Meet the Team
Ryan Bost
Co-founder & Executive Director
Ryan is a Charlotte, NC native who has served in the fitness industry since 2015. He currently holds an Autism Exercise Specialist Certification, ACE Special population certification, is a Registered Behavioral Technician, AFAA Group Exercise Certification, is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and is current on CPR/AED certification since 2005. Ryan's passion for working with this community began as a volunteer for several other organizations back in 2019. Ryan has lead large classes for Autism After 18 and smaller classes with The Exceptional Foundation of Charlotte; as well as small group and personal training for those with special needs. He has volunteered for Camp Blue Skies GA and Camp S.O.A.R in Charlotte, NC with the Jewish Community Center, as well as other outings such as bowling, sporting events, and corn hole tournaments.
Jim Guimond
Board Chairman & Co-founder
Jim has traveled all over the country before making Charlotte his home. Originally serving in the US Navy and getting a degree as a civil engineer before becoming an entrepreneur and then becoming a fitness professional. Jim has over 10 years of experience working with special needs teens and adults in both group and private settings. He has worked with many organizations like Camp Blue Skies Foundation and NC Special Olympics at Camp Soar as a program instructor. Jim is also the Camp Director for Camp Blue Skies Foundation. Jim has his own private personal training practice working where he also specializes in working with individuals who are recovering stroke victims. On top of teaching classes and working for Camp Blue Skies, Jim is currently serving as the head chairman on our Board of Directors.
Cheryl Mimy
Instructor & Nutritionist
​Cheryl is a Certified Personal Trainer, CPR certified and Nutrition Coach with NASM. She has worked as a special education teacher’s assistant with Union County Public schools for over 9 years. Prior to relocating from New Jersey she was a woman wearing many hats. She taught children with autism and transitioned to start her own daycare center, which provided service for children with special needs. Her heart for the special needs community is beyond words. As a daughter of a mother with intellectual disabilities, she grew to learn and love this population as if they were her own family members. She has a passion for coaching track and cross country as well.
Jacob Burns
Instructor & Crossfit Coach
Jacob has been working with adaptive athletes for 4 years through the YMCA as well as over 20 years in fitness training people in all aspects of life. He is also coach at Crossfit Weddington and prior to that, coached at Crossfit Charlotte for 12 years. He has a passion for making Adaptive and able bodied athletes not only thrive in specific sports but everyday life. "I love when athletes light up when they experience something new or accomplish something that they thought are unreachable. I was once asked would I rather train people or workout myself. Hands down, train people. It's a passion and a joy." Aside from training others, I enjoy playing hockey, training (probably too much), mountain biking, fishing, listening to music and, telling "off-cuff" jokes. In my "pay the bills" job, I'm a Sr. CyberSecurity engineer.
Caitlin Scheib
Athletic Trainer
Caitlin Scheib, has been practicing athletic training and corrective exercise since 2010. She has worked in a variety of settings including youth sports, high school, collegiate, professional, and non-traditional. After earning a Master’s degree in Kinesiology specialized in athletic training, working clinically with patients of all ages and abilities, teaching athletic training at the university level, and diving into the CrossFit community, Caitlin truly found her passion and decided to go for it! In 2019, Caitlin moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to pursue her dream of working to simply help people create a better quality of life.
Lenora Edge
Instructor
Lenora is from a small town here in North Carolina. She brings in over 20 years of work experience with the Special Needs population. She has worked for a number of years at a residential facility for the Special Needs, where she served in many different roles from supervising staff to writing and implementing programs to improve or enhance the independent and social skills of the residents there. Lenora a Certified Personal Trainer with ISSA and is continuing her education with different certifications to help her in her love as a fitness professional. Lenora also has a very deep love and passion for the Elderly community. She currently serves them through her in-home private care company.
Maggy Sieglein
Instructor
Maggy was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She moved to North Carolina and attended Elon University, earning her bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science and Public Health Studies. Maggy has a certification in Adaptive Fitness, which focuses on creative and alternative exercise for individuals with disabilities. She is also a certified Rock Steady Boxing Coach (boxing for individuals with Parkinson’s disease). Outside of RYZAb0ve Fitness, Maggy is a personal trainer coaching a primarily geriatric population. Maggy has experience in both group fitness and 1:1 personal training. Maggy enjoys staying active in her downtime by hiking, practicing yoga, or weight training. Apart from staying active, Maggy likes to read, travel, and spend time with her family and friends.
