PERSONAL EDGE FITNESS TEAM

Garret Williamson, MSS, HFI

Born in Mobile, Alabama, Garrett is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Ivey Williamson and a graduate of UMS Preparatory School. Garrett attended the University of Georgia where he was a pole-vaulter on the varsity team for three years. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and continued on to complete his Master’s Degree in Fitness Management (MSS) at United States Sports Academy.

During his studies at the Academy, Garrett interned at both Dr. Kenneth Coopers’ Aerobic research facility in Dallas and St. Johns Medical facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While in Tulsa he taught gymnastics with Mike Thomas at Citadel Gymnastics.

After personal training for eight years in different facilities in Georgia, Oklahoma, and Alabama, Garrett opened Personal Edge Fitness Inc. Personal Edge offers a la carte services in personal training, rehabilitation, sport-specific training, and home training by certified and degreed professionals.

In 2010 Garrett re-entered the competitive athletic field in Sprint Triathlon. In August of that year Garrett, along with his brother Ivey, competed in the USA Triathlon National Championships where they successfully qualified for Team USA and the 2011 World Championships in Beijing, China. In Beijing, Garrett finished 15th in the world and was the top American finisher in his division. Since 2011 Garrett has competed in two more world championships (Auckland, New Zealand 2012, and London England 2013) in both sprint triathlon and aquathlon.

Garrett is married to Stephanie Jane Eads from Jasper, Alabama. They are both very active with Save a Stray and their K-9 foster and adoption programs. They are the proud parents of five dogs and provide a temporary home to many fosters. They also love to travel and are avid scuba divers.

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Gary Zakutney, BS, ATC

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and raised in Mobile. Gary is a graduate of McGill Toolen Catholic High School. Gary attended Troy University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree with a sports medicine emphasis. He has been working as an athletic trainer at Foley, Gulf Shores, and McGill Toolen High School prior to joining Personal Edge fitness in 2008.

Gary has a strong background in rehabilitating acute and chronic injuries as well as group fitness. Along with Garrett, Gary is a Team USA qualifier for the ITU world sprint triathlon championships in Beijing, China for 2011.

He is also the captain of Team PE, a group of clients and staff that attend local running events for fun and a little friendly competition with other local teams. He is married to Jennifer and they have two sons, Jacob and Charlie.

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Joshua Gooch, BS

Besides personal training, Joshua is the Director of Personal Edge Fitness’s Youth Strength Program, which introduces young kids (8-12) to fitness. His favorite saying is: “Don’t just carry the weight of the world on your shoulders—do reps with it!”

Josh began playing basketball with the Upward Bound Program at church and his enjoyment of it continued from 7th grade on up to varsity.

From Athens, Alabama, he attended Faith Christian Academy (which is now Lindsay Lane Christian Academy), graduating in a class of only eight students. Josh’s mother was principal of his school and his father was the church pastor of Isom’s Chapel United Methodist Church.

The summer prior to junior high school, he went on a summer mission trip to the Dominican Republic where they played basketball.

Josh earned his degree in Exercise Science from the University of South Alabama in the Spring of 2015, and was subsequently hired in the fall after his internship with Personal Edge Fitness. Enjoying what he does for a living is only part of what he enjoys about being at Personal Edge Fitness. He says it’s like being with one big family!

In his spare time, Josh spends most of his free time with his wife Mackenzie (yes—they’re newlyweds!), working out, traveling, and hanging out with friends and his rescue dog “Blaze”.

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Charlie Marlowe, BS, CSCS

Raised in Petal, Mississippi, Charlie grew up with a love for sports, playing football and baseball. He attended Petal High School, where he was a starting linebacker for his high school football team. Following high school, he was awarded a scholarship to play for Jones College from 2017-2018, where they went on to achieve a winning record of 18-4 over the course of two years, win two back-to-back South State Champions, and win a bowl game. Charlie then transferred to the University of Southern Mississippi and earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology with a focus in Exercise Science.

After graduation, Charlie joined Personal Edge Fitness in May 2021. He is accredited by the NSCA as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).

