American Council On Exercise Names 2006 Award Winners

The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America’s Authority on Fitness, recently announced the winners of its 2006 Achievement Awards at the ACE International Fitness Symposium in Las Vegas, NV. Awards were presented for Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor and Fitness Educator of the Year to publicly recognize the important contributions these outstanding professionals have made to the fitness industry.

Top honors were awarded to Jonathan Ross, Personal Trainer of the Year; Shannon Griffiths-Fable, Group Fitness Instructor of the Year; and Len Kravitz, Ph.D. Fitness Educator of the Year. Each winner receives a $2,500 scholarship toward continuing education in health and fitness or a related field, a library of ACE publications and the opportunity to represent ACE as a spokesperson.

Hey, I only got a measly $2000. Inflation, I guess.

Here are the runners-up:

Personal Trainer of the Year
First Runner-Up – Lisa Coors, Mercy Health Plex, Cincinnati, OhioSecond Runner-Up – Wendy Williamson, Genesis Health Club, Wichita, Kansas

I’m sure it’s no coincidence personal training consultant and old mentor of mine, Bob Esquerre, recently assisted both of these health clubs.

Group Fitness Educator of the YearFirst Runner-Up – Lisa Druxman, CEO & Founder, Stroller Strides, San Marcos, CASecond Runner-Up – Fred Hoffman, Fitness & Lifestyle Director, Buddha Bar Spa, Paris, France

Fitness Educator of the Year
First Runner-Up – Alex and Sherri McMillan, Northwest Personal Training and Fitness Education, Vancouver, WASecond Runner-Up – Peg Hamlett, Fitness Director, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho

Okay, here’s the part ACE makes me publish: (One day I’ll tell you why I’m currently persona non grata at ACE. If you look through their or at their ads, you’ll notice I’m the only ACE award winner never mentioned or pictured. Hmm.)

The ACE Achievement Awards were created in 1999. ACE honors fitness professionals who have excelled in the areas of client development, training techniques, successful marketing and revenue generation. Winners are recognized leaders and experts in their respective fields; they evolve with the industry and continue to create and provide innovative programs and services that work for a diverse array of clients and students.

About ACE
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting active, healthy lifestyles and their positive effects on the mind, body and spirit. ACE pledges to enable all segments of society to enjoy the benefits of physical activity and to protect the public against unqualified fitness professionals and unsafe or ineffective fitness products, programs and trends. ACE accomplishes this mission by setting certification and continuing education standards for fitness instructors and through ongoing public education regarding scientifically sound health and fitness practices. For more information on ACE and its programs, call (800) 825-3636 or log onto the ACE Web site at http://www.acefitness.org.