Personal Trainers

Personal
Trainers

MEET OUR TRAINERS

Like you, Personal Trainers come in a variety of shapes and sizes with different backgrounds and experience.

At the Y, Personal Trainers have at least one thing in common—they have and maintain certification through at least one national health and fitness organization or a 4 year exercise science degree. In addition to national certifications, many trainers have special areas of expertise—like Olympic Lifting, Barre, Kettlebells, Running, and Youth Specific Conditioning—that require additional (and often intensive) training.

Please contact at cgonzalez@meadowlandsymca.org or 201-955-5300 to get started!

Chris K

Chris got into fitness after suffering a serious head injury playing soccer. No longer able to play sports anymore, he took up strength training. After training throughout his time at The College of New Jersey and graduating with a Bachelor’s in Health and Exercise Science, he obtained his personal training certification through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). If you’re looking for an experienced exercise science professional to help you reach your goals, Chris is your guy! He is a certified Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) and Weight Loss Specialist (WLS) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Specializing in – Strength training, exercise science, weight loss, senior fitness, kinesiology, corrective exercise

Anna F

As a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and AFAA Certified Group Exercise Instructor, Anna has a strong understanding of body mechanics and exercise programming, allowing her to tailor workouts to individual needs. She has taught a wide range of formats, including Pilates Reformer and Mat, HIIT, Spin, Barre, Total Body Conditioning, and Small Group Training. Her expertise includes weight machines, Pilates reformers, BOSU, TRX, kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, and occasional boxing and kickboxing for variety.

Anna is known for creating fresh, engaging workouts and has experience training clients of all ages, including prenatal clients. She remained active and taught group exercise classes throughout her pregnancy, demonstrating that safe, effective fitness is possible at every stage.

Specializations: Pilates (Mat & Reformer), weight loss, strength and conditioning, TRX, NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist, Women’s Fitness Specialist, Group Personal Training, and Perinatal Fitness.

Rashaun C

Rashaun was a three-sport athlete in high school playing varsity football, wrestling, and track. After hanging up the jersey, he decided he wanted to coach kids in football. He coached football for 4 years, and while leading kids of various age groups, he trained them to develop their strength and endurance. With his experience coaching and his passion for working out, he was able to get certified in personal training. His skills will help you to achieve your goal and more.

Specializing in – Sports performance training, HIIT, strength training, weight loss

Chris H

Being into fitness for over 15 years and having experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, Chris decided to get certified as a personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports and Medicine (NASM). His goal is to not only help people become stronger and build muscle, but also to help people improve their functional strength. He will also help clients with any other goals such as weight loss and conditioning.

Specializing in: HIIT, weight training, Plyometrics, strength and conditioning.

Lucy Bates

In 2010, she began her career as a personal trainer, working at 24 Hour Fitness for over 10 years. In 2015, she became a master trainer and was recruiting, managing, and developing new trainers. Lucy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Montclair State University and is certified through PTA Global. She has instructed classes such as Body Pump, Senior Fitness, Bootcamp, Children’s Bootcamp, Lose Big, Drop 2 Sizes, Senior Strength and her own Outdoor Women’s Strength and Conditioning class.
Lucy takes great joy in helping her clients look and feel their best. It is important for her to design her clients’ workouts to be appropriate for their own fitness level, challenging, fun and goal driven. Lucy records her clients progress in their charts with monthly measurements and fitness testing results to keep them motivated and on track. Her clients are most often women over the age of 35 and active older adults. She has worked with clients of all ages though, including those preparing for Police Academy, marathons, competitions, childbirth, and surgeries.
As an older trainer, Lucy has been focused on healthy aging. It’s a fact that after the age of 35 we lose muscle mass and bone density. If this is ignored, it will negatively impact the quality of your life. Regular strength training will increase your strength, raise your metabolism (aids in weight loss), build resilience, ease the management of chronic conditions, improve pain and stiffness, and reduce stress. Lucy has over 20 years of personal training experience, vast knowledge of nutrition and supplements, lifelong commitment to an active lifestyle, and investment in each of her clients’ goals.

Specializing in – Strength and conditioning training, TRX, senior fitness, weight loss

Hector Gomez

With his many years of experience as a Physical Therapy Tech, Hector has helped rehab many injured patients of all ages and athletic abilities. Hector is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). He has an abundance of knowledge with regards to injury prevention, rehabilitation, and corrective exercises.

