2018 Greatmats National Fitness Trainer of the Year

Vote for the fitness trainer you think should be named the 2018 Greatmats National Fitness Trainer of the Year!

Voting runs Nov. 15-29, 2018

ARC Fitness

Andrea Metcalf

Brad Kolowich Jr Personal Training

CrossFit740

DB Athletes

Dogpound

Form Fitness

Jenna Willis Fitness

Muscle by Maria

Penn State University

Primrose Retirement Community

Seduce the Weight
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ARC Fitness

10-25-18

Indianapolis, IN

I love to see people empowering others. That's why I'm nominating Adam Cayce of Arc Fitness. Adam has served as a spark to turn people's lives around. He even recently helped Rachael Heffner transform herself from a 300-pound negative person with darkness all around her into a 130-pound inspiration with a proud, glowing smile and unbreakable confidence -- and a 2018 Indiana state bodybuilding champion. I hope to see Adam continue to empower others to prove to themselves that they deserve happiness and are capable of putting in the work to achieve it.
432 Votes
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Andrea Metcalf

Oct. 16, 2018

Chicago, IL

Andrea Metcalf must have been born to inspire. As a best-selling author, fitness video choreographer and trainer, Andrea has dedicated 30 years to the fitness industry and it shows. She doesn't allow excuses to be crutches that get in the way of weight loss and a healthier you. Truly an inspired and inspiring woman. That's why she's been featured everywhere from NBC Today to Steve Harvey and even Oprah.com. Andrea is currently on the Board of P.A.V.E., an organization dedicated to ending sexual violence, and volunteers with Roosevelt University teaching yoga to its basketball teams.
2 Votes
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Brad Kolowich Jr Personal Training

10/19/18

Atlanta, Georgia

Jonathan Kolowich is an inspiring Fitness Trainer. This man can demonstrate superhuman-type feats all while managing type 1 diabetes and uses his skills and motivation to let other diabetics know that it's ok to dream big and work for those dreams. Dedicated to raising money for juvenile diabetes research, each year, Kolowich challenges himself with a new physical goal, constantly proving you can do and learn something new that can better your health no matter what "limitations" you may have.
225 Votes
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CrossFit740

10-25-18

Lancaster, Ohio

You know the expression about someone who would give you the shirt off their back. Well, in September, CrossFit740 trainer Dustin Lansing literally gave a homeless man the shoes off his feet without thinking twice. Actually, maybe he did think twice. The second thought caused him to grab a second par of shoes for the man. Now that's something and someone special!
3 Votes
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DB Athletes

10/16/18

Pueblo, CO

I'm nominating Dustin Boothe of DB athletes for spreading the message of positivity in my beloved city of Pueblo, CO. It's always nice to see person using their skills and knowledge to better their hometown. I love how his training methods aren't just about working out harder but smarter - with proper nutrition. To top it off, the motivational messages he shares on his apparel are the first step to improving the negative mindset that seems to be spreading across the nation!
1 Vote
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Dogpound

10/9/18

New York, NY

I nominate Kirk Myers of Dogpound. Kirk lives the life he preaches, having overcome a high school weight problem and using fitness to battle congestive heart failure. Now Kirk has become one of the most admired personal trainers in NYC - often becoming the trainer of choice for A-listers that include supermodels, ballerinas and actors - due to his focus on the individual without lots of fancy equipment.
1 Vote
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Form Fitness

10/15/18

Brooklyn, NY

There are few people making a bigger effort to ensure people have a safe space to workout than Morit Summers. Summers had the courage to quit her job an an upscale gym and start training people out of her apartment until she could open her own private personal training studio on Brooklyn Heights where people can work out free of judgement. Thank you Morit!
1 Vote
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Jenna Willis Fitness

9/5/18

Los Angeles, CA

I'd like to nominate Jenna Willis for helping model/actress Lala Kent bring peace to her life through exercise as she has done in her own life. As a fellow small athlete if love seeing that she doesn't let her size get in the way of big goals. Afterall, how many 5'3" girls have gotten to play Division 1 volleyball? She takes the work out of workout by coming up with fun ways to exercise. Congrats Jenna and keep up the good work...out!?!
5 Votes
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Muscle by Maria

10-23-2018

Philadelphia, PA

I'm so happy to have come across this award because I want to say thank you to Maria Pro for taking the time to work with middle schoolers in Philadelphia, teaching them the importance of fitness. All too often the focus on fitness falls on those who are older who are either already athletes or need to change a lifetime of bad habits. By working with this middle schoolers, she his helping them form good habits at a young ages so they will have a strong foundation for healthy life skills!
382 Votes
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Penn State University

