Hand selected experts in fitness, specializing in working with First Responders. Our team is highly trained and experienced, certified or degreed to guide you with effective methods for your specific goals.
Meet the Fit Responder Team
Ted & Emily Stern
Owners of Fit Responder
Founders of the Fit Responder Program: I met my wife Emily while we both worked for the same Sheriff’s Office. At that time, I was 40+lbs overweight with high-blood pressure. Even though we were both experienced personal trainers and dedicated Deputies, I was failing at my own fitness while she was succeeding. She showed me some powerful methods to lose fat and build serious muscle. My transformation from fat to fit (and healthy) inspired many others on our department. We began sharing our methods and started coaching others, and created so many success stories that we decided to become professional fitness coaches full time. We created the Fit Responder Program, retired and left our Law Enforcement careers to help others achieve their ultimate fitness goals. Since then, we have made a huge impact on countless lives and have no plans to stop!
Dustin Simmons
Vice President/Coaching Manager/COO
Fit Responder Coach
NCSF PT Certified
NASM Bodybuilding and Physique Coach
Former Sheriff Deputy/Detective
Current NPC Competitor
My personal journey from obesity to fitness has provided me with valuable insights and lessons that have helped me become successful in both life and fitness. As a Fit Responder consumer since 2020, I discovered my passion for helping, teaching, and motivating others in their fitness journeys. I am a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF), and I relish every moment of my work in this field.
I am able to positively impact thousands of lives every day. While I work with a select number of clients, I also train and mentor other coaches to ensure that our clients receive the best possible service. In 2021, I left my law enforcement career to focus on helping my fellow first responders and pursuing my passion for fitness.
In 2022, I was challenged by Ted to step on stage with him. Though I initially doubted myself, I put in the hard work and achieved the feat of stepping on stage. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I hope to compete again in the future.
Having been at 300lbs before at a height of 5’8, I understand the difficulties of the journey to fitness. However, I know that by taking small steps and focusing on taking control of your life, anyone can achieve their desired level of fitness. As a family man with two growing boys and a loving wife, I am passionate about helping others achieve their fitness goals and take control of their lives.
Levi Woodard
Fit Responder Client Advisor
Former Client of Fit Responder
Hey there, here is just a little about me
I was born and raised in South Dakota, I was an active member of the Civil Air Patrol for most of my teenage years. I also worked with my father doing construction since about the time I could walk and hold a hammer.
When I was 15 I started running our family construction company as my dad stepped back to do other things with the church he pastors and working with a local funeral home. I stayed with that for a few years doing work in South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, and beyond.
In 2018 I changed course and started as a 911 dispatcher for a regional dispatch center that covered nearly half of South Dakota. To keep up with the changes that year I got married to my beautiful wife Kaycee. Today we still reside in the Rapid City area. I work full time for a global cyber security company, I am a former client of Fit Responder and now have the honor of working for Ted as an advisor for people interested in the program. I still am involved with public safety, I am a Captain for the Rapid Valley Fire Department. I currently serve as the supply captain overseeing our inventory, managing logistics, and equipment.
Caleb Gallagher
Fit Responder Client Advisor
Bachelor’s in Exercise Science
Masters in Emergency Management
A little bit about me: I have 12 Years of Law Enforcement Experience with Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science (Cal State University of Northridge), and a Masters Degree in Emergency Management (Cal State University of Long Beach).
Throughout my 12 years as a Sheriff’s Deputy, I have worked many different assignments including Custody, Court, Patrol, Sex Crimes and School Resource Officer. I played Division 1 Baseball at Cal State Northridge. I’ve always been very competitive and fitness has been a top priority in my life. I have enjoyed helping others live a healthier lifestyle. Health and fitness is a top priority to the Fit Responder Family and I’m honored to be part of this movement and help our brothers and sisters become “Fit Responders”.
I’m a father of two and have been with my beautiful wife since we were 15 years old. Being a father and husband is my number one job. It is important for me to be a healthy role model for my children. I want to be around for all of the important milestones. I know health is the most important aspect of my life because without it, I’m not able to be there for my family to the best of my ability.
I have known Ted for the past 12 years and I am honored to be part of this team and change the lives of many First Responders.
Tanner Starnes
Fit Responder Coach
ASFA Personal Trainer
Crossfit Level 1 instructor
Nasm Certifed Personal Trainer
I’m a husband, Father of 2, and Fulltime firefighter/EMT.Certified by the ASFA (American Sports and Fitness Association) with previous certifications in ISSA (International Sports Science Association) and CrossFit Level 1.
I developed my passion for fitness in high school athletics and it has continued to follow me throughout my entire life. I began personal training in 2014 and saw the positive impact I could make on people’s health and well-being.
It was that same passion that led me into becoming a first responder. Fitness and nutrition is a never-ending learning process, much like our careers and that’s something that I have always enjoyed.
There’s nothing more rewarding than getting to be a part of someone’s life when they decide to flip that switch and go all in on themselves.
