AAPTE Education and Scientific Team

Vincent’s personal training career began in 1990 when he earned his first of many nationally accredited personal training certifications. During his tenure as a personal trainer, he logged over 25,000 hours of session time by 2008. Since 1991, Vincent has owned, managed, developed, worked with and consulted for many personal training facilities, schools, and nationally recognized health and fitness organizations in the areas of exercise biomechanics and staff and facility development. In 1996, Vincent co-founded the Academy of Applied Personal Training Education (AAPTE), an education, continuing education and nationally accredited personal training certification organization. He has maintained his position as president, director of education and resistance training exercise biomechanics instructor since AAPTE’s inception.

Vincent continues to direct his time toward education, curriculum development, mentoring, and presenting professional development courses for personal trainers, educators and health professionals. He has presented nationally for AAPTE, IDEA Health and Fitness Association and the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYS AHPERD) and guest speaks for colleges and universities in the area of resistance training and exercise biomechanics.

He is the U.S. authorized Resistance Training Specialist (RTS) Level-1 instructor for the delivery of the Resistance Training Specialist Level -1 Course. The perspectives and biomechanical concepts he teaches are based on years of research, application and often challenge the common and generally accepted ‘rules, guidelines and practices’ related to resistance training exercise, theories of exercise preparation and human performance.

In 2008, he created a two-year, nine hundred hour, Personal Trainer – Exercise Medicine / Personal Trainer curriculum, approved by the New York State Department of Education for high school juniors and seniors, which is offered at Barry Tech Career and Technical Education Center in Westbury, New York. This unique program prepares students for a career in the emerging field of personal training and ensures college and career readiness. In addition to being frequently featured in media outlets, Vincent has also been a contributor industry publications and educational textbooks. In 2015, Vincent was nominated for New York State Teacher of the year for 2016. Vincent holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Science and Human Development, and a New York State Professional Teaching Certification. Vincent has earned personal training credentials from several accredited organizations, which include:

• Resistance Training Specialist RTS2*
• American Council on Exercise (ACE)
• Certified Resistance Equipment Analyst (CREA)
• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
• Aerobics and Fitness Association of (AFAA)
• The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)*
• Physical Fitness Specialist: The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research*
• Advanced / Master Fitness Specialist: The Copper Institute for Aerobics Research*
• American Aerobic Association International / International Sports Medicine Association (AAAI/ISSA)

(*maintains current certification)

Professional Memberships:

• International Dance and Exercise Association (IDEA)

National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)

Guest Presentations - Media:

• IDEA 2013 Personal Trainer Institute East, Alexandrea, Virginia
• Hofstra University, Health Studies and Kinesiology Dept. Guest Speaker "Functional Assessments -Training. How Functional are They?"
• Presenter for the National Association of Physical Education "Stretching a Myth and Truth a Biomechanical Perspective" / "Challenging Common and Accepted Theories and Practices of Sport Specific Training, Resistance Training and Standardized Fitness Assessments"
• Bio-Molecular Sciences Inc. Marina Del Rey, California; Served as scientific advisory board member. Presented “Integrating the Allied Health Science of Personal Training to the Restoration Phase of Wellness.”
• Long Island Learns Radio Show — "Personal Training as a Career"
• Guest Speaker -  The Long Island College Consortium for Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Dowling College
• Guest Speaker — East Meadow High School — "Myths and Misconceptions of Resistance Training"
• CFS Radio Show, with Dr. Roger Mazlin: "Resistance Training and The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patient"
• Guest Speaker Islip Terrace Junior High School, Health Department– "Fitness and Wellness for Today and the Future"
• Hofstra University, University College, "Most Popular Course Award" – Health Fitness Instructor / Personal Trainer Certification
• Guest Lecturer – Hofstra University Athletic Department "Myths and Misconceptions of Sport Specific Conditioning in the Weight Room"
• 1998 Newsday Business Edition – featured article "The Health and Fitness Business on Long Island" Noted as: "The Company to Watch" "Body Works 1to1 Personal Training"
• Elements Magazine, Winter 2005 “Who’s Training Your Trainer?”  (contributor)
• Long Island Woman Magazine November 2001 “Sorting Things Out At The Gym” (contributor)
• Long Island Woman Magazine March 2008 “Functional Fitness” (contributor)
• Long Island Woman Magazine June 2011 “Finding Balance in Health & Wellness” (contributor)
• The Patch - East Meadow - "Choosing a Personal Trainer"
• Kinesiology - The Skeletal System and Muscle Function 2nd Edition - Musculino - Elsevier (reviewer Ch 19-20)
• The Complete Diabetes Organizer - S. Weiner, L. Josel (reviwer Ch 10) 

Bill May has been a part of the AAPTE's instructional staff since 1996. He Bill graduated from Nassau Community College with an Associate Degree in Physical Education. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from The State University of New York at Cortland in Physical Education with a Minor in Athletic Coaching.

