Meier Combines His Love of Athletics and Construction in New Role with the Fitness Franchise
D1 Training, a leading fitness franchise backed by Princeton Equity Group, has appointed Shad Meier as vice president of construction management. The former NFL player with the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints oversees franchisee buildouts across the U.S. In addition to professional sports, Meier has experience in real estate, property rehabilitation, land development and construction management.
“I am thrilled to be part of a high-octane team achieving great things,” Meier said. “This opportunity perfectly combines my two passions: athletics and construction. I bring a high level of professionalism to both areas and am excited about the prospect of helping D1 achieve similar excellence.”
Meier said he looks forward to learning about the many advantages the franchise business model offers franchise owners, including an established track record of success and extensive support and training from franchisors.
COO Dan Murphy said Meier’s addition to the team will take the brand to the next level. “Shad brings a unique expertise, experience and passion to this new division of the D1 ecosystem. Already we are seeing the impact he is making as we prepare to elevate the number of units into 2025. It’s going to be exciting to see what our team can accomplish as we enter this new phase of growth at D1,” Murphy said.
Finding the Perfect Location
Meier recently served as project manager at Robins & Morton, a privately held construction firm based in Birmingham, Ala. In this role, Meier helped lead complex health care projects at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Meier advises entrepreneurs seeking ideal business locations to keep it simple: “Take your time with major decisions, trust your gut instincts and make data-driven choices.”
During his time with the NFL, Meier said his most impactful memory was playing for the New Orleans Saints after Hurricane Katrina. “In the face of absolute adversity, I witnessed the power of hope, love, resilience, community and teamwork,” he said.
About D1 Training
D1 Training was founded in 2001 by former NFL player Will Bartholomew and began franchising in 2017. Since its inception, the fitness franchise has grown to 115-plus facilities open nationwide, with more than 250 in development. All locations offer three core training programs: Scholastic (Rookie, Developmental, Prep and Overtime), Adult and Pro. Each fitness program is based on five athletic-based tenets: dynamic warm-up, performance, strength program, core and conditioning, and cool down.
