Ronni Arno Blaisdell, Spin & Yoga instructor
Ronni Blaisdell is the founder and Executive Director of Team Survivor Tri-State. She is a certified cancer exercise specialist, spin instructor, and yoga instructor. Ronni has been competing in triathlon and running events since 2001. Ronni designs and implements all of the programs at Team Survivor Tri-State, and also teaches the Team Survivor spinning and yoga classes at PEAC Health & Fitness in Ewing, NJ.
Team Survivor Tri-State triathlon coach Tom Battaglia holds a BS in Foods & Nutrition and an MS in Exercise Physiology from Purdue University. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), a certified lifeguard and lifeguard instructor, and a certified scuba diver. Tom is a member of USA Triathlon, and is an accomplished triathlete, winning 2 age group national competitions and 1 world ITU age group competition. When he isn't working with the ladies of Team Survivor Tri-State, Tom is the Strength & Conditioning Coordinator at Monmouth University, and the father of 2 boys.
Donna Gunderson was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer the fall of 2005. She joined Team Survivor Tri-State while she was undergoing treatment in 2006. Since then she learned how to swim and purchased a real road bike. She now spends more money on running shoes than she does on work shoes. Since she joined Team Survivor Tri-State she has finished a duathlon, multiple triathlons and even half marathons. She even learned how to surf! Anything is possible once you put your mind to it. Now she is a certified Spinning instructor and is teaching spin classes for Team Survivor.
DonnaLyn was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma after a 7 hour kidney autotransplantation surgery in November of 2006. She biked, ran, swam and did yoga thru surgical rehab, radiation and chemotherapy. Before her diagnosis, she had run the Honolulu Marathon, NYC More Marathon Halfs and several sprint triathalons. Good fitness and a "Can Do" attitude gets the credit for her quick and healthful recovery. For fun, she is a registered yoga instructor, personal trainer and aspiring raw vegan. In her other life, she is an accomplished business owner, former Economics/Finance college professor and community activist. She enjoys adventure travel and lifelong learning with husband, Tom, and their three spaniels. She looks forward to helping grow TSTS in Monmouth County, NJ.
Joe Cargado is a certified personal trainer, spin instructor, and martial arts instructor. Joe is certified to teach Jun Fan Gung Fu/JKD, Muay Thai kickboxing, Kali, and submission grappling, and has competed in and won many mixed martial arts events. Joe's knowledge of fitness is vast, and his enthusiasm for teaching is contagious. His goal is to make his classes effective and fun, and the women of Team Survivor all agree that he does just that!
Sifu Jeff Jones is the owner and director of Tri-State Martial Arts Academy. Mr. Jones strives to provide an appreciation for the traditional forms and ideologies within today's martial arts. With over 20 years of training and experience, Mr. Jones instills in his students the value of utilizing their martial arts training and knowledge to better themselves and the community.
Mr. Jones is one of only a few instructors in the world to have received full instructorship from Sifu Dan Inosanto in both Jeet Kune Do, Jun Fan Gung Fu and Filipino Martial Arts. Mr. Jones is also an instructor and the state representative for the Thai Boxing Association of the USA, under Ajarn Chai Sirisute.
Mr. Jones has participated in numerous martial arts events and has been awarded many other prestigious certifications.
Steven took his first surf lesson during a business trip to Hawaii. Since that feeling and rush of catching his first wave, Steven know he would continue surfing as much as possible. Over the last 10 years, Steven has surfed various spots along the USA East and West coasts and dreams of going back to Hawaii (and Australia, too). Manasquan, NJ is his favorite local surf break. In addition to surfing, Steven has past experience as both a tennis and ski instructor.
Doris Szeto, RYT, was certified at OM Yoga in NYC. She just finished part one of a teacher training for Women Cancer Survivors at OM and was inspired to offer a monthly class at Prancing Peacock in Yardley, PA to warrior women everywhere.
Jacqui Lockwood PT DPT OCS CSCS, graduated from Kean College of NJ with BS, and received her PT degree from University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ in 1989. She has practiced in all aspects of physical therapy throughout the years. She is currently in private practice at Spooner Physical Therapy specializing in manual orthopedics. She is the professional education coordinator with various teaching duties to staff and the public at large. In 2004 Jacqui received her post-professional DPT from NAU with a concentration in orthopedics. She also completed her OCS in 2005.
Ms. Lockwood is also an elite level cyclist and triathlete competing in national and international events. She currently holds the Masters World Hour Record on the track, considered to be the truest test of endurance. Her athletic background includes competition at the national level in six different sports.
Celeste is a Total Immersion™ Teaching Professional, as well as a triathlete with over 13 years of experience in Sprint, Olympic, off-road, half and Ironman races, including the Great Floridian 1998, Ironman Florida 2000, and Triathlon All-American 2004. She is a certified Power Pilates Instructor, a USA Swimming Level 1 Coach, and a USA Triathlon Coach. She lives and trains in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Vince is a certified ChiRunning and ChiWalking Coach and has been an avid runner for over 30 years. His running experiences began in high school and continued through college. He is now completing a goal of running a marathon in each state. He has completed countless events from 5k to Walt Disney World Inaugural Goofy's Challenge (1/2 marathon and 5k on Saturday followed by a marathon on Sunday).
Before ChiRunning, Vince experienced running with all its challenges, injuries, pain, and exhaustive physical effort. Since training with Danny Dreyer (founder of ChiRunning) and Chris Griffin (ChiRunning Master Instructor), Vince now runs with greater ease, less effort, no injuries, better results and NO need for recovery.
Vince has taught ChiRunning to triathletes, as well as clients in private and group lessons.
Freedman is an Olympic cyclist with 12 years involvement in cycling. In her impressive array of successes are her two-time National Championships, 50 professional victories, a stage victory in the 2005 Tour of New Zealand and her membership on the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in Sydney. Freedman also serves as the coach of the MIT cycling team. Paramount to her athletic success, Freedman is a creative self-starter who is results-oriented. She possesses a high-degree of communication, relationship building and problem-solving skills. Armed with a tremendous sense of humor, Freedman prides herself in working with athletes at each and every level, bringing out their best and having a great time doing it.
Gretchen loves to be inspired as much as she loves to inspire others. She enjoy working with people to gain insight into themselves and to heighten their own sense of mind/body awareness. She has always been interested in staying active and fit; and was bitten by the Triathlon "bug" a few years ago, inspired by other strong women in her community. She has since become a TI Coach, Certified in both Spin and Pilates, and teaches Firedancing as well. She has participated in many triathlons, ranging in distance from sprint to Ironman. Gretchen is a 42 year old mother, wife and small business owner.