Presenters
Leading the way, no matter your direction.
Gail Bannister-Munn
Gail Bannister-Munn is the Flexibility Specialist and Core, Yoga, and Pilates Coach for the New York Jets. She owns The Bannister Method Studio in West Babylon, NY, and serves as Regional Group Ex Manager for six Crunch Fitness locations in New York City. Gail consults for professional athletes in the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB and teaches nationally. She holds multiple certifications, including NASM, AFAA, FST L3, Thai Massage, and YogaFit 500+ hours, and is a NASM and AFAA Continuing Education Provider.
Zach Colman
Zach, a recognized sports and athletics expert, built his business to address a troubling workplace trend: prioritizing sales over genuine customer care. Motivated by a desire to foster a community where customers and employees feel valued, Zach shares this mission through his popular YouTube channel, influential LinkedIn presence, TEDx talk, and the #gymbreak podcast, which features interviews with leaders in athletics. His work inspires meaningful change by emphasizing care, connection, and community in every aspect of business.
Brendan Fox
Brendan Fox, with an honors degree in Kinesiology, is the Head of Education for the Exercise Therapy Association, with over 30,000 hours of experience working with Olympic Gold Medalists, pro athletes, celebrities, and CEOs. He spent 14 years as Head Trainer at a medical clinic, helping clients achieve pain-free living. A health expert featured on TV, Brendan has also presented at international fitness conferences and served as Team Canada’s Kinesiologist at the 2006 Torino Olympics. He now trains others to create pain-free clients.
Marisa Hoff, MEd
specializes in helping fitness professionals and businesses achieve growth and long-term success. Formerly the GM of Stevenson Fitness, a boutique health club near Los Angeles, Marisa holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from UCLA. She is also an international presenter, sharing expertise at conferences like HFA, Athletic Business, and SCW MANIA®.
Michael Hughes
Founder of Gymnazo & Gymnazo EDU, holding a degree in Kinesiology, Michael is a Fellow of Applied Functional Science and certified as a Multidimensional Movement Coach, a Functional Manual Reaction Coach, a Female Chain Reaction Coach, a 3D Movement Analysis & Performance System Coach, plus several more. He is also a Precision Nutrition Coach and Post Rehab Conditioning specialist. He's spent the last decade pioneering a more sustainable model of training that blends his heart for restoration with the energy of fitness training. Michael’s mission is to elevate the industry’s standards for what quality looks like as a trainer through scientific knowledge and application.
Sara Kooperman, JD
Sara Kooperman, JD, CEO of SCW Fitness Education, WATERinMOTION®, and S.E.A.T. Fitness , Founder of the MANIA® Convention, sits on the canfitpro Advisory Panel and the Gold’s Gym Think Tank and was a founding board member for the Women In Fitness Association (WIFA). Recently nominated for the IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year Award, Kooperman won the Most Innovating Fitness Pro by FIT-C (Fitness Industry Technology Council). Sara is the best-selling author of FIT FOR BUSINESS, an inductee into the National Fitness Hall of Fame, an Illinois State Businesswoman of the Year, esteemed panelist for multiple Webinars & Podcasts, and sits on the ACSM Communication & Public Information Committee.
Dr. Edward Laskowski, MD
Dr. Edward R. Laskowski, M.D., is former Co-director of Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine and a Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Division of Sports Medicine at Mayo Clinic Rochester. Nationally and internationally recognized for his expertise in fitness and sports medicine, Dr. Laskowski researches and promotes best practices for general fitness, injury prevention, and injury rehabilitation. From 2006 to 2010, he served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under Presidents Bush and Obama, and he has several hundred publication credits, including scientific papers, abstracts, books, book reviews, and book chapters. He also is a trusted fitness and sports medicine resource for major television and print media.
Bill McBride
Bill is a health club industry veteran with over 25 years of experience managing commercial health clubs, medical fitness centers, and corporate fitness sites. He co-founded Active Wellness, LLC and owns BMC3, a health club consultancy. Bill has served as Chairman of IHRSA and President of MACMA. He has also been on the Industry Advisory Board for ACE, the MWA Faculty, and MFN Advisory Boards. Recently, he was recognized as one of the top 25 Consumer HealthTech Executives of 2020.
Kylie Ross, MSM, MBA
Kylie Ross is Owner of VK Professional Services, VRoK Fitness and a Tax Manager with TurboTax. VK Professional Services offers tax planning and preparation, bookkeeping, notary, website design and business consulting. Kylie Ross is a Certified Personal Trainer from SCW, Nutrition Coach and Bariatric Health Expert. She has been in both industries professionally for almost 6 years. She’s a Gastric Bypass recipient of 11 years and works hard to stay healthy and fit now she assists others to prevent obesity-driven conditions via virtual and mobile fitness and nutrition guidance.
Deborah Rothschild, MS, NASM-CPT, ACE-CPT, AFAA-CGFI
Deborah Rothschild, MS, has been a fitness professional since 2003, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to her presentations. Deborah's specializations, such as ACE Senior Fitness Specialist & Brain Health Trainer, NFPT Cancer Recovery Specialist, BHOF BoneFit Instructor, and Parkinson Wellness Recovery PWR!Moves Instructor, highlight her commitment to continuous learning and staying at the forefront of the industry. She is the proud owner of Tough Agers, LLC, a virtual and on-location fitness company dedicated to serving older adults of all fitness levels and capabilities.
Chris Stevenson, CSCS
Chris Stevenson, a globally recognized speaker and former Power Ranger stuntman, has over 20 years of experience owning and operating top-performing health clubs with industry-leading net promoter scores. As founder of The Empower Group, he specializes in leadership, communication, employee engagement, and customer service across industries like fitness and recreation. A published author and active industry contributor, Chris captivates audiences with engaging, actionable presentations that inspire immediate impact.
Ruston Webb, MS, FMS II, TPI-CGFI III
With over 24 years in the fitness industry and a Master’s degree in Human Movement, Ruston Webb is a globally recognized expert in mobility training and pain relief. He co-authored a college-level exercise science curriculum with the American Council on Exercise and successfully owned a gym for 11 years. As the creator of *The Mobility Recipe*, a certification trusted by over 1,600 health and fitness professionals and accredited by NASM, AFAA, and others, Ruston has also developed specialized programs for Knee, Back, Neck, and Shoulder Pain Solutions. His mission is simple: to empower fitness professionals to help their clients move better, feel better, and live pain-free.