Meet the Trainers

After 10 years of participation in the Monroe County YMCA Endurance Training Group, Angela became a coach for the program in 2022. She has trained for and participated in numerous marathons, half-marathons, and triathlons, including the Boston Marathon and two Ironman races. These events have taught her that patience is key to achieving goals. Angela is currently working with the Healthy Hearts & Active Lives and Building Better Balance programs in addition to coaching for the Endurance program. Through these Y programs, she has gained experience working with adults of all ages, especially active aging adults.

Angelo has lived in Bloomington since 2015. He works in education and coaches high school football. When Angelo is not working with kids, coaching football, or helping people with their health and fitness goals, he enjoys reading, working out, or spending time with his wife, pets, and Jesus. His passion is to assist people in finding a deeper connection with their physical health, no matter the goal.

Ashley graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor's degree in kinesiology and exercise science. Upon completion of her degree, Ashley received her ACE Personal Trainer certification. She has a background as a rehabilitation aide in a physical therapy clinic focusing on injury prevention, programming strength and conditioning training for athletes, and working with seniors to improve balance and function. Additionally, Ashley enjoys painting, attempting to cook new recipes, and enjoying game nights with her family and friends.

Ben is a NASM-certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach with a Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology. He brings a unique perspective to fitness, combining his academic background and experience as a lecturer at Indiana University’s Kelley School of  Business with a passion for movement and well-being. He is a member of Team Indiana at the Transplant Games of America and has a background in weightlifting, cycling, rowing, and long-distance hiking, including a month backpacking in Alaska. His approach to personal training is all about empowerment. He sees himself as a coach and partner in your journey, helping you build strength, confidence, and sustainable habits. Ben believes fitness isn’t just about working out—it’s about nutrition, mental health, social connection, and giving back to your community.

Outside of the gym, Ben enjoys spending time with his family and pets, hiking Indiana’s beautiful state parks, watching Formula 1 and IndyCar racing, reading sci-fi and history books, and volunteering with nonprofits in the Bloomington area.

Brant has a Bachelor's degree in recreation from Indiana University and is an ACSM-certified Personal Trainer. He has nearly two decades of coaching experience of all levels, from three-year-olds to seventy-year-olds. Brant’s training also ranges from general conditioning to peak athletic fitness.

Brant specializes in endurance sports, for which he has worked with athletes from all over the United States and in five different countries. He is also knowledgeable in other areas of fitness. Brant understands that everyone comes from different backgrounds, and we all have different obstacles to overcome. He will challenge you to be your best, but he will primarily be there to support you through every step of your fitness journey.

Chiara is an NASM-certified personal trainer and a certified Mind Pump Elite Trainer. She is passionate about health and physical activity, and she enjoys working with YMCA members to support their fitness goals. Her specialty is training people who want to refresh their routine or are just getting started in strength training. She helps clients build confidence while adding muscle and improving balance and mobility. Chiara’s mission is to be a positive force, inspiring others to live expansively and increase health span. It is never too late to start moving to experience the incredible benefits of exercise. Chiara’s mission is to “help people get stronger, one workout at a time.

Chris is a Certified Personal Trainer from Louisville, KY, and has been in Bloomington since 2019. He enjoys helping people become their healthiest and strongest self through weight training and cardio, and he also enjoys incorporating calisthenics and various mind body practices, including yoga, in his training regimens. When he’s not in the gym, you can find Chris outdoors on an adventure, or if indoors, listening to international music and reading up on natural sciences. 

Chris is an ACE-certified Personal Trainer and an ACE-certified Weight Loss Specialist who believes fitness starts with taking that first step towards a healthier lifestyle, and that improving your health and wellness leads to a more positive outlook on life. Having been with the YMCA for nearly 20 years, Chris has worked with a wide variety of individuals through different programs including Cardiac Rehab, W.I.S.E., and Y-Fitness for Life. Her goal is to provide functional and effective exercises by determining the needs of the individual and teaching specific exercises that will benefit her clients the most.

Connor was born and raised in Bloomington and has no intention of leaving. He is a certified Personal Trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association and is an Indiana University graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in health and wellness. Connor believes that progression is unique to every individual; never is it linear. He always strives to elevate everyone around him and wants to positively impact as many people as he can. Connor's philosophy is if he can positively change even one life, then he has by all accounts succeeded. When he's not helping others with their health journey, you can find Connor cooking, baking, painting, and playing tabletop games.

Cooper is pursuing a degree at Indiana University, where he studies fitness and wellness, hospitality and tourism, and entrepreneurship. Through his personal time in the gym and his studies, he has learned how to design programs, train clients, and cater exercise based on each client’s unique anatomy and biomechanics, goals, and preferences. 

