Management Team

Steve Brandt

General Manager
607-277-2861
sbrandt@islandhealthfitness.com

Education: George Williams College of Aurora University: MS in Recreation Administration; McKendree University: BS in Physical Education, Minor in Coaching

Bio:

•	Chief Operating Officer/Managing Partner at USA Athletic Club, two health clubs with over 10,000 members, one operating as a premier, full service 61,000 square foot health club
•	General Manger/Sales Director for Provena Health & Wellness Club
•	Owner/Managing Partner at Chicago Fitness Express, managed business development and start up for 12,000 square foot fitness
•	General Manager for Lakeshore Medical Fitness, managed facility operations for Rush Copley Healthplex, a 166,000 square foot athletic and tennis club and St. James Health and Wellness Institute, a 64,000 square foot health and wellness institute
•	General Manager for Schaumburg Park District, oversaw Schaumburg Tennis Plus a 110,000 square foot Athletic Club which includes 8 indoor tennis courts, 5 racquetball courts, 3 squash courts, a large fitness area and gymnasium
•	Lakeshore Management Group Training Instructor
•	30+ years of coaching baseball at high school level and youth level
•	Enjoy spending time with his wife Kim, two sons Kraemer & Keegan and two dogs Addison and Clark

Kelly Chase

Assistant General Manager
(607) 277-3861
kchase@islandhealthfitness.com

Education: Ithaca College: MS in Exercise Science/Exercise Physiology; BS in Exercise Science/Fitness and Cardiac Rehabilitation

Certifications: ACSM: Health Fitness Instructor; AHA: First Aid/CPR/AED; Johnny G Spinning-Mad Dogg Athletics; Trixter X-Cat; TRX Group Suspension Instructor

Specializations:

•	Weight Loss/Body Fat Reduction via circuit training
•	Sport Specific Testing and Training (e.g. basketball, track and field, soccer)
•	Job Specific Testing and Training (e.g. firefighters, salt miners, salt workers, police)
•	Cardiovascular Risk Reduction (i.e. cardiac rehab)
•	Disease Management (Cancer, Diabetes, Parkinson’s, Post Polio Syndrome)

Bio:

•	Former Collegiate Division III Soccer, Basketball and Track and Field athlete
•	Strength & Conditioning Team Program Development for Ithaca College
•	Teaches group exercise classes including Cycling, X-Biking and Core classes
•	Thesis: Oxygen Consumption of Firefighters During Occupationally Specific Tasks
•	Participates in running road races, including Disney Marathon, Boilermaker 15K,

Terry Ciaschi

Facilities Director
(607) 277-3861
tciaschi@islandhealthfitness.com

Education: Tompkins Cortland Community College: AS in Business

Bio:

•	Real-Estate Agent, Patterson Real Estate, Ithaca, New York
•	Station Restaurant, Ithaca, New York Working member at the family owned restaurant for 40 years Nationally known Owner for last 20 years Added “Baggage Room Lounge” Added unique “Sleeping Cars”
•	Developer/Visionary, Island Health & Fitness Together, with brothers Tim and Joe, developed the Island Health Center building and Island Health & Fitness.

Rachel Bogardus

Sales & Marketing Manager
(607) 277-3861
Rbogardus@islandhealthfitness.com

Education: Nazareth College: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Tompkins Cortland Community College: Associates of Arts & Sciences in General Studies

Certifications: American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED

Bio:

•	Guest Services, Rasa Spa, Ithaca, NY
•	Graduated with Honors from Nazareth College and part of the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society
•	Hobbies include: Eating delicious food, cooking, baking, writing, yoga, meditation, hiking, picking wildflowers, going to the beach, binge watching Netflix, getting pampered at the spa, planning parties

Meggan Conklin

Kids Cove Coordinator

mconklin@islandhealthfitness.com

Bio:

•	Meggan was born and raised in Ithaca, New York. She comes to us with over 15 years of childcare experience in several different capacities, from After School Program Director in Trumansburg to nursery school through middle school childcare.

Tim Maragni

Aquatics Manager
(607) 277-3861
tmaragni@islandhealthfitness.com

Education: Tompkins Cortland Community College: AS in Liberal Arts Math/Science

Certifications: American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor; National Swimming Pool

Bio:

•	Head Lifeguard at Cass Park Aquatics Center since 2002
•	6 years Swim Instructor
•	Manager at Cass Park Ice Rink since 2001
•	Lifeguard at Island Health & Fitness since 2006

Maria Mendez

Accounting Manager
607 277-3861
mmendez@islandhealthfitness.com

Education: Lake Erie College for Women (Humanities) California State University (Business Admin)

Certifications: Tompkins County Notary Public

Bio:

•	ASI Energy - Ithaca NY Contracts & Sr. Account Manager
•	Saab Sensis Corporation - East Syracuse, NY Sr. Contracts Manager
•	Tetra Tech Architects & Engineers, Ithaca, NY Sr. Contracts Manager
•	• Passions include: Hiking, Biking, Camping, Farming, Motorcycling, International Cooking

Hayley Presthus

Member Services Manager
6072773861
hpresthus@islandhealthfitness.com

Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology from Pepperdine University, Major Focus: Costal conservation and Stream Ecology of the Santa Monica Mountain Range.

Bio:

•	Former Front Desk Representative at Island Health and Fitness.
•	NYS DEC-I aided in public education efforts for Leave no Trace, aided in conservation techniques and reducing threats to the Adirondack Park
•	Heal the Bay- trained volunteers for data collection and encouraged citizen science for local conservation efforts in Malibu
•	Loves triathlon, strength training, and hiking with my dog.

Monica Van Fleet

Group Fitness Coordinator
607-277-3861
mvanfleet@islandhealthfitness.com

Education: B.A. Cornell University, M. Ed. Vanderbilt University

Certifications: NASM Certified Personal Trainer, BODYATTACK (Advanced), BODYPUMP (Advanced), BODYSTEP (Advanced), CXWORX, American Red Cross: First Aid/CPR/AED

Specializations:

•	Les Mills Programs

Bio:

•	Teaches strength, cardio, and core training classes.
•	Former cross country and track athlete; completed Bucks County Marathon, Around the Bay 30k, and other races.
•	Started at Island Health & Fitness as an out-of-shape participant.
•	Enjoys gardening and spending time with family.

Scott Yaple

Community Corners Operations Manager
(607) 319-0149
syaple@islandhealthfitness.com

Education: SUNY Cortland: BS in Sport Management, Minor in Athletic Training; Niagara County Community College: AS in Physical Education

Certifications: NASM: Certified Personal Trainer; NASM MMACS (MMA Conditions Specialist); ARC: First Aid/CPR/AED; AHA: CPR/AED

Specializations:

•	Body fat reduction/Weight loss/Muscular Development
•	Injury prevention/ Rehabilitation
•	Core Strength and Development
•	Sport Conditioning and Sport Specific Training (e.g. Wrestling, MMA, Volleyball, Football)

Bio:

•	Former health club manager and director of personal training
•	Teaches group exercise classes (e.g. Boot Camp and core classes)
•	Former Jr. College and Div III wrestler
•	Coaching experience – high school volleyball
•	Participates in MMA
•	2008 NYS grappling/ submission wrestling champion