We’re All Family
A family of fitness enthusiasts and industry professionalsOur NFPT Family
Being a family-run business means that NFPT’s leaders are the same people answering your calls and emails, being there to help you earn and keep your personal trainer certification active. Working together towards the same goal: to help you achieve your dream. Your success is our passion!
Angie Pattengale
Chief Executive OfficerAngie Pattengale is chief executive officer and co-owner of the National Federation of Professional Trainers, where she works behind the scenes on relationship building, advertising, policies and procedures, test development and delivery, certification accreditation and growing the business. She joined the company in 1994 after her dad, NFPT founder Ron Clark, convinced her to leave her waitressing job and come stuff envelopes for him. Angie has worked for NFPT as office manager and as director of certification, leading the five-year effort to become accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Angie was instrumental in evolving the company’s image to include casual fitness enthusiasts, not just body builders, and making certification accessible to all. Angie earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management in West Lafayette, Ind., in addition to her studies in economics, human resources and psychology. Angie likes to hike national parks — the Grand Canyon is on her bucket list — and enjoys cycling with her husband and walking her dogs. Read Angie’s take on NFPT and the fitness industry in general in the Director’s Corner.
Erin Mahoney
General ManagerErin is the General Manager of NFPT, overseeing the strategic vision of certification offerings and how to best serve the fitness community in their careers and long-term success. Erin has been working in the fitness and nutrition certification space for over 15 years as an executive leader developing courses and compelling product offerings, she started her career teaching group fitness and personal training clients throughout college. NFPT happened to be her very first training certification! She stays well-entrenched in the industry by coaching group training sessions and teaching fitness classes. She loves outdoor exercise in Scottsdale, AZ, including running, swimming, and hiking, but loves nothing more than training her dog with new skills and learning agility tricks.
Outside of her initial roots working as a personal trainer, Erin’s passion for fitness, her innovative approach to professional development, and her ability to connect with others makes her an invaluable member of the NFPT family.
April Pattee
Director of Human Resources and Customer ServiceApril Pattee is co-owner of NFPT and oversees relations with NFPT’s employees, vendors and independent contractors as director of human resources and customer service. She knows the inner workings of the entire NFPT system and enjoys finding the answers for the NFPT trainer family and partners. April started working for her dad, NFPT founder Ron Clark, in packaging and distribution. She earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and supervision from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. April is a hard-core soccer mom who also plays the game. She runs 15 minutes a day and likes to play basketball and camp with her family.
Jason Pattee
Distribution ManagerJason Pattee oversees the NFPT distribution department. Jason came to NFPT at the request of Director of Human Resources April Pattee, his wife, for what he thought was a temporary assignment and he’s still here, more than a decade later, sharing his fine attention to detail and consistent focus on the trainer’s perspective. He has previous experience in construction and the maintenance of large industrial machines. Jason earned an associate’s degree in business management from Vincennes University.
Andrew Meyer
Director of Information TechnologyAndrew Meyer has been responsible for the management, strategy and execution of IT infrastructure for NFPT since 2013. He has experience as a programmer, project manager and freelance web designer. Andrew’s lifelong love of computers was nurtured by his father, who taught him how to use the DOS operating system before he could read the words he was typing. By age 10, he and his dad were building computers together. Andrew earned an associate’s degree in computer information systems with a minor in web management from Indiana’s Ivy Tech Community College.
Erin Nitschke
Director of Education Partners and ProgramsErin Nitschke directs, develops and supports NFPT Education Partner initiatives in colleges and universities nationwide. She has taught college courses in health and human performance for more than 15 years. Erin also is a fitness blogger, regular columnist and contributing author for NFPT, the American Council on Exercise, The Sheridan (Wyo.) Press, the Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune’s LiveWell magazine and the IDEA Health & Fitness Association. She holds a doctorate in education, a master’s degree in kinesiology and health and a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport from the University of Wyoming. Erin believes in the power of a holistic approach to healthy living. She loves teaching her clients and students to find an equilibrium between all dimensions of wellness with focused skill development that ultimately supports body harmony.
