Achieve Your Fitness Goals with the JCC Personal Training Team

The Greater New Haven JCC Personal Training Team is here to guide people of all ages and abilities on their fitness journeys. Our team of expert trainers specializes in a variety of areas.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your fitness routine, our trainers create personalized plans tailored to your unique goals and needs.

Sessions are available in 50-minute or 25-minute formats, ensuring you can fit training into your schedule.

New to Personal Training?

As part of your membership, you are entitled to a FREE Fitness Center Orientation! This 25-minute session provides an introduction to cardio and circuit machines, helping you get started with confidence. 

Contact Pam Olszyk, Wellness Director at pamelao@jccnh.org to set it up and take the first step toward your fitness goals!

Pamela Olszyk

Fitness Director, MS in Exercise Science (Human Performance), Mobility & Corrective Exercise Specialist, Exercise Physiologist  

Pam is a passionate fitness professional with over a decade of experience helping people move better and feel their best. With a Master’s in Exercise Science focused on Human Performance, she specializes in mobility and corrective exercise techniques that address imbalances, reduce pain, and enhance functional movement. Her deep understanding of how the body moves, combined with a genuine desire to improve lives, drives her every day. Nothing brings her more joy than seeing clients move pain-free and regain confidence in their bodies.

Steve Freitas

Assistant Fitness Director, BS Exercise Science [Human Performance], NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach, ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist,  NSPA Certified Speed and Agility Coach

With a deeply rooted background in the fitness industry, Steve brings extensive, hands-on experience across a wide range of settings—including commercial gyms, rehabilitation facilities, collegiate athletics, private studios, in-home training, and adaptive fitness programs for individuals with special needs. He has worked closely with clients of all ages and abilities, from young children and teens to adults in their 80s and beyond. Steve’s approach is comprehensive and evidence-based, with a strong focus on improving functional movement, building lasting strength, and enhancing both performance and overall quality of life.

Terri Tully

Healthy Aging & Therapeutic Wellness Director, Parkinson’s Fitness Specialist, Rock Steady Boxing for Parkinson’s, NASM Senior Fitness Specialist, Certified 
Personal Trainer

Terri joined the JCC team in 2012 after completing the Largest Loser Program—an experience that ignited her passion for health and wellness. Certified in Spin/Cycling, TRX, and CrossCore, she brings a motivating, well-rounded approach to every class. A pickleball instructor since 2017 and an avid golfer, Terri lives her passion for movement both on and off the court. A 1990 graduate of the Connecticut Culinary Institute, she blends her knowledge of fitness, nutrition, and wellness into a holistic approach to health. Her philosophy is simple: movement is the best medicine.

Pam Hutchinson

MS Exercise Science, ACE Personal Trainer & Health Coach, TRX Suspension Training Certified, Yoga & Rip Training Certified, Mobility Recipe Certified

Pam has been part of the fitness industry since 1987, starting in group exercise and later expanding into personal training while earning her master’s degree in Exercise Science from Southern Connecticut State University. She spent several years managing group fitness programs at local gyms before returning to the JCC in 2010, where she continues to share her passion for movement and wellness. With decades of experience and a focus on functional movement, she helps clients of all ages build strength, improve mobility, and feel their best every day.

Debra Forselius

AAAI ISMA Advanced Personal Trainer, TRX Suspension Training Certified, Certified Yoga Tune Up (S.E.A.T.), Certified Holistic Health Coach, Certified Advanced Aquatics Instructor, WATSU & Wu Ji Gigong Practioner

With over 40 years of experience in health, fitness, and rehabilitation, Debra brings deep expertise to her work with clients recovering from cardiac issues, Parkinson’s, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and post-surgery rehabilitation. She is known for her personalized approach, tailoring each program to individual needs with a focus on rehabilitation, balance, and older adult fitness. Her popular aquatics classes consistently draw high attendance, reflecting her passion for helping clients build strength, improve balance, and maintain muscle conditioning for lifelong wellness.

