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.
1:1 Personalized Coaching for First Responders and their Families
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.
Coach Paul Scocca
- NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)
- NASM Certified Nutrition Coach
- Active Sergeant, NYPD — Intelligence Division / ATF Task Force
- Fit Responder Transformation Graduate, 2022
Paul is an active sergeant with the New York City Police Department, with nearly 23 years of service leading and supervising specialized units across the department.
Paul’s own fitness journey began with Fit Responder in November 2022, where he lost over 70 lbs while getting significantly stronger. Over the course of that journey, he built a passion for fitness and for helping others — especially fellow first responders — toward a healthier, sustainable lifestyle. That transformation led him to become a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and coaching has been his passion ever since.
His coaching background is diverse — from little league baseball, basketball, and flag football to personal training clients in a local gym and online coaching for individuals who have seen incredible results. His approach centers on bodybuilding (weight loss and muscle building) as well as functional training, meeting every client at their own starting point.
As a husband and father of three energetic boys — what he calls “lovable chaos” — Paul brings a firsthand understanding of what real transformation takes, in the gym and in life, because he’s been there himself.
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.
Coach Carrie Billington
Fit Responder Coach
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT, PT)
CrossFit Level 1
NSCA Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)
Functional Nutrition Certified
GRID League Athlete
Carrie is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (PT, DPT) based in North Carolina and a certified personal trainer with a strong background in performance, rehabilitation, and functional nutrition. She has been coaching, programming, and developing individualized nutrition plans since 2017, helping clients improve performance, build strength, and create sustainable habits that fit real life.
Before transitioning fully into personalized coaching and one-on-one physical therapy, Carrie and her husband owned and operated CrossFit Hickory and CrossFit Stacked. Through this experience, she worked with a wide range of clients, developing systems that balance high-level performance with long-term health. They later made the decision to sell their gyms to prioritize family life and focus on more individualized coaching.
Her athletic background includes softball, soccer, tennis, and basketball, along with collegiate-level cheerleading and co-ed partner stunting. She currently competes in Olympic weightlifting, triathlons, endurance running events, and as a member of the United GRID League team, Carolina Flight.
As a wife, mother of two boys, and practitioner of what she teaches, Carrie understands the demands of balancing career, family, and health. Her coaching philosophy centers around helping clients feel strong, capable, and confident in every area of life—whether in the gym, on the job, or at home. She believes proper training and fueling can be life-changing and is committed to helping others experience that transformation firsthand.
Coach Yani Beltre
Fit Responder Coach
NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)
AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor
21-Year NYPD Veteran (Ret.)
CrossFit Athlete & Competitor
Coach Yani has been a certified personal trainer since 2017, but she’s been helping others on their fitness journeys for far longer than that.
Before fitness became her career, Yani pursued a passion for forensic science in college. She joined the NYPD in July 2001 and was on duty on September 11, 2001 — an experience that profoundly shaped who she became. That day deepened her drive to help others, a calling that only grew stronger throughout her career.
Along the way, Yani saw firsthand how the stress of policing took a toll on her
and her colleagues. In response, she started running groups and workout programs to help her fellow officers cope and stay healthy. That work sparked a
deeper interest in human anatomy, movement, and proper training technique— leading her to earn her personal training certification through NASM in 2017, all while still on active duty.
Yani retired from the NYPD in 2022 after 21 years of dedicated service.
Retirement didn’t slow her down — she immediately returned to coaching, working with clients at a CrossFit box and other local fitness centers. Over the years, her growth as a coach has given her a deep appreciation for proper technique, form, and what it takes to build stronger, more capable athletes — knowledge she’s passionate about passing on to every client she works with. An accomplished athlete herself, Coach Yani has competed in CrossFit competitions and completed 10 full marathons.
“They say do what you love, and you never work a day in your life.”
Coach Erica Beard
Former client of Fit Responder
- NASM Certified Personal Trainer
- NASM Certified Nutrition Coach
- NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist
- NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist
- MCAA, Coaching & Athletic Administration
- PhD candidate in Kinesiology, Strength & Conditioning
Erica brings a unique combination of personal experience, coaching expertise, and academic training to every client she works with. Before becoming a coach, she was a Fit Responder client herself and experienced firsthand the challenges of creating sustainable change while balancing a demanding life.
