PINNACLE FITNESS
OUR VISION
Pinnacle Fitness exists to impact, empower and change the lives of those who are intimidated by the typical gym environment through strong coaching, accountability, a family like community, and a desire to just take the first step, and then the next step each and every day.
That vision will never change.
Building you from the ground up,
Luke Sullivan
I wanted to create a “House” for people to come and feel better, move better and move more. The community that we have built has evolved to working professionals, moms, dads, grandparents and we have become Pinnacle Fitness.
We have some amazing success stories, many of which you can see on our website.
Our team has expanded. We have continued to dial in our business model to provide the best experience possible for our clients.
In 2019, we decided as a staff to share our three pillars. The three unique things that we do best.
We are so much more than a gym.
Every client knows every trainer and every trainer knows each client. Every member.
We sweat together, but we also hang out together, socialize together, go to cooking classes together, participate in community events together, and lean on each other when we need it most.
If you are just looking for a place to workout, we are not for you.
But if you want a place where you can meet new people. Move better and feel better. Get out of pain and turn the clock back on your life. Become inspired to become a better version of yourself and be a part of a strong community, then we just might be a great fit for you.
Luke Sullivan – Owner Pinnacle Fitness
OUR STORY
In 2010, I opened Pinnacle Fitness with a knowledge base of a trainer but not how to operate a gym.
In the beginning, I messed up a lot.
It took me a number of years to realize that I wanted more for myself. Not in a way that I wanted to make a bunch more money. But I wanted to be a part of something that I could be proud of. Something that at the end of the day, I could go home and tell my wife some of the amazing things that happened and know that I changed someone’s life for the better.
As the gym grew, I learned a lot.
I changed a lot.
The things that I thought were important originally fell to the wayside and a new set of values and beliefs formed.
I had a lot of injuries as a collegiate and professional discus, shot put, and hammer thrower during my twenties and thirties. Now I was paying the price with achy joints, multiple disc injuries, and all the size and strength that I had put on when I was competing had started to turn to mush.
How could this be happening? I was always so fit and strong.
The answer, Life gets in the way. I started to realize that all of the members coming into see me had similar aches and pains and were constantly complaining of back, knee and overall joint soreness.
Like a sledge hammer, it hit me.
Movement makes people feel better. I need to help people move better. And once they can move better… I am going to make them move more!
I understood what pain was like. I understood the feeling and the emotion behind it. I could relate to virtually everyone walking in the door and I realized this is what I was destined to do.
“ I help people turn the clock back on their life”.
I wanted to create a gym where people could come from all walks of life. People have always said that gyms are scary, intimidating and not a fun place to be….
I set out to change that mindset.
I started with a quality staff. In 2017, I hired a young (young to me) and bright trainer that had the desire to learn. He understood people and quickly learned the style of coaching that I instilled at Pinnacle Fitness.
Anthony Brown was my first employee and is now overseeing all of our operations at Pinnacle Fitness.
As we have continued to grow we certainly have had our ups and downs, defining what model is best for us, who we are right for, and we learned a lot.
Throughout all of this, there has always been an underlying motivation that is two-fold.
MY JOURNEY TO A HEALTHY BACK
In 1994, I received a scholarship to UCLA as the #1 discus thrower in the country. I was a shy, thick hipped, humble kid from a one stop-lite town in rural Wisconsin. I had unbelievable parents that instilled a work ethic in me that was second to none.
In the Fall of 1994, I made the trek to Los Angeles and started a heavy lifting, running and throwing regime. I had never really lifted weights but knew I needed to gain a lot of weight to compete at the collegiate level. As I got stronger, I put on weight and got less flexible. I started to adjust my lifting technique to account for the added weight in my shoulders, butt and thighs. I gained a jean size each year for 4 straight years.
At the end of my Freshman year, I started to have some back pain. Nothing terrible but definitely nagging. I was getting ready for the age 19 and under USA National meet and started to take anti-inflammatories to get through practice, sleep at night and just to sit in class for an hour. I eventually couldn’t even sit in a chair for more than 30 seconds at a time without shifting around.
I went on to win the USA Nationals but was immediately put in a hard shell back brace after I competed at the Pan-American Games later that summer with a stress fracture in my low back.
1994-Stress Fracture in low back L4-L5 I was put in hard shelled back brace for 23 hours a day for 5 months time.
1995 – I suffered a cracked end plate of my Vertebrae.
1996-7 – those fractures would shift causing spasms up and down my spine.
1999 – before NCAA Nationals I blew my back out and had to compete using a weight belt and no range of motion. I was one of the favorites and finished 5th place in the discus. A heartbreaking experience.
