In this episode the CDSF Crew discusses what considerations go into owning and growing a training gym. They discuss everything from how to run scalable group training sessions, pricing models, hiring, key KPI, and the origins of Capital District Sport and Fitness.

Anthony Wasiyo is the owner of the clothing brand Planet Euphoria and the host of the podcast Therapy with Woz.

Planet Euphoria isn't just about clothes; it's about belonging, about finding your passion even when faced with challenges, and about expressing yourself authentically.

Dr. Gerald Stulc is a retired cancer surgeon with a life-long study of military and medical history. He served for over fifteen years as flight surgeon in the US Navy Reserves, retiring as Captain. Following retirement, he obtained his MFA degree in Creative Writing.

 He is the author of numerous scientific papers, and articles and presentations on military and medical history. He is currently writing a creative nonfiction book on the history of military medicine, from Greece and Rome, to Iraq and Afghanistan. His work can be found at https://theliteraryphysician.com.

Gary Bynon is the Girls Volleyball coach for Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School. He went to 21 straight state final fours, 22 consecutive sectional championships (28 overall), and has won 9 State Championships. He’s been inducted into the New York Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and has 800+ wins in his career.

He’s also the founder of Lakeside Volleyball Club and the new Spa City Volleyball Club operating out of the Gary Bynon Athletic Center, made up of four volleyball courts and a fitness center.

Nick is the co-owner of Drive Physical Therapy in Saratoga Springs, NY. He received his Bachelor of Science in athletic training from the University of New Hampshire in 2013. He then went on to receive his doctorate in physical therapy from the University of New England in 2016. Nick has spent most of his career in orthopedics and sports medicine, working with numerous patient populations and treating a variety of post-operative, orthopedic and sports injuries.

Nick has continued his education by also becoming level 1 and medical level 2 certified through the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI). He also has certifications through the Select Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) and is a Champion Performance Specialist (C-PS).

In this episode the CDSF Crew discusses the current youth sports landscape. They talk about the growing dominance of travel programs and the rise in the demand of high school programs to match travel team offerings. The CDSF coaches also discuss priorities for long-term athletic development, the role of the private sector, and if today’s youth sports world is really setting kids up for success?

Isaiah Williams is a co-owner of Kinetic Training. With a background in sports and education, Isaiah has a passion for applying his knowledge and experience to help develop individuals and athletes to reach and become the best versions of themselves.

Emily Klein has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is an extremism scholar with a focus on the language and cognition of extremist belief. Her recent research areas include language and belief in conspiracy theories, incel terminology, metaphors of dehumanization, and linguistic markers of radicalization.

She’s currently an Analyst at Moonshot – a company that designs technology and programs to counter global violent extremism and other online harms. She was previously a Visiting Assistant Professor and Training Director at the College of Emergency Management, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany.

Beyond academia, she has interdisciplinary experience in grant writing and graphic design, using data analytics, visualization, and strategic communication to drive community development. Her perspective is enriched by a professional degree in architecture, underscoring her interdisciplinary approach to research and problem-solving.

Nora Matthew is the founder of Her Strength Studio. Nora first found a love for health and wellness as a Division 1 collegiate sprinter and was certified as an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer in 2009.

After having her first baby in 2012, Nora created Pregna-Fit, a unique strength training and labor preparation method for all stages of pregnancy. Shortly after, Nora created the Early Postpartum Program, the Capital Region’s first postnatal exercise program. In 2017, Nora envisioned a studio that focused primarily on women’s health.

Her Strength Studio in Latham was born in 2018. Nora is StrongFirst Elite, meaning she currently holds all the StrongFirst certifications. A wife and mom to 5 little boys, Nora works daily to balance family and entrepreneur life.

Nbhd Nick makes rap that speaks to the masses. Equipped with an easy confidence, clean melodies, and a knack for writing earworm hooks, he’s attracted over half a million monthly Spotify listeners, racked up 75+ million streams, and landed placements in everything from national Pepsi ads to official NBA hype videos. Nick has earned his spot as a fixture in the industry, and he’s proudly using his music to put on for his hometown of Albany, NY.

