Ted Devito
Ted Devito is the owner and founder of Mountain Fitness. He’s been in sports and athletics his whole life, starting with little league baseball and soccer at a young age and even trying some unusual sports along the way like intercollegiate Frisbee and adventure racing. As a young adult, Ted began turning his enjoyment of physical disciplines into a fitness career by studying and working as a personal trainer. A few years later, it was a natural choice to purchase a local gym and begin operating what has grown into today’s Mountain Fitness Center. Working at the gym with hundreds of individuals and all sorts of weight-loss and fitness challenges, combined with a continuing pursuit of education, have helped him develop a refined understanding of what makes the body tick so that he is now a sought-after fitness coach. Ted feels strongly about the role of our thoughts and expectations in developing good health. He works closely with his clients to lay the necessary foundations of knowledge, exercise skills, and mental perspectives that empower you to move confidently in the direction of your goals.
Heather Devito
Hi there, my name is Heather, AKA Ted’s wife and Cayden’s mom. I am co- owner and resident Physical Therapist at Mountain Fitness. I have been a Physical Therapist for 11 years practicing in the Big Bear Valley for the last 10 years. I have worked in the areas of outpatient sports medicine, pediatrics, aquatic PT and home health in Big Bear. I am also a Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. My athletic background starts with high school soccer and college volleyball. In 2000, I discovered endurance and adventure sports and have competed in several marathons, triathlons, mountain bike races and adventure races, including Mark Burnett’s famed Eco Challenge race (Borneo) and a race in which we traversed the entire country of Chile. I have lived in Big Bear full time for the last 11 years and have had family in the area for the past 60 years. Surrounded by the forest, next to a lake with blue sky above, I can’t think of many other places I would rather be, let alone live. I am happy that Ted and I can provide a place where our community can come to find out what their real physical potential is and can be, with the inspiration and guidance of our experts and staff.
Rich White aka “The Rev”
I moved to Big Bear Lake April 1st of 1999 mostly because of the great mountain biking. Once I was here I fell in love with the road biking, kayaking, hiking, snowboarding and snowshoeing but most of all, I fell in love with the people. Now I call Big Bear Lake my home. Besides being a trainer at Mountain Fitness I am a freelance writer specializing in cycling, and have participated in some of the hardest mountain bike races in the world including the Trans Alps Challenge an 8 day stage race in Europe, the 7 days of the Trans Rockies Challenge in Canada and a 3 day race across Costa Rica. Even when I’ve been to amazing places I’m always excited to be back in Big Bear. Hope to see you in the gym, rev
Toni Gerlette aka “The Tonivator”
MFC’s resident “mover and shaker”, literally. Many of you have known her for years, as she has lived and played in the Big Bear Valley most of her life. As an advocate for getting out and enjoying the outdoors, she often tells her clients “Snow is frustrating unless you’re playing in it. So, go outside and play!” As a Certified Zumba instructor, Toni keeps the gals especially happy with lots of action in her dance class. In addition to her fabulous dance moves, she is a Nationally Certified Personal Trainer with clients of all ages, fitness levels and wallet sizes. She often finds herself challenged beyond the gym, collecting donations and participating in races which benefit Breast Cancer research. At home, she plays mommie to her son Kyle, husband Frank, and some of Coco’s best friends in town, Aspen the German Shepherd mix, and “Papa” Bear and Brandy, the Chihuahuas. You can find Toni around town on her bike, running from Michelle and Coco, or out on the snowshoe trails. When there is mud to be found, she will find it, with or without her Monster truck.
Michelle Russell and Coco (From the point of view of Coco)
My name is Coco. I am a miniature Australian Sheppard. My mom, Michelle Russell, is the Front Desk Manager at MFC and her boss said that I could be the”shop dog” at the gym. I will often appear through the back door to get lovin’ from the girls in Toni’s Zumba class. They always know just where to scratch me! My mom loves to ride her mountain bike or go for a run and she always takes me with her.
You will probably see us at mountain bike races, so come over to say hello and give me a good scratch. I am only three, but my mom has lived here for ten years. She has a son named Forrest who is a pesky teenager, and an Australian husband named Gavin (AKA “Treat Guy”). Do I detect a bizarre pattern here? Oh, and if you like to get dirty as much as I do, visit the Big Bear Dirty Girls Facebook page for all the action! Welcome to Mountain Fitness. More than just a gym.
Lauren Meisenheimer
Lauren is a Big Bear Native who wondered off for a few years but is now back in the valley. While she was away she went to college and taught children’s fitness classes for 8 years in Huntsville, Al. She is mommy to Kamikaze the Turtle and Kit Kat the cat. Lauren enjoys doing almost anything active and outside; running, biking, swimming, rollerblading, hiking, kayaking, and snowshoeing. She loves to participate in Triathlons and is super duper happy when she is finished and can eat what ever she wants. Two of her favorite quotes are “Fitness in is earned- not bestowed – a process, not a magic trick – an investment, not a miracle.” “I can out swim the cyclist, out bike the runners, and out run the swimmers; that usually gets me a solid 50% finish”
Andrea Walker
I have dedicated my life to aerobic exercise, through research and training. I have trained both low impact exercise to groups (seniors) and individual personal exercises for those with various health conditions. As well as working directly with these individuals with health and or medical conditions, I hold the highest standard of integrity and ethics. Those with recent surgeries I research the best exercises to put that client / patient back on the right track towards a physical fitness program that will suit there desire and medical condition. In addition I have instructed pilates yoga matt classes. I have and always will take the extra effort to communicate with both the client and the client’s doctor, if needed, to keep the client / patient healthy. My concerns are always for the clients well being and consistently work with the client for the betterment of the client. My latest experience was a local gym where I was the counter person selling new memberships and also encouraging older members to reinstate their memberships for another year or continue with a month to month agreement. Showing the new client the gyms schedules and training hours that work for them. Sharing the gyms equipment performances, the personal trainer’s schedule, giving the prospective client the comfort of joining a gym that cares about them! My personal training background as I have stated is extensive 25 years of training, certified in many categories.
Dustin Gill
Dustin Miles Gill is an active guy, who is currently studying and training to become a firefighter paramedic. In his spare time he likes to do Cross Fit, which is a combined exercise training method of intense fitness, ride motorcycles, and work out with his friends at Mountain Fitness Center. Dustin has lived in Big Bear since he was 4 years old. His parents moved him and his younger brother to Big Bear from Santa Cruz. Dustin is 21 years of age, single, and looking. ;) Dustin most of all likes to laugh, and enjoys watching a good comedy movie.
