Get to Know the Team at Manheim

 

We sat down and had a fun Q&A with the team at Power Train Manheim, composed of Performance Director Brian McDermott and Performance Coaches Thomas Rydzinski and Kirsten Gibson. This crew in Manheim always brings a fiery energy to the training floor. They foster a remarkable atmosphere to not only make working out fun, but to also drive results helping clients hit and exceed their specific goals!

Alma Mater?
Brian: West Chester University
Thomas: Indiana Wesleyan University
Kirsten: McDaniel College

Did you play any sports in high school/college? If so, which ones?
Brian: Football in college (running back)
Thomas: Six sports in high school – basketball, football, soccer, golf, track, and baseball
Kirsten: Soccer & ran track in high school; soccer in college

Favorite thing about working at Power Train?
Brian: The atmosphere. We are a very community driven facility. We are results driven and it’s just a great place to be.
Thomas: Having fun with clients. We get to provide an environment where people can get a release from their day and really enjoy fitness. I love helping them get to their goals. It is a great process to be a part of.
Kirsten: Inspiring people everyday and hearing their success stories.

What made you get into this profession?
Brian: I always loved fitness & sports. I coached college football for four years before working here. I’ve always loved athletics, coaching and helping people, so this was the field for me.
Thomas: I got my bachelors in exercise science, so I was really looking for a job in that field and was blessed to be able to find a job in that field.
Kirsten: I trained at Power Train in high school and saw how it benefited me. I wanted to give back and help other athletes.

Favorite Power Train career moment?
Thomas: One of our development days when we were going over the run sessions. Having all Power Train location employees gathered to learn and grow… the feeling that day was just electric.
Kirsten: No specific moment but just constantly hearing clients say to me “I did X this weekend and felt so strong doing it”. Hearing that they are doing things they couldn’t do before is really rewarding.

What do you like to do outside of work?
Brian: I love to play with my two young kids and go to sporting events.
Thomas: Golfing, fishing, and going out to eat.
Kirsten: Lifting, cardio, playing soccer, and going on hikes with my dog.

Favorite food?
Brian: Pizza
Thomas: Chicken Marsala
Kirsten: Seafood & pizza

Favorite exercise?
Brian: Every day is a good day at the gym, but I love leg day to really challenge myself. Having one leg obviously makes it more challenging but finding ways to strengthen my other leg is a great experience that I thoroughly enjoy.
Thomas: Leg day
Kirsten: Leg day, specifically deadlifts

Last show you binge watched?
Brian: How I Met Your Mother. We watch it over and over again.
Thomas: Outer Banks. I watched the full season 2 in one night; it was wild!
Kirsten: Clickbait

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Brian: Cruise ship somewhere
Thomas: Tahiti
Kirsten: Greece

What is at the top of your bucket list?
Brian: Competing in the Paralympics. I’ve always been interested in them and it’s a long-term goal I think I can definitely achieve.
Thomas: Travel to Europe
Kirsten: Traveling as much as I can

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Brian: You can choose to have a great day or not. The choice is yours.
Thomas: There are two things you can control: attitude & effort.

Why should people choose to train at Power Train?
Brian: It’s a great atmosphere & we get results. We have fun, and this is where the best train.
Thomas: This is the most legit form of training. If you want to hit your goals and have an exercise that will whoop your butt, this is where it’s at. I’ve never trained anything like Power Train before. This is a whole new level.
Kirsten: We are so unlike any other personal trainer facility. We really individualize your workouts. It’s a family here and we really make everyone feel included.

How has working at Power Train benefited you?
Brian: I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of good people in this community and have worked with a lot of great athletes. I even have clients here that are babysitters for my kids!
Thomas: It has taught me a lot about myself, such as time management and team skills. I’ve learned that it’s easy to want to become selfish, like when you’re tired at the end of the day, but that it’s still so important to provide that exceptional, energetic experience for those clients.
Kirsten: It has helped me personally stay active and make connections. Whether it’s talking to 11 year olds or 70 year olds, I love all the people I get to meet.

Check out the bootcamp schedule at Manheim here! Claim your free trial here!