Client Success Stories

“Pamela has been changing lives since becoming a W.I.T.S. Accredited Personal Trainer. Hear in her own words why you need more than book knowledge to guide lifestyle changes for real results with clients.”

— Pamela Sanchez

Certified Personal Trainer & Career Health Influencer

“My name is Kimberly Gagne . I grew up in Plymouth Ma. .I live in Maine  now for more than 20  years.  I enjoy Mountain biking, winter sports, and hiking. I took my first W.I.T.S class in 2011 for Personal Training. I have been happy working successfully as a personal trainer since. I have continued my education with W.IT.S To become a Master Trainer. They say if  love what you do you never work again. I am passionate when it comes to helping people improve their quality of life. Personal training is the most gratifying thing  I've done.  I'm blessed to be able to work and coach full-time.  Thank You to W.I.T.S my continuing education and Making it possible for me to Help others and enjoy the life I have.”

— Kimberly Gagne

Maine

“I wanted to become a personal trainer and tried a few programs, including a major online-only certification. It offered no real interaction and no way to learn the hands-on skills I knew I needed. Finding WITS changed everything. I loved the live online classes, being able to ask questions, and building real connections with instructors. That personal guidance made all the difference. After completing the program, I was hired by the YMCA of High Point and immediately started training clients. I now have multiple clients, new opportunities, and even an invitation to interview as a football coach. WITS opened doors faster than I ever expected. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to start a real career in personal training.”

— Adam Draime

Alumni Career Story CPT Fall 2024

“I graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Telecommunications in the 1980's, shortly before getting married and starting my family. Being an avid exerciser, I eventually found my way to teaching group fitness at a local community center in the early 90's. I earned my personal training certification from WITS in 2005. Many of my clients had underlying issues and I felt that I wanted to be better equipped to handle an extensive variety of orthopedic issues. This was before WITS offered the medical fitness certification that they do now. So I returned to college in 2010 to get a degree as a physical therapist assistant, graduating in 2011. While at my first job I was surprised to learn that I was now working alongside my WITS practical examiner! Such a small world. I took a break from teaching exercise and personal training while I was employed as a PTA and raising my family of three. The first clinic I worked at offered training in LSVT BIG for parkinson's patients so I became certified in that in 2012. I also trained with the Upledger Institute as a craniosacral therapist. At my second clinic, a physical therapist I was working with asked me to become a certified rehab pilates instructor, so I became certified in STOTT pilates in 2014.”

— Diane Ryda

PDC Award

“Mother of a 9-year-old daughter and wife of 14 years, my husband and I spent the last 16 years building and managing an accounting firm. While I enjoyed that challenge, the lack of movement associated with 12 hours/day in front of the computer wore on me and I began transitioning to working in the health and fitness industry about 4-5 years ago. I've been physically active and in sports and strength training my whole life but had never pictured myself in the coaching role. Fortunately, my mom has been a trainer most of her life and took the brave leap to open her own studio about 14 years ago. Shortly thereafter she began encouraging me to join her. I came on as her first employee a couple of years ago and have loved it ever since. I received my PT certification from WITS in 2022 as well as the WITS Health Coach certification. I also added a certification in Nutrition Coaching from the Nutritional Coaching Institute. But my first certification was actually in 2020 - a kids yoga program called Kidding Around Yoga. This was then followed up with a completely different certification - in TRX suspension training. Currently, I'm trying to help build programs and add value for our clients through continued education and working on my coaching skills. I can't learn enough, quick enough.”

— Jessica Giardina

PDC Award

“BORN AND RAISED IN PITTSBURGH, PA, WEIGHING IN AT 16~ LBS, OF iEAN MUSCLE, AT i7 YEARS OLD, JAKE KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET YOUR BODY INTO THE BEST SHAPE IMAGINABLEi AFTER YEARS OF ACTING AND MODELING, HE KNOWS ONLY THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF F11NE~S. HE RECEIVED AH HIS C~RTIFICATIONS FROM W.l,1,S, JAKE IS A GOALIE IN DEK HOCKEY AND PLAYS ULTIMATE FRISBEE, ALONG WITH HANGING OUT WirH HIS NIECES, WHICH ARE HIS BEST FRIENDS. HE IS ALSO A HUGE FAN OF THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS, JAKE BELIEVES WORKING OUT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE SAME OLD BORING ROUTINE. HE CURRENTLY IS WORKING ALONGSIDE A DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC IN A PRIVATE GYM SETTING. HE IS ALSO CURRENTiY CHASING HIS DREAMS OF BECOMING A FUU TIME ACrDR, BECOMING A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER, WINNING A KIDS CHOICE AWARD, AND EVENTUALLY OPENING UP HI~ OWN GYM,”

— Jake Paskorz

Master Personal Trainer

“All my life I have loved being active, starting with ice-skating at age 3 and have been in perpetual motion ever since. I have been running for over 50 years, competed in triathlons, many races both road and trail covering all sorts of distances.  I also lift, swim regularly and play golf when I can. My undergraduate degree is from The University of Texas @ Austin and postgraduate work at was done at Texas State. My postgraduate work was in Athletic Training (sports related injury prevention and management). Teaching junior high physical education was my segue into working with people one on one. I am certified through WITS in 2014 and started my own personal training business, Faith 2 Balanced Fitness LLC (dba f2bfitness). My areas of specialty are older active adults, peri and post -menopausal women and working with Alzheimer’s clients. After going through menopause early and observing women in their 40’s and on up – seeming to be somewhat “lost”  regarding how to stay strong, improve fitness and maintain strength and independence, I decided that it was time to make a difference one by one. Fitness is possible for those who are not athletes and it does not have to be all or nothing, it can be all or something. I love working with and inspiring women to be as strong and functionally independent as possible.”

— Faith Brader Olson

Faith 2Balanced Fitness LLC - Driftwood, TX