Personal Trainers Bios OLD DO NOT USE - University of Vermont Recreation

Meet our Trainers		QUESTIONS? Email us UVM Campus Recreation employs Personal Trainers who are nationally certified personal trainers through ACE, AFAA, NSCA, NASM or ACSM. We have both student and non-student trainers.
	Hannah Bernier NASM Certified Personal Trainer Hannah is currently studying Exercise and Movement Sciences at the University of Vermont with a concentration in Physical Activity Promotion in Children and Youth. She is a Certified Personal Trainer through NASM. She believes that regular physical activity and exercise have the capacity to improve ones quality of life. That is why she strives to create relevant, goal oriented and individualized sessions that will inspire individuals to live a more active lifestyle. In these sessions she aims to maintain a fun, yet motivating atmosphere that allows for optimal progress and enjoyment. In her spare time you can find Hannah mountain biking, skiing, trail running, and fly fishing.

	Khalil Batah NASM Certified Personal Trainer In addition to being a Certified Personal Trainer Khalil has numerous certifications through NASM as a Nutrition Coach, a Performance Enhancement Specialist, and a Weight Loss Specialist. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. After graduating, dedicated his life to learning martial arts, self-defense, and fitness modalities by moving to Hong Kong to learn Wing Chun Kung Fu. Having gained two perspectives, one Western and one Eastern, he has developed a well-rounded mindset toward exercise, diet, health, medicine, and other aspects of fitness. “Many people view exercise as an annoying chore that they know needs to be done but hate doing. Another way to view it is as a tool and a mechanism for strengthening the mind”.

	Shelby Bentzoni ACE Certified Personal Trainer Shelby has a BS in Exercise and Movement Science from the University of Vermont with a minor in psychology. In addition to being a Certified Personal Trainer she is a Certified Weight Management Specialist through ACE. Shelby enjoys skiing, playing field hockey and staying active outside in her free time. “I train so I can spread my love of fitness throughout the community. I love helping people through the mental blocks that keep them from reaching their full athletic potential. Fitness helps improve health physically and mentally and I enjoy finding that balance with my clients.”

	Ariana Cacciola NASM Certified Personal Trainer Ari has a Bachelors Degree in Exercise and Movement Sciences and minor in Nutrition and Food Sciences from the University of Vermont. In addition to being a Certified Personal Trainer, she is also a Spinning Instructor at UVM Patrick Gym. In her free time you can find her exploring the beautiful mountains of Vermont, cycling, lifting, cooking, and finding the best ice cream in Burlington. Ari's passion for training comes from the joy she feels when people find their own confidence to achieve their fitness goals. She loves being part of the day when a clients busy life can stop, even if just for an hour, and they focus on themselves. She hopes to inspire her clients to find their own niche in fitness and wellness where they can feel good about what they are doing for their body and mind, and enjoy their time doing it.

	Eric Chau Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC) An Exercise Physiology graduate from UMass Lowell, Eric has spent the last two years working in Boston at Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning (MBSC) and is now a student in the UVM Doctorate of Physical Therapy program. With a wide range of coaching experience from professional and collegiate athletes to working with the general population, Eric has learned how to effectively implement a comprehensive training methodology, adaptable for all groups and individuals. Whether you are looking to make the Varsity team at UVM, improve self-confidence, or are just looking for a great workout, Eric will certainly do his best to both motivate you and help you achieve your goals. At the end of the day, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. -Maya Angelou

	Miles Ellis NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist Miles has a BS in Nutrition and Food Sciences from University of Vermont and MS in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Physiology from East Carolina University. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach. In his free time he enjoys playing baseball, skiing, hiking, swimming and basketball. Miles specializes in sport performance, injury prevention, functional movement training and postural restoration. “I enjoy training as it gives me the opportunity to coach clients into attaining their personal goals. Whether this is improving athletic performance by increasing strength, power, and agility, or improving posture and movement patterns, it is rewarding to set these individuals up for a lifetime of effective training and fitness.” “They call it coaching, but it is teaching. You do not just tell them...you show them the reasons” - Vince Lombardi

	Anna Judge NSCA Certified Personal Trainer Anna’s passion for exercise and wellness began at an early age with all kinds of dance. After 15 years as a dancer, she was inspired to try new things, and this led her to running, Pilates, paddling on a dragon boat team, TRX training and ultimately to personal training and yoga. She has since cultivated a passion for helping people explore the capabilities of the human body and its relationship to a life that encompasses well-being, in both body and mind. In addition to being a Certified Personal Trainer, Anna is a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200), TRX qualified, and a Group fitness instructor. Anna’s mission is to promote health, strength and vitality by helping people cultivate a passion for strong bodies and minds, and to inspire people to see that any change, big or small, can have a profound effect on their lives.

	Lucas McCue NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist Lucas graduated from Plymouth State University with a B.S. in Exercise and Sport Physiology. He is currently a Doctor of Physical Therapy student in his second year at UVM. Lucas has experience in strength and conditioning as a former NCAA lacrosse and football player and has led his team in sport-specific off-season training. Lucas firmly believes that exercise and physical activity are the cornerstones of well-being and understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving one’s goals in health and fitness. Lucas hopes to empower people throughout his career with evidence-based information and teaching so that his clients can confidently and competently tackle their fitness goals.

	Noah Oliff-Lieberman NASM Certified Personal Trainer In addition to being a Certified Personal Trainer Noah is a level one Cross Fit Trainer. Noah is an undergrad student at the University of Vermont studying Exercise Science. Noah has been personal training and teaching group fitness classes for three years. His passion for fitness started at a young age when he started competing in track and field. He continues to compete in athletics by doing triathlons, CrossFit competitions, and Olympic Weightlifting meets. He loves being able to share his passion for fitness with clients and use his different backgrounds to make every session unique and exciting. He strives to not only give his clients great training sessions but also the knowledge and tools to make exercise accessible and enjoyable. Whether you are looking for training to prepare you for a high-level sport or you want to feel healthier, Noah can help you achieve those goals.

	Avital Steinberg ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Avital has her bachelor’s in Health and Exercise Science from Rowan University and is currently a graduate student at the University of Vermont studying Physical Therapy. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, hiking, lifting, and baking. She enjoys being able to be that one part of the day that makes others happy and confident. "I love training because it allows me to help other people achieve their goals as well as make them smile which has always been a priority throughout my life. I am constantly learning new workout routines as I enjoy being able to share as much as possible with clients. I aim to make working out a positive experience regardless of the challenge to motivate clients to maintain and build a healthier lifestyle".

	Justin Wagner NASM Certified Personal Trainer Justin is currently a student at the University of Vermont. His hobbies include snowboarding, swimming, Spartan races and surfing. Justin Specializes in nutrition and obstacle race training. A Fun fact about Justin is that when he is home he trains and works with miniature horses to do animal assisted therapy with veterans and the elderly. “I love training because I enjoy competing in Spartan races and I want to push myself to reach peak athletic performance”

	Sophie Zimmerman ACE Certified Personal Trainer Sophie has a BS in Exercise Science from UVM and recently began her graduate education in the UVM DPT program. Sophie has a history as a dancer that started at a very young age and which she maintained through her membership in the student-run Orchesis Dance Company while an undergraduate at UVM. Growing up, she also played soccer, and it was through her involvement in sports and dance that she found her interest in physical therapy and rehabilitation which is she pursuing as a career. In her free time Sophie enjoys spending time outside and pushing herself in the gym. “I love training because it allows me to help others achieve their goals and move closer to reaching their full fitness potential. I strive to make workouts enjoyable even when challenging so that they become a positive experience and clients are motivated to maintain exercise and fitness as a regular aspect of their lifestyle.”

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