Michelle E. Wolpov, Owner, MBA, PT, ATC, CSCS

Michelle graduated from Ithaca College in 1987, with a bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy. For the first six years she concentrated in the areas of sports medicine and orthopedics, completing a certification in Athletic Training (NATA) and becoming a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (NSCA). Working with athletes at all levels, Michelle held positions in private clinics, high schools, colleges (Montclair State), and with professional sports teams (NY Giants). In 1993, she became the director of a NovaCare clinic, coordinating its expansion and planning a turnaround strategy that would lead to over $3 million in annual revenues by 1998. From there Michelle moved on to a health care management company, where she worked with a team to develop three new outpatient rehabilitation start-ups in central New Jersey in 1999.

At the end of 1999, Michelle left her position to pursue an MBA degree at Monmouth University, where she graduated #1 in her class, with a 4.0 GPA. In 2000, Michelle was nominated for the New Jersey Women in Business Award and was inducted into the national honor society for business students, Beta Gamma Sigma. This led to an induction into the national society for “Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities”. Michelle remains active with Monmouth University's Business Council and Alumni Society. In 2001, Michelle became the president and founder of Practice Management Consulting, a health care consulting business aimed at helping professionals with their business start-ups. Her ultimate dream would be to one-day combine fitness and wellness, with sports medicine and rehabilitation.

As a health care professional, Michelle is committed to helping people in the community. She volunteers her time at races and sporting events held throughout the state. In the past, she has directed fundraising events to help individuals with muscular dystrophy, MS, arthritis and breast cancer. She has been on medical teams for the Garden State Games and the Special Olympics. Michelle is personally a sports enthusiast and enjoys golf, cycling, hiking and skiing. She typically gets involved as an athlete to help raise money for charities. And finally, Michelle volunteers at Big Brother, Big Sister of Monmouth County.

In May 2002, Michelle realized her dream when she, as the sole owner, purchased Game Shape (formerly Planet Fitness) in Manalapan. She immediately started the company known as Professional Sports & Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Associates, LLC and began the turn-around strategy to take a worn down gym and transition it into a state-of-the-art, functional sports training facility which now offers physical therapy, personal fitness training, monthly gym memberships, massage therapy and nutrition counseling.

Arlene Katz, B.S. PT, CSCS

Arlene has 22 years of clinical experience practicing physical therapy in numerous settings, including: acute care hospital rotations, private orthopedic practices, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, nursing homes, home-care, and in the school system. While working for an outpatient center, she developed the Back School Program for the treatment and education of clients with spinal injuries. She also restructured and developed an outpatient physical therapy practice in a physiatrist's office.

Arlene graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 1976 with a BA in biology and psychology and a minor in dance. After volunteering in the PT department at Lennox Hill Hospital in New York, she decided upon a career in physical therapy. She subsequently earned a BS in PT at NYU in 1980.

Since then, Arlene has taken numerous continuing education courses in sports medicine, orthopedics, manual therapy techniques, and the diagnosis and treatment of cervical and lumbar spine disorders. She most recently passed the NSCA exam to become a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist.

While raising three wonderful children, she has participated in many school and community activities and organizations. She has coached her children in recreational and travel soccer for fifteen years, and has earned a brown belt in Kanzen Goju-ryu karate. She looks forward to working within her own community, and is dedicated to promoting health and fitness and affording everyone the opportunity to live and enjoy their lives to their fullest extent.

Lori Alberti, PT

Lori graduated from the State University of New York in 1997 with a B.S. in Physical Therapy. She has experience in work conditioning and functional capacity evaluations (FCEs) and enjoys working with spine-related injuries. She has worked as a PT in several NY and Connecticut locations before coming to Game Shape. She has over 13 years of experience treating orthopedics and sports-related conditions.

Stacey Palumbo, DPT

Stacey graduated with a doctoral degree in physical therapy from The University of Medicine and Dentistry in May 2005 and has been practicing since August 2005. She did her undergraduate schooling at The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ where she graduated with a BS in Biology in December 2000.

Stacey has been trained in myofascial release techniques and is excited to take classes to further her education. Her interests include orthopaedics and sports specific training. Stacey grew up in East Brunswick, NJ where she participated in several sports, including field hockey, basketball and softball, and also played Division III field hockey at The College of NJ. She continues to remain active with recreational activities, cardiovascular exercises and weight training.