Certifications: National Federation of Professional Trainers, National Council on Strength & Fitness, Health Coach and Fitness Nutrition Specialist, American Council on Exercise; Level 1 Coach, Precision Nutrition
Ron Clark
FounderRon Clark founded the National Federation of Professional Trainers in 1988, with a mission to make personal training careers available to fitness enthusiasts who want to turn their passion into their livelihood. Ron has retired from personal training and stepped down as CEO but will always be the father of NFPT. His career included service in the U.S. Marine Corps as a staff sergeant and 20 years with the Lafayette (Ind.) Fire Department as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. As a full-time competitive bodybuilder, Ron won the following titles: Hoffmeister, Mr. Indiana, Mr. Purdue, AAU and National Physique Committee. Before NFPT, he founded The Fitness Clinic, a Lafayette private personal training studio, and published Personal Trainer Today magazine. His work has appeared in Iron Man, MuscleMag, Muscular Development and Men’s Health magazines. Ron studied biology, anatomy, physiology and applied nutrition at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., and at Indiana’s Ivy Tech Community College. Learn more about Ron and NFPT in the Director’s Corner.
Felix Doval
Director of EducationFelix Doval created and operates the workshop division for the National Federation of Professional Trainers and leads NFPT’s Certification Council and Board of Education. He is founder and president of and senior education developer and consultant for Global Fitness Educators in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which provides hands-on and continuing education in classroom and health club settings. Felix is an independent consultant for health club facilities and has partnered with international leaders in personal trainer certification. He earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science from Broward College in Broward County, Fla.
Certifications: Master Trainer, National Federation of Professional Trainers; Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, National Strength and Conditioning Association
NFPT Certification Council
NFPT’s five-member Certification Council acts independently to ensure NFPT complies with national certification accreditation and credentialing standards. Members establish the policies and procedures that allow NFPT to stay on track with accreditation guidelines and assure you that NFPT credentials are recognized wherever you go.
Robert Bovee
Council Chair 2023-2025Robert has successfully worked in the health and fitness industry for over 40 years! He studied Sports Medicine, Exercise Physiology, Nutrition, and Rehabilitation at Syracuse University and was the First Degree Graduate of the National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT) with the distinctions of Certified Master Professional Personal Trainer (CMPPT), Functional Training Specialist (FTS), Lifestyle Management Specialist (LMS), Weight Management Specialist (WMS), Sports Nutrition Specialist (SNS), Sports Specific Conditioning Specialist (SSCS), and many more professional industry qualifications.
He is the Author of the series entitled “Strengthening and Conditioning Your Body” and has trained over 1,500 Fitness Specialists, Professional Personal Trainers and Exercise/Fitness Therapists.
Successfully implemented the Exercise/Fitness Therapy and Rehabilitation Programs at Frontier Communications Corporation and was the Certified First Class Graduate of Bally’s Exercise Kinesiology and Biomechanics Courses
Currently, Mr. Bovee owns and operates his private personal training studio and professional education/training company, the National Academy of the Personal Health Approach.
Jake Cooper
Council Member 2021-2023Jake Cooper built his own personal training business, then became the first full-time fitness director/head personal trainer at The Cleveland Racquet Club. While there, Jake has added new programming (yoga, Pilates, Zumba and speed and agility classes) and worked with professional athletes and top-level tennis, squash and soccer players. He is a high school and college soccer coach, garnering a venerable “A” license from the U.S. Soccer Federation, and he also specializes in working with Alzheimer’s patients. Jake earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education (athletic training, fitness and nutrition specialization) from John Carroll University in Cleveland.
