There are hundreds of personal training certifications out there and more coming out all of the time. All of these are about how to create programs for clients. Most are general. Some of these programs are more targeted, such as training for special populations or nutrition. What doesn’t exist (until now) is a program to help fitness professionals actually build their business and advance their career. This is our purpose and it is what becoming a Fitness Business Specialist can do for you.
Our Exam Development Committee/Advisory Board is made up of some of the top professionals in our industry. We are excited to have this team together to provide you with a credential that can help you build your business and your career right from the start.
Roger W. Earle, MA, CSCS,D, NSCA-CPT,D, RSCC,*D, has over 35 years of experience as a personal fitness trainer. Currently, Earle is a senior acquisitions editor at Human Kinetics where he acquires and develops products related to strength training and conditioning and personal training. Earle is a coauthor, coeditor, or contributor for 10 fitness books, and he was previously the associate executive director and the director of exam development for the NSCA Certification Commission. Before working at the NSCA, Earle served as the director of strength and conditioning and a faculty member in the exercise science and athletic training dept. at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Earle competes in obstacle course racing and has twenty-four top 5 placings in his open age group and has qualified for the OCR World Championships each year since 2015.
Chad Landers is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a BS in Kinesiology. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and in 2018 was named their “Personal Trainer of the Year”. He also has a Graduate Diploma in Sports Nutrition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Chad has been a personal trainer in Los Angeles for 27 years, and has owned his own gym, Push Private Fitness, for 17 years. He is co-owner of FitProFinancial.com, an educational site dedicated to improving the financial lives of fitness professionals and coaches. He can be followed on both Twitter and Instagram at @ChadLanders and @FitProFinancial
Mark A Nutting, CSCS*D, NSCA-CPT*D, RCPT*E, ACSM HFD, ACSM CEP, Owner of Jiva Fitness in Easton, PA. Mark is the founder of the Fitness Business Specialist, author of The Business of Personal Training book (Human Kinetics 2018), PFP 2016 Trainer of the Year Legacy Award, NSCA 2009 Personal Trainer of the Year, NSCA Recognized Certified Personal Trainer Emeritus, holds 12 certifications in the field, has been in personal training and health club management since 1980, and has been educating and coaching personal trainers for almost as many years. Mark is a leading business coach for personal trainers and club managers.
Melody Schoenfeld, MA, CSCS, 2019 NSCA Personal Trainer of the Year, has well over 25 years of personal training experience. She is the owner of Flawless Fitness in Pasadena, CA. Melody holds a master’s degree in Health Psychology. She has held state and American records in all three lifts in powerlifting, has competed in strongman events, and performs old-time strongman feats of strength. Melody has been published in the Strength and Conditioning Journal, and is the author of Pleasure Not Meating You, A Science-Based Approach to the Vegan Lifestyle (And Some Recipes, Too) and Diet Lies and Weight Loss Truths.
Torrey Smith, MA, CSCS, CSPS, NSCA-CPT, TSAC-F, ACSM-EP, received his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his Master’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Torrey began his career in certification services in 2002 and served in a leadership capacity for the National Strength and Conditioning Association for nearly 15 years. He currently serves as a Global Director of Certificate Assessments for an organization in the healthcare certification sector.
Rocky Snyder has been a NSCA CSCS since 1993. He is a nationally recognized expert in human movement with nearly 30 years of professional experience and knowledge. Rocky has sat on numerous advisory boards for the NSCA. He’s trained thousands of clients ranging from grandparents to professional athletes and Olympic champions. Aside from owning and operating his training studio in Santa Cruz, California, Rocky provides educational workshops to personal trainers, manual therapists, chiropractors, and physical therapists. He also hosts two podcasts: The Rock Fit Files and The Zelos podcast, and the author of four books on strength & conditioning.
Lindsay Vastola, NSCA-CPT is the founder of the Fitness Leadership Exchange, a career development company for success-driven fitness professionals. Lindsay is also the founder of Body Project and served as the editor-in-chief of Personal Fitness Professional (PFP) magazine from 2011-2019. She serves on several fitness industry advisory boards and is a speaker and educator across industries. www.LindsayVastola.com.
Chat Williams, Chat has been in the strength and conditioning profession for over 20 years. He has a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in Exercise Science and several certifications through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He has served on several professional committees and the NSCA Board of Directors. He has presented locally and nationally on youth fitness/strength and conditioning, plus has over 25 publications related to the strength and conditioning profession. He was a NSCA State Director of the Year in 2004, NSCA Personal Trainer of the Year in 2012, and earned NSCA Fellow status in 2013.