Specializing in – Strength and conditioning, weight loss, injury prevention, corrective exercise

Jamie Scangarella

Jamie is a certified trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), a AFPA group fitness instructor and Pound Pro. She earned a degree from the University of California, San Diego where her postgrad endeavors led her to becoming a fitness professional. Being a lifetime athlete with a history of hypermobility issues, Jamie has a strong focus on injury-prevention and joint stability. She likes to meet her clients where they are in their fitness journeys and give them the tools, knowledge, and skills they need to develop a happier and healthier life.

Specializing in – HIIT, Tabata, strength and conditioning, flexibility, sports performance training

Sidney Mckinney

Sidney is a certified medical assistant, BLS certified, and A.S. Nursing Major anticipated 2023. He is certified as a personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). His philosophy is, “Functional strength for the life you live.” Sidney believes that what you do inside the gym should enhance the quality of your life outside of the gym!

Specializing in – Strength and conditioning, weight loss

Charles Smith

Charles is an Exercise Physiologist who likes to help improve people’s everyday lifestyle. He makes sure to switch up your workouts to take you to the next level. He loves working with athletes, breaking down their workouts to help improve their endurance, strength and agility. He specializes in helping exercisers build a better physique and improve posture. He also has worked with clients post rehab, strengthening the muscles around that injured area to return it to new again. Charles graduated from Kean University with his degree in Exercise Science and is a Certified Personal Trainer through International Sports Science Association (ISSA). Charles hopes to use his knowledge of fitness to help shape his exercisers’ mind and body and get them prepared for whatever the world has for them.

Specializing in: Athletic Performance, Injury Recovery, Physique, Strength Training, and Weight Loss

Phil Stern

Phil Stern is a certified fitness professional since 2004. He began his love of fitness as a young gymnast. Phil was the New Jersey freshman State all- around gymnastics champion in high school in 1978 and was the USA collegiate rings champion in 1994. He has been working with children and adults for over 40 years. Phil specializes in movement-based and body weight types of training and loves to work with athletes of all ages. He currently runs the gymnastics program here at the YMCA and teaches a fit camp class on Saturdays and an Active Older Adult class on Mondays. “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”-Melchor Lim.

Specializing in – TRX, kettlebell, Tabata, boot camp, HIIT, gymnastics, and sports specific training

Matteo Sullivan

Matteo is certified through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). He believes the relationship between the mind and body is bidirectional; the sustenance of both is essential for a productive lifestyle. Matteo will help you achieve and excel at your lifestyle goals by establishing and adapting your habits to meet your needs.

Specializing in – Strength and conditioning, weight loss

Delia Duran

Six years of experience working in the hospital setting as a Rehabilitation Associate, assisting rehabilitation professionals with patient care. Delia is certified as a personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). She is currently working on obtaining her Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) certification through NASM. Delia will be starting Physical Therapy school in September 2023 at Rutgers University; wanting to combine knowledge from medical and fitness settings to assist people with overall health and wellness, injury prevention, health management, and optimal training. She is also Zumba certified and Strong Nation by Zumba certified.

Specializing in – Injury prevention, corrective exercise, post-injury rehabilitation

Carli McMorrow

Carli graduated from Kean University in 2015 with a degree in Sports Medicine. She used her degree and became a board-certified Athletic Trainer in 2016. She has been practicing since and is the Head Athletic Trainer for Bloomfield High School.

Being an athlete all her life, she is passionate about safe, functional training and encouraging athletes/clients to work on building their strength session by session. She applies her experience and knowledge to help her clients achieve their personal goals. Growth takes time. She believes in trusting the process and having fun while doing it!

She is very excited to be a part of the family here at the YMCA and to show her clients that they are so much stronger than they think they are!

