Brian was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education from Northern Michigan University. In 1997, he started the sports medicine program at Keewenaw Memorial Rehab and Fitness in Laurium, Michigan. In the fall of 1997, he returned to Marquette to pursue a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science and work at Marquette General Hospital’s Sports Rehab department where he spent 8 years developing their sports performance program. In 2005, Brian was then recruited by Bell Hospital to create their Sports Medicine program. In 2006, he became co-owner of Marquette Orthopedic & Sports Therapy(MOST), where he ran the human performance component of the company which later became Advantedge Training. In 2012, he was hired by Marquette General Health System as the Director of Health and Human Performance where he helped create a comprehensive hospital employee wellness program.  Currently, he co-owns Synergy Fitness. He is licensed by the State of Michigan as an Athletic Trainer (AT) and is a board-certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association. Brian has more than 20 years of experience in sports medicine, corporate wellness/fitness, performance enhancement and personal training. As a team player dedicated to both his work and his two children, Brian has built a solid reputation as a leader in sports medicine, corporate wellness, fitness, and performance training.

JIM GALLAGHER, DPM, CSCS

Jim’s path to becoming a personal trainer has been somewhat atypical but in many ways has prepared him to work with a variety of clients with different training needs.  Growing up downstate in Grand Rapids, his childhood was filled with multiple team sports.  He played football, basketball, and ran track in high school.  Even as a child he enjoys endurance sports.  His parents had their doubts about him when running sand dunes along Like Michigan at 6 or 7 became a passion that exists to this day.  After high school, two sports captured his early adult interest – running and downhill skiing.  Those activities led him to choose a career in Podiatry.  In July of 2018, he retired after 33 years.  His special interest in Sports Podiatry made him aware of the importance of proper training for all age groups and activities.

His interest in Sports Podiatry lead him to his association with Brian Claus in 2002.  Brian was his trainer for several years, and Jim’s fitness improved dramatically.  Their relationship helped him to understand overall body function and how it relates to lower extremity function which in turn made him a better Podiatrist.  This great relationship led him to becoming a minority owner of Synergy Fitness in 2008.

After retiring, it seemed only natural to get more involved at Synergy as a personal trainer.  He passed the CSCS exam of the National Strength and Conditioning Association in March of 2019.  Whether someone is trying to ready for youth sports, maintaining function in senior years or somewhere in-between, he loves seeing people improve function leading to a better life.  His career as a Podiatrist taught him to evaluate each individual and tailor a program to their individual needs.  It’s been an honor for Jim to work with the excellent training staff at Synergy and he looks forward to working with the residents of our wonderful community.

Amanda Thompson is a 2011 graduate of Northern Michigan University with a degree in Athletic Training, becoming board certified and licensed in the state of Michigan in 2012. She obtained her personal training certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in January 2011 and has been working as a personal trainer ever since. Amanda became a Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner in 2016 and utilizes this knowledge on a weekly basis.  Amanda also attends the annual Great Lakes Athletic Training Conference, allowing her to stay on the cutting edge in her field.

Amanda enjoys helping people of all ages and ability levels. Having a background in sports medicine allows her to understand and adapt to any orthopedic injury, illness, surgery, condition, or limitation a person may have. She has many years of experience in this field, helping people with goals ranging from fall prevention to heavy weightlifting. She focuses her training programs on gaining mobility and strength, correcting muscle imbalances, increasing range of motion, and teaching proper body mechanics. Amanda has a true passion for encouraging and motivating individuals to live a healthier, stronger, and active lifestyle!

Kari Getschow graduated with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Athletic Training in 2011. As a Licensed Athletic Trainer at Synergy, she is focused on endurance training and helping young adults and athletes safely push themselves to become healthier and reach higher levels of competition.  She also provides medical coverage for events in the Superior Dome and NMU Club sports.

Kari enjoys lifting in the winter to keep her joints healthy and gain strength for her competitive season.  In 2018, she completed the Marji Gesick 50-mile trail run, finishing in third place.  She also competes in Olympic triathlons, marathons, half marathons and other fun endurance races. In her free time, she likes to hike and bike with her husband and two young girls.

MARY ANN MELENDEZ, LMT, ACE

Mary Ann became a Licensed Massage Therapist in May of 2017 with a goal to work in a fitness facility.  She then became a Certified Personal Trainer through the American Council of Exercise.  She hopes to continue her education and has applied to enter the Athletic Training program at Northern Michigan University, while researching several health and fitness related certifications. Mary Ann loves being able to help others achieve their health and wellness goals, enjoys helping athletes recover with sports massages and post injury massages.

Mary Ann is no stranger to the fitness world.  She participates in Tae Kwon Do, running events, and even bikini fitness competitions. When she's not chasing her young daughter, she volunteers at the local shelter.

ASHLEY MOORE, BS, NCSF-CPT

Ashley grew up in Negaunee, Michigan. In high school, she was a record setting track runner, an All-State basketball player and student-athlete that chose to pursue academics at The University of Michigan. After earning her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology, she moved to Chicago to put her knowledge to work.  Education and customer service are are Ashley's top priorities and those values continue to inspire her holistic approach to personal training. Ashley enjoys learning about the unique experiences that shape each client and creating a wellness program that compliments their lifestyle.

In her personal time she enjoys new experiences and challenging herself mentally, physically, and spiritually.  Ashley is grateful for the support of the team at Synergy and looks forward to helping the community members lead active and healthy lifestyles.

AARON KAIKKO, BS, CSCS

Aaron was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He received his Associate of Science degree from Gogebic Community College in 2016 and his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Northern Michigan University in 2018.

He has recently been helping with a number of the men’s and women’s teams at Northern Michigan University as a strength and conditioning coach.

He is passionate about helping people accomplish their goals through exercise and helping athletes improve their performance.

When he isn’t working Aaron enjoys hiking, lifting weights, playing basketball and watching football.