William J. Germano, DC, CSCS
Managing Partner / Performance Director
Dr. Germano holds a Bachelor's Degree with emphasis in Biology and Psychology from Stony Brook University where he was a four year starter and captain of the Men's Baseball team, earning MVP and All-Conference honors. He was also a National Scholar Athlete Award winner. Dr. Germano graduated from New York Chiropractic College and has been in private practice since 1992. He has been on the medical staff of the Long Island Ducks professional baseball team for the past six years as their official Team Chiropractor. For the past 15 years Dr. Germano has treated many athletes, both professional and amateur in a wide variety of sports, including two-time American League MVP Juan Gonzales and former Major League All-Star Henry Rodriguez.
Dr. Germano is a member of the New York State Chiropractic Association, the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He is also a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and an ISSA Certified Fitness Instructor.
Chuck Downey, CSCS
Community Relations Director
Chuck holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and is in the process of completing his Master's Degree in Health Education, both from Stony Brook University. During his years playing football for Stony Brook University, Chuck earned the Team MVP Award twice, was voted Student Athlete of the Year, and was honored as an All American for three consecutive years. In addition, Chuck earned ECAC Player of the Year honors, and in 1988, he signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. Chuck still holds 15 NCAA records and 36 Stony Brook records in football. In 1996, Chuck was inducted into the Stony Brook University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Prior to becoming a Battalion Chief in the New York City Fire Department, Chuck spent two years as a Manager and Personal Trainer at New York Sports Club in New York City and on Long Island. Chuck has also coached many sports from youth to the collegiate level, and is extremely active in Commack Youth Soccer where he serves as a Division Coordinator. Chuck is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and is also a Certified Fitness Instructor through the International Sports Science Association. Chuck also sits on the Captain Board for the Athletic Director’s Advisory Council at the University of Stony Brook.
Christina Papa, MS, CSCS
Marketing Director
Christina graduated with a B.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Northern Colorado and later earned a M.S. in Sports Management from California University of Pennsylvania. She has also been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist since early 2005. Christina first started her career at a sports performance facility in Greeley, CO where she worked with athletes of all ages and abilities, including beginners, high school and professional athletes. The training she implemented was based on HuskerPower, the strength and conditioning program designed by the University of Nebraska. After college she moved to San Diego, CA where she was a certified personal trainer and assistant manager for two years at a large health club chain in the region. Christina also has ample marketing experience, first with the minor league San Diego Gulls (ECHL) and then in the marketing department for the Nashville Predators (NHL). After her time in Nashville, Christina moved to Long Island and worked briefly with the Staten Island Yankees before joining CATZ of Long Island as our Marketing Director.
Christina has been actively involved in dance since childhood and has been a dance teacher for numerous years as well. While at the University of Northern Colorado she played women's rugby, and in recent years has started playing recreational ice hockey.
Arthur Canestro, MEd, CSCS
Head Coach, Athlete Training
Art Canestro holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY, and a Master’s degree in Education from Adelphi University. Art is a Physical Education teacher and continually develops new exercise programs for his school district. He has interjected new exercise science concepts, weight management strategies and the newest, most appropriate exercises in his curriculum. Prior to joining CATZ, he has 12 years of combined experience as a teacher and Certified Personal Trainer.
While attending New York Institute of Technology, Art played baseball and was a stand-out pitcher for his school. He was drafted by the New York Yankees and played professional baseball for 5 years. During his second year in professional baseball, Art led his league in Earned Run Average (ERA). During his career in baseball, Art has played on the same team with Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, J.T. Snow, Brad Ausmus, Bernie Williams, Jim Leyritz and Shane Spencer. He has also pitched against Ken Griffey, Jr., Moises Alou, Craig Biggio, Ryan Klesko, Jim Thome, Jason Varitek, Cliff Floyd, Mike Lieberthal, Jeff Kent, Brett Boone and Kenny Lofton. Art also played in the first professional baseball game ever held by the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
Art is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and is also a Certified Fitness Instructor through the International Sports Science Association.
Eric Albala, CPT, OAT
Head Coach, Adult Training
Eric Albala, a resident of Commack, is a Certified Personal Trainer who has been in the fitness and sports performance industry for 7 years. He earned his first certification from East Coast Instructional Training School where he was certified as a Fitness Trainer. Eric then went on to be certified through AFAA as a Personal Trainer, and then through AIFE as a Certified Older Adult Trainer.