Cooper's goal is to make working out fun because "if something is fun, people will do it more." He understands the gym can be a vulnerable and daunting place for some, which is why he approaches his clients in a friendly, encouraging manner. His mission is to help clients make exercise and wellness a central part of life so they can be happy, healthy, and live life to the fullest for as long as possible.

Debbie has a Bachelor's degree in exercise science, is an ACE-certified Personal Trainer and Group Ex Instructor, and an ACSM-certified Health Fitness Specialist. Debbie’s strengths as a trainer are in her many years of experience and her ability to make a client feel at ease in the gym. She enjoys helping her clients reach their fitness goals, as well as the challenge of reducing the fear that clients associate with free weights and/or working out in the free weight room.

Erin is an ACE-certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor, and she holds an elementary education degree from Indiana University. Teaching and learning have always been part of her life, whether in the classroom, in motherhood, or in fitness settings. She enjoys helping others learn ways to incorporate fitness into their busy lives and keeping things fun, sustainable, and challenging all at the same time. Aside from working with personal training clients and teaching group fitness classes, Erin enjoys time with family and friends, strength training, travel, live music, reading, chocolate, and coffee.

Jackson is an NASM-certified Personal Trainer who has lived in Bloomington his entire life. He believes training should be both enjoyable and rewarding, ensuring you’re not only satisfied with your results but also with your overall health and well-being. Jackson enjoys staying active any way he can, watching sports (especially the Chicago Bears), listening to music, building Legos, and aiding others in with their health and wellness goals. He's dedicated to making fitness a positive, sustainable part of his and others' lives!

Jeanette is a NASM-certified personal trainer who is deeply passionate about physical fitness, both for herself and her clients. Running, strength-training, and embracing new challenges are integral to her lifestyle, and she has completed multiple marathons and other fitness challenges, continually pushing herself to achieve ambitious goals. Although she hasn’t always worked in the fitness industry, Jeanette has always been dedicated to building strong relationships, exceeding expectations, and creating moments of joy. As a personal trainer, she prioritizes fostering a supportive, goal-driven environment that empowers clients to make meaningful progress. Jeanette’s mission is to help others realize their full potential and experience the growth and fulfillment that has shaped her own fitness journey.

Kristy is a jack of all trades when it comes to fitness. She's an ACE-certified Personal Trainer and Group Ex Instructor certified in TRX, Schwinn Indoor Cycling, BOSU, and Dragon Door Kettlebell. Additionally, Kristy is certified in Precision Nutrition, and she's an Orthopedic Specialist. She enjoys working with clients of all fitness levels and abilities and has worked several years as a Group Ex Instructor for a variety of Y classes.

Kristy’s trainer philosophy: “I have learned through my group exercise experience that each individual has their own path to reach their goals. I believe in working with my clients to help them achieve their goals in way that works for them.”

Laura is a graduate of Purdue University with two Bachelor’s degrees in movement & sport sciences and psychology. She is an ACSM-certified personal trainer, certified Sport Yoga instructor, and certified Spencer Pilates instructor through the National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association. She is also a Golf Conditioning Specialist, TRX- and RIP-certified trainer, FitStrike Kickboxing/MMA Fitness instructor, JrFit Youth Fitness Specialist, Paddle Into Fitness-certified stand-up paddleboard fitness instructor, and Yoga instructor. Laura has over 21 years of experience in the field from clinical hospital settings to outdoor adventure and marathon competitions.

Laura is keen to be your partner to help give you the extra push you can’t seem to give yourself. Her mission is to develop a customized workout plan to help you feel at home in your body. 

Shellie is a certified instructor for a variety of Group Ex classes on both land and in water. She has a special interest in helping others achieve their fitness goals, whatever they may be.

Shellie’s personal fitness philosophy: “Improving health and fitness is for everyone and should be enjoyable. Age and current fitness level doesn’t matter... It’s the commitment to start that matters.” In her free time, Shellie enjoys running and participating in triathlons.

Wade has a degree in exercise science and kinesiology and is an ACSM-certified Personal Trainer. His mission is to not only help my clients through exercise but to guide them towards reaching their overall health and fitness goals. His training philosophy includes maintaining a positive atmosphere for the clients, finding a style of coaching that connects with clients, and making sure that a client’s safety during exercise is the number one priority. Wade has several years of experience, including his kinesiology and exercise science schooling, leading group exercise classes, performing consultations and exercise assessments, creating personalized fitness programs, and training a broad variety of clientele to achieve their health and fitness goals. Outside of personal training, he loves spending time with his fiancé, exercising, cooking, playing video games, and exploring nature.

Walter is an ACE-certified Personal Trainer with a degree in exercise science. His strengths as a trainer include his experience working with active aging adults and the many years of experience he has as a YMCA Personal Trainer. Walter believes working with a trainer should be fun and uplifting; it should leave you with a sense of accomplishment. He also believes in “starting low and going slow” while getting a client to push themselves further than ever before.