Cathleen Kronemer
Council Member 2022–2024Cathleen Kronemer works with NFPT as a writer. She is a former competitive bodybuilder and, with more than three decades of industry experience, Cathleen continues her passion of bodybuilding, personal training, health coaching, freelance wellness and fitness writing and teaches fitness classes for the Jewish Community Center Association of North America at the St. Louis JCC. She previously worked with Washington University’s School of Medicine and has written for multiple fitness industry associations. She earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Illinois. Cathleen likes to hike, run, read, travel and spend time with her granddaughters.
Certifications: Group exercise instructor, Athletics and Fitness Association of America; personal trainer, National Strength and Conditioning Association; health coach, American Council on Exercise
Scott Hults
Council Member 2022-2024Scott Hults is fitness director for the Birmingham (Ala.) YMCA. He became a natural master professional body builder at 61 and is now a bodybuilding and posing coach, contest judge, master of ceremonies and contest promoter. He has held senior management positions with NBC-TV, Group W (Westinghouse), MTV-Music Television, CNBC, The Weather Channel, The Learning Channel, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and EWTN Global Catholic Network. Scott is a retired U.S. Navy Reserve captain. He studied communications, earning a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Long Beach, and a master’s degree from New York University.
Virginia Ramey
Council Member 2024-2025Virginia has been a professional artist and performer for over a decade. She grew up in Ohio but has lived in New York City, Boston, and Chicago performing in theater, concerts, and film. In this highly competitive career field which requires a lot of travel and physical exertion, she considers exercise to be as important as oxygen. Yoga, high-impact intervals, and functional weight training have been a part of her daily regime since adolescence. She encourages everyone to make healthy choices in their mental and physical health for a good quality of life.
NFPT Board of Education
The NFPT Board of Education reviews NFPT’s education materials and recommends revisions and improvements to the curriculum in addition to developing new educational resources that help our trainers get the knowledge they need to succeed. We are honored to have a cross section of qualified professionals with diverse educational backgrounds and health and wellness experiences to serve you.
Felix Doval
Director of EducationFelix Doval created and operates the workshop division for the National Federation of Professional Trainers and leads NFPT’s Certification Council and Board of Education. He is founder and president of and senior education developer and consultant for Global Fitness Educators in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which provides hands-on and continuing education in classroom and health club settings. Felix is an independent consultant for health club facilities and has partnered with international leaders in personal trainer certification. He earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science from Broward College in Broward County, Fla.
Certifications: Master Trainer, National Federation of Professional Trainers; Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, National Strength and Conditioning Association
Charles DeFrancesco
Charles DeFrancesco has been creating continuing education courses with NFPT for more than 15 years. He founded and owns Fit and Functional in Westchester, N.Y., and co-founded Greenwich (Conn.) Sports Medicine. Charles serves as a consulting partner with public and private training and rehabilitation facilities, including New York’s Pure Fit Club, Westchester Sports & Wellness and Phoenix Fitness. He earned a bachelor’s degree in health and wellness from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.
Certifications: National Federation of Professional Trainers, National Academy of Sports Medicine, USA Wrestling (Olympic lifting), Equinox Fitness Group Prenatal
Dr. Robert Inesta
Dr. Robert Inesta is co-author of NFPT’s training manuals. He is clinical director of Westchester Sports & Wellness in Harrison, N.Y. Robert graduated from New York Chiropractic College and has extensive post-graduate training in functional rehabilitation, functional soft tissue therapy and biomechanics, clinical neuropsychology and electrodiagnosis and nutrition.
Certifications: Chiropractic Sports Practitioner, Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Active Release Technique provider, Graston Technique clinician, Kinesiotaping, Licensed Acupuncturist
Dr. Richard Weinstein
Dr. Richard Weinstein, MBA, is an orthopedic surgeon at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates. Richard is a former associate chairman and director of sports medicine at Lincoln Hospital Center and former director of sports medicine at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital Center, both in New York City. He is a Golden Gloves ringside physician, a member of the board of the American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians and a New York State Athletic Commission panel physician. He graduated from New York University School of Medicine.
Certifications: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery; Diplomate, National Board of Medical Examiners
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