Erin Gorski

BFA and MFA in Acting and Classical performance/Alexander Technique A NYC-based professional actor, director, and professor specializing in Advanced Movement techniques for over twenty years. 

Erin is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Wesleyan University and former Movement Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Montclair State University. She holds a BFA and MFA in Acting and Classical performance and an Alexander Technique Certification from Balance Center Arts in NYC.

Mat Scherer

NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Rock Steady Boxing For Parkinson’s

Mat Scherer focuses on strength and conditioning training for clients of all ages, combining practical experience with a passion for holistic health. With a strong interest in reflexology and whole-body wellness, Mat takes an integrated approach to building strength, mobility, and resilience. Known for his interactive and engaging training style, Mat often joins in alongside his clients to keep energy high and motivation strong. His background in boxing brings an added edge to his sessions—delivering high-intensity cardio, coordination, and mental focus in every workout.

Christopher Brockenberry

NASM Certified Personal Trainer

With a background in sociology and a focus in criminology, Christopher began his professional career in law enforcement. Driven by a lifelong desire to serve and support others, he later transitioned into the field of health science to help individuals improve their well-being through fitness. As a personal trainer, Christopher is committed to meeting clients where they are—building trust through shared experience and a personalized approach. He specializes in athletic-based strength and power training, complemented by balance work and injury-prevention techniques designed to promote long-term health and performance.

Lisa Aldo

Stott Trained Pilates Reformer Instructor, AAA/ISMA Certified Personal Trainer, Phoenix Yoga Trainer Barre Instructor, Reiki 1 Certified

Lisa’s fitness philosophy is rooted in personal experience. After facing the challenges of losing control of her body, she transitioned from a sedentary lifestyle to one centered on strength, balance, and discipline. She fell in love with the  intensity of HIIT training and the mindful precision of Reformer Pilates. By combining weight training, calisthenics, Pilates, and barre-inspired movements—along with macro tracking—Lisa has achieved and sustained a 87-pound weight loss over seven years. She’s passionate about helping others find the same strength and balance in their own lives.

Donna Schmardel

ISSA Certified Master Trainer, Brain Fitness Coach, Specialist in: Exercise Therapy, Corrective Exercise, Senior Fitness, Sports Nutrition & APDA Fitness Certified

Holding Bachelor’s, Master’s and Sixth Year degrees in education, Donna’s passion for teaching and helping people has transitioned to personal training and fitness instruction. A lifelong fitness enthusiast and highly experienced professional, her goal is to help people of all ages improve their health through personalized, structured exercises programs. Donna’s clients experience a variety of methodologies that focus on building strength, increasing flexibility and improving balance. She believes a healthy lifestyle that involves exercising the mind and body along with good nutritional practices leads to a better quality of life, for life.

Gene Alers

ACE Certified Personal Trainer/Strength and Conditioning Coach, AFFA CPT, Level 2 Integrative Health Practitioner

With over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, Gene is a seasoned Personal Trainer and Integrative Health Practitioner specializing in body transformation and strength development. Blending science-based training with holistic wellness, Gene helps clients achieve lasting results from the inside out. As the creator of a cutting-edge fitness app, he brings expert coaching, personalized programs, and real-time support right to your fingertips—empowering you to take control of your health and transform your life.

Danny Smooke

NASM Certified Personal Trainer, NASM Certified, Nutrition Coach

A lifelong JCC member, Danny graduated from Yale in 2018 with a B.A. in Art History and Theater Studies, and earned her MFA in Illustration from the University of Hartford in 2024. Besides being a passionate Spartan race competitor, she also has a strong golf background, having played varsity golf and competed in the Connecticut Section Junior Golf Tour. She specializes in strength training and the mind-body connection, bringing creativity, focus, and motivation to every session. Danny is especially passionate about helping adolescent girls and women build confidence, embrace competition, and reach their full potential.