Harold Hilliard
Fitness Director / Managing Partner
Harold is the fitness director of STEP IT UP FITNESS and was a 3-sport high school letterman. For the past 15 years, he's worked in various fitness capacities for The Lovett School and Whitefield Academy, where he currently serves as the Physical Education Department Chair and strength and conditioning coordinator.
He received an undergraduate degree in exercise physiology at Jacksonville State and earned his master's degree at Shorter College. Harold also holds the highest certification in the strength and conditioning field: a Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction, from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Ryan Byers
Lead Instructor / Managing Partner
Ryan, a former collegiate baseball player at Southern Polytechnic State University, has more than 15 years of leadership experience in business management.
Ryan earned his bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Southern Polytechnic State University. While completing his degree, Ryan was the Director of Athletics at The Vinings Club located in Atlanta, Ga.
An accomplished entrepreneur and marketer, Byers founded his first logistics company in 1994 and today is CEO of a transportation management firm. Ryan is a USTAF Certified running coach and has competed in numerous running competitions that include 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon events.
Allyson Balzuweit
Dietitian/Nutrition Consultant
Allyson has been a Registered Dietitian for 10 years, and has worked in a variety of settings providing nutrition counseling to individuals and groups with amultitude of nutrition needs. She received a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from The University of Connecticut, and has experience in all areas of nutrition including weight management, sports nutrition, cholesterol management, diabetes, hypertension and pediatric and geriatric nutrition. Allyson received a Masters Degree in Public Health from The George Washington University in 2005 and recently became certified in Child and Adolescent Weight Managament.
Allyson is also an avid runner and has completed two marathons and several 5K and 10K races. She is passionate about fitness and health and enjoys helping individuals accomplish goals in these areas.
While working as a clinical and outpatient nutritionist in Washington DC for 7 years, she consulted for Sport and Health clubs, where she enjoyed working with clients who share her same passion for fitness and health. She also offered nutrition classes for endurance athletes training for marathons and century rides, and worked with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training Program to help new athletes achieve optimal nutrition status while training for marathons.
Allyson is able to provide a wide array of customized nutrition services that will complement and enhance individuals’ specific nutrition and fitness goals.
Kristi Mounts
Associate Instructor/Athletic Trainer
Kristi has a passion for competitive athletics and fitness. She has always been involved with athletics through high school and college. She loves sports so much that she chose athletic training as her profession. She is currently the Head Athletic Trainer at Whitefield Academy and has been there for 4 years. She is certified through the National Athletic Trainer's Association and is also certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA.
Kristi graduated from Defiance College in Ohio with a Bachelor's Degree in Wellness and Athletic Training. She then went on to earn her Master's Degree from Georgia State University in Athletic Training.
Danny Ryan
Associate Instructor/Athletic Trainer
Danny played both varsity football and basketball during high school. Danny graduated form the University of South Florida with a degree in sports medicine/athletic training. While there Danny worked as a student athletic trainer with both football, baseball, volleyball and track teams. After graduation he worked as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech with the football and men's tennis team and now is working as the head athletic trainer at Whitefield Academy. Danny is a Member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and his certifications include ATC, First Aid, CPR, and AED.
Haley Brown
Associate Instructor
Haley has been involved in competitive sports all through high school. She graduated from Auburn University with an undergraduate degree in Physical Education. She currently works at Whitefield Academy as a Middle School P.E. teacher, as well as, coach’s softball and soccer. She just finished her first half marathon and plans on running another one later this fall. She is also currently pursuing a national certification in personal training.
Bryan Greenberg
Associate Instructor
Bryan grew up in Maryland and was a high school cross country and track runner. Over the next decade physical fitness wasn't as high a priority. Over a year ago, bootcamp helped Bryan lose that extra body weight and brought back his passion for being in good shape. Since bootcamp, Bryan has competed in 5 and 10 Ks and also completed his first 1/2 Marathon, with hopes and aspirations of a full marathon in the next year. Bryan has seen what a wonderful transformation bootcamp has had on so many of the campers lives, besides looking great, they feel more confident and are happier with their overall lives. If you are looking for that change in your life, it is definetly time for you to "Step It Up!!!"
Kent Lilly
Associate Instructor
Kent was the valedictorian and a 2 sport letterman in high school and has continued to be active in multiple amateur athletic sports ever since. He graduated with honors in 1986 with a BBA degree in Accounting from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX. He is currently founder and president of Westport Realty Group, Inc., a commercial real estate firm specializing in the brokerage, leasing and development of retail and restaurant real estate. He came to SIU in early '07 as a camper and participated in camps throughout the summer and became an Associate Instructor in September of 2007.
Lisa Rieves
Associate Instructor
Lisa is a stay-at-home mother of two with a passion for running. She has completed the Marine Corps Marathon, Silver Comet Half Marathon and many 10 and 5K’s. She’s currently training for the Chicago and NYC Marathons.
Joe Ryder
Associate Instructor
Joe has participated in multiple competitive sports since the age of 5. Narrowing his focus to football in high school, Joe went on to play football for two seasons with the University of Georgia. After graduating Joe joined the Atlanta Renegades Rugby Club where he played for 8 years. During that time the Renegades won the South US Division, Joe was chosen for select sides in the Georgia and East Rugby Unions, and he eventually served as President of the Club. Joe also served as a Defensive Coach for the Brussels Angels Football team in Belgium in 1999-2000.
Joe began his rededication to fitness as one of our own and this year competed in the Annual Muddy Buddy competition where he and his partner brought home first place for STEP IT UP FITNESS for their division among 800 teams. Joe currently participates in 5K and 10K runs and is in active training for his first half-marathon.
When Joe isn't participating in fitness activity and events, he works for Oracle where he sells Enterprise Software.
Bobby Sharitz
Associate Instructor
Bobby grew up in Sandy Springs, Georgia and was a 3 sport athlete (football, basketball, & baseball). He was a North Fulton All-Star in football and was recruited for football by VA Tech and other universities. He decided to get his education and forgo a collegiate football career. Graduating from VA Tech in 1987, he moved back home to Atlanta and married Virginia Newbill. Bobby & Virginia have 2 children (Charlie is in 8th grade and Elaine is in the 6th grade) that attend Whitefield Academy.
Bobby has been involved with the STEP IT UP FITNESS program for over a year. He has lost over 50 lbs since that time and enjoys Stepping-it-up with others.
