Welcome to the Fitness Center Staff Page

Lyle Bartelt | Tom Goodwin | Cheryl M. Boron | Natalie Rivera
June M. Andrus | Cheryl Herzog | Tim Phipps | Mike Gunderson | Elvira Simington | Laurie Creighton

Lyle Bartelt, M.S.

Lyle Bartelt is presently the Manager of Fitness and Wellness at Estrella Mountain Community College (“EMCC”). His responsibilities here encompass managing the Fitness Center operations, serving as Instructor of Record for Fitness Center classes such as PED115, oversight of the Physical Education Activity Class program and Academic classes in the Personal Training Certificate.

He has over 20 years experience in the fitness industry including adjunct faculty assignments at both Florida State University and Arizona State University, where he taught a variety of physical education activity and theory classes. He has developed or has been consulted on several corporate fitness programs around the valley for companies such as Allied-Signal and Motorola, as well as established facilities and programs for the New Times and the Biltmore Financial Center. In the past He has been a very active participant in the Association for Worksite Health Promotion where he has served on the regional board of directors.

Lyle lives in Phoenix and enjoys camping, hiking, canoeing, and sailing as well as pursuing his own personal vigorous exercise program.

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Tom Goodwin, B.S.

Tom Goodwin received his B.S. in Education from Northern Arizona University in 1973. He spent the first 5 years of his career teaching at Agua Fria Union High School and Buckeye High School. Tom left the state and coached a season at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and then worked as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Huffman High School. He returned to the Valley in 1980, and spent 2 seasons as assistant football coach and strength coach at Agua Fria High School. During this time Tom met his wife, Mary, who continues to work at Agua Fria High School.

In 1985, Tom went to Tolleson Union High School to work as the Head Football coach. Tom then started the football and strength program for Westview High School when it the opened in 1989 until 1993. Tom continued to teach in the Avondale School District until 2004. He has been on staff at Estella Mountain Community College since 1998 as a Fitness Instructor. He and his wife, Mary, have two sons, Drew and Craig. Drew is currently attending Arizona State University pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice. Craig is a senior at Agua Fria High School, and will be pursuing a post secondary degree.

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Cheryl M. Boron is a New England native. She has played College Basketball and Softball. She taught in Massachusetts, Florida and California, and has been involved in Christian missionary travel to India, Korea, Canada and New Zealand.

Cheryl holds a B.S. Physical Education-Umass Amherst; M.S. Leisure Education and M.S. Sports Science-University of West Florida. Her work experiences include Physical Education, Recreation, Health and Wellness Teacher, High School and College Basketball & Softball Coach, Assistant A.D., Recreation and Sports Director, Employee Wellness Coordinator and Athlete’s Christian Ministry Counselor, Coach and Conference Inspirational Speaker, Behavior Modification/Wellness consultant.

Past Awards and Recognitions are 1993 “Coach of the Year” from Athlete’s International Ministries; 2nd place in U.S. Amateur Slalom Water-ski Championship in 1999.

Cheryl’s hobbies and interests range from waterskiing, snow skiing, reading, beaching, outdoor activities and her favorite movie is “Lord of the Rings.” She has even met Mother Theresa twice!

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Natalie Rivera

Natalie Rivera has been with Estrella Mountain Community College for eight years, six of those years being a part of the Fitness Center Family. She currently teaches cardio kickboxing at the fitness center and has placed nationally in kickboxing competitions.

Throughout her career, she has had experience teaching at various fitness centers such as the YMCA, Fitness West, The Renaissance Athletic Club, Central Park Square Athletic Club and Viad Fitness Center.

We are excited to have Natalie teach Tae Kwon Do this spring. Natalie currently holds a 2nd Dan in Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do. She is a Certified Instructor under the Kukkiwon Association in South Korea as well as the U.S.A. Korean Karate Association, and has trained in the Korean Arts for six years and continues to train at Master Camacho Tae Kwon Do Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.

In the arena of martial arts, Natalie has placed nationally in various competitions and enjoys serving as judge and referee in local and national tournaments. She has experience teaching martial arts classes to children as well as adults.

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Cheryl Herzog, B.A.

Cheryl Herzog graduated from California State University of Long Beach with her BA in Speech Communication. She holds certificates from AFAA, SCHWINN, NAFTA, and KYSER, for teaching all types of group exercise including Aerobics, Step, Yoga Beat, Kick Boxing, Indoor Cycle, Mat Pilates, Power Stretch, Aqua and more.

Although she graduated with a Speech Communication degree she could have, and nearly did, minor in Dance. Cheryl took just about every type of dance she could and was also involved in dance production and choreography. It seemed natural since she began dancing, ballet, at the age of two and by 10 was dancing in local plays.

After graduating from college, she began a career with Ameritech Communications selling office equipment and soon became part of the management and training team.

In the year 2000, Cheryl put her love of fitness into practice. She earned her AFAA (Aerobic Fitness Association of America) certificate and began teaching classes at LA Fitness and Luke Air Force Base. Her primary focus was Step and Sculpt, but soon after she started teaching began to focus on Yoga and she has been a student and teacher of Yoga for six years. To add to her growing resume of fitness, she explored Indoor Cycling and Pilates.

Currently, Cheryl cycles both indoors and on the road incorporating her passion for an invigorating work out and the challenge that she gets from it. Combing her eclectic skills with all things fitness related, she finds that Yoga gives her extra balance and inner strength to keep everything healthy, functional, and together. In Cheryl’s own words, “Yoga can make you stronger in all areas.”

Cheryl is currently teaching at Life Time Fitness, the YMCA, and occasionally at Goodyear Yoga and Wellness, but you can find her here at EMCC on Mondays and Wednesdays at 12:00 noon for Yoga and on Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. for Cycling.

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Tim Phipps, B.S., M. Ed

Tim Phipps is in his fourteenth year in the fitness profession. He has a Bachelors degree in Exercise Science and Physical Education from Arizona State University and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Tim is certified as a personal trainer and strength coach.
Tim has worked in fitness management for the YMCA and as a personal trainer for several private gyms in the valley. He has worked with Phoenix College and Arizona State University in fitness instruction. Tim's areas of expertise include personal fitness, strength and conditioning, weight management, body building, power lifting and bustin' a move.

Tim is the Agua Fria High School strength and conditioning coach. He also teaches weight training and wellness classes at the High School. Tim has worked as an evening Fitness Instructor at Estrella Mountain Community College for the past five years.

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Mike Gunderson, M.S. CSCS

Mike Gunderson has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association since 2000 and received his Master of Science Degree in Physical Education from Emporia State University in December 2006, where his research focused specifically on motivational techniques in relation to strength and conditioning.

Mike is a Wellness Teacher, Weight Training Team Leader, and the Head Strength and Conditioning coach at La Joya Community High School in Avondale where he also serves as the varsity wingback and outside linebacker coach on the football team.

Mike received a BA in Physical Education from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was a 4 year letter winner in Football. He has also worked at Phoenix College as a strength coach and at numerous private gyms as a personal trainer.
 

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Elvira Simington, M.T.

Elvira Simington. was born in the Philippines. Her father is from China and her mother is native to the Philippines. Elvira is fluent in English, and two Philippine dialects Tagalog and Pampango. She was married in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States where her family expanded to include two children.

After her children started high school she decided to go back to school herself. Elvira graduated from Massage Therapy School over five years ago. After graduating she started her own therapy business. She truly enjoys her career as a massage therapist.

Elvira specializes is Deep Tissue, Swedish, Therapeutic, Thai, and Herbal Ball Massages. She is at Estrella Mountain Community College Fridays by appointment only. Contact the Fitness Center today at (623)935-8400 to schedule an appointment with Elvira.

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Laurie Creighton, M.T.

Laurie Creighton received her certification from Phoenix Therapeutic Massage College in 2002. She graduated with the distinction of top honors.
Laurie has had the privilege to learn from many great Masters including: James Waslaski a Physical Therapist and Massage Therapist for The New York Mets, Chief Kachora, a Yaqui Shaman in Mexico, Jack Groverland, a Metaphysical Master and outrageously funny Minister, Sherri Devereaux, a world renowned QuiGong Master who has worked with both Olympians and Royalty, and Dr.Joe Dispenza, a chiropractor who was featured in the documentary What The Bleep Do We Know to name just a few mentors.
Laurie’s massage techniques include: Hot Stone, Swedish, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Sports, Myotherapy, Energy Balance, Deep Tissue, Trigger Points, Feather Touch, and Lymphatic Release. Laurie provides massage therapy for Dr. Bruce Stork’s patients in Goodyear, AZ. Monday thru Thursday. She has also worked for the doctor as a certified chiropractic assistant. . Laurie is available for massages by appointment at EMCC on Mondays and Saturdays.

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