ACSM’s Certification and Registry Boards is excited to announce the finalists selected for the 2026 ACSM Certified Professional of the Year award. This award recognizes an outstanding ACSM certified professional’s dedication and exceptional contributions to enhance the health and wellness of individuals in the community. The winner will be announced at the 2026 ACSM Health & Fitness Summit.
Shannon Fitzgerald is a clinical exercise physiologist and registered nurse who holds a Master of Science in Nursing (Leadership & Management) and a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology. Currently serving at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Manchester, NH, she has pioneered home-based cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs, making her facility the only VA in New England to offer both. Shannon integrates exercise science into nursing practice to bridge medicine and movement, leading quality improvement initiatives that enhance access and outcomes for veterans. She is ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP), Exercise is Medicine credentialed, and a Physical Activity & Public Health Specialist, combining clinical expertise with advocacy to advance exercise as a core component of healthcare.
Steven A. Trotter holds a Master of Science in Education (Health and Physical Education) and is an ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP). A nationally recognized wellness strategist, educator, and author, he leads Globetrotter Wellness Solutions and serves as Director of Well-Being at East Carolina University, overseeing initiatives that impact more than 37,000 students, faculty, and staff. Steven has directed award-winning programs, launched the Collegiate Fitness Directors Summit, and co-authored Fitness Facility Management (Human Kinetics, 2025). With over two decades of leadership experience, he mentors emerging professionals, teaches at Coastal Carolina Community College, and advocates for evidence-based practices that elevate health and well-being across higher education and corporate sectors.
Travis Weisbrod earned a Master of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Clinical Exercise Physiology and serves as Wellness Program Director at St. Christopher’s Addiction Wellness Center in Baton Rouge, LA. He has developed comprehensive, evidence-based exercise programs that integrate physical activity into mental health and addiction treatment, improving outcomes for individuals with conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Travis also co-founded Magnolia Belle, Louisiana’s first female-specific inpatient addiction treatment center, where he designed trauma-informed wellness programming. An ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP), Travis combines his clinical expertise with leadership in program development, mentorship, and advocacy, championing exercise as a cornerstone of recovery and holistic health.
Michael Stack, ACSM-EP, is a distinguished exercise professional and advocate with over 26 years of experience in fitness, health, and wellness. As the founder of the Michigan Moves Coalition and president-elect of the Physical Activity Alliance, he champions policy initiatives that elevate physical activity as a core component of healthcare. Michael also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Michigan, where he educates future exercise professionals. His podcast, Wellness Paradox, and his editorial work with ACSM contribute to advancing standards in the fitness industry. His work focuses on sustainable, evidence-based practices for broad community health impact.
Brian is employed at the Bellin Health Marinette Clinic in Marinette, WI where he prepares patients and supervises their outpatient cardiac stress testing. He has experience in all three phases of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient cardiac stress testing, ECP Therapy, application of Holter and blood pressure monitors and body composition assessment. He created a Phase 2 Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at the Bellin Health Marinette Clinic that continues to serve patients.
Louise is CEO of BreakingThroughWellness.com, offering holistic coaching, educational events, and a comprehensive learning academy for active women and runners 35+. It’s her passion to translate cutting-edge science into efficient strategies so others can break through setbacks, thrive after 35, and maximize health, fitness and performance with more energy, less stress.
Involved in the health and fitness industry since 1995, Alexis is based in Larisa, Greece and currently works as an adjunct lecturer, personal trainer and fitness educator presenting in more than 40 countries across five continents. He is the founder of the International Obesity Exercise Training Institute, teaching internationally approved continuing education courses on exercise and health for fitness professionals around the globe. His primary research interest is the study of hybrid-type, multicomponent interval training in obesity.
Kristin is the fitness and wellness coordinator in the Health Promotion Department at Michigan State University (MSU). Traskie’s mission is clear: Create a culture of health and well-being on campus and in the surrounding community. In addition to ACSM certifications, she also holds certifications from several other organizations. She uses research-backed knowledge from those fitness certifications to create holistic wellness and movement opportunities. Her work through MSU’s Health Promotion Department, Exercise is Medicine® on Campus initiative, Well-Being Coalition and The SPARTANfit Fitness and Wellness Program is improving health outcomes and life satisfaction for students.
