Press Room

San Diego, Calif., May 5, 2026  — The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is proud to share that it has been named a 2026 Best and Brightest Company to Work For® in both Southern California and the Nation, and a 2026 winner of the Nation’s Best and Brightest in Wellness. These honors recognize organizations with exemplary human resource practices and a strong commitment to employee wellbeing and workplace excellence. 

“Being recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For—both regionally and nationally—is a tremendous honor,” said ACE president and chief operating officer Amanda Cass, SHRM, “At ACE, our people are at the heart of everything we do. This recognition reflects our long-standing commitment to cultivating a purpose-driven culture where employees feel empowered and supported.” 

Winning organizations are evaluated by an independent research firm on a comprehensive set of criteria, including compensation, benefits and employee solutions; wellness and wellbeing initiatives; employee engagement and retention; professional development; recruitment and recognition; communication and shared vision; acceptance, equity, and inclusion; work-life blend; community engagement; and leadership and organizational performance. 

Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of the National Association for Business Resources, praised the 2026 award recipients for their commitment to excellence, noting that organizations recognized as Best and Brightest are distinguished by strong values-driven cultures and a clear focus on their employees as key contributors to long-term success. 

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® awards, presented by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR), celebrate organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership, employee engagement, and innovative people practices; with more than 25 years of experience identifying and benchmarking leading employment standards nationwide and a competitive ten-to-one selection ratio, only a select group of organizations earn this distinction each year. 

About the American Council on Exercise (ACE)

Since 1985, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) has been the leading non-profit education and certification provider for health coaches and exercise professionals in the United States and around the world.

With more than 90,000 highly respected certified health coaches and exercise professionals, ACE Certified Professionals are on the ground daily helping people move, stay active and make lasting lifestyle behavior changes to build healthier communities.

Headquartered in San Diego, ACE collaborates with public health partners to educate people of all backgrounds about the importance of physical activity and other healthy lifestyle behaviors; advocates for public policies to increase physical activity opportunities; and supports scientific research that investigates the efficacy of behavior-change interventions and the effectiveness of exercise practices and trends. Learn more at acefitness.org.

About the National Association for Business Resources’ Best and Brightest Programs

The National Association for Business Resources offers an array of recognition programs that celebrate excellence in various aspects of business, including workplace culture, wellness initiatives, and leadership. These programs include the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, Best and Brightest in Wellness, Best and Brightest CEOs and Leadership Teams which are presented in several markets that include Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, Nashville, New England, New York, Northern California, Pacific Northwest, Southern California, South Florida, West Michigan and nationally.