2024 CPTN Personal Trainer Online Summit Speaker Biographies
Elaine de Markondes, MD, MSc, PT
Renowned Medical Doctor and Physiotherapist, Master Trainer in Pilates and Fascial Fitness Master Trainer, Dr. Elaine de Markondes brings a wealth of expertise to the field of movement science. With a background as a former Ballet and Tango dancer, she seamlessly integrates her diverse knowledge into her practice. For 25 years, Dr. Markondes has dedicated her studies to innovative fascial system training principles, focusing on injury prevention, athletes' and dancers' performance, rehabilitation, and overall well-being. She co-founded Nucleo do Corpo 27 years ago, where she serves as the administrative and clinical director, utilizing Pilates and manual therapy principles for musculoskeletal disorder management and pain control. For more information, please visit www.nucleodocorpo.com.br.
Kevin Duguay, Dip. Health Sciences and Athletic Training, CPTN-CPRCS
Kevin Duguay is a 40-year veteran of the Sports Medicine field and a recipient of the Cooper Canada Award for Outstanding Achievement. He is a Sports Rehabilitation Specialist who has worked as the Head Athletic Therapist for a wide range of professional and amateur teams. Kevin was a professor at various Ontario colleges, currently presents lectures nationwide, and is a CPTN course conductor for the CPTN Post-Rehabilitation and Conditioning courses.
Karsten Jensen, MSc, CPTN-CPT.M
Karsten Jensen is a periodization coach and expert who has helped world-class and Olympic-level athletes from 26 different sports, many of whom have won Olympic medals, European Championships, World Championships, and ATP Tournaments. He authored The Flexible Periodization Method and Performance Optimization with Periodization, has published over 160 articles and 21 instructor training manuals, and is an international speaker who has conducted hundreds of live, one to four-day workshops. For more information, please visit www.yestostrength.com.
Ken Kinakin, DC, CSCS
Dr. Ken Kinakin founded the Society of Weight-Training Injury Specialists – SWIS, which educates and certifies doctors, therapists and personal trainers in exercise muscle testing, rehabilitation and treatment of weight training injuries. He has also competed in bodybuilding and powerlifting for over 40 years and has set national and world records. He regularly lectures internationally to doctors and personal trainers on weight training, rehabilitation, nutrition and lifestyle medicine. For more information, please visit www.swis.ca.
Judi Laprade, PhD, MSc, BSc, BA
For 20 years, Dr. Judi Laprade has functionally taught Anatomy to train Kinesiology, Medical, Physical Therapy and Dentistry students in two different countries. Judi is an Associate Professor in Anatomy at the University of Toronto, teaching undergraduates, graduates and professional program trainees.
Deanna Lawson-Langford, BA, CPTN-CPT.M, CCF-CMCP, OFC-TFL
As the founder of Deanna Langford Coaching, CPTN course conductor, practical assessor, and professor, Deanna has been educating and certifying fitness leaders and personal trainers for over 25 years. As a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and coach practitioner, Deanna is passionate about creating classes and programs where people feel successful, seen, and safe. For more information, please visit www.deannalangfordcoaching.com.
Marc Lebert, BA, CPT, NLP Practitioner
Marc Lebert is the Chief Fitness Officer (CFO) of Lebert Fitness a global leader in developing innovative fitness tools and home of the Lebert EQualizer™, a fitness club owner, Black Belt, Certified NLP Practitioner, International Presenter, Silver Lining Entrepreneur of the Year, NEOS International Personal Trainer of the Year and named as one of Canada’s Top 100 Health Influencers by Optimyz Magazine. For more information, please visit www.lebertfitness.com.
Susan Lee, PhD, CPTN-CPT
Dr. Susan Lee is the president of the Certified Professional Trainers Network (CPTN) Inc. Drawing from her academic, certification and training experiences, she will be launching a series of Pilates workshops designed for professional development (CEC) and the CPTN-Certified Pilates Mat and Verticals Specialist (CPTN-CPMVS) in 2024. The comprehensive 5-module curriculum includes Functional Anatomy, Pilates Preludes & Classical Mat, Pilates Mat & Applications, Pilates Verticals Repertoire, and Pilates Ball and Props. Author of Online Personal Training: Taking Control of Your Personal Training & Fitness Business, she lectures at the college and university levels on leadership, business and equity studies; presents at international conferences; and publishes in peer-reviewed journals and educational platforms to share her research, practices and passions. For more information, please visit www.synergetics-wellness.com.