Tiffany Spadafora, MPT

Tiffany has been with Game Shape since January, 2006. To say that she is a "Jack-of-all-Trades" might be an understatement! She used great work experiences and schooling and decided to attempt a career in Physical Therapy shortly after she was married in late 1996. She attended the College of Staten Island and took undergrad classes, all aimed at obtaining a spot in their Physical Therapy program. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in New Hyde Park, New York in 1993, Tiffany worked at the Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan, and then at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Central Park South. She quickly climbed the ladder in the food service industry, becoming the Catering Sales Manager at the Ritz by age 22. Tiffany wanted to further her education, and desired a position in the medical profession.

After her graduation from the College of Staten Island's Physical Therapy Program in March 2003, Tiffany spent some time at home with her husband and daughter, who incidentally was born in late December 2001….after six straight finals! Not to be outdone, at 8 months pregnant with her son, she passed the Physical Therapy boards in April, 2004. In that time, she has maintained a busy schedule. She is very active in her church's music department, singing in the choir and performing solo's. They even cut a gospel CD in 2005! She has a busy workout schedule, mixing weight training, cardio and spinning classes. She uses her knowledge and experience in the gym to help her clients. Tiffany also uses her experience in the kitchen to prepare healthy meals for the family, and caters all of her own family parties, sometimes up to 60 people!

Tiffany did Internships at Silver Lake Nursing home, Staten Island, NY, in geriatrics, at BCS in Freehold, NJ in orthopedics, at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ in the Cardiac Rehab division, and at JFK Hospital, Edison, NJ in pediatrics. She especially liked the Pediatric and Orthopedic fields.

When looking for her first time position as a Physical Therapist, it was important for her to maintain her role as full time mommy and wife, so the part-time position at Game Shape was ideal for her and her family. She is a dedicated Therapist, and has a caring and gentle personality. But don't let that fool you, if you have a stuck trigger point, she'll rub it out! She looks forward to being active in her children's future scholastic and recreational activities, as well as continuing to advance in the Physical Therapy Profession, and whatever else God has for her life!

Lori Gerbereux, CPT, Nutrition Consultant

Lori Gerbereux has been an athlete most of her life. It is easy to see why she is, today, a certified personal trainer and nutritionist. She's a distance runner, a record setting power lifter and is presently a competitive all natural bodybuilder. She has a strong understanding of the importance of exercise and nutrition in keeping the mind and body healthy in today's fast paced, highly stressful world.

Lori is dedicated to helping people develop a training and nutrition program that can fit into their busy lives. She also continues to strive to enhance her own life by currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Nutrition.

Lori also volunteers at local hospitals, working with cancer patients during their chemotherapy treatments. She helps them maintain good nutrition and physical fitness during this time, thus lessening the effects of this harsh treatment.

According to Lori, "happiness is a healthy body"!

Dan Greco, BA, NASM / WITS Certified Personal Trainer

Dan has extensive experience in the Sports and Fitness field. He's been a Health and Physical Education teacher for four years prior to becoming a Personal Trainer. Dan went to Cedarville University and obtained a BA in Health and Physical Education. He's coached basketball and soccer at the high school level and spent several summers coaching for a youth sports camp in Staten Island. He keeps active by playing hockey, baseball, golf, racquetball, and camping during his spare time. He's patient with clients and is confident he will help you achieve your fitness goals. Dan's areas of expertise include: functional strength and conditioning, core stabilization, balance training, and weight management.

Joanna Maidment, NSCA-CPT

Joanna joined the Planet Fitness - Physical Therapy & Wellness Center in 2002 as a Physical Therapy Aide. She now divides her time between personal training and patient rehabilitation, working with many different populations, ranging from 8 year old children to 80 year old adults.

Joanna has studied dance with various regional dance companies, including the American Reparatory Ballet Company (formerly known as The Princeton Ballet). Her athletic background includes competing in regional events as a racewalker and runner, winning numerous awards as one of the top 3 athletes in her category.

Joanna has earned the distinguished NSCA-CPT credential for personal training through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, one of the leading organizations in the health and fitness industry for personal training and strength conditioning.

Areas of expertise include: functional strength & conditioning, and core stabilization training.

Lawrence Zucconi, CPT

NASM Certified Personal Trainer

Lawrence graduated from Brookdale Community College with an A.A. degree in 2005 and is now enrolled in the Dual Degree program at Kean University with a major in Psychology. He is in the process of applying to the Nathan Weiss Graduate School at Kean to pursue his passion of working with the human body as an Occupational Therapist.

