About Me
I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and am currently residing in the Northwest Indiana area. I am married to my best friend Rachel, and have an extensive resume having previously worked as a Team Wilson prep coach, online content writer, adjunct professor, exercise specialist, wellness administrator, fitness center manager, strength and conditioning coach, powerlifter, IFPA professional bodybuilder, and even as a previously sponsored athlete through Finaflex, Nutrishop Schererville and as an Olympus Labs affiliate. I have a strong passion for the fitness and health lifestyle and bring my own personal experiences and acquired knowledge to help deliver individualized consultations in both training and nutrition to help my clients attain their own fitness and health goals in the most efficient and healthy way possible. My Journey I grew up as the youngest of 5 children in a blue collar family from Chicago. My brothers and sisters and I are first generation citizens in our family. We are also first generation to go to college in our family, thus my mother and father sacrificed much to make sure that we worked extremely hard to come out ahead in life and to succeed. My story in bodybuilding is not much unlike many others. As a youth I was overweight, not due to a sedentary lifestyle but more so related to my individual diet. My parents, my mother in particular, always ensured we had nutritious foods and healthy choices around our home, so I guess you could say I was a “clean eater” the majority of my life; I simply partook in eating an excess of these foods. My excessive weight gain compounded with my worrisome nature caused me to develop hypertension as a youth and be placed on hypertensive medications. My brother showed extreme concern for me and encouraged me to begin lifting with him. All throughout my youth I can remember trying to emulate my oldest brother who was very much so into fitness and bodybuilding. I remember trying to match him on weight and reps every time we would work out. Around the age of 12 my parents purchased me a home Weider gym and Weider weight bench. Armed with some old rusted cast iron free weight plates, and with a small flimsy weider multi station machine, one barbell, some ddb sleeves and bench, I was on my way. I watched Pumping Iron and purchased Muscle and Fitness, Ironmag, Muscular Development and Flex Magazine along with various other text books trying to assimilate as much of the culture as possible. I trained in my personal gym until I entered my first teen bodybuilding show in which I won the mens open division as teen. Fast forward to now and I am utilizing my extensive knowledge, education and personal experience in fitness to help individuals from all walks of life. I am certified through both the American College of Sports Medicine(ACSM) and National Academy of Sports Medicine(NASM). I also have several other certifications, my bachelors degree in Fitness Management and my Masters in Applied Exercise Science with a Sports Nutrition concentration. I resigned from my most recent position as the Recreation and Wellness Administrator at Purdue University Northwest when my son was born in 2021 but have continued on at part time capacity as an adjunct professor teaching various undgraduate courses ranging from Clinical Physiology to the Practicums in Fitness and Nutrition. I had the distinct honor of working with one of the best prep coaches in the industry, Cliff Wilson, back in 2012 when I won my pro card at which point I was brought on as an official Team Wilson Contest Prep Coach. In 2015 I began my own online business and thus Team Reps LLC was born. I have a strong passion for educating and helping people to reach their goals. My mission is to help individuals achieve their fitness goals in a safe and effective manner, through evidence-based training and nutrition programs tailored to their specific needs and preferences. I am here to provide personalized coaching and support to help my clients reach their full potential, both in and out of the gym, while prioritizing their long-term health and well-being. And I am committed to promoting a healthy and balanced lifestyle for all of my clients, regardless of their age, fitness level, or athletic background. If you have any further questions about me please let me know. I work with a variety of clients from all walks of life including bodybuilding, fitness, figure, physique, crossfit, powerlifting, general population and also provide sports specific training with athletes of various sports.
Credentials and Certifications
Bachelors of Science in Fitness Management from Purdue University - August 2011 Masters of Applied Exercise: Sports Nutrition Concentration from Concordia University Chicago - August 2019 4.0 GPA American College of Sports Medicine - Certified Personal Trainer National Academy of Sports Medicine - Performance Enhancement Specialist National Academy of Sports Medicine - Corrective Exercise Specialist National Academy of Sports Medicine - Fitness and Nutrition Specialist National Academy of Sports Medicine - Behavioral Change Specialist National Academy of Sports Medicine - Weight Loss Specialist Healthways - Silver Sneakers Fitness Instructor - Cardio Circuit Instructor and Muscular Strength and Range of Motion Instructor Total Body Resistance Exercise (TRX) Qualified Instructor CPR/AED Certification - American Heart Association