Serena MacLeod, CPsychol, HCPC, MSc, BSc, Dip Social Worker
Serena MacLeod is a Sport and Exercise Psychologist and Mental Performance Consultant who supports athletes, exercisers, performers, coaches and organizations through one-to-one sessions and educational workshops. After working as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist in the United Kingdom, she returned to Toronto last year and started her private consultancy, Cognitive Performance. Her areas of interest include supporting individuals returning to physical activity after injury, supporting individuals with acquired disabilities to engage in physical activity post in-patient rehabilitation and creating inclusive exercise settings. For more information, please visit www.cognitiveperformancesport.com.
Roger Makhlouf, BA, GOATA Certified
Roger is a certified trainer and movement coach who has amassed more than a decade of fitness experience through personal training, group training and becoming a fitness club owner. The spectrum of clients includes youth, adults, older adults and athletes. Having a passion for always furthering his knowledge in strength training, boxing, and running has greatly benefited the people he works with. With an athletic background, he understands the importance of exercise for performance and injury prevention. For more information, please visit www.cognitiveperformancesport.com.
Ashley Nooman, BPHE,BEd, MACP (Candidate)
Ashley is a passionate Psychotherapist (qualifying), Trauma-informed Yoga Instructor, and athlete. With a background in competitive sports, Ashley grew up playing and excelling in ice hockey and soccer. She completed her Honours Bachelor of Physical Education and Health and her Bachelor of Education at the University of Toronto while deepening her interest in personal training and weight-lifting. During these years, Ashley struggled with her mental health but often felt ashamed. She began to attend therapy for support with mood, eating disorders and complex trauma while she researched a lot about trauma. These experiences and healing made Ashley feel determined to become a therapist, hoping to help others find peace within themselves and create self-led lives. Ashley is now completing her Psychotherapy internship and is available to work with clients one-on-one.
Libby Norris, BA, PTS, FIS
With over 30 years in fitness, Libby’s experience includes corporate wellness entrepreneur, education faculty, international presenter, author, boxer, and Canada AM Fitness Correspondent. Libby serves as the City of Mississauga Manager with Fitness and Therapeutic programs, developing inclusive programs for fitness, older adults, chronic conditions, and hospital partnership programs. For more information, please visit www.cravinghealth.ca.
Jodi Robinson, BSc, RD, MEd (Candidate)
Jodi Robinson is a registered dietitian and former fitness professional who works for Loblaw Inc. and runs a private practice, Craving Health Dietitian & Wellness Services in northern Ontario. She specializes in helping busy people find simple and realistic healthy lifestyle solutions with a focus on nutrition for weight management using a non-dieting approach, physical activity, disordered eating, and diabetes. In addition, Jodi teaches nutrition at Humber College and consults with media and the food industry about the latest food and nutrition trends. For more information, please visit www.cravinghealth.ca.
Cody Sipe, PhD
For 30 years, Dr. Cody Sipe has been a professor, global educator, author, award-winning fitness professional and industry leader with advanced expertise in functional exercise for older adults. He co-founded the Functional Aging Institute and created the Functional Aging Specialist certification and the Ageless Fitness Program. He currently serves on several industry boards, including the Journal on Aging and Physical Activity editorial board, and recently published the consumer book Quick Functional Exercises for Seniors. For more information, please visit www.functionalaginginstitute.com.
Sujena Sutharasun, BA, OCELT, E-RYT 200
Two of Sujena’s greatest passions are adult education and holistic wellness. She is a compassionate and trauma-informed movement facilitator certified in yoga and mat and reformer pilates who strives to create more inclusive and accessible wellness spaces that promote and prioritize developing and maintaining strength, mobility, and sustainable pain-free movement for healthier living. Outside of wellness, she is an adult educator who designs and delivers learning solutions.