Eric’s in-depth experience includes working with his adult clients to help coordinate and set up proper strength, conditioning and cardiovascular routines to meet their personal fitness goals. Eric has not only trained adults of all fitness levels, but has also managed numerous personal training facilities as well. He was responsible for supervising the design and implementation of all client training programs, the management of 14 personal trainers, as well as assisting over 200 clients achieve their goals on a monthly basis. In addition, Eric also spent a considerable amount of time providing strength training to athletes of all ages and sports, including basketball, baseball, soccer and football. He also focused his time on helping clients with high risk factors such as Diabetes, Arthritis and Cancer, as well as providing a variety of post-rehabilitation training services.
Matthew Shackles, CPT
Performance Coach
Matt Shackles, a Performance Coach here at CATZ of Commack, has been training both youth and professional athletes since early 2002. He received his Bachelors Degree from the University of Rochester in the study of Human Performance, and maintains a Certified Personal Training (CPT) degree from the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA). Matt is currently studying diligently for his C.S.C.S. certification also through the NSCA, and will be taking this test in early 2008.
Matt was a 3-sport athlete at Longwood High School in football, wrestling and lacrosse, and also played in the World Scholar Athlete Games. In addition, Matt was named to the National Football Foundation’s “Golden Eleven” team, which is made-up of the top 11 Best Scholar Football Athletes in the NY Metro area.
While in college, Matt played (4) years of NCAA football as a linebacker, and was also named as a “1st Team All American” for the USILA – the US Intramural Lacrosse Association.
In his spare time, Matt enjoys playing flag football, lacrosse and coaching in numerous youth sports programs in the area.
Kristin Godfrey
Performance Coach
Kristin attended Long Island University at C.W. Post, where she obtained her Bachelors Degree in June of 2007. She received her personal training certification in 2005 and worked as a strength and conditioning trainer at C.W. Post. Kristin also worked closely with the university’s lacrosse, field hockey, and softball teams, specifically helping them focus on speed, conditioning, and overall strength training. Kristin is currently studying for her C.S.C.S. certification through the NSCA, and will be taking this test in mid-2008.
While at C.W. Post, Kristin played four years of women's lacrosse and was captain of their 2007 National Championship Team. Kristin played defense and lead her team in caused turnovers for two seasons. Kristin was a two-time All-Conference Player and a pre-season All American. She was also a member of the C.W. Post women's Basketball and Cross Country teams.
Kristin had the opportunity to participate in a lacrosse tournament in Australia for Team USA, and played against the top teams from both Japan and Australia. She was also recently hand-chosen to be a member of the Irish National Women’s Lacrosse Team in 2008.
William J. Schwarz, PT, PC
Director of Physical Therapy, CATZ of Long Island
Bill Schwarz graduated Cum Laude from Villanova University in 1993. He then went on to graduate with Honors from Hahnemann University in 1995 in Philadelphia where he earned the Mary McMilan Scholarship Award for being one of the top Physical Therapy Students in the United States. Since completing his degree, Bill has been practicing on Long Island for the past 12 years with a concentration in sports injury and post-operative care. He is also an active member of the APTA since 1995. He is now currently completing his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine.
Staci Leavitt Kobren, R.D.
Director of Nutrition, CATZ of Long Island
Staci Leavitt Kobren is a Registered Dietitian and the Director of Nutrition here at CATZ. She is a highly respected nutrition personality who is currently lecturing to dozens of Elementary, Junior and High Schools throughout Long Island. She is currently contributing as quarterly columnist to Health Smart Today and Health Watchers magazines. She has worked for the Discovery Channel as the Nutrition and Behavior Specialist for the "Fit Family Show” on Fit TV. Staci has also appeared on dozens of television and radio interviews, including Fox News and ABC News.
Since 1989, Staci has been the Founder and President of Staci Leavitt Mind and Body, Inc., an Out Patient Eating Disorder, Nutrition and Counseling Center staffed by dietitians, psychotherapists, and affiliated with numerous medical doctors. Under Staci’s close supervision and guidance, her highly motivated team helps patients with nutritional counseling, medical diets, sports nutrition for middle school, high school and collegiate athletes, anorexia, bulimia, yo-yo dieting, compulsive overeating, as well as psychotherapy. Trust, individual support and proper diet instruction are the keys to her unique and individualized programs.