Kyle Balzer is a Doctor of Physical Therapy licensed in New York State, New Jersey, and Connecticut. He currently treats and trains patients and clients on the Upper East Side, Midtown East and SoHo, Manhattan. Prior to working in NYC, Kyle spent three years at an outpatient clinic in North Jersey seeing patients of all ages and diagnoses. With a Bachelor’s of Science in Human Biology from SUNY Albany 2010, Kyle parlayed his interest in the human body into a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Sage Graduate School.

Eric Beaulac and Ryan Parker are the founders of the Troy Expo. A non-profit dedicated to providing free baseball instruction, academic advising, and workforce development to the youth in Troy, NY and the surrounding community.

Eric is a former MLB player, college coach, Troy native, and dedicated champion of youth development. Ryan is an experienced college coach, counselor, and urban activist dedicated to shaping the next generation of athletes.

Mike Altieri is a Director of Operations and Franchise Partner for Orange Theory Fitness. He currently oversees and operates 18 locations and is a franchise partner in 13 locations.

Dr. Todd Shatynski is a sports medicine specialist with an emphasis and interest in the nonsurgical treatment of injuries and is trained in the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound for the diagnosis of soft tissue injuries and the guidance of injections. He is often involved in teaching residents and sports medicine fellows.

Dr. Shatynski has extensive experience in a variety of sports, including football, hockey, and endurance sports. A graduate of Guilderland High School, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, as well as participating in running and triathlons. He has completed multiple marathons and Ironman distance triathlons, including Ironman Hawaii. He serves as a team physician for the University of Albany, College of Saint Rose, Columbia High School and Triathlon Australia.

Dr. Gerald Stulc is a retired cancer surgeon with a life-long study of military and medical history. He served for over fifteen years as flight surgeon in the US Navy Reserves, retiring as Captain. Following retirement, he obtained his MFA degree in Creative Writing.

He is the author of numerous scientific papers, and articles and presentations on military and medical history. He is currently writing a creative nonfiction book on the history of military medicine, from Greece and Rome, to Iraq and Afghanistan. His work can be found at https://theliteraryphysician.com and check out his latest book The Surgion’s Mate.

Powell Cucchiella is the owner of Positively Elite. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families. Powell specializes in helping performers of all types reach their peak potential.

He offers a variety of tools and techniques, profound clinical skills, a deep understanding of the mind, and an innate ability to connect with clients as they work towards finding consistent success.

DJ Ketchup is the owner of Ketchup Enterprise LLC. He’s a 2x Hot 99.1 DJ of the Year and 3x Daily Gazette DJ of the Year.

He started his musical journey over 13 years ago. His mother was a DJ which inspired him to follow in her footsteps. With 13 years of experience and many successful events, DJ Ketchup has mastered the fine line between fun and tastefulness. His music library contains over 100,000 songs and grows daily. For him, it’s all about playing songs that get you tapping your feet and nodding your head without you realizing it, regardless of genre, tempo, style, or release date.

Evan Rugen is a former real estate agent who now helps clients improve their credit score and gain access to 0% interest funding for business or investments.

He’s also the owner of LVL Group NY. An established real estate investment and operating company that specializes in acquiring single-family homes, multi-family homes and commercial properties in Upstate New York. For nearly a decade, Evan has leveraged technology and social media to yield first-in-class results for his clients.

You can learn more about his credit repair and funding services @boweryboi on TikTok and Instagram.

Alaina Lange is an All-American women’s tackle football player who’s played for the US Women’s Tackle National Team and currently plays for the NY Knockout. She’s also a teacher and the owner of A+ Athlete Coaching, helping soccer athletes maximize their performance.

Noah Phillips is a PhD student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, currently studying Cognitive Science, where he focuses on competitive performance and training optimization based around studying complex skill acquisition. Previously, he studied Psychology and Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

He has years of experience in the realm of eSports, or competitive video-gaming, as both a player and a coach.

Some of the specific topics of his work include how to find the most critical components of skilled performance, develop specific training tools and procedures to improve these key metrics, and how holistic lifestyle habits can help to optimize mental and physical performance.