His certifications include The National Strength and Conditioning Association and The International Sports Medicine Association. He also is a member of The American College of Sports Medicine.

Bill May has extensive experience in the Fitness Industry. He has been a Fitness Director and General Manager of several prominent New York and Long Island Health and Fitness Clubs. He is a faculty member and primary Instructor for The Academy of Applied Personal Training Education, providing the student with education in the theoretical aspects of Client Assessment. Bill presents the latest scientific information on Assessment Procedures and Testing Protocols both from functionality and practicality.

John Petrizzo is a Physical Therapist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and Starting Strength Coach, as well as a full-time faculty member in the Exercise Science Department at Adelphi University. He has a B.S. in Exercise Science from Hofstra University where he was a member of the football team.

John holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the New York Institute of Technology. He has worked in the fitness industry since 2006 in a variety of roles and settings and has helped many patients and clients achieve their health, fitness, and sports performance goals through resistance training. In 2012, John began competing in powerlifting.

Dr. Fischer has an exceptional record as a published researcher and educator with an extensive background in Nutritional Pathophysiology, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Molecular Biology of the Nutrients, Nutritional Biochemistry, and Pharmacology.

Michael Maziekas earned his Bachelors and Masters degree in Exercise physiology from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. Michael is an adjunct professor in the Department of Health Professions and Kinesiology at Hofstra University and the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Movement Science at Long Island University. He teaches the exercise physiology and program design modules for AAPTE. Michael also works as a personal trainer and Master Instructor Ambassador at Equinox Fitness club. Michael has over 20 years of personal training experience with certifications in strength and conditioning from NSCA, pre/post natal, kettlebell, ViPR, and animal flow.

Personal Story:
My family history is littered with Autoimmune Conditions and Diabetes. My personal lab tests show that I am on the borderline for Hashimoto’s (autoimmune thyroid) despite my healthy habits. Additionally, I clearly have to watch my blood sugar due to family history.

I have been involved with health care for a long time. I started out as a personal trainer running boot camp classes. I wanted to help people at a deeper level so I pursued my doctorate in chiropractic and actively studied functional medicine and clinical nutrition. As I continued to learn I realized that I had several symptoms associated with thyroid disease and gluten sensitivity.

Overtime, I have adjusted my lifestyle and learned how to manage my health. I have the energy to hike for days at a time and I enjoy good health despite family history. This understanding really gives me an advantage with clients. When clients follow my recommendations and we see how dramatically their lives change, it’s a rewarding experience for the client and myself. I am selective with clients that I accept into my care, they must have the right intention to follow recommendations.

Credentials
Dr. Matt Lewis is the developer of The ONE Weight Loss & Nutrition Program. As a regularly featured expert on News 12’s Long Island Naturally, Dr. Lewis has sparked hundreds of Long Island residents with low thyroid, fatigue, and weight gain to find the causes and natural solutions for their symptoms. Dr. Matt has over four years in post-graduate education in functional medicine and over a decade of experience in clinical nutrition. Dr. Lewis received his doctor of chiropractic education at the prestigious Life University in Marietta, Georgia. As a dad to 2 young, beautiful girls, Ava and Gia, he is raising his family with the same care and nutritional excellence as he provides his patients.

Dr. Lewis has completed the following Post Graduate Studies:

• Loomis Institute Digestive Specialist
• The Gluten Leaky Gut Autoimmune Connection ™
• Fundamentals of Functional Blood Chemistry ™
• Mastering Functional Blood Chemistry ™
• Mastering Brain Chemistry ™
• Mastering The Thyroid ™
• Understanding the Complexity of Gluten Sensitivity ™>

Local Accolades

Dr. Lewis was the recipient of the 40 under 40 awards in 2007 from Long Island Business News for his commitment to serving and educating the Long Island community regarding natural health care.

Dr. Lewis was voted by Long Island Press as the best Holistic Health Care Provider in 2010.

Joshua Harrison began his fitness industry career in 1990. He started as a fitness floor volunteer in Philadelphia's premier exercise facility cleaning machines and putting away weights in exchange for a free membership. Currently he supports a region for one of the country's top fitness corporations overseeing a group of over 185 personal trainers in 8 clubs in the New York suburbs that drives over $1.5 million per month in revenue.

Having graduated as the Outstanding Senior from Temple University's Physical and Health Education Program, Joshua's passion for educating people in human movement started early. He is able to be apply that drive to educate currently through both his corporate fitness position developing experienced trainers and managers along with his role in the AAPTE povidng educational content for aspiring professional trainers to enter what he considers to be "the best industry in which to work."