Rich DeStasio looks to accelerate the pickleball franchise’s national growth plan.
Indoor pickleball club franchise, PickleRage, has made a significant executive appointment aimed at the brand’s long-term growth strategy and national expansion plans.
The Miami, Florida-based company has named Rich DeStasio as its new chief executive officer. PickleRage has ambitions to open 500 locations nationally in a plan that was first announced last year.
DeStasio most recently served as chief marketing officer at FASTer Way to Fat Loss, a digital fitness and nutrition company.
According to PickleRage, DeStasio brings the ability to implement operating systems that drive scalable growth while developing high-performing teams across complex, multi-unit environments.
At PickleRage, DeStasio will oversee accelerating franchise development, enhancing operational infrastructure, and strengthening the brand’s position as a premier destination for indoor pickleball.
“Rich brings a unique combination of operational excellence, brand-building expertise, and franchise leadership that aligns perfectly with our growth trajectory,” said David Smith, chief operating officer at PickleRage. “His experience scaling multi-unit platforms and building high-performance teams will be instrumental as we continue expanding into new markets and supporting our growing network of franchise partners.”
DeStasio also served as chief operating officer of Austin Fitness Group, an Orangetheory Fitness platform ownership group. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Town Sports International and The Edge Fitness Clubs.
“Joining PickleRage at this stage of its growth is an exciting opportunity,” said DeStasio. “The brand has built a strong foundation centered on community, quality, and experience. I look forward to working with the team, our franchise partners, and investors to scale the business and bring this concept to more communities across the country.”
PickleRage was founded in 2023 and has about 30 locations currently open or in development. The brand says each of its locations has a minimum of nine regulation pickleball courts.
Information about franchise opportunities with PickleRage can be found at https://pickleragefranchise.com/.
