Presenters
We have the most talented presenters ready to share their knowledge of a broad range of fitness, business and wellness topics!
Lewis Agnew
Lewis Agnew operated a fully booked schedule of personal training clients for 7 years before developing the digital features of My PT Hub®. Combining his passion for the fitness industry with the latest technology, Lewis has transitioned to an entirely online clientele with My PT Hub, the world's number-one software for personal trainers.
Niko Algieri
Niko Algieri is the TRX® Training Club director of trainer branding and one of the UK's leading fitness professionals. Known for sculpting the bodies of professional athletes, celebrities, and even royalty, Niko Algieri's name is synonymous with precision, form and technique. His core philosophy? To make fitness accessible to all so everyone can feel empowered—both physically and mentally.
Leslee Bender
Leslee Bender, 2020 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, has been in the fitness industry for over 30 years and produced and filmed over 100 DVDs. She is the creator of the Bender Ball® method and the director of I am Ageless Now, a progressive program that brings both a wellness and fitness approach to the active aging client. Leslee works and trains in Florida with professional athletes and clients of all levels. She recently co-authored I am Ageless Now—the Book and Program!
Jessica Bottesch, MA
Jessica Bottesch, MA, is the co-owner and co-founder of two successful fitness businesses along with her business partner Ronda Williams: Empower Personalized Fitness, a brick-and-mortar studio with a cutting-edge approach to individualized wellness, and Empower Partners Coaching & Consulting, where they consult with wellness entrepreneurs on how to build their businesses. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist, sport fitness specialist and retired athletic trainer. Jessica specializes in strategic marketing and client experience, and leads a team of more than 15 fitness and wellness professionals.
Jay Brockway
Jay Brockway is the TRX® Training Club director of trainer development. With a background as a semi-professional football player and boxer, he brings a unique perspective to his training arsenal, utilizing the best-of-the-best methods to keep his clients challenged. He currently works with professional boxers, celebrities and royalty.
Paul Cauldwell
Paul Cauldwell has over 14 years of experience in human performance program leadership and has spoken at events all around the world. Prior to his current role as vice president of global education and business development programs at Theragun®, Paul was the director of performance at EXOS® for over a decade. There, he was responsible for creating and operationalizing performance programs for the Department of Defense, SOCOM, the military, Fortune 500 companies and elite-level athletes from the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and PGA.
Fabio Comana, MA, MS
Fabio Comana, MA, MS, is on the faculties of San Diego State University and NASM, and is a scientific advisor for Orangetheory Fitness, Core Health & Fitness and Caloric Responsibility. He was the original creator of ACE's Integrated Fitness Training Model™ and ACE's live educational workshops. Some of his prior positions include: Division I collegiate head coach and strength-conditioning coach, opening and managing clubs for Club One and president of Genesis Wellness Consulting. He is a national and international presenter, a media spokesperson and an accomplished author.
Sonja Friend-Uhl
Sonja Friend-Uhl has trained people of all ages and abilities for over 22 years. A skilled fitness programmer, she is certified by ACSM, ACE, AFAA and USATF. Sonja has served as a high school, collegiate, and club coach since 1994, and operates her private coaching and running education platform via TheRunningWarrior.com. She has traveled the world consulting as a master trainer for Core Health & Fitness, which includes brands such as StairMaster®, Nautilus®, Schwinn® and Star Trac®. Sonja’s personal athletic achievements include the current world record holder in the Women’s Masters Indoor Mile and the 2019 Female Masters World Champion in the 800 meters.
Ryan Glatt, MS
Ryan Glatt is a personal trainer and brain-health coach with over a decade of experience. He currently practices brain-based strategies for cognitive enhancement at the Pacific Brain Health Center in Santa Monica, California, in both clinical and research settings. Ryan has pursued education from the Amen Clinics, the BrainFirst Training Institute, the Neuroscience Academy and the Academy for Brain Health and Performance. He has completed the Master’s of Applied Neuroscience program at King’s College of London and is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach.
Hugh Hanley
Hugh Hanley, chief information officer at My PT Hub, has more than 20 years’ experience in personal training and fitness. He has a proven track record for driving personal training performance and has led personal training strategy for over 1,100 personal trainers for some of the largest health clubs on the market.
Pete Holman, MSPT
Pete Holman is a physical therapist, certified strength & conditioning specialist and US National taekwondo champion and team captain. He produced several products, most notably the TRX® Rip Trainer and the Nautilus Glute Drive. Specializing in biomechanics, core performance and the aging athlete, Pete uses his experience as an elite level athlete and his unique knowledge of the human body, to bring out the athlete in us all. Pete is an active contributor to PTontheNet, IDEA Fitness Journal, STACK Magazine and IronMan Magazine.
Petra Kolber
Petra Kolber is an author, speaker, podcast host and DJ. In 2018, she released her first book, The Perfection Detox, which was recently translated into French and Spanish. Petra has over 30 years of experience in the fitness industry and has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the 2018 canfitpro Specialty Presenter of the Year and the 2001 IDEA Instructor of the Year. As a two-time cancer survivor, she is passionate about waking people up to the precious gift of time, and works with individuals and companies to help them get unstuck so they can become unstoppable.
Zachary Mang, PhD
Zachary Mang, PhD, is a post-doctoral employee for the health and wellness program at the Los Alamos National Laboratory where he specializes in personal training for general population clients as well as strength and conditioning for structural firefighters. His research interests include resistance training for hypertrophy, oxidative adaptations to resistance training, and using resistance training as a frontline defense to prevent chronic diseases.
Jessica Maurer
Jessica H. Maurer is a fitness business consultant and strategist who has presented and consulted for many brands internationally. Jessica is the Senior Director of Instructor Development at FIT4MOM and is a consultant for well-known fitness companies such as Nathalie Lacombe, SCW and One Day to Wellness. Additionally, Jessica continues to offer consulting services to locally owned businesses and fitness professionals.
Sheldon McBee, MS
Sheldon McBee has a master’s degree in human nutrition, is an ACE-certified personal trainer and has over 18 years of experience in health and fitness. He is an experienced international presenter, lecturer, business consultant, fitness content developer and training director. Sheldon is a passionate and dynamic presenter who has been featured in numerous fitness education and training videos, and is currently the personal training director for Universal Athletic Club based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Dan McDonogh
Dan McDonogh has been a speaker, educator and coach for over two decades, and has held pivotal roles with global brands such as Under Armour®, TRX® and Les Mills® International. He is currently the Director of Programming, Performance and Les Mills Canada with GoodLife Fitness. Dan is a globally recognized fitness professional as well as a 2015 IDEA Program Director of the Year finalist and the 2012 IDEA Group Fitness Instructor of the Year.
Sadie Nardini
Sadie Nardini is the President of Sadie Nardini, LLC, founder of Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga®, an anatomy-enhanced flow yoga style, and The Yoga Shred®, a high-intensity interval training + yoga flow fusion based on more mindful joint alignment and cardio optimization. She’s an anatomy of yoga and tribe-building marketing expert, and one of the world’s best-selling online yoga course creators. Sadie’s new online studio, the Fit & Fierce Club, is booming, and her social media has over 2 million viewers a month.
Chris Nentarz, PT
Chris Nentarz is a physical therapist, performance specialist and educator. He currently lives in Buffalo, New York, and is the director of an interdisciplinary wellness and rehabilitation clinic called THRIVE at D’Youville University. Specializing in movement science and sports orthopedic rehabilitation, Chris has over 20 years of experience working with athletes and patients of all levels. He is a sought-after speaker on topics related to sports medicine and human performance.
Pamela Nisevich Bede, MS, RD
Pamela Nisevich Bede, MS, RD is a marathoner, triathlete and sports dietitian who knows firsthand the important role nutrition plays in athletic performance, and in life itself. She is the nutrition expert for Abbott’s ZonePerfect® business and is known for passionately sharing adept nutrition advice with athletes, weight loss warriors, general wellness seekers and health professionals. She shares her expertise across media platforms as well as in her latest book, Sweat. Eat. Repeat.
Tony Nuñez, PhD
Tony Nunez is an assistant professor of human performance and sport at the Metropolitan State University of Denver. He teaches exercise science and specializes in resistance training and metabolic conditioning. He has worked as a personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, business owner and personal training supervisor. Tony has presented his research at national and international conferences around the U.S. and has published in peer-reviewed and professional journals, including IDEA Fitness Journal.
Evan Osar, DC
Evan Osar is an internationally recognized speaker, author and expert on assessment, corrective exercise and functional movement. He is the author of Corrective Exercise Solutions to Common Hip and Shoulder Dysfunction and the Amazon #1 bestseller The Psoas Solution. He also developed a few of the industry’s most advanced training programs including the Integrative Movement Specialist™ Certification. Dr. Osar is a co-founder of the Integrative Movement Institute.
Nolan Parker
Nolan Parker is an experienced trainer, coach, nutritionist and writer with a Bachelor of Science Degree in in Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services from the University of Vermont. He is passionate about fitness and technology and has worked for the last 2 years with TrueCoach as a senior customer support manager. Nolan now leads their product team and uses his decade of industry knowledge to develop cutting-edge tools that help coaches deepen client relationships and grow their training businesses to new heights.
Susane Pata
Susane Pata travels the world delivering fitness education as a global master instructor/presenter for TRX®, Life Fitness and Trigger Point™. When not traveling, she trains clients, instructs group fitness sessions and writes to strongly advocate for creative, progressive and smart fitness programming.
Michael Piercy, MS
Michael Piercy is the owner of The LAB in Fairfield, New Jersey. He is the recipient of the 2017 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year award and the 2013 TRX® FACEUP award for Overall Instructor of the Year. A former professional baseball player with the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets and Montreal Expos, he brings a unique perspective to his work with athletes and active adults. He holds a master's degree in exercise science with a concentration in performance enhancement, and multiple advanced-level certifications from ACE, ACSM, NASM and NSCA.
Katrina Pilkington, MS
Katrina Pilkington is a certified personal trainer and fitness specialist, health and nutrition coach, group fitness instructor and wellness educator. She holds certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University and the University of South Florida. She also has an Associate of Science Degree in graphic design and is completing a graduate degree in Nutrition: Health Promotion. Katrina is also the senior manager of diversity, inclusion, and belonging at Barry’s where she bridges gaps of equity, diversity, and inclusion through education and coaching. Her goal is to lead her community by example and relatability to shift the wellness culture to be one of belonging and accessibility.
Krista Popowych
Krista Popowych inspires fitness leaders, trainers and managers around the globe with her motivating sessions. She is the 2014 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year and a three-time (2016, 2008, 2003) canfitpro Canadian Fitness Presenter of the YearShe is Keiser’s global director of education, as well as a Balanced Body® master trainer, JumpSport® consultant, DVD creator, published writer, Adidas-sponsored fit pro and IDEA Group Fitness Committee member.
Joy Puleo, MA
Joy Puleo is an education program manager for Balanced Body®, the world’s largest Pilates manufacturer, developing educational content and curricula for master trainers globally. Since 1996, Joy has practiced in the mindful movement modalities of Pilates and the GYROTONIC® Method. She has presented workshops and instructor training courses at numerous conferences and is a well-respected international educator. Her vast knowledge and deep understanding of anatomy and movement, paired with her incredible sense of humor, make Joy’s presentations engaging and highly informative.
Dan Ritchie, PhD
Dan Ritchie has a master’s degree in health and physical education and a doctorate in kinesiology with a minor in gerontology. He is a co-founder of the Functional Aging Institute, and since 2007, he has owned and operated Miracles Fitness in West Lafayette, Indiana, where he and his staff have trained over 2000 clients. Dan is a sought-after expert and speaker at national and international events on topics like balance for older adults, personal training business development, the global aging phenomenon and functional aging training models. He’s routinely interviewed for podcasts, webinars and online education summits.
Cody Sipe, PhD
Cody Sipe is a respected authority on fitness for older adults with 25 years in the industry. He is a professor, researcher, international educator and co-founder of the Functional Aging Institute. Cody is currently an associate professor and director of clinical research in the doctoral physical therapy program at Harding University. He was recognized as the 2005 IDEA Program Director of the Year and was a finalist for the 2019 IDEA China Fitness Innovator of the Year award.
Helen Vanderburg
Helen Vanderburg is owner of The ACADEMY fitness studio and teacher training school, the author of Fusion Workouts, and the fitness education manager for Balanced Body®. She is the 2005 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year and 2001 Canadian National Fitness Leadership recipient. Vanderburg is an elite athlete as a world champion synchronized swimmer and a member of the Canada and International Sports Hall of Fames.
Anthony Wall, MS
Anthony Wall, MS, is the director of international business development for the American Council on Exercise overseeing ACE’s international strategy and their partnerships with organizations delivering education and professional development opportunities. He is a member of the Physical Activity Innovative Collaborative of the National Academies of Medicine and an Education Committee member for the Medical Fitness Association. He was recently named IDEA China's Top Contributor for 2019.
Kellie Walters, PhD
Kellie Walters, PhD, is an assistant professor at California State University, Long Beach where she studies the psychosocial aspects of physical activity. Most recently, she has focused her research efforts on body image concerns within the fitness industry. Kellie is the co-founder of two organizations: Smart Fit Girls™, a non-profit program that promotes adolescent girls’ physical and emotional health and Smart Fit Womxn™, a wellness coaching company geared toward helping adult women become the best version of themselves.