10-25-18

University Park, PA

As a Nittany Lion fan, I'm thrilled to see the bond the football players have with strength coach Dwight Galt. Coach James Franklin has described his as "the best strength coach in college football" and I tend to agree with him. He's not intimidated by lofty goals. He attacks them, just like he expects his players to do. There's a lot to be said about leading by example. He's gained the respect of fellow coaches and player who believe in him and the results speak for themselves.
1 Vote
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Primrose Retirement Community

10-31-18

Kokomo, IN

I'm definitely nominating Bob Abresch of Primrose Retirement Community of Kokomo, Indiana. At age 68, Bob understands the need to keep people moving - no matter what their age. Working with senior citizens he focus on keeping full range of motion in joints - something he knows a little about after working nearly 40 years as a certified occupational therapy assistant. Bob and a physical therapist designed the program used an Primrose to use as few exercises as possible to reach all muscles and joints in the body. He doesn't pressure his participants, allowing them to progress at their own pace. Bob understands his clients, their needs and what it takes to keep them wanting to stay active. That's what makes Bob so special.
2 Votes
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Seduce the Weight

10-16-2018

Indianapolis, IN

I'm happy to nominate Terraca Bobo of Seduce the Weight Fitness Center. Disturbed by a the shooting of an 18-year-old not far from her house, Terraca stepped up to organize a Stop the Violence Community Field Day in Indianapolis designed to empower women and unite the city's youth, emphasizing the importance of neighbors and community. Terraca recruited the help of fellow personal trainers Kelsey Taylor and Ahmad Rashad to run the event. Kudos to these three special people. They are leaders we could all learn a lot from.
5 Votes

Want to honor a fitness trainer for his/her outstanding achievements, unique style, humanitarian efforts, etc.? Then nominate him/her for the National Fitness Trainer of the Year Award, sponsored by Greatmats. The award, part of Greatmats National Award Series, is designed to recognize Fitness trainers and coaches who have made a difference in the lives of their clients and community through the virtues of service, integrity and quality.

Learn more about Greatmats National Award Series.

How to Nominate

To nominate the trainer for this award, visit the Contest Page or email the following information to brett@greatmats.com before Nov. 1, 2018. Nominators will not be identified.

  1. Trainer/Coach's Name
  2. Name and location of the training facility (Must be located in the USA)
  3. A brief description of why you are nominating this trainer, including how he/she meets the criteria of high-level service, integrity and quality
  4. A photo and/or video of the trainer

How the winner is chosen:

  1. Voting will take place on the Contest Page from Nov. 15 through Nov. 29, 2018. The two personal trainers or fitness coaches with the most votes will be named finalists.
  2. Greatmats will judge the two finalists to determine the winner based on:
    1. Demonstration of Service
    2. Demonstration of Integrity
    3. Demonstration of Quality

Grand Prize

  1. $250 in Greatmats Products (or $150 Cash Option) for the training facility
  2. Trainer/training facility profile to be released with the announcement of the winner on Dec. 14, 2018.
  3. National Personal Trainer of the Year Certificate

Nearly 3,000 votes were cast in the first two years of the contest, which is part of the 4th annual Greatmats National Award Series. The Greatmats National Award Series is designed to recognized instructors, trainers and coaches who have made a positive difference in their communities and the lives of their students.

Voting Instructions:

Visit the Contest Page during the voting period to vote for this year's National Personal Trainer of the Year. Click the vote button next to the photo of the Personal Trainer you'd like to win. Feel free to share a photo or the gallery ballot with friends and family and encourage them to vote. The two personal trainers with the most votes will be named finalists. From that point, Greatmats will choose the winner (scroll down to see prizes) based on demonstration of service, integrity and quality.

Greatmats is a gym and weight room flooring leader based in Milltown, Wisconsin, since 1999. Identified as one of the top 3,000 fastest growing companies in the USA three times since 2008, Greatmats gives back to its local community by donating 5% of its annual profits to local non-profit organizations. It also supports green initiatives through the use of solar energy at its Wisconsin headquarters and by offering a large variety of products made from recycled and renewable resources.

View all of Greatmats' rubber gym flooring options.

All media submissions, including text, photos and videos become property of Greatmats.

Read about previous winners of the award:

2015 National Aerobics Instructor of the Year Jeanette Raichle

2017 National Personal Trainer of the Year