As Owner of Advanced Fitness and Performance, Joe is the engine that propels AFP down the drag strip. Joe graduated in 1992 from one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country, Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA. In 1995, Joe gained his National strength and Conditioning Association’s Certified Personal Training accreditation while he was working in a physical therapy clinic in Kittanning, PA.

With his Personal Training credentials, Joe expanded his training to a healthier population in the health club setting. It didn’t take long for Joe to gravitate south to the warmer climate of Sarasota/Bradenton, where Joe quickly found a niche for training younger athletes of all sports. With his talents, Joe landed in a sports and fitness clinic where he acquired the knowledge and skills required to obtain his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Read more about Joe

Andrew received a B.A. degree in exercise science from the University of South Florida in 2009. He is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a personal trainer and certified strength and conditioning specialist. Andrew is also a USA Weightlifting certified sports performance coach. He began training athletes in 2005 and has worked with athletes of all ability levels in a variety of sports. In 2007 he began personal training and has continued to build on his knowledge and experience.

Andrew competed in the sport of Olympic-Style weightlifting for ten years. He was part of the Junior National Squad in 2001 and 2002 and was invited to the Olympic Training Center for training camps. Andrew placed third at the Junior National Championships in 2001 and placed second in 2002. He also placed third in the clean and jerk at the American Open in 2001.

Karen Barton is a licensed Neuromuscular Massage Therapist (NMT) and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with over 15 years of experience in the health & fitness field. Since graduating from the University of South Florida in 1991, Karen has steadfastly pursued her passion for sharing the proven benefits of exercise, massage, and good nutrition.

Certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association in 1995, she has worked with a broad spectrum of clients ranging from young athletes to seniors. She has also worked with Physical Therapists in the treatment of those with chronic pain and injury. In this environment, she observed the advantages of massage for many of these clients, and began training at the Sarasota School of Massage Therapy. She graduated in 1999 with a license in Advanced Massage Technique for Neuromuscular Pain and Dysfunction.

Her diverse background in the health & fitness field allows Karen to choose from a wide range of options in selecting just the right ones to assure her clients an optimal level of fitness while minimizing any physical pain. These options may include deep tissue massage, specific exercises to increase strength and flexibility, gentle relaxation massage, or other treatments if necessary. Karen’s great pleasure is to see her clients healthy, pain-free and enjoying an improved quality of life.