Certified Professional of the Year
Menu

ACSM 2025 Certified Professional of the year logo; image of woman conducting a Vo2Max test on another woman

2025 ACSM Certified Professional of the Year

The ACSM Certified Professional of the Year is awarded to an outstanding ACSM Certified Professional to recognize their dedication and exceptional contributions towards enhancing the health and wellness of individuals in their community. 

Applications Open: August 9, 2024

Deadline: October 11, 2024

 

Eligibility Requirements*:

  • Active ACSM Health Fitness Certification and/or Clinical Certification: Certified Group Exercise Instructor (ACSM-GEI), Certified Personal Trainer (ACSM-CPT), Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP), or Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP)
  • Work at least 20 hours/week in exercise and well-being at time of application
  • At least 5 years of experience or 2 recertification cycles 

*Those with direct financial ties with ACSM or are active volunteers of the Summit Program Committee, ACSM Certification Board, ACSM CCRB Sub-Committees, or ACSM Board of Trustees are ineligible to apply. 

Once the initial application has been submitted, finalists will be contacted to complete the additional questions. 

Awarded Benefits: 

  • Up to $500 in travel assistance
  • Complimentary 2025 ACSM International Health & Fitness Summit registration 
  • Acknowledgment on the ACSM website and in the ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal   
  • Complimentary 1-year ACSM Alliance Membership
  • Beautiful glass award, award certificate and digital badge 
  • Press release sent to hundreds of media contacts
  • Opportunity to serve as an ACSM media spokesperson and conference presenter
  • And more… 
horizontal line with lime green, blue and black sections

2024 Certified Professional of the Year

Brian Cleven

Brian Cleven, M.S., ACSM-CEP, ATC

Cleven is an ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist employed at the Bellin Health Marinette Clinic in Marinette, WI where he prepares patients and supervises their outpatient cardiac stress testing. He has experience in all three phases of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient cardiac stress testing, ECP Therapy, application of Holter and blood pressure monitors and body composition assessment. He created a Phase 2 Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at the Bellin Health Marinette Clinic that continues to serve patients.  

“ACSM has been a guiding light and the gold standard throughout my career as a health care professional, so receiving this recognition is very special,” said Cleven. “It has been a joy and an honor to share my knowledge and passion for health and wellness with patients, friends, family and my community. I look forward to using this recognition to continue promoting increased physical activity for all ages.” 

Learn More About Brian

line with grey, dark blue and light blue sections

Previous Award Winners:

Louise Valentine headshot

2023
Louise Valentine, MPH, CHES, ACSM-EP, ACSM-CPT, EIM, CSCS, BCTMB

Louise is CEO of BreakingThroughWellness.com, offering holistic coaching, educational events, and a comprehensive learning academy for active women and runners 35+.  It’s her passion to translate cutting-edge science into efficient strategies so others can break through setbacks, thrive after 35, and maximize health, fitness and performance with more energy, less stress.

Learn more about Louise

line with grey, dark blue and light blue sections
Batrakoulis-Alexis

2022

Alexis Batrakoulis, Ph.D., ACSM-EP, ACSM-CPT, EIM

Involved in the health and fitness industry since 1995, Alexis is based in Larisa, Greece and currently works as an adjunct lecturer, personal trainer and fitness educator presenting in more than 40 countries across five continents. He is the founder of the International Obesity Exercise Training Institute, teaching internationally approved continuing education courses on exercise and health for fitness professionals around the globe. His primary research interest is the study of hybrid-type, multicomponent interval training in obesity. Read more here

line with grey, dark blue and light blue sections
kristin traskie

2021

Kristin A. Traskie, M.P.H., ACSM-CPT, EIM

Kristin is the fitness and wellness coordinator in the Health Promotion Department at Michigan State University (MSU). Traskie’s mission is clear: Create a culture of health and well-being on campus and in the surrounding community. In addition to ACSM certifications, she also holds certifications from several other organizations. She uses research-backed knowledge from those fitness certifications to create holistic wellness and movement opportunities. Her work through MSU’s Health Promotion Department, Exercise is Medicine® on Campus initiative, Well-Being Coalition and The SPARTANfit Fitness and Wellness Program is improving health outcomes and life satisfaction for students. Read more here.

Have Questions?

Email Us