franchise opportunities will drive growth, and growth always creates opportunities for all stakeholders.”

Kuehn also praised NRD Capital, an Atlanta-based private equity firm that backs Indoor Active Brands, as a strong partner for candidates, franchise owners and franchisors. “Potential and existing franchisees want to partner with world-class ownership groups that will support the brand they are investing in. The Altitude leadership team also appreciates the insights and business acumen the NRD team provides us. NRD’s experience in multiple franchise businesses helps Altitude be a better franchisor.”

Kuehn has led business development teams for software provider Restaurant365, and served as director of operations and marketing for Yum! Brands and chief marketing officer for Golden Corral and Captain D’s.

“I enjoy the entrepreneurial aspect of franchising and working with franchisees who are significantly invested in the brands I support and lead. I’ve found the collaborative aspect of working with these savvy business leaders helps our teams be more effective and drive the system forward faster,” he said.

Kuehn lives with his wife and two kids in Chapel Hill, N.C. They are fans of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.

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