Occupation: I’m a strength and conditioning coach at Newtown Youth Academy, and for private clients within their homes. I’m a certified physical education teacher, but I’m not currently teaching. I like to be where I can have a real impact. I’ve also coached high school wrestling and football in area schools in past years.

Family: I grew up in Bethel. My mom’s in Danbury now and my father is in North Carolina. I have five siblings, including a sister in Newtown; two brothers in Bethel; one brother in Woodbury; and a brother who is a professor at George Washington in Washington, D.C. So they’re all closeby.

Pets: I love dogs, but with my current lifestyle I would never have the time to spend with one that a dog deserves.

How long have you been in Newtown? I live in Bethel, but I’ve been working at NYA for the past year and a half.

What do you like to do in your free time? It’s crazy, but I do work out. I love to cook — for myself, for my mom, friends, and clients. Gramma Baldassari’s meatballs and gravy is my specialty. There’re a number of people in Newtown who have experienced them.

What have you read most recently? I usually read work-related material. To me, you can never know enough.

Do you have a favorite vacation destination? Turks and Caicos! It is so close, and the beaches are pristine. I’ve traveled a lot, but it’s the only place I’ve been to with water so clear and that blue, blue tint. I’ve been to a lot of islands. Turks and Caicos is not so built up.

What is the best thing about Newtown? The people. I’ve trained people in Newtown for over 20 years. The people are just nice. I love this community.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? It’s nutty, but I have to say Jack LaLanne, who hosted a television fitness show from the 1950s to the 1980s. My Gramma used to have him always on her TV, and work out with him. And as he got older, he kept so fit. He was kind of an inspiration to me.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Don’t ask others to do things you wouldn’t do —  not only in fitness, but in life.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? If I knew I could stay healthy, all I would ever have is pumpkin pie, carrot cake, sushi, and Champagne!

Occupation: I’m a strength and conditioning coach at Newtown Youth Academy, and for private clients within their homes. I’m a certified physical education teacher, but I’m not currently teaching. I like to be where I can have a real impact. I’ve also coached high school wrestling and football in area schools in past years.

Family: I grew up in Bethel. My mom’s in Danbury now and my father is in North Carolina. I have five siblings, including a sister in Newtown; two brothers in Bethel; one brother in Woodbury; and a brother who is a professor at George Washington in Washington, D.C. So they’re all closeby.

Pets: I love dogs, but with my current lifestyle I would never have the time to spend with one that a dog deserves.

How long have you been in Newtown? I live in Bethel, but I’ve been working at NYA for the past year and a half.

What do you like to do in your free time? It’s crazy, but I do work out. I love to cook — for myself, for my mom, friends, and clients. Gramma Baldassari’s meatballs and gravy is my specialty. There’re a number of people in Newtown who have experienced them.

What have you read most recently? I usually read work-related material. To me, you can never know enough.

Do you have a favorite vacation destination? Turks and Caicos! It is so close, and the beaches are pristine. I’ve traveled a lot, but it’s the only place I’ve been to with water so clear and that blue, blue tint. I’ve been to a lot of islands. Turks and Caicos is not so built up.

What is the best thing about Newtown? The people. I’ve trained people in Newtown for over 20 years. The people are just nice. I love this community.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? It’s nutty, but I have to say Jack LaLanne, who hosted a television fitness show from the 1950s to the 1980s. My Gramma used to have him always on her TV, and work out with him. And as he got older, he kept so fit. He was kind of an inspiration to me.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Don’t ask others to do things you wouldn’t do —  not only in fitness, but in life.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? If I knew I could stay healthy, all I would ever have is pumpkin pie, carrot cake, sushi, and Champagne!