Meet the Team

We have a fun and friendly group of trainers and staff who take pride in our fitness community and welcome every new face who walks in our doors. Our expertise, encouragement, service, and quest to assure you good health are benefits we proudly acknowledge.

Sarah Small

Owner

Read My Bio

Collin McGee

Fitness Director

Read My Bio

Jessica Grosch

Personal Trainer

Read My Bio

Faith Elliott

Nutrition Coach / Personal Trainer

Read My Bio

TJ Ebling

Personal Trainer

Read My Bio

Nate Taylor

Massage Therapist / Personal Trainer

Read My Bio

Claire Farrar

Personal Trainer

Read My Bio

Sarah Showalter

Personal Trainer

Read My Bio

Jen Wagaman

Personal Trainer

Read My Bio

Kathi Gassert

Front Desk Supervisor

Read My Bio

Karen Arreola

Front Desk Attendant

Read My Bio

Luke MacDonald

Front Desk Attendant

Read My Bio

Download the Official AFC App

Download Now!

I’ve been a part of many gym’s in the past, and I have never received the individualized attention and support that I receive from the staff and trainers at AFC. All of the group fitness classes make you feel like the trainer is working with you individually. They are supportive towards your goals and try to push you to be stronger than you thought you could be.
The gym focuses on building strength for a better body. The staff is encouraging and helps you to see the bigger picture of fitness (keeping your body healthy and not focusing on the scale).

Kristin Waldrop

AFC has been a game changer for my overall health. Between Personal Training with Faith and the MyZone challenges, I have been motivated and accountable for my fitness progress. Trainers are not only knowledgeable but actually care about their clients and make a genuine effort to know them. I no longer am a slave to the scale, but measure my success by how I feel, inside and out. Thanks AFC!

Andrea Sledge

The trainers are seriously professional with their clients’ wellness as their #1 priority.

Ann McGee

View All Reviews



Alliance Fitness Center

1 Meridian Blvd
Reading, PA 19610



Phone

(610) 376-2322



Email

[email protected]



Hours

Mon - Fri | 5:00am - 7:00pm
Sat - Sun | 8:00am - 12:00pm

AFC Newsletter

Subscribe to the AFC Newsletter today and stay in touch by receiving immediate updates about all that Alliance Fitness Center has to offer!



[email protected]

Sarah Small

Owner

Sarah is the owner of the Alliance Fitness Center, Berks County’s “best kept secret” of 30 years. With over 40 years of industry experience, she is a respected national trainer, presenter, and fitness education provider.



[email protected]

Collin McGee

Fitness Director, CSCS, CFSC L2, FRCMS

Collin is the Fitness Director at the Alliance Fitness Center in Reading, PA. He is a 2016 graduate of Cornell University.

His passion for improving his health and athletic performance, along with career-changing injuries, led Collin to where he is today. He believes in providing fun, positive, training experiences based around education to better people’s lives and sports performance. That includes an ongoing journey for knowledge and turning learning into a lifestyle. The health industry, at this level, is the first line of defense against preventable diseases and injury, as well as the most effective way to improve one’s quality of life. He is out to set a new standard for personal training and sports performance.

“My goal is to be the Coach I wish I had. I do not regret my past injuries or experiences because of where I am now. I recognize that I would have guided myself differently with my physical training. However, now I can more easily guide those I work with along safer and more effective training journeys to best meet their goals. From high-performance sports, to just the ability to get off the ground or keep up with your kids, the ability to move well and without pain is liberation we all seek that enhances the quality of our lives.”



[email protected]

Jessica Grosch

GroupX Director, CFSC L1, NASM

Personal Trainer and Group X Director Jessica Grosch is NASM certified and TRX qualified with 7 years experience.

She has 3 very active children and although balancing family and a career may be tough sometimes, she believes that finding time for yourself and your health is very important, and a great example for the family.

After having her third child she decided it was time to do something for herself. She quickly fell in love with how working out made her feel both physically and mentally, deciding to start her journey into becoming a Personal Trainer and Group Instructor.

She loves sharing her passion for fitness with others and helping clients reach their goals!



[email protected]

Faith Elliott

PN Level 2, NASM, RYT200

Faith is a Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, and Group Fitness Instructor. She graduated from Bridgewater College in Virginia with a Bachelor of Science degree. Several years after college, Faith took the leap to quit her corporate career and pursue her dream of working in the fitness industry. She has since become a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer, a Precision Nutrition Level 1 Coach, a Registered Yoga Teacher 200hr, and TRX Qualified.

Faith believes that the easiest step to healthy living is encouraging people to move, in whatever way speaks to them – some may enjoy her Shred class, while a slower-paced strength training session may better suit others – embracing that we are all unique. Her desire is to help her clients learn the best ways to functionally move, fuel their bodies, and sustainably live healthier lives. She loves witnessing her clients gain strength and mobility, find new foods they love, and achieve their biggest goals.

While her younger athletic years are rooted in competitive cheerleading, these days she can be found running local trails, climbing rock walls, or attempting to learn how to ride her new longboard. When she’s not outside enjoying nature, she’s usually relaxing at home with her boyfriend, 2 pups, and a kitty cat.



[email protected]

TJ Ebling

CFSC L1, ISSA CSCS

TJ is a certified Strength & Conditioning Coach through the International Sports Science Association (ISSA) and has a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science from East Stroudsburg University.

After growing up overweight and out of shape, he embarked on a strength training fitness journey, resulting in him losing 50 pounds and taking the stage at a bodybuilding competition. While some people see a physical transformation as just losing weight and body fat, that wasn’t the end for TJ. His physical transformation came with an understanding of how his body moved, which then led him into obstacle course training.

