What do you do - and why?
I am a certified personal trainer (CPT), fitness director, group exercise instructor and Spin® coach. I am affiliated with a 3,500-member facility and also run my own private training business.

Why do I do this? First, because of the satisfaction I receive when I see a client or student reach a goal they have set for themselves. Whether their objective is to lose weight, improve their physical and/or mental fitness, or train for a sporting event, it brings me joy to see them succeed - as well as share in the feelings of accomplishment.

One person in particular stands out, literally. Imagine a 40-year-old woman who battled cancer in her leg as a teenager, who eventually lost that leg and uses a prosthetic. After a year of inactivity, she came to me for help to rebuild lost muscle. Following just six weeks of training, she had rebuilt an inch of muscle in her thigh – and her eyes filled up with tears because she felt strong again.

I also do this because I enjoy being a mentor - not to just my clients, but also other trainers. It is extremely rewarding to watch a young woman lose 25 pounds, prepare for her first half marathon under my supervision, and then become a personal trainer herself.

Last but not least, I love being an entrepreneur and a teacher, both things I learned from my parents.

Which quality or talent makes you most successful?
I can easily adapt to different types of people and their personalities. My clientele ranges from ages 16-65, from “average” people to high-performance athletes. I believe that anyone can be in good shape, at any age.

I also am able to motivate and challenge clients by example, such as participating in activities such as AIDS/LifeCycle and Tough Mudder competitions. When clients see me push myself to succeed, they also try harder. Some also have been encouraged to participate themselves.

Who are the three people who most inspire you - and why?
1. Foremost, I admire my parents for leaving Cuba after the revolution in 1970, along with my sisters who were just one and two years old. After their cash and jewelry were taken before leaving the country, they had nothing left but a couple of suitcases. Arriving in NYC, they cleaned apartment buildings until my father landed a job as a superintendant and my mother went to graduate school to become a teacher. They became business owners, first co-owning a grocery store in New Jersey, and then owning a laundromat in one of the scariest neighborhoods in the Bronx. Eventually, they fulfilled their dream of moving out of the city and buying a house in New Jersey. They worked day and night to provide the best life they could for my sisters and me.

2. The most beautiful couple I have ever met is Stephen Massey and James Loduca, two amazing friends who live in San Francisco. They balance work, life, friends and the love they have for each other. Stephen has started a second career in something he is so passionate about, music. After only a year and half, he has become one of the most popular DJs in this country. His husband James works tirelessly with the San Francisco AIDS foundation. On top of all this, they recently decided to add to their family via adoption. I look at them as a strong, loving family that any child would be lucky to join.

3. My friend Danielle Harrison is a client-turned-trainer who I mentioned earlier, in Question 2. Growing up, Danielle was on the heavier side. A couple years ago, she changed her lifestyle dramatically: she improved her eating habits, sought my advice and set goals. Danielle transformed not just her body - but also the way she feels about herself - and has turned into an amazing athlete. She just completed her second NYC half marathon and took five minutes off her original finish time. As a personal trainer, Danielle now pays it all forward by motivating others to follow her example.

What are you most passionate about?
I am passionate about adventures and life in general. For example, I conquered my fear of jumping into open water by becoming scuba certified.

Once I started on exciting activities like that, what quickly followed was the AIDS/LifeCycle, a 7-day ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Although I didn’t even own a bike – and hadn’t been on one since I was a teenager - on World AIDS Day, I decided to do it. Following a lot of preparation, and with incredible support from clients and friends…I did it!

It is passion like that which influences all of my interactions with clients. I truly believe that if you let your mind lead, your body WILL follow. For me, things that followed have included advanced scuba certifications, joining a team on the New York Gay Football League and organizing an NYC team for AIDS/LifeCycle 2012!

What drives you to succeed?
Competition drives me to succeed. I am especially competitive with myself, as well as with others when the situation calls for it. This actually comes from my being on Broadway as a child. Believe it or not, I actually am the longest-running person to have played Gavroche in Les Misérables!

Those years of auditions and performances taught me the importance of not just competition, but also dedication and endurance. These all are qualities that I transfer to my clients so that they can strive to become healthier, happier and stronger, as well as more motivated and inspired.

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