AMP Staff

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Meet Mary Tobiason

‘Fitness and athletic achievement transcend into other aspects of life. It makes people happier, more self-confident and healthier! There is nothing more gratifying than the joy on an athlete’s face when we reach the goal—together!’

Education & Certifications

BA University of Iowa in broadcast journalism, communications and sports science

National Federation of Personal Trainers master trainer
National Federation of Personal Trainers sports nutrition
National Federation of Personal Trainers endurance sports
Youth Sports and Fitness
TRX
American Sports and Fitness Association Yoga
American Sports and Fitness Association Triathlon
JG Spinning
Ironman University
American Council on Exercise Group Exercise
USA Cycling
American Red Cross CPR and First Aid

What is your personal philosophy on training and coaching?

My training and coaching philosophy is focused on creating a holistic thumbprint plan for each individual. Our lives, bodies, strengths, weaknesses, mindsets, availability, and fitness levels vary greatly; so should the approach to coaching! I get to know my clients extremely well. Their goals are my goals—we work together to make them a reality.

Why did you become a coach and trainer?

I obtained my first training certification while in college; I loved the empowering feeling of taking control of my health and fitness when there were so many other things in my life I could not control. I wanted to share this gift with others. Fitness and athletic achievement transcend into other aspects of life. It makes people happier, more self-confident and healthier! There is nothing more gratifying than the joy on an athlete’s face when we reach the goal—together!

What makes you the most motivated when working with clients?

When I hear my clients’ goals and their “WHY.” I love the challenge of finding the perfect path to make fitness and athletic dreams come true. The collaboration, search and discovery, and the science fair project that is an individual’s journey make this an incredible ride!

Why are science, compassion and experience important in how you work with athletes and clients?

Science gives us the black and white data we need to monitor and evaluate a client’s progress. It is the basis of all training plans. However science without compassion is going to fail. We need to understand our athletes as people in order to truly evaluate varied results in training. Experience in coaching is the greatest gift of all. With 30 years of industry experience, I have become deeply knowledgeable, and empathetic! Above all, we need to remember that training is a get to, not a have to.

Meet Dena Colie

‘We need to make sure we are recovering as well as we are training. Without adequate recovery your body will not reach its full potential.’

Education & Certifications

BS University of Wisconsin-Stout in restaurant and hotel management

USA Triathlon Level 1 triathlon coach
USA Triathlon youth and junior coach
U.S. Masters Swimming coach.
U.S. Center for Safe Sport certification
American Red Cross Certification for CPR

What is your personal philosophy on training and coaching?

My philosophy is simple: Train smart. Rest well. Enjoy the Journey! As a coach and athlete, we need to make sure we are recovering as well as we are training. Without adequate recovery your body will not reach its full potential. For most of us, this is a hobby—training should not be a burden but a journey to enjoy!

Why did you become a coach and trainer?

I became a coach to be able to share my knowledge and experience in the sport of triathlon. I love triathlon and the community and coaching allows me to help people of all ages and ability levels grow the sport.

What makes you the most motivated when working with clients?

As a coach the little wins are very gratifying. When a client achieves a goal in a workout that may be unexpected or what they thought was unachievable by them is the best! The excitement of these wins is very motivating! Guiding them to believe in themselves and their ability is why I coach!

Why are science, compassion and experience important in how you work with athletes and clients?

Science provides me with the information of how the body reacts to load and stress when building plans for my clients to help them reach their goals. Compassion is the ability to communicate and understand what each client’s life situations are and how I listen and adapt their plans to fit into their lives. Experience gives me the knowledge of what a client may be experiencing and also what it takes to achieve their goals.

Meet Alvin Smith

‘What motivates me when working with a client is seeing their progress—and ultimately their success. It gives me gratification when they get that “ah ha” moment.’

Education & Certifications

BA North Central College, BS from Roosevelt University in computer science

USA Cycling level three

What is your personal philosophy on training and coaching?

It is crucial that a training program be aligned with individual goals. The ultimate goal of a training program maximizing performance and reaching personal goals. Every workout of every session should have a specific purpose that is aligned with these objectives!

Why did you become a coach and trainer?

What motivates me when working with a client is seeing their progress—and ultimately their success. It gives me gratification when they get that “ah ha” moment. They realize they can do this and will achieve their goal after putting in the time and effort to be successful.

What makes you the most motivated when working with clients?

I enjoy paying it forward—I really appreciate those cyclists that took me under their wing when I first entered into the sport. The pursuit of success and achievement of one’s goals. By raising the bar for the athletes they raise the bar for me to assist them on their journey. I wish to fulfill my purpose to be of service to others by adding value for the joy of it is the ultimate game of life. When experiencing the joy of helping others thrive, you expand their possibilities. In turn your possibilities expand exponentially.

Why are science, compassion and experience important in how you work with athletes and clients?

Science, compassion and experience are important components in how I work with athletes. Scientific workouts are based on proven strategies and plans that have been shown to be successful. I also believe both the coach and athletes need to connect and establish a line of communication. The coach should understand that the athlete has more than cycling going on in his or her life and should be able to structure the training plan for those life events. Experience combines science and compassion and helps the coach see what the athlete may overlook on their journey. The ability to connect and guide the athlete not only in workouts, but also in other areas of training such as: nutrition, recovery, and handling of stress. In addition, getting the proper rest and assisting the athlete on the task at hand are other key components with assisting the athlete in achieving their goals.