Fast forward to 2013, I experienced a 16 mm bulging disc which left me debilitated. I couldn’t sit for nearly 2 months, hardly slept, and feared I would lose my business and consequently my home since I was in so much pain I could barely get out of bed.
I understand first hand what it is like to wake up every morning and not be able to move until you get in that hot shower.
How you feel young in your mind but your body doesn’t seem to want to cooperate.
I learned that the pain was difficult but it was more about the emotional and mental side. Rehabbing continuously is exhausting and harder after each injury.
The passion that now burns within me is to help others get through their obstacles and pain.
Others may not have had as severe an injury as me but I can still help them get back to feeling 10 years younger.
Meet the Pinnacle Fitness Team
CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINERS
The team at Pinnacle Fitness Scottsdale is passionate about fitness. Putting your needs first and genuinely wanting to help you succeed! Our innovative approach intermixes the best exercises from a variety of disciplines such as weight training, dynamic stretching, plyometrics and cardio interval training. Complete training plans are designed to bring together a variety of disciplines in order to match a client’s needs and interests.
Our commitment to providing clients with the best gym and personal training experience is reflected in the quality of personal trainers working at Pinnacle Fitness. Each trainer is certified, with an average of 5-10 years of experience helping clients meet their physical fitness goals.
Luke Sullivan
Owner of Pinnacle Fitness/Certified Personal Trainer
Luke moved to Arizona in 2006 to pursue his dream of making the 2008 Olympic team as a discus thrower. Injuries ultimately hampered his training so, despite qualifying to compete at the 2008 Olympic Trials, Luke chose to listen to his body and prevent further damage. After dedicating 20 years to training and competing, Luke officially retired from competitive discus throwing in June, 2008.
Now Luke’s focus is dedicated solely on changing peoples’ lives through fitness. Using the success he created over the past (9) years of transforming personal-training clients of all body types, Luke launched Pinnacle Fitness.
Fitness has always been a part of Luke’s life. As a teen, he was a three-sport athlete in his hometown of Verona, WI. He used his athletic abilities to earn a full scholarship to UCLA to compete on their Track & Field team, eventually being named Team Captain in 1999 and achieving All-American status four times during his collegiate career with the Bruins!
Luke stays connected to his hometown roots in Wisconsin – his parents maintain their residency in Verona as does his older brother. He continues to develop young Wisconsin throwers through two annual throwing clinics and guest speaking engagements at schools and banquets.
Luke’s Certifications & Achievements
- Certified with a CSCS( Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist) by the NSCA( National Strength & Conditioning Association)
- CPR & AED Certified by The American Heart Association
- USATF Coaching Education Level 1 Certification
- 2000 & 2004 US Olympic Trials Competitor in the discus.
- Top 25 USA Track & Field ranking as a discus thrower 1997, 1998, 1999,2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
- 4 time UCLA All- American in Track & Field
- 1995 Junior Pan-American Discus Champion
- 1994 # 1 Ranked HS discus thrower in USA
Alicia Washington
Certified Personal Trainer
Alicia was born and raised in Holbrook, AZ which is a small town in northern Arizona. Their claim to fame is the Petrified Forest National Park and The Painted Desert known for it’s brilliant and varied colors. She moved to Phoenix 15 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. Alicia has been a Yoga teacher for 3 years and has learned so much about herself and the students she teaches. Alicia believes Yoga is an important tool for all people in all walks of life. It teaches you to stop, breathe and stop reacting. It also helps you to take note of what is going on with your mind and body, if only for a short period of time. Alicia has always been passionate about fitness and was a fitness client herself for years. Two years ago she was met with a life changing experience and it was her faith and fitness that helped her to get up every day and persevere. She made the decision to become a personal trainer because she wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. Alicia wanted to show people that no matter what you may be going through YOU are worth the time and energy to make yourself a better person mentally and physically.
Alicia has two certifications with International Sports Sciences Association as a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Specialist. She truly enjoys being a Personal Trainer and working with different people with varying needs and goals. She also has a 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training that she received from Southwest Institute of Healing Arts.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking, weight training, camping, traveling and spending time with family and friends. She is thrilled to be a part of the Pinnacle Fitness family and looks forward to the opportunity of changing people’s lives 1 squat at a time.
Achievements and Certifications:
- 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training Southwest Institute of Healing Arts
- Certified Personal Training and Nutrition Specialist from ISSA
Lorenzo Marino
Certified Personal Trainer
Fitness has taken a huge leading role in my life. As a kