ACE Fitness Symposium 2009 Speakers
Interested in speaking at the ACE Symposium?
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online application by March 1, 2010.
Cedric X. Bryant, PhD
Cedric X. Bryant, PhD, joined the American Council on Exercise as chief exercise physiologist and vice president of educational services in 2001. Prior to joining ACE, Cedric served as a senior vice president for StairMaster Health and Fitness Products Inc., where he was responsible for research, development and design of all StairMaster product lines. In addition, he led StairMaster's Sports Medicine and Technical Service areas. Cedric's experience also includes serving on the exercise science faculties of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Pennsylvania State University and Arizona State University. He earned both his doctorate in physiology and master's degree in exercise science from Pennsylvania State University.
Fabio Comana, MA, MS
Fabio Comana, MA, MS, is an exercise physiologist and spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise. He is faculty and teaches at San Diego State University and UC San Diego, instructing courses in exercise science and nutrition. Prior to working for ACE, Fabio was a head coach, and a strength and conditioning coach at SDSU; and opened and managed health clubs for Club One. As a national and international presenter, he is frequently featured on television, radio, internet, and in print publications, and has authored chapters in various textbooks.
Geralyn Coopersmith, MA, CSCS
Geralyn Coopersmith, MA, CSCS, is the senior national manager of The Equinox Fitness Training Institute, which provides in-house education for the Equinox Fitness chain consisting of more than 1200 trainers in 46 locations. Geralyn authored Fit and Female: The Perfect Fitness and Nutrition Game Plan for Your Unique Body Type and created the breakthrough women’s weight loss system, “The Best Me Ever.” An 18-year fitness professional, she holds a masters degree in exercise physiology from Columbia University and is certified as strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Nicholas A. DiNubile, MD
Nicholas A. DiNubile, MD, an Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in Sports Medicine, is the author of the bestselling book, FrameWork - Your 7 Step Program for Healthy Muscles, Bones & Joints. He is Executive Producer and host of the award winning national PBS television special, Your Body’s FrameWork, and has served as Orthopaedic Consultant to the Philadelphia 76ers Basketball Team and Pennsylvania Ballet for many years. As an advisor to Yahoo! Health he hosts “The Training Room” blog, and has been featured on Good Morning America, CNN, HBO, National Public Radio, in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and numerous other publications.
Todd Durkin, MA, CSCS
Todd Durkin, MA, CSCS, is a two-time ACE Personal Trainer of the Year award recipient and trainer to high-profile athletes and celebrities. He owns and operates Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, Calif., which specializes in personal training, massage therapy, Pilates, yoga, athlete performance and Success Coaching. He is the head of the Under Armour Performance Training Council and conducts motivational lectures, team-building events and presents at educational conferences, workshops and health-clubs worldwide. He has appeared on 60 Minutes and been featured throughout his career in Sports Illustrated, Business Week, Prevention, ESPN the Magazine and other publications.
Bob Esquerre, MA
Bob Esquerre, MA, is business consultant and co-owner of the Esquerre Fitness Group. Known as a trainer of fitness professionals and managers and a turn-around business specialist, Bob is recognized as a provider of business solutions for the global fitness industry. His expertise include, group exercise programming, group and personal training, club branding, management development, fitness professional branding, customer relationship management and membership retention. He focuses on creating customized business solutions for club owners, club managers and fitness professionals. Bob was recently selected to serve on the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council.
Jolyn Esquerre, RIA
Jolyn Esquerre, RIA, co-owner of the Esquerre Fitness Group, is a financial advisor, registered investment advisor, customer relationship management (CRM) specialist, group exercise coach and TRX Group Training Coach. With more than 33 years as a commissioned employee in the financial services industry, Jolyn is committed to helping fitness professionals successfully develop themselves into “walking blueprints for peak performance and high achievement.”
Avery D. Faigenbaum, EdD, CSCS, FACSM, FNSCA
Avery D. Faigenbaum, EdD, CSCS, FACSM, FNSCA, is a professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at The College of New Jersey as well as a Fellow to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). As a leading researcher and practitioner in the subject of youth fitness, he has authored 120 scientific publications, 25 book chapters and eight books including, Youth Strength Training: Programs for Health, Fitness and Sport, Youth Fitness and Medicine Ball for All Kids.
Gregory Florez
Gregory Florez, founder and CEO of First Fitness, Inc., is recognized throughout the U.S. as a leading expert in several health and fitness categories including, personal coaching and training, product trends and fitness and technology. He has published several books and is an official spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise. He is regularly featured in a variety of industry-related and consumer publications such as Club Industry’s Fitness Business Pro, The Wall Street Journal, Men’s Health and Good Housekeeping. Gregory is a former college and Nike athlete, and continues to participate in a variety of endurance athletics.
Chris Freytag
Chris Freytag, has been educating others on how to live a healthy lifestyle for more than 18 years. She is the author of the 2 Week Total Body Turnaround and serves as the fitness expert/columnist for Prevention as well as the fitness contributor for the NBC affiliate in Minneapolis. Chris has created more than a dozen fitness DVD’s, is a trainer for GAIAM and SPRI Products and sits on the board of directors for the American Council on Exercise. She is the mother of three teenagers and resides in Minneapolis, Minn., with her family.
Todd Galati, MA
Todd Galati, MA, is the Certification and Exam Development Manager for the American Council on Exercise. He has lectured part-time for San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos, teaching courses in anatomy, biomechanics and applied kinesiology. Prior to working at ACE, Todd worked as a program director at the UC San Diego School of Medicine; a research physiologist with the US Navy; and a personal trainer in medical fitness facilities. He has over 12 years of experience coaching endurance athletes in a variety of sports, helping them achieve goals including personal records, and state and national championships.
Len Kravitz, PhD
Len Kravitz, PhD, is Researcher and Program Coordinator of Exercise Science at the University of New Mexico where he recently won the Outstanding Teacher of the Year award. Len was honored with the 2006 Canadian Fitness Professional Specialty Presenter of the Year award and chosen as the American Council on Exercise 2006 Fitness Educator of the Year. He was recently presented with the 2008 Canadian Fitness Professional Lifetime Achievement Award.
Elizabeth Leeds
Elizabeth Leeds, owner of Seaside Fitness and Wellness, combines her background in physical therapy, personal training, Pilates and women’s health into her practice and teaching. A graduate from Boston University's transitional doctoral program in Physical Therapy, an ACE Continuing Education Provider, and a Stott-trained mat and reformer Pilates instructor, her teaching and practice spans from rehabilitation clients to elite athletes, from older active adults to children and from prenatal to the post natal mothers.
Pete McCall, MS
Pete McCall, MS, CSCS, is an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise, creating and delivering fitness education programs to uphold ACE’s mission of enriching quality of life through safe and effective exercise and physical activity. He earned a masters degree in exercise science and health promotion from California University of Pennsylvania and is an ACE-certified Personal Trainer. Pete holds additional certifications and advanced specializations through the NSCA (CSCS), and NASM (CPT, IFS, and PES) and serves on the content review committee for PT on the Net.
Sabrena Merrill, MS
Sabrena Merrill, MS, is a 20-year veteran of the fitness industry and creator of BASETM Training, a balance-based group fitness conditioning class for all levels. Along with personal training and teaching group exercise, Sabrena acts as a spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise and is involved in curriculum development for ACE continuing education programs. In addition, Sabrena regularly presents lectures and workshops to fitness professionals nationwide.
Natalie Digate Muth, MD, MPH, RD
Natalie Digate Muth, MD, MPH, RD, is a registered dietitian and recent graduate of the UNC School of Medicine. She is an ACE-certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor, and holds additional certifications with the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. She has made several appearances as a nutrition expert on CW's San Diego 6, been quoted as a fitness expert in the New York Times and other newspapers and is an ACE Master Trainer and award-winning author. She is currently a pediatrics intern at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital.
Justin Price, MA
Justin Price, MA, is the co-owner of The BioMechanics, a private training facility located in San Diego, Calif., that specializes in exercise alternatives for sufferers of chronic pain. He is an IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year award recipient and co-creator of a successful method for pain reduction which combines corrective exercise and life coaching. He offers this information to other fitness professionals in an educational DVD series and CEC-approved internship program.
Keli Roberts
Keli Roberts is an ACE Continuing Education Provider best known for her award winning DVDs, books and training seminars. She specializes in group strength and stability training, indoor cycling, personal training and motivation and is the recipient of the 2003 IDEA International Fitness Instructor of the Year award. She has earned three OBOW ECA awards: Best Use of Equipment, 2003; Best Female Presenter, 2005 and Lifetime Achievement Award, 2008. Keli, a National Fitness Hall of Fame 2007 inductee, holds certifications with ACSM and AFAA, and is an ACE-certified Group Fitness Instructor as well as an ACE Gold-certified Personal Trainer.
Tracie Rogers, PhD
Tracie Rogers, PhD, is the co-owner of BAR Fitness Studio in Phoenix, Ariz., and an Assistant Professor in the Human Movement Masters Program at the Arizona School of Health Sciences. She brings a unique combination of academic and applied experience to the fitness industry and is directly involved in educating future fitness and health professionals about the psychological components of exercise programming and participation. Tracie speaks nationally to fitness professionals and writes on the role of the personal trainer in triggering lasting behavior change and on the creation of exercise environments that promote long term adherence.
David Sandler, MS, CSCS*D, CCS, HFD
David Sandler, MS, CSCS*D, CCS, HFD, has authored or co-authored five books: Sports Power, Weight Training Fundamentals, The Resistance Band Workout Book, Plyo Power and Strength Training Everyone, and is the chairman of The Arnold Strength Training Summit at the Arnold Classic. He was formerly a lead sports physiologist with National Geographic's Super Strength and Fight Science shows, dealing with special-forces, mixed martial arts and steroids.
Beth Shaw, E-RYT, BS, CMT
Beth Shaw, E-RYT, BS, CMT, is founder/creator of YogaFit Training Systems Inc., The Leader in Mind Body Education since 1994. Beth is the author of YogaFit (Human Kinetics 2001) and YogaFit-2nd Edition (Human Kinetics 2009). She holds a business degree from LIU and numerous yoga, fitness and body mind certifications. She frequently contributes to fitness magazines and is an animal rights advocate as a member of the National Council for the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) and chairperson for the Advisory Board for Karma Rescue. Beth has been featured in Time, Entrepreneur, USA Today, Glamour and many other publications.
Heidi Skolnik, MS, CDN, FACSM
Heidi Skolnik, MS, CDN, FACSM, is the sports nutrition consultant to the New York Giants football team, the Juilliard School and the School of American Ballet. She works as a nutritionist at the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Heidi contributes to Men’s Health magazine and is co-author of The Reverse Diet: Lose Weight by Eating Dinner for Breakfast and Breakfast for Dinner. Heidi is also a Fellow with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and an ACSM Certified Health Fitness Instructor.
Kimberly Spreen
Kimberly Spreen, National Director of Group Fitness for Life Time Fitness, is a member of the IDEA Program Director Committee, one of Exercise TV’s “star trainers” and a professional fitness consultant with Global Fitness Solutions. Known for her passion, enthusiasm and humor, Kimberly travels the world as a presenter, motivational speaker and ACE Continuing Education Provider. Kimberly’s philosophy: Do what you love – LOVE what you do!
Robyn Stuhr, MA
Robyn Stuhr, MA, has more than 20 years experience in health promotion, business and occupational health, sports medicine and cardiac rehabilitation. Most recently, she served as the Vice President, Academy for ACE and was directly responsible for the development, management and execution of this department, which included all educational components of ACE workshops, seminars, programming and products. Robyn has a master's degree in exercise physiology from the University of California Santa Barbara, played collegiate tennis and volleyball, was the first YMCA National Women's Handball champion and has won numerous regional racquetball and squash championships.
Wayne L. Westcott, PhD
Wayne L. Westcott, PhD, is fitness research director at the South Shore YMCA and adjunct professor of exercise science at Quincy College, Quincy, Mass. He serves as an editorial advisor for many publications including, The Physician and Sportsmedicine, On-Site Fitness, Perspective, Prevention and Shape. He has authored 24 books on strength training and wrote the chapter on Muscular Strength and Endurance for the ACE Personal Trainer Manual. Wayne has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from IDEA, the Healthy American Fitness Leader Award from the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the Alumni Recognition Award from Penn State University.