About Us

Performance Team

Boyd Epley, MEd, CSCS,*D, FNSCA, RSCC*E Senior Director of Corporate Sponsorship and Special Projects

Boyd Epley

Boyd is the most decorated strength coach in history. Lindy’s National College Football magazine named him one of College Football’s Top 100 Most Important People of the Century after his training program helped produce five national championships and 356 wins in 35 years of Nebraska Football. He is the founder of the NSCA and continues to be an advocate for strength coaches.

Carwyn Sharp, PhD, CSCS, RSCC*D Education Director

Carwyn Sharp

Dr. Sharp earned his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Management and Prescription, Master’s in Exercise Science, and Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition. He has worked in academia as an Assistant Professor and full-time Lecturer. Carwyn worked for Wyle Laboratories conducting exercise science experiments at NASA Johnson Space Center. He also has 14 years coaching experience, including serving as Head Performance Coach at Elite Training 4 Athletes. He has spoken at many meetings/events, and been interviewed for national publications. Dr. Sharp has authored and co-authored numerous articles, manuscripts and abstracts, has been a CSCS-certified member of the NSCA since 2003, and achieved RSCC distinction. 

Keith Cinea, MA, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D Publications Director

Keith Cinea

Keith has worked for the National Strength and Conditioning Association since 1999. Before coming to the NSCA, he was the Strength Training Coordinator for the Central Denver YMCA, and worked as an adjunct faculty member at Front Range Community College in Westminster, Colorado. Keith earned his BA and MA in exercise physiology from the University of Northern Colorado and holds a first degree black belt in tae kwon do.

Torrey Smith, MA, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, TSAC-F Certification Director

Torrey Smith

Torrey Smith received his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his Master’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Torrey began his career at the NSCA in 2002 as the Continuing Education Coordinator. After serving in this role for three years, he was promoted to Exam Development Coordinator and then later to Exam Development Manager. Having experience in all aspects of the Certification Department, Torrey was named the Certification Director in 2011. Torrey is also a Certified Health Fitness Specialist (HFS) through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and is a Certified Sport Performance Coach through USA Weightlifting (USAW).

Curtis Lords, MS, CSCS, *D, NSCA-CPT, *D Membership Director

Curtis Lords

Curtis joined the NSCA in 2006. Prior to the NSCA, he was a career United States Naval Officer and served in the Medical Service Corps as a Naval Aerospace Physiologist, Aviation Medical Safety Officer, and Diving Medical Officer. He trained Naval personnel in the physiological responses to the flight and diving environments, taught land and water survival skills, and taught classes in performance improvement. Curtis also conducted strength research at the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory. His areas of research concentrated on performance and strength improvement for aviators, Rescue Swimmers, and Navy Divers. He Honorably retired from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in 2002.  Curtis was an adjunct faculty member at the University of West Florida and Pensacola Junior College. He received his BS and MS degrees from Brigham Young University. Curtis is a technical rock climber, Mountaineer, and certified climbing director. 

Scott Caulfield, CSCS,*D, RSCC Performance Center Manager/Head Strength and Conditioning Coach

Scott Caulfield

Coach Caulfield is responsible for the day-to-day supervision and training of all athletes, interns, and coaches at the NSCA’s 6,000 sq ft Performance Center.  He also serves as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Colorado College Men’s Ice Hockey.  He works diligently to promote the NSCA and its coaches, including work with national governing bodies such as the United States Olympic Committee, US Ski and Snowboard Association, USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, US Figure Skating, USA Hockey, and USA Ultimate.  He has been a certified member of the NSCA since 2003 and most recently served as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Dartmouth College.  

David Barr, CSCS,*D, CSPS, NSCA-CPT,*D, TSAC-F, RSCC Education Content Manager

David Barr

David is a performance specialist whose research experience includes work for NASA at the Johnson Space Center, as well as clinical research on the effect protein intake on muscle growth. He has authorship in four books and more than 50 web-based publications on applied training and supplement science. He is a certified sports nutritionist through both the ISSN and Precision Nutrition, a certified and Track and Field coach through USATF, and Level 1 USAW Coach.

Jason Dudley, MS, CSCS, RSCC, TSAC-F TSAC (Tactical Strength And Conditioning) Manager

Jason Dudley

Jason oversees all aspects of the TSAC program and the physical training of Military groups, Colorado Springs SWAT team and Individual Colorado Firefighters. Jason has experience in the NFL, NHL, The Big East Conference, and The Pac-10 Conference. Jason received his Masters in Human Movement and Performance from Western Washington University.

