meet the fAculty, New York

Ciaran Cribbs Faculty Instructor

Eva Ledezma Faculty Instructor

Matthew Jenkins Faculty Instructor

Jon Elliott Faculty Instructor

Randy Gruezo Faculty Instructor

BACK TO TOPCiaran Cribbs Faculty Instructor
We sometimes wonder if AAPT Instructor Ciaran Cribbs might actually be 5 people rolled into one. After moving to the United States from Ireland, Ciaran earned his undergraduate degree in Human Nutrition, followed by a graduate degree in Exercise and Sports Nutrition, and followed by yet another graduate program in Clinical Exercise Physiology.

Ciaran is a Registered Dietician, a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist, a Certified Personal Trainer, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a Certified Health and Fitness Instructor, and a Licensed Teacher. He has worked in settings ranging from corporate (Citigroup) to clinical (Joslin Diabetes Center, Melrose-Wakefield Hospital Cardiac Rehab) to community (Cooper Clinic) to fitness management (New York Sports Clubs) to educational (Northeastern, Texas WU, AAPT).

As a teacher, Ciaran cares deeply about bringing each of his students successfully through the curriculum that he is teaching. He has a truly unique talent for breaking down complicated concepts and dense study material into easily digested pieces for his students. Aside from his contributions at AAPT, Ciaran has also taught undergraduate courses, community seminars, employee training programs and occupational education programs in subjects ranging from Nutrition to Exercise Physiology to Public Health to Personal Training.

When he's not teaching, Ciaran is also a competitive soccer player, a marathon athlete, a world-traveling hiker...and we think possibly also a gladiator or an astronaut (you really never know with Ciaran).

BACK TO TOPEva Ledezma Faculty Instructor
Ever since Eva Ledezma can remember, she has wanted to be a teacher. And it was that dream she was pursuing as a student at the prestigious Paris-Sorbonne University in France. When she arrived in France, she was expecting to be filled with French culture and language. What she discovered instead was her true passion. Her time in France solidly formed her desire to become a stronger, more physically fit individual, and her education and career goals were turned on their head.

A semester away from graduating, Eva instead began taking courses in kinesiology. Two years later, she graduated with a minor in kinesiology - but she didn't stop there. Driven to fully pursue her new passion, she applied (and was accepted) to Columbia University's Applied Physiology and Nutrition program.

Along the way, Eva has had plenty of opportunities to hone her teaching skills. She is fluent in English, Spanish and French, has taught in the United States, France and Vietnam, and her students have ranged in age from young children to adults.

Meanwhile, Eva is an accomplished and experienced Personal Trainer. She practices currently as a Nutrition Consultant and Personal Trainer for PPTS Wellness, as well as a Pacer and Running Coach for Nike Run Club. In her teaching roles outside of AAPT, Eva has provided workshops as a guest lecturer for Nike and offers monthly lectures on Practical Nutrition at the Bodies Exhibit in Downtown Manhattan.

After culminating a year-long internship as part of her studies at Columbia, Eva will qualify to take the American Dietetic Association's exam to become a Registered Dietician.

When Eva is not teaching or training, she is an Ultra-Marathoner, a Triathlete, and a member of the Calpulli Mexican Folkloric Dance Company.

BACK TO TOPMatthew Jenkins Faculty Instructor
Matthew has been involved in fitness for over 20 years. He has worked with kids and senior citizens, athletes and fitness competitors. At age 12, Matthew was given his first weight set - it was plastic, and the weights were filled with water. Matt was hooked. The notion that we can shape and mold our bodies was truly fascinating!

But Matthew soon learned that the fitness world was flooded with quick fixes, risky techniques, drugs, surgeries, and eventually injury. This didn't satisfy Matthew's fascination. In his quest for knowledge, Matthew studied antibody engineering at Rutgers, researched artificial skin, peripheral nerve regeneration and bio-absorbable orthopedic fixation devices at IntegraLifeScience, and eventually went on to work for the government and New York University's School of Medicine doing research in neural transmitters. Matthew's conclusion in the end was firm - the answers lie in today's sciences, not in yesterday's myths.

Equipped with knowledge and experience beyond his original water-filled weight set, Matthew returned to his love for fitness and nutrition. He started out working independently as a Personal Trainer, and meanwhile wrote research papers for various supplement companies. Over the years, Matthew has worked for a number of NYC gyms. Today, he is happily working as a Fitness Manager and Personal Trainer for New York Sports Clubs, where the motto is "improving lives through exercise" and work/life balance is emphasized.

When the opportunity to teach at AAPT arose, Matthew eagerly made room in his schedule. Nothing could better cap off his quest for knowledge than the chance to pass along that knowledge to students. In class, Matthew enjoys teaching the practical aspects of fitness, drawing from the real-world experience that he has gained through the years. He believes wholeheartedly that gaining this form of practical experience at AAPT is absolutely essential to becoming a successful trainer.

BACK TO TOPJon Elliott Faculty Instructor
Jon began his career in fitness over 15 years ago as a student at Virginia Tech, earning his Bachelor of Science degree with a Pre-Med option in the Science of Human Foods, Nutrition and Exercise.

During his time at Virginia Tech, Jon interned at Blue Ridge Physical Therapy and worked as a Corrective Exercise Specialist at Tuck Chiropractic. Meanwhile, he also learned first-hand about the benefits of sport-specific training as a Division I Wrestler and a competitive raw power lifter.

Following his graduation from Virginia Tech, Jon opened a new fitness center in Abington, VA and right away gained invaluable experience in staff development, facility operations, marketing, and equipment procurement. Two years later, he moved to New York and joined Bally Sports Club as a Personal Trainer. Over the next five years, Jon worked his way up through the ranks, eventually becoming the Regional Director of Personal Training. In this role, Jon was responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of in-house education programs for Bally's Personal Trainers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Since his arrival in New York City, Jon has worked as a manager and in-house educator in multiple settings, from corporate (Plus One), to commercial (Bally Sports Club), to private studio & luxury residential (Complete Body).

Today, as a Faculty Instructor at AAPT, Jon brings with him a wide range of skills in both the practice of personal training, as well as in business management, staff development and health/fitness education. Jon also continues to work with Plus One, Inc., providing consultation to start-up fitness organizations focused on community outreach and special populations. When he's not teaching or consulting, Jon loves to get out into the country with his wife and dog to go hiking and camping.

BACK TO TOPRandy Gruezo Faculty Instructor
Randy Gruezo is an AAPT Faculty Instructor and the founder/co-owner of No B.S. Fitness Solutions, a private fitness consulting company based in New York City. Randy earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Brooklyn College (CUNY) and is currently a Master of Science candidate in Human Movement from Arizona School of Health Sciences.

Since entering the fitness industry 12 years ago, Randy has worked as a personal trainer, personal training instructor, and personal training manager for a number of fitness establishments. Randy's lengthiest tenure was with Equinox Fitness Clubs, where he worked his way up to the club's top-tier Personal Training level, eventually becoming a fitness manager and an instructor to other Equinox trainers as part of the club's in-house education program. Outside of Equinox, Randy has worked as a Personal Trainer with The Sports Club LA, 24 Hour Fitness, and currently with his own company, No B.S. Fitness Solutions. Randy also shares his passion for fitness and human performance by writing articles and blogging on topics relating to health and fitness.

Randy's mission in all that he does is simple: provide effective, efficient, and life-changing fitness and wellness solutions - anytime, anyplace, at any investment - and have fun doing it! He brings his passion, academic background, and "in-the-trenches" experience to guide and mentor AAPT students through the exciting process of becoming professionals in fitness.