Through her own journey, Erica lost over 135 pounds and developed a passion for helping others build strength, confidence and habits they can actually maintain.
Her background extends well beyond personal training. Erica spent 13 years in education, including teaching high school science and special education, while also coaching varsity athletics. She has professional experience in the corrections and criminal justice system, giving her firsthand understanding of the unpredictable schedules, stress and physical demands faced by many first responders.
Today, Erica specializes in strength training, nutrition coaching, obesity management, and working with individuals using GLP-1 medications or navigating significant weight loss. Her coaching philosophy focuses on building sustainable habits rather than chasing perfection — while helping clients become stronger, healthier and more capable both on and off the job.
Erica is currently pursuing her PhD in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Strength and Conditioning at Concordia University, St. Paul. Her research focuses on muscular strength and physical function in individuals with severe obesity and following bariatric surgery.
“Stronger every day—for me and for you.”
Layne Mayerstein
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Air Force EOD, 24 Years
Military Human Performance Coach
TRX Group
ASCA Swim Freestyle
Newton Running
Alpha Warrior Level 2
Alpha Warrior Complete Athlete Coach Certifier
I spent 24 years as a U.S. Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, where physical readiness wasn’t a lifestyle choice, it was an operational requirement. That experience shaped how I train and coach: build a body capable of doing the job, then make it more capable.
Today, I’m a professional United Grid League athlete with the Carolina Flight, a Season 2 Spartan Games competitor, Alpha Warrior Regional Champion, and a HYROX and DEKAFIT competitor. I train and compete in the Masters divisions while continuing to push what’s possible in performance and longevity.
Since 2024, I’ve led human performance for the Air Force EOD training pipeline, working with approximately 190 students through a nine-month course. My coaching covers strength, conditioning, gymnastics, movement quality, nutrition education, recovery, breathing, and individualized programming.
I believe people need to be coached, not managed.
My goal is simple: help you become stronger, more capable, and more resilient while building a plan you can actually sustain.As a former military member and first responder, I know how important it is to have someone in your corner—someone who looks out for you and helps you become the best version of yourself.
You bring the effort. I’ll help you find the path forward.
Coach (PJ) Paul Jones III
ISSA-certified personal trainer
active law enforcement office
SWAT Operator in Florida
Army veteran.
Paul’s fitness background spans nearly his entire life, beginning with martial arts at age six and continuing through wrestling, football, and track before he moved into serious strength training in high school under a retired Army CSM and competitive bodybuilder. He spent years self-testing periodization methods, German volume training, 5×5, progressive overload, before formalizing that knowledge with an ISSA certification.
His military service added a different dimension: ruck marching taught him how to systematically prepare a body for sustained load, and he built both unit-wide group programming and individual plans for his soldiers, often with nothing but kit, rifles, and whatever space was available. Since transitioning to law enforcement, he’s programmed for fellow deputies working shift work and on-call schedules, designing time-compressed sessions that fit around unpredictable hours.
Paul’s coaching philosophy centers on education and client agency, helping people redefine “results” beyond the scale and understand the mechanics behind their own progress. He came to Fit Responder for a simple reason: as a first responder himself, he knows how few people are willing to take care of the caretakers.
Brian Smoot
SSA Certified Personal TrainerFit Responder Coach
Fitness has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started wrestling at five years old and boxing at eight, which taught me discipline, resilience, and how to keep pushing when things get difficult.I became a personal trainer at 20, and now, at 43, I have more than two decades of experience helping people build strength, lose weight, improve confidence, and create healthier lifestyles.As a Fit Responder coach, my goal is to help first responders become stronger, healthier, and better prepared for the physical demands of the job without sacrificing their family life or long-term health.I have been married for 23 years and have two adult children, so I understand how challenging it can be to balance fitness with work and family responsibilities.Outside of coaching, I enjoy comic books and movies. I have always been drawn to stories about overcoming adversity and becoming stronger, which is also what I love most about fitness.My goal is to help every client realize they are capable of more and continue moving forward, one step at a time.