Jennifer Hewit, PhD, CSCS Education Coordinator

Jennifer Hewit

Jennifer earned her Master’s degree in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Biomechanics from the University of Northern Colorado. While pursuing her degree, Jennifer worked as a Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Personal Training Instructor and assisted with national collegiate and NFL combine testing. Jennifer completed an internship with the USOC Biomechanics and Research Department in Colorado Springs, CO. There, she conducted weekly testing on the Men’s and Women’s weightlifting teams and various other research with Men’s Gymnastics. Jennifer earned her PhD in Biomechanics/Strength and Conditioning from AUT University in New Zealand. Jennifer’s primary research interests lie in agility performance, technique training, and injury prevention. 

Nick Clayton, MS, MBA, CSCS,*D, RSCC Education Coordinator

Nick Clayton

Nick most recently served as Director of Performance at TMI Sports Medicine where he developed a sports performance program for youth through professional athletes. While there, he trained a number of major league baseball players and focused on performance enhancement and prehab training. Prior to working at TMI, Nick was the Assistant Director for Recreational Sports at the University of Florida. He earned his undergraduate degree from Rowan University and his MS in Exercise Science and MBA from the University of Florida.

Robyn Mason, MS, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, TSAC-F Education Coordinator

Robyn Mason

Robyn is a multimedia expert whose experiences include working in the Sport Performance Division for the United States Olympic Committee for eight years and as a Sport Technologist for the last five. Highlights include serving coaches and athletes by providing video-based feedback and scouting for both training and competition.  She traveled with several teams to major events including Taekwondo, Boxing, Wrestling, Speedskating and Bobsled leading up to and during four Olympic Games; Athens, Torino, Beijing and Vancouver. She earned her Master’s Degree in Sport Management from American Public University and her BS in Exercise Science from The University of Scranton. She is Dartfish Certified and a Level E Coach through Colorado Youth Soccer.

Doug Berninger, M.Ed., CSCS*D, RSCC Coaching Performance Coordinator/Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach

Doug Berninger

Doug received his Master’s degree in Kinesiology from Bowling Green State University in 2011. He has had the opportunity to work with athletes in many different settings including Athletes’ Performance, Bowling Green State University, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the Olympic Training Center (Colorado Springs) and most recently, the University of Michigan. Along with his passion for coaching athletes to excellence, he also enjoys the education aspect of the strength and conditioning profession. He has written articles for publication on EliteFTS.com, held two personal blogs on strength and conditioning, and hopes to write several books in the future. Doug’s personal athletic background includes competing in weightlifting and powerlifting for the past five years. Although he considers weightlifting to be his niche within strength and conditioning, you may see him in Strongman in the near future.  

Katie Miller, RD, LDN, CSCS, TSAC-F TSAC Coordinator

Katie Miller

Katie graduated from the University of Mississippi with two bachelors in Criminal Justice and Nutrition/Dietetics. She has served as a police officer in her previous local community, has trained with the U.S. Marine Corps, and now currently trains with the U.S. Army as a commissioned officer.  Katie has worked in clinical, community, and consultant dietetic positions in various locations throughout the country.  She currently works within the Tactical Strength and Conditioning program as a coordinator of athletes and a nutrition consultant at the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Francis Neric, MS, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, TSAC-F Exam Development Coordinator

Francis Neric

Francis graduated from California State University, Long Beach in 2002 with a BS in Exercise Science and completed his MS in Clinical Exercise Physiology from California State University, Fullerton in 2005. His thesis titled, “The Effects of Submaximal Swimming and Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Blood Lactate Following Sprint Swimming” was published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning and Research, and was later used by the firm to gain FDA clearance to market its product for sports performance. Professionally, Francis coached swimming at the age-group, collegiate, and master’s level for over 12 years. After coaching, Francis began working at the NSCA in 2008 as the Continuing Education and Exam Preparation Coordinator. After serving in this role for three years, he was promoted to Exam Development Coordinator. 

Juan Aponte, MS, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT, TSAC-F Exam Development Specialist

Juan Aponte

Juan earned a BS in Physical Education from Brigham Young University. He then earned an MS in Exercise & Sport Science from the University of Utah. Following this, Juan worked as the physical education faculty for Dine’ College where he coordinated intramural sports and the fitness and wellness program in addition to his teaching responsibilities. Prior to coming to the NSCA, Juan worked as a physical education instructor at the United States Military Academy. Juan is interested in exercise adherence and program design to improve dynamic functional living.

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