Jessica Horan
Yoga Instructor
Jessica has been involved with RyzAbove fitness since the Spring of 2021 as a yoga instructor. Besides teaching yoga for RyzAbove her favorite events are volunteering at the inclusive obstacle challenges because of the positive energy and excitement involved from athletes and supporters. Her passion for yoga started ten years ago here in Charlotte. She has been certified as an RYT-200 since 2020 along with her ACE certification in adaptive fitness. Jessica is also a board-certified behavior analyst, BCBA, and a licensed behavior analyst, LBA in North Carolina. Since the age of 18, Jessica has been serving the neurodivergent community and is deeply grateful for every year that has passed and the years to come.
Lareka Knox
Instructor
Lareka is a Pulmonary Embolism Survivor who lost over 60 pounds during her fitness journey. While it was challenging she found resources, tools and motivations that has kept her on the path of healthier and happier living. She brings years of fitness experience including dancing, boxing conditioning and pre & post-natal corrective exercise focus. This former NBA team dancer brings high energy, smiles and cheering to each and every class.
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Brandon Hank
Instructor
Originally from outside Chicago, Brandon moved to Charlotte after earning his MBA at UNC-Chapel Hill. Brandon is Adaptive Fitness certified, which helps create exercise programs that accommodate the unique needs of people with physical or cognitive disabilities. His favorite part about coaching with RYZAb0ve is seeing the energy and enthusiasm all our athletes bring to each class, rain or shine. Outside of coaching, Brandon enjoys staying active in pickleball and volleyball leagues, walking the Rail Trail, trying new bars and restaurants, and spending time with his dog, Finn.
Sara Pizzarello
Instructor
Sara is originally from Boston and has been in North Carolina since 2019. One of Sara’s biggest motivations in fitness is the chance to celebrate what her participants/clients are physically and mentally able to achieve. After being temporarily handicapped via a severe leg injury in 2022, Sara realized her passion for helping individuals in need of corrective and adaptive exercises.
She holds her CPT along with sub certifications including: corrective exercises, strength & conditioning, and nutritionist. When she is not coaching at RyzAbove, Sara works full time as a personal trainer. She primarily works with women to help them feel more confident both in the weight room, and in their own skin. In a world full of exclusion, she aims to make fitness a little more inclusive for all.
Maura Sweeney
Administrative Assistant
Secretary & Board of Directors
Lauren Troche
Lauren’s journey as a board member with RyzAb0ve Fitness began in 2021. During her tenure, she has been fortunate to help strengthen our mission by helping further develop community outreach and program enrichment. Lauren is a passionate leader and advocate who believes that serving as a board member affords her the opportunity to impact our target demographic expand our reach with local partnerships all in support of our wonderfully diverse community. A mom of four, including a child with iDD, Lauren is no stranger to the special needs community; she also has an older sibling, Russell, who is autistic. Russell is responsible for enriching her life, and shaping her personal perspective of our amazing community. Transplants from New Jersey, Lauren and her husband, Mike reside in Waxhaw.
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Margeret Gaffney
Margaret is the Transition Coordinator at A Special Needs Plan, a national firm based in Charlotte. ASNP serves families with special needs that struggle with the worry that comes from needing a plan for the future care and financial well-being of their loved ones Margaret is passionate about helping families get government benefits and connecting them to resources in the community. She is married to David, and has two children in their 20's.
Rachel LoCurto
Rachel has over 20 years of experience working with people with intellectual disabilities in various roles and is currently working as a development professional for Special Olympics New Jersey. Previously, she worked as an intelligence analyst for the federal government at the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She holds a Bachelor's degree from New York University, a Master's degree from The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, and a certificate in Fundraising from New York University. Rachel is a 200-hr registered yoga teacher and is certified in accessible yoga and chair yoga. She lives with her husband and six rescue dogs in California, New Jersey.
Lee Lehman
Lee has had a varied professional career beginning in the United States Air Force 19th tactical fighter squadron followed by an extensive career in Leather Research & Development and Chemical Technical Sales. Throughout his career, he has volunteered for multiple organizations including many fundraising opportunities, and has volunteered as Convention Chairman for the American Leather Chemists Association for nearly the last 20 years! Lee has also been involved in mentoring inner city students to learn life and job readiness and strategic planning skills needed for after high school. Lee has a unique skill set for fundraising and sales and after attending a few RyzAb0ve events, he joined the RyzAb0ve Board of Directors to help achieve fundraising goals and support this community. In his spare time, he volunteers with his church and other local organizations, and enjoys spending time with his family and friends, gardening, and golfing.