American Council on Exercise Reveals 2006 Achievement 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.

"Winning this award is an incredible honor," said Jonathan Ross, 2006 ACE Personal Trainer of the Year. "Fitness is about doing what you like and feeling great while doing it; I am only successful because my clients are successful."

Ross is owner of AION Fitness and is personal training director at Sport Fit Total Fitness Clubs in Bowie, MD. He is an ACE and National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) certified personal trainer, in addition he holds an Integrated Flexibility Specialist certification with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

"Be the change is my motto," said Shannon Griffiths-Fable, ACE 2006 Group Fitness Instructor of the Year. "I am passionate about education and this award allows me to continue to spread that message."

Shannon Griffiths-Fable, founder and CEO of Sunshine Fitness Resources, is an international presenter and Master Trainer for several well known companies including Nautilus Health & Fitness Group, BodyBar, BOSU, and ACE. Additionally, Griffiths-Fable consults for CorePole, Urban Rebounding, Balletone and Exel Sports/Nordic Walking on educational products and programming and conducts continuing education workshops all over the world.

"Seeing people learn is so motivating for me as a professor and fitness educator; the people I teach are who inspire me," said Dr. Len Kravitz, ACE 2006 Fitness Educator of the Year.

Len Kravitz, PhD, is Associate Professor of Exercise Science at the University of New Mexico.  He has taught university level courses and has directed numerous research projects, including:  "Development of a Submaximal Test to Predict Elliptical Cross-trainer VO2max," "Physiological Responses to Lower Body and Combine Upper and Lower Body Exercise" and "The Physiological Benefits of Aquatic Exercise." Dr. Kravitz lectures nationally and internationally on many topics related to exercise, fitness and nutrition. He is an accomplished writer and has been published in a variety of health and fitness journals.

Runners up in each category were also recognized at the event.

Personal Trainer of the Year

First Runner-Up -- Lisa Coors, Mercy Health Plex, Cincinnati, Ohio

Second Runner-Up -- Wendy Williamson, Genesis Health Club, Wichita, Kansas

Group Fitness Educator of the Year

First Runner-Up -- Lisa Druxman, CEO & Founder, Stroller Strides, San Marcos, CA

Second 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, WA

Second Runner-Up -- Peg Hamlett, Fitness Director, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho

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 logon to the ACE website at www.acefitness.org.