He aims to help his clients learn how to move their bodies safely, effectively, and efficiently, in addition to helping them reach their physical goals on a scale. He also believes a growth-focused mindset is a key to success and that mastering simple habits are what lead to superior results.

TJ uses his training-mindset to overcome obstacles and push past barriers in life, which is what pushes him to grow and become a better father to his son Cyrus, husband to his wife Carrie, and coach to his valued clients.



[email protected]

Nate Taylor

Massage Therapist, NASM, USMC Veteran

Nate is a Certified Personal Trainer, Massage Therapist, and Veteran. He is currently studying Kinesiology at Penn State University.

Nate found his passion for exercise while serving active duty in the Marine Corps. After completion of his military service, he took his passion in a different direction and enrolled in massage school where he became fascinated with the human anatomy and physiology, along with the biomechanics of movement. He then became a Certified Personal Trainer in hopes to use both massage and personal training to free up tight restricted tissue and to aid in moving well without pain.

He is the owner of Taylor Made Integrative Massage located at the Alliance Fitness Center. His goal is to provide his clients with targeted massage techniques to free up their restrictions, stress, and pains, and to use exercise to explore their newfound ranges.



[email protected]

Claire Farrar

CFSC L1, CFNC

Claire is a Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, and Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor. Additionally, she brings a background in natural health solutions to the AFC team.

Claire has 3 children who keep her busy. She feels they are her greatest, yet toughest, clients because if they can emulate taking care of their health then she feels most rewarded for teaching them lifelong habits.

She loves sharing her passion for self-care and health with her clients and watching them crush their goals.



[email protected]

Sarah Showalter

CFSC L1

Sarah is a Certified Functional Strength Coach and a graduate of Kutztown University. She is a competitive marathon runner who participated in the Chicago Marathon and is training to compete in Boston.

Sarah’s passion for health and fitness stems from her competitive athletic history and how it has molded her both physically and mentally. She wants nothing more than to pass on her experience and continue her education to help others find the strength and happiness that she did through physical exercise.



[email protected]

Jen Wagaman

CFSC L1, NASM

Jen is a Certified Personal Trainer with a background in nutrition. She graudated from Sessions College of Professional Design but soon realized web design wasn’t her passion. After personally working with a nutritionist and achieving life changing results, she became a Nutrition Coach in 2019. She decided then that the health and fitness industry was where she belonged.

She has a desire to help others feel good, learn how to listen to their bodies, and truly live their best life. She does just that by coaching others on how to live a healthier lifestyle by focusing on movement and nutrition.

Jen has 2 young boys who keep her very busy with all their activities. She is a military wife who has spent the past 18 years traveling the US with her husband. She is grateful to have the opportunity to work with clients in her hometown area.

She loves to watch her clients succeed in meeting their goals and feeling better! She believes that self-care is what brings us balance in our lives and encourages her clients to indulge in it!



[email protected]

Kathi Gassert

Front Desk Supervisor

Kathi has been with AFC since 2013 working and supervising the front desk and other administrative duties. She started her career in fitness after her mother was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease at a young age, which led her to research the benefits of exercise and ultimately enter the fitness industry. Her fitness career includes positions as a Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, Fitness Director, and Corporate Wellness Specialist locally at the Reading Central YMCA, Carpenter Technology, and Body Zone.

One of her fondest highlights is running a half-marathon in Indianapolis with the final 1.5 miles on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway along the infamous line of bricks. While running isn’t on her to do list anymore, she still makes walking and strength training a priority.

Kathi truly enjoys the friendships and camaraderie throughout the fitness industry, in addition to encouraging and helping others achieve their fitness goals.

She has 5 adorable, very active grandsons who provide her and her husband an excellent fitness program whenever they are with them. She also loves traveling (Key West is her favorite), gardening, cooking, and baking traditional Italian foods for her family and friends.



[email protected]

Karen Arreola

Front Desk Attendant

Karen has worked the front desk with us for several years. Her positive energy circulates throughout the gym. She is a busy mom of two energetic, handsome boys and engaged to be married this year. Although being a mom, working a full-time job, and coming to work at AFC doesn't leave her much free time, she enjoys spending time at the gym, welcoming members with her happy smile, and seeing everyone work hard for their goals. She herself has learned over the years the importance of staying healthy, not only for herself but for her family. The simple word "moving" has become her motto and motivation. Make sure to say hi to Karen when you see her, although she will probably beat you to it!



[email protected]

Luke MacDonald

Front Desk Attendant

Luke is a high school senior at Oley Valley. He loves keeping himself healthy and enjoys cooking and working out. You can usually find him lifting when he’s not working at the front desk. He enjoys spending time with his friends at the baseball field or on the golf course. Luke loves a good conversation so make sure you stop by and say hello!

Meet the Team

Sarah Small

Collin McGee

Jessica Grosch

Faith Elliott

TJ Ebling

Nate Taylor

Claire Farrar

Sarah Showalter

Jen Wagaman

Kathi Gassert

Karen Arreola

Luke MacDonald

Download the Official AFC App

Alliance Fitness Center

Phone

Email

Hours

AFC Newsletter

Success!

Sarah Small

Owner

Collin McGee

Fitness Director, CSCS, CFSC L2, FRCMS

Jessica Grosch

GroupX Director, CFSC L1, NASM

Faith Elliott

PN Level 2, NASM, RYT200

TJ Ebling

CFSC L1, ISSA CSCS

Nate Taylor

Massage Therapist, NASM, USMC Veteran

Claire Farrar

CFSC L1, CFNC

Sarah Showalter

CFSC L1

Jen Wagaman

CFSC L1, NASM

Kathi Gassert

Front Desk Supervisor

Karen Arreola

Front Desk Attendant

Luke MacDonald

Front Desk Attendant