Dean Kaye

Growing up in East Rutherford, Dean has been involved in fitness since he was 12 years old. As a kid, he played all kinds of sports, loved to lift weights, and was in great shape. In high school, he wrestled and ran track. When he was 22, he decided he wanted to make fitness a career and became a NASM-certified personal trainer and a NASM nutrition coach. He has worked with different clients: young athletes, adults, and older adults. He has experience training people who are brand new to the gym and wants to let them know the gym is not as scary as it may seem. He also has worked with people who are experienced and have corrected their bad techniques. His specialty is identifying where his clients are weak and turning it into a strength. Fitness is the reason why he is happy and he is a big believer in fixing your life with exercise. He loves meeting people, building bonds with his clients, and explaining the science of training and nutrition to every one of my clients.

Specializes in: Strength and Conditioning, Weight Loss, and Weight Training.

Brandon Agudelo

Brandon is a NASM certified Personal trainer specializing in HIIT, strength and conditioning, weight training, and combat sports. After 8 years in the military Brandon found his love for health and fitness through combat sports like MMA, Boxing and Muay Thai. With his never give up attitude Brandon will help you tackle all your goals.

Specializes in: HIIT, strength and conditioning, weight training, and combat sports.

Akiko Stojek

Akiko grew up in Japan with dreams of becoming a concert pianist, but a college study abroad program shifted her path—and eventually led her to her true passion: fitness. She earned her CrossFit Level 1 and NSCA-CPT certifications and spent nine years coaching high school students in CrossFit and strength training while working as a school secretary.

When the pandemic put group workouts on pause, Akiko turned her focus to Olympic Weightlifting. She competed for the first time at age 56, earned her USA Weightlifting Coaching Certificate Level 1 in 2021, and her Level 2 in 2024. Today, she continues to compete as a Master Olympic Weightlifter and is a dedicated coach and lifelong student of strength.

“It’s not the weight that impresses me — it’s the precision, control, and efficiency behind the lift.”

Specializes in: Olympic Weightlifting, strength and conditioning, weight loss, mobility

John Caruso

Starting in fitness from a young age, exercise has played an integral role in making John who he is. He started training to get faster and stronger as a way to improve performance in football but quickly realized that the benefits stretched far beyond the field. He continued to pursue his passion of playing football at Gettysburg College for one season, while also graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Business, Organizations, and Management studies. Throughout his life he has engaged in various forms of training styles ranging from strength workouts to endurance training geared towards athletics. Today, he takes a less nuanced approach to training focusing on a regimen that keeps him fit, and functional. He believes we are supposed to stay active even into old age. With a NASM personal training certification, he is eager to give back to the community and serve others to get them the results they want inside and outside of the gym!

Specializes in: Strength Training and Athletic Performance

Adam Ahmed

Adam’s passion for fitness began early, training at the Meadowlands YMCA from the moment it opened. Throughout middle and high school, he dedicated himself to soccer before transitioning into weight training, where he discovered his true calling. Adam is currently pursuing a degree in Business Management, combining his academic discipline with his athletic background to further help his clients.

His hands-on experience coaching youth soccer at Clifton Stallions shows his ability to teach, motivate, and connect with younger athletes — skills that also translate into his fitness coaching.

Adam earned his certification through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), equipping him with the expertise to help clients reach their goals while promoting long-term health and lifestyle improvements. What truly sets him apart, is his outgoing and approachable personality; his natural ability to connect with people creates an environment where clients feel both motivated and comfortable, making their fitness journey not only effective but also enjoyable.

Specializing in: Strength and Conditioning, Weight Loss, Bodybuilding, Weight Training

Che Paul

Che is a NASM-certified personal trainer specializing in strength training and disciplined, results-driven coaching. His philosophy can be summed up with the quote “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” His service in the U.S. Air Force Reserves has developed the resilience and dedication that he brings to every session, helping clients build both physical and mental strength that is enduring.

Brian Linton

Brian is an NASM Certified Personal Trainer who believes fitness is about more than just lifting—it’s about effective coaching and purposeful challenge. Drawing from his competitive background in track & field (hurdles) and his experience as a step team choreographer, Brian knows exactly how to motivate, instruct, and build tailored programs that push limits.

His training philosophy has evolved from bodybuilding to a holistic, functional approach incorporating dynamic compound movements and targeted strength work. This method fits your busy life and delivers real, transferable benefits.

Brian provides the expert coaching and outside perspective you need to reach your peak. Bring your consistency and effort, and expect to have fun learning and improving along the way. Let’s go!

Specializing in: Bodybuilding, Strength Training, Athletic Performance

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