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John D’Aquila
Mr. D’ Aquilla is a Financial, Tax and Management Advisor to entrepreneurs and their companies. As the founder of a successful web and retail multi-state retail business that he successfully grew and later sold, he understands the challenges facing entrepreneurs first hand. John’s particular strengths include negotiating and structuring sales of closely held intellectual property and technology companies, business plan writing, corporate taxation and business development. He is the Managing Partner of D’Aquila and Company, LLP a CPA and Consulting firm located in New York and Florida.
John is the Founder of Select Wines, LLC, a multi- online and retail wine gifting company he sold in 2005. Prior to that John served as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Comstock, Inc., a 200-person multi-national leader in the production and distribution of rights protected and royalty free photography for 9 years. He later structured and negotiated the sale of that company to a publicly traded entity. He also served as the interim Chief Financial Officer of digital music company MCY. John began his career with the Entrepreneurial Services Group of Ernst & Young, LLP in 1986.
John is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of Binghamton University. Memberships include the National Society of Accountants, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New York State Society of CPA’s ("NYSSCPAs"), the Business Acceleration Networking Group and the International Professional Business Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi.
John has served on various Boards including the Board of Directors of The Alumni Association of Binghamton University from 1999-2007 and currently serves on the Binghamton University School of Management Dean’s Advisory Board.
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Lisa Avellino
Mrs. Avellino is not only a successful health club owner and fitness instructor but an experienced writer of health/wellness articles and host of radio and television fitness segments. She owns and operates the Susan Marlowe Health Club for Women in Scarsdale, New York. The Susan Marlowe Health Club has been in operation for over 30 years, and continues to inspire and motivate women towards achieving exceptional health and fitness goals.
Appearing in more than one hundred live fitness segments, Lisa has also been featured in The New York Times, CNN, Shape, Prevention, FirstWebMD, Fox 5, News 12 and the Today Show. Propel (owned by the sports-drink giant Gatorade), Everlast, Planet Fitness Body Wear and Timberland have all sponsored Lisa due to her profusion of knowledge in fitness and health topics. She has also hosted a radio show "Live Well with Lisa" in New York, and a television series for women called LA Secrets which discussed topics of beauty, nutrition and fitness.
Lisa has published numerous articles in the wellness industry. Her expertise in this industry is extremely evident through her creation of wellness programs for hospitals, corporations and schools. The AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America) has honored her as an industry presenter and examiner - a certifier of new personal trainers. When she is not teaching classes, Lisa leads warm-ups at national fundraiser walks for the American Heart Association, Making Strides and Walk for Obesity. Her fitness and wellness goals are to educate, to motivate, and to inspire Americans through all channels of the wellness industry. Overall, Lisa wants to raise awareness of how all people can collectively make a real difference in their world.
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John Kersh
Mr. Kersh is the Vice President of International Development for Anytime Fitness, the world's largest co-ed fitness center brand, with over 1,000 stores currently operating in North America and Australia. His work for Anytime Fitness in late 2008 and early 2009 has taken him to China, India, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Mexico, with a full travel agenda scheduled for the remainder of 2009. By the end of 2009, Anytime Fitness expects to have new sites operating in Europe, Latin America and India. Mr. Kersh was also the creator of Citrus Gym, Latin America's first co-ed express fitness franchise.
Mr. Kersh was previously the Director of International Development for the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), the world's leading association of health and fitness clubs. John has 15 years of experience in the fitness industry and has been a guest speaker at fitness industry events in over 25 countries.
Mr. Kersh has used his entrepreneurial skills to develop numerous international projects, including: The IHRSA/Fitness Brasil Latin American Conference and Trade; the annual IHRSA European Congress, and; the IHRSA Asia-Pacific Forum.
Prior to his position at IHRSA, John was the Director of Convention Services for the Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, one of America's leading tourism organizations. He is a 1996 graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Communications.
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Victor Melendez
Mr. Melendez is Fitness Director at Solaris Sports Club in Yorktown Heights, NY. He began his fitness career in 1994 while attending college at Hofstra University. Victor has received certifications from AFFA - Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, American Fitness Professionals, and Equinox Health Clubs continuing education program - covering specialties such as personal training, pre-post natal training, medical exercise specialist, active isolation stretching, and speed and conditioning training.
Mr. Melendez was a national competitive bodybuilder from 1997-2001 winning various competitions throughout the Tri-State area and abroad. He presently facilitates the nutrition and training components for amateur and pro athletes in variety of different sports to help them prepare for competition.
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