Press Room

SAN DIEGO, Calif., August 26, 2026 — The American Council on Exercise (ACE), a global leader in health and fitness education and certification, has earned a Brandon Hall Group Gold Award for Best Association Professional Development Program as part of the 2026 Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards. ACE received the award in partnership with LearnUpon, the learning management system that powers its educational experience. 

The award recognizes the library of ACE educational products, built around the ACE 7 Core Drivers of Healthy Living framework. Through this lens, ACE equips professionals to address not only physical activity, but also the broader lifestyle factors that influence long-term health, helping advance a prevention-focused approach centered on sustainable behavior change.  

“This recognition reflects the strength of our partnership with LearnUpon and our shared commitment to helping health and exercise professionals succeed,” said Cedric X. Bryant, PhD, FACSM, ACE chief executive officer. “Together, we’ve created a learning experience that makes emerging science more accessible, practical and relevant, equipping professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to make a meaningful difference in the health and well-being of the people they serve.”  

The award-winning application, "ACE Drives Healthy Living Worldwide with LearnUpon," highlighted the ACE education ecosystem, including a broad portfolio of courses that help health and exercise professionals stay current with evolving research and best practices. Through a continuum of learning supported by applied instructional design, the program makes complex science accessible, actionable and relevant throughout a professional's career. 

"At LearnUpon, part of our mission has always been to help organizations turn learning into a driver of real-world outcomes," said Brendan Noud, CEO and Co-Founder of LearnUpon. "Partnering with ACE to support their global community of health professionals has been immensely rewarding, and earning Brandon Hall Group Gold recognition together validates the incredible impact of their programs." 

The Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards recognize organizations that successfully implement innovative programs and practices that drive measurable results. Award submissions are evaluated by an independent panel of industry experts, analysts, and executives based on criteria that include innovation, unique differentiators, value, and measurable outcomes. 

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 LearnUpon

LearnUpon is a leading learning management system (LMS) provider that helps organizations deliver impactful online learning to employees, customers, partners and members. More than 1,500 companies worldwide use LearnUpon to create and manage learning programs that drive business performance, engagement and growth. LearnUpon combines a user-focused platform with industry expertise to help organizations deliver meaningful learning experiences at scale. Visit www.learnupon.com to learn more.

About Brandon Hall Group™

Brandon Hall Group™ is a leading research and analyst firm focused on Human Capital Management and workforce performance. The organization provides research, benchmarking, advisory services and recognition programs that help organizations improve business performance through people, processes and technology. Its Excellence Awards® programs recognize organizations that have successfully developed and deployed programs, strategies, systems and tools that achieve measurable results.