Charlie has experience working with athletes from all levels ranging from youth to professional through internships with Traction Sports Performance and Jones College Strength and Conditioning. He is married to Katie and together they enjoy being active, hiking, cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

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Hunter Steiner, BS

Son of Tammy Smith Neron and Kevin Steiner, Hunter grew up in Ocean Springs, MS. Hunter attended Ocean Springs High School, where he was a three-year starter and all-state linebacker for the Greyhound football team. He was recently named to the 2010 All-Decade team. Hunter also played catcher for the baseball team and guard on the basketball team. As a high school senior, Hunter won the APA (American Powerlifting Association) National Championship for the bench press. After high school, Hunter attended Pearl River Community College on a football scholarship, where he played safety and linebacker for the Wildcats. He was also an active member and team representative for the FCA organization. After PRCC, he signed a football scholarship to play at Mississippi College. Hunter finished his athletic and academic career at the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science.

After graduation, Hunter worked at a neuro and spine clinic where he worked with patients of all ages and abilities. After that, Hunter, along with his close friend and sports performance coach CJ Bailey, started an NFL pro day and combine prep training facility where he worked closely with some of the nation’s top athletes and college prospects. Hunter joined Personal Edge in July of 2021 after he and his fiance Myranda moved to Spanish Fort, AL. The most important things for Hunter are his faith and his family.

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Arika Leech, Admin Assistant

From Biloxi, MS, Arika grew up playing soccer and competing on the swim team throughout elementary, middle, and high school. Her active lifestyle led her to become passionate about health and fitness from a young age.

Arika earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2010. Prior to joining Personal Edge Fitness in 2021 as their Administrative Assistant, she worked as a Regional Manager for Smoothie King along the Gulf Coast region. In college, she developed a passion for running and went on to finish multiple marathons.

Aside from running, Arika enjoys yoga, pilates, cycling, spending time outdoors, and being active every day with her husband John, and their 3 sons.

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Katie Carey, BS, MS

Katie Carey was born and raised in upstate New York. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Fitness Development from the State University of New York at Cortland. She continued on at Cortland to receive her Master’s degree in Exercise Science. During her time at Cortland, Katie was deeply involved in the Biomechanics lab. She worked as a graduate assistant teaching undergraduate Biomechanics along with assisting in Parkinson’s disease research in the lab.  Katie also assisted the research coordinator with data collection for Parkinson’s while working with patients, including taking vitals such as heart rate and blood pressure during their exercise regimen and using the Pro-Kinematics mat and Mobility Lab software to track the center of pressure throughout varying tests.

While at Cortland, she also held an internship with the Strength and Conditioning program working directly with collegiate athletes. This internship consisted of coaching athletes through warm-ups, weightlifting, conditioning sessions, and cool-downs, using software programs to track and assign resistance training to athletes, and helping maintain the organization and cleanliness of the weight room environment. Katie is new to the personal training industry as of 2022 and loves every second of it. The one-on-one environment with clients creates the opportunity to build lasting impactful relationships while helping clients work towards and meet their goals.  Katie joined Personal Edge Fitness in 2022 after she moved to the south to be near her parents who retired to Jackson County, MS. Katie enjoys going on adventures with her silver lab, Apollo, and boyfriend Sammy.

Aubrey Smith, BS

Aubrey was born in Saint Clair, Michigan, but grew up in Lafayette, Indiana.  Growing up, Aubrey had a love for sports.  During high school, she was a three sport athlete, playing basketball, volleyball, and softball.  This passion for sports along with her father’s history of health challenges lead her to pursue career in field of health and wellness.  Aubrey went on to graduate from Purdue University in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, where she trained students and professors at the university gym.

Upon graduation, she moved to Houston, Texas, working at a LifeTime Fitness Center for 2 years.  Here she really fell in love with working one-on-one with clients, and learning from their vast life experiences!  In September 2023, Aubrey and her husband Nate relocated to Mobile, Alabama, for his job.  They enjoy camping, festivals, and anything that gets them outdoors!