Manager
Michelle Artis
Parks Plus Fitness Center Manager
630-510-5135
martis@wheatonparks.org
-B.S. Physical Education/Fitness Management from DePaul University
-Certified Race Director
-ACE Certified Personal Trainer, TRX Instructor
-Certified CPR, First Aid, AED Instructor
Michelle oversees all operations and day-to-day functions of the fitness center, group fitness, personal training and child care.
Michelle has been with PPFC since 2006 as a certified personal trainer, was promoted to assistant manager in 2015, and manager in 2017. She has been a certified personal trainer since 2000. Michelle was a Division I athlete in college and a multiple sport varsity athlete in high school. She is a Wheaton resident and mother of 4. In her spare time Michelle volunteers and completes races and events such as: GoRuck Challenge, Super Spartan, Soldier Field 10-Miler, and Ragner Series/200-mile relay. Of course you’ll also see her at the Wheaton Park District Race Series (Fun Run, Run for the Animals, Night Run, & Reindeer Run).
Personal Trainers
All of our personal trainers are certified in CPR, AED and First Aid. Some personal trainers also teach fitness classes, those trainers are noted with an asterisk (*) below.
Jim Brown
Certified Personal Trainer
Jim is certified by World Instructors Training School. He competes in Masters (age group) Track and Field and runs the sprint races. Jim currently holds a 4th-degree black belt in Taekwondo and has 20 years of participating and teaching martial arts. He incorporates his wide range of fitness experience to give his clients the best training session.
Gabe Chavez
Certified Personal Trainer, TRX, Youth Fitness Specialist
Gabriel has been a certified trainer since September 2012 and has provided effective, result-driven training methods to help his clients reach their goals. He earned his N.S.C.A. Certification as well as Theory and Practice of Personal Training Diploma through The National Personal Training Institute. He is skilled in Athletics, Boxing/Kickboxing, Corrective Exercising, Mobility, Strength & Conditioning, and Youth Fitness.
Maddalena Tabet
Certified Personal Trainer | TRX, Silver Sneakers, Cross Training & Exercising w/ Parkinson’s Instructor
Maddalena is a certified personal trainer through WITS. She also is a certified TRX & Silver Sneakers instructor. Maddalena has completed specialized training through Northwestern Medicine physical therapists to facilitate our Exercising with Parkinson’s classes. She loves to learn about different client needs and creating plans for them to keep moving!
Kristina Weller*
Certified Personal Trainer | Spin, Strength, Cardio Instructor
As a loving mother of two young boys Kristina recognizes sometimes there aren’t enough hours in the day. Her specialty is high-intensity interval training which will tone and strengthen the body efficiently. Kristina utilizes a variety of functional exercises to enhance your fitness for everyday life. Kristina is certified by the American Council on Exercise.
Group Fitness Coordinator
Laurie Loftus
Group Fitness Coordinator
630-510-5127
lloftus@wheatonparks.org
-ACE Certified Personal Trainer
-ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor
-Other Certifications: Zumba Fitness, Pilates, Spin, Kickbox and Step
Laurie has been teaching fitness classes for over 20 years and has been with the park district since 2004. She teaches all class formats. Laurie enjoys working with participants to make exercise fun and something to look forward to. She feels that inspiring music and good cueing are the basis of a great class.
Group Fitness Instructors
Kristin Bagley
Spin, Cardio, Strength
Lesley Ronson-Brown
Yoga, Yogalattes
Cheryl Catanzaro
Step, Zumba, Cardio,
Strength, Senior Focus
Denise Dimpfl
Step, Cardio, Strength,
Senior Focus, Yogalattes
Amy Hauenstein
Step, Cardio, Strength
Karen Hodges
Step, Cardio, Strength
Karen Johnson
Spin, Cardio, Strength
Laurel Salvador
Spin, Cardio, Strength,
Senior Focus, Yoga, Yogalattes
Jackie Steele
Spin, Strength, Cardio
Kidz Kingdom Attendants
All Kidz Kingdom instructors, volunteers and staff are certified in CPR, AED, and Department of Children and Family Services Standards training. In addition, each employee of the park district must pass a background check prior to their first day of employment.
Debbie Hinckley
