LEADERSHIP
Lisa Williams
Founder and CEO
Before bringing this valuable corporate resource to life, Lisa Williams worked in the corporate environment for a major Fortune 500 company (top-tier professional services firm) for 23 years, contracted for NASA and Naval Oceanographic at Stennis Space Center for 7 years and has a solid business, technology and digital learning background.
With a passion for fitness, Williams became a Certified Personal Trainer, earning additional certifications in nutrition, sports nutrition and kids’ fitness. In addition to running FitForward and working with employees, herself, as a CPT, Williams is a health educator/coach and content creator for the Association of Fitness Professionals (AFS), and a Stress Mastery Educator (American Institute of Stress) and has been featured as a resident expert in the Corporate Wellbeing space, and a member of Todd Durkin Mastermind.
Wesley Williams
Wellness Coordinator
Wesley is a Certified Personal Trainer and Mobility Specialist from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He received his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Middle Tennessee State University. He is certified through the American College of Sports Medicine as a Personal Trainer, through Functional Anatomy Seminars as a Functional Range and Conditioning Mobility Specialist, and as a level 1 instructor through Functional Movement Screening. He enjoys educating his clients on strength training and achieving more usable, pain free joint ranges.
Heather Harris
RDN and LD
Heather Harris is a licensed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist from Bowling Green, Kentucky. She received her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from the University of Kentucky and finished her dietetic internship at Western Kentucky University. She loves the world of health and wellness and is passionate about teaching others the healing properties of food and how they can best take care of the body they’ve been given. Some of her favorite things consist of being married to her best friend, exploring new places, spending time with friends and family, and trying new foods!
LEAD FITNESS INSTRUCTORS
Emily Durham
X-Game Gold Medalist, World Champion, American Ninja Warrior
Emily has always had a passion for athletics. She had a 16 year professional career in the sport of wakeboarding, winning several titles including X-Game gold medalist, U.S. Pro Tour Champion, National, and World Champion. She retired in 2015 from wakeboarding and began competing on the show, American Ninja Warrior. Emily has been on the show 5 seasons and has plans to compete on the upcoming season. Emily, is a wife, a mom to 2 children and resides in Orlando, FL. She has been a ACE Certified Personal Trainer for over 8 years and loves to help others achieve their fitness goals. With her bubbly personality and fresh fitness ideas, she will keep the class fun, but will also challenge you to work hard.
Kim Watson
Fitness Instructor
Kim has been teaching group fitness classes for almost 25 years. It warms her heart to be able to make a difference in the lives of people. In Kim’s classes, she provides options for everyone, no matter their physical fitness, injury or flexibility. She is certified to teach a variety of formats including Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Kickboxing, and Barre. Her first fitness certification was as an Exercise Specialist (Personal Trainer in 1995. Her enjoyment comes from creating safe, non-competitive and fun classes that members choose to continue participating in. She has led Zumba classes for sorority functions, at local high schools and middle schools, during a Nashville Public Library retreat, for local churches and more. Kim enjoys helping people get the most out of life by improving physical fitness and offering a stress outlet for those who attend her classes. She feels like those who go to her classes are family. She cares about their lives beyond the class. Her fulfillment comes from providing options and tools to change their lives for the better.
Ashlee Butler
Certified Trainer
Ashlee is originally from Leesburg, Ga where she was a competitive athlete in dance, gymnastics, basketball, track, and softball. She taught dance and coached gymnastics throughout college. She graduated from The University of North Georgia in 1999 with her Masters of Science in Physical Therapy. She obtained her Certification in Orthopedic Manual Therapy in 2003 and has practiced primarily outpatient physical therapy with an emphasis in manual therapy. She joined Results Physiotherapy as a staff PT in 2003 (and has worn many hats within the company since) after relocating to Nashville with her husband, Matt. Ashlee is a Certified Senior Strength Trainer, a certified group exercise instructor, a certified BOSU instructor, and has taught BootCamp for more than 5 years. Ashlee was also the functional strength coach for Aero High Performance Triathlon Team for 5 years. In addition, Ashlee homeschools her 2 children and volunteers regularly at her church, The Village Chapel. Ashlee enjoys working out and traveling (when her schedule allows!).
Patricia Till
Certified Trainer and Instructor
Patricia is an American Council on Exercise (ACE) certified personal trainer and an Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA/NASM) certified group fitness instructor. She has been teaching group exercise classes for more than 20 years in the USA and Germany. Other certifications include Balletone, BarreNext, and Yogafit. Patricia is one of our virtual instructors and teaches various formats. Her background is in martial arts: Taekwon-Do, Boxing, and Kickboxing. She was an active competitor and member of the National Physique Committee (NPC) from 2012 until 2019 and has specialization in body recomposition. She offers a coaching program for clients to achieve the ultimate athletic physique they dream of, while making their health a priority. For more information on her coaching program, please contact FitForward at [email protected]
Suzanne Murphy
Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor
Murphy is an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) certified personal trainer since 2008. She is an American Breast Care (ABC) breast cancer recovery specialist. Murphy’s life long commitment to fitness guides her career path. She believes it’s foundational to invest in yourself and cultivate a positive attitude. Murphy helps her clients set goals, stay focused and make health a priority.
Cheri Earhart
Group Fitness Instructor
Earheart has been working in the fitness field for nearly 20 years. She has been group fitness certified with the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) since 1996. She has been Les Mills Body Pump Certified since 2009, Ripped certified since 2013, and YMCA Foundations Group Exercise Instructor certified since 1998. Earhart has been the group fitness Director at the Donelson YMCA for 19 years. She has been married for 33 years and has three children. She believes teaching group exercise is the most rewarding job. Earhart continually strives to help participants reach their fitness goals.
Linda Dillon
Group Fitness Instructor
Linda is from Nashville, TN and staretd training in Martial Arts at the age of ten and has earned her 3rd degree black belt. Within several years, she transitioned into kickboxing and was a member of the USA WAKO Team, bringing home the bronze medal in the World Games in 1993, and 1995. Her kickboxing career brought to light her passion for fitness. She has been teaching group exercise classes and personal training for the last 22 years. and loves helping people reach their fitness goals. She is certified in several facets of group exercise including Body Pump, Spin, Pilates, Bootcamp, Yoga, and Silver Sneakers, among others. Linda’s exercise philosophy is you only have one body and one mind… so let’s take care of them! Training is not just about the physical improvements but also about improving your mental attitude daily. She loves working with people and sharing her passion for fitness!
ADVISORY BOARD
Alex Farley
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Alex Farley is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner who currently works for Envision Physician Services at an Internal Medicine Practice at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, TN. He develops care and treatment plans for newly admitted patients. Through his work, Alex aims to provide conscientious, compassionate patient care while utilizing thoughtfulness and teamwork to accomplish the health goals of wellness. He has a background in exercise and fitness that he readily uses to help optimize patient care and recovery that can carry over to patient’s daily lives at home. Alex enjoys spending his free time with his wife, family, and friends as well as activities like hiking and exploring, carpentry, and just hanging out.
Barbara Miller
Registered Nurse and Occupational Health Nurse
Barbara Miller is a registered nurse who has spent time working in critical care, in the ER, newborn obstetrics, surgery, medical, geriatrics, and pediatrics. Miller spent 25 years of her extensive medical career in occupational health nursing at an on-site manufacturing clinic. Miller enjoys caring for and educating others and listening to her patients.