With Fit Responder there’s a community of those individuals that have made that decision and I’m lucky enough to get to be a part of that process
Coach Michelle Edwards
Fit Responder Coach
LEO Wife and a mother of 3
BS in Occupational Safety and Health
NSCF Personal Trainer and Sports Nutritionist
Specialist
Hey there my name is Michelle Edwards and I have a strong passion to take care of others. Married to my best friend John and we have three beautiful children – 22, 18, and 10.
I was brought up in a little town called Lubbock, TX. There I was a dental assistant for a local dentist and loved everything about taking care of his patients. During this time, I was part of the OSHA coordinating team and little did I know that this would take me to the next phase of our lives.
John accepted a position for a huge company in San Antonio, TX which brought us to where we are today. While he was pursuing his passion in the first responder field as a police officer (now detective), I returned to school and graduated with my BS in Occupational Safety and Health. Shortly after I graduated, I started my fitness journey.
Fast forward to 2016, I am in the parking lot training with others and have the strong desire to become a fitness instructor. Knowing that I have the background from my education on the human body and how it works, I thought hey this will help me teach people the fundamentals of how to lead a healthier lifestyle.
For about 5 years, I had the opportunity to help 100s of people through their fitness journeys and during this time I also had many of my own set backs that I had to overcome. In 2020 I found out I had a small fracture in my low back that would need to be repaired. Never had surgery so had no idea what to expect.
In 2021, my lumbar was fused between L4 and L5 and I had no idea how much of a challenge this was going to be. I had to learn how to walk again with lots of help and PT. Still dealing with some numbness in the right leg, but better each and every day. Then in 2022 I had to have a disc replaced in my neck and this one is so much easier to come back from.
During my journey, there have been some ups and downs and many times tears. But I kept reminding myself that tomorrow will be a better day. Remaining optimistic in the journey has helped me rise above so many of the mountains and valleys. Learning it is ok to not be ok and pushing forward where we can. Believing in the process is key to success.
Tyler Billington
Mens Lead Coach
Crossfit Level 1
ISSA Certified Personal Trainer
ISSA Nutrition Certification
Firefighter/EMT
Grid League Athlete
Growing up fitness has always been a part of my life. I played several sports all throughout highschool. Out of high school, I joined the army and that’s when my real fitness journey began. I knew I needed to get stronger and increase my overall capacity. I have always been what most would consider “a hard gainer” . I have to work really hard to gain weight and put on muscle. I started lifting weights and found CrossFit where I started taking classes and eventually started coaching at my local affiliate. I started getting competitive in 2015 and I have competed in CrossFit, the Atlantic GRID league, Olympic weightlifting, and completed triathlons. The training for each of these competitions looked very different and I learned a lot along the way. I took courses in health and fitness science, obtained my CrossFit level 1, and learned from some of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the area.
I met my wife through CrossFit and we opened our own gym CrossFit Stacked in 2018. During this time, I coached clients as young as 6 and as old as 72. We grew our membership base and made lifelong friends while pursuing our own fitness goals. While owning the gym I also began a career with The Hickory Fire Department and it complimented my fitness goals well. It was a busy time juggling a business, coaching all classes, and being on a 24:48 shift. We had our first son in 2020 and sold the gym in 2021 to make more time for the family. Selling the gym was a great decision for work/life balance. However, it left a void, where I no longer was training clients and helping them reach their goals.
In 2022, I found Fit Responder. Joining this company, I have been able to fulfill my coaching passion, stay active with my volunteer fire community, and continue to teach portions of the fire academy at our local community college. I have clients that have completely changed their lives both physically and mentally. Seeing someone reach their goals to lose weight or gain muscle is great, but seeing that same person gain confidence and tell me they can perform their job or play with their kids without having to stop to catch their breath is what makes this the most rewarding.
Overall, I love what I do and my goal is to lead an authentic and balanced life through exercise and nutrition for my clients and my own family. I hope that inspires others to do the same because everyday is an opportunity to work a little harder and move closer to reaching those goals.
Coach Alana Nel
Fit Responder Coach
Former Client of Fit Responder
Canfitpro Personal Training Specialist
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified
Personal Trainer
Yoga Alliance 500 hr Registered Yoga Teacher (Vikasa
200/Aligned 300)
Girls Gone Strong Pre and Postnatal Coaching
Specialist
Alana is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and dual certified personal trainer with specialties in pre and postnatal coaching. She has been teaching yoga since 2018 and training clients in-person and online since 2021.
Before embarking on her yoga teaching journey, Alana had extensive experience teaching swimming, leading group fitness classes, and coaching various sports. She initially turned to yoga as part of her injury recovery process and quickly developed a deep affinity for the practice. However, like many others, she realized that her body required more than just yoga to reach its full potential.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alana experienced weight gain, lethargy, and dissatisfaction with her life. Determined to prioritize her own well-being and pursue a healthier lifestyle, she began to explore weight loss techniques and incorporated resistance training into her yoga practice. Through her efforts, she lost 40 pounds and discovered a newfound passion for fitness.
Inspired by the transformative power of personal training and online coaching, Alana decided to pursue personal training as part of her career. She has personally experienced the significant impact that having a knowledgeable coach can have on one’s fitness journey, and is dedicated to supporting her clients in achieving their health and wellness goals.
