Meet the i9 Sports® Leadership Team

Ron Shimek, President of i9 Sports®, is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years of experience driving growth and operational excellence across multi-unit, service-based franchise organizations including Neighborly and Carlson Companies.

Ron earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from St. John’s University and is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt. He is known for his data-driven, people-first leadership style and his ability to build high-performing teams focused on sustainable growth. Ron lives in Minnesota with his wife and their four children.

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Ron Shimek

President
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Jeremy Oliver

VP of Operations

Jeremy's experience is rooted in leading operational success within global franchise systems. He previously led Operations for the Perspire Sauna Studio brand and held key franchise operations positions with F45 Training and Orange Theory Fitness. Before entering the franchise world, Jeremy was a small business owner in Virginia, where he provided personal training and athletic development services to his community—a background that provides him with firsthand insight into the daily challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship

Madison Gates is the Vice President of Marketing at i9 Sports, where she leads national marketing strategy, brand development, and growth. She focuses on modernizing how i9 connects with families while reinforcing a fun-first experience that builds confidence, character, and lifelong skills.

With a decade of experience in franchise and multi-unit marketing, Madison has built and scaled marketing organizations within the automotive, home services and fitness industries. Madison earned her BA in Sport Management and Communication from the University of Michigan, where she was a Division I soccer goalkeeper, and later completed her MBA. She began her career in athletics, coaching at the collegiate and youth club level.

She is passionate about building teams and brands that create meaningful impact in the lives of kids and families.

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Madison Gates

VP of Marketing
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Susan Rabel

VP Purchasing & Contracts

Susan joined i9 Sports® in 2010 and manages the centralized purchasing functions which include vendor partnerships, sourcing strategies, contract negotiations and merchandise/service offerings.  Susan’s additional responsibilities include directing the annual Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) processes, Area Developer Agreements from creation to final execution, and network-wide compliance with brand standards.

As a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE), Susan monitors/analyzes market trends and the costs of goods in an effort to make solid purchasing decisions and identify potential areas of savings for franchisees.