At a young age, like any other child, Lawrence loved playing sports such as hockey, basketball, baseball, and soccer. Lawrence also grew up with asthma, which made it very difficult to play these sports. He was faced with a decision to either give up or do something to better his situation. His freshman year of high school, his gym teacher and best friend, helped him with that decision and he took up running track. For Lawrence it was one of the hardest yet one of the biggest accomplishments so far. Running and exercise became second nature. By the time he was in his senior year, he had gone from running a mile in 6:30, with taking his inhaler before each race, to running a mile in 5:05 with no inhaler. He had also gone from running a mile, to his personal best, 10 miles by his senior year. It was like his asthma had almost disappeared. After funning for years of Cross-Country and track, he had realized what his passion was...the human body.

With his teenage years as first-hand proof of what exercise can do not only for you aesthetically, but physically and mentally, he was hooked. He continued running and exercising through the next couple years while he was managing at Ruby Tuesday from 2003-2007. His passion became more of a reality once he accepted a job as a personal trainer at NYSC in 2007. While employed there, he obtained his NASM-CPT (National Academy of Sports Medicine- Certified Personal Training certificate) and also has specialization in senior, youth, and pre/post natal fitness. He then continued on his journey and found a great fir here at Game Shape in 2008.

Lawrence molded himself into an all around trainer through the years, given his specific training, which is sport related, to everyday functional training. He likes to focus on core stabilization and balance, which targets the core. The core ultimately protects the most important parts of our body, our organs and heart. He also trains for strength endurance, power, agility, hypertrophy, and stamina.

Michael Carroll, BS Exercise Science, CPT, CSCS

Michael Carroll is owner/operator of The Training Advantage, LLC an in-home personal training business in Monmouth / Middlesex Counties of central NJ. The training Advantage specializes in fitness, weight loss and sports performance programs.

Michael has a B.S. degree in Exercise Science from Rutgers University. He also has two certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a personal trainer and strength and conditioning specialist, and is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Corrective Exercises Specialist.

Michael has over 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry as a personal trainer, strength coach, manager, teacher and group instructor. He has worked with clients with a wide variety of ages and goals. Michael has come to Game Shape as a freelance personal trainer and continues with his in home business.

Karen Goeller, CPT

Sciron Fitness

Karen Goeller, ended up at Game Shape when she needed a facility to train her athletes. Ms. Goeller has been training athletes since 1978 and has produced State and National Champions. She is the author of the Swing Set Fitness books, Gymnastics Drills and Conditioning books, and many articles. Her inspiration for writing came after an accident left her with permanent spinal damage. Before her success as a published author, Ms. Goeller worked for Bela Karolyi, owned a gymnastics club, and had a college education that included physical therapy, health, nutrition, and advertising. She has held fitness, nutrition, EMT, and gymnastics certifications. Ms. Goeller has been featured in the media countless times, most recently in The Coast Star and Asbury Park Press.

Francine Della Pietro, CNC

Certified Nutritional Counselor and Holistic Health Counselor

Francine graduated from the Academy of Natural Health Sciences. She started her own business, Nutritional Lifestyles, LLC, and counsel clients in nutrition independently in Personal Training Studios and Fitness Centers. Francine specializes in Gastrointestinal Diseases, such as Crohns, Celiac Sprue, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). She herself suffered from IBS and has learned to control her condition with diet, supplementation and exercise.

Francine also counsels clients for weight loss and other conditions such as; food intolerances, cholesterol and chronic diseases such as diabetes. My passion is to help others learn how proper nutrition aids the body in healing itself.  By creating nutritional programs individualized to each client Francine provides them with the knowledge and strength in controlling their health. She holds a Personal Training Certification with the American Fitness Professionals & Associates (AFPA) and she also is a member of the American Association of Nutritional Counselors (AANC) as well as the American Holistic Health Association (AHHA).

Danielle Bulmer, CMT

Certified Massage Therapist

Danielle has been practicing massage therapy for over 7 years. Graduating from the Center for Therapeutic Massage under the instruction of Mona Schreck, in 2003. Danielle went on to work for several local chiropractors and upscale day spas, before joining Game Shape.

Danielle incorporates her knowledge of deep tissue, sports massage, Swedish massage techniques with various energy work modalities she has been trained in to bring her clients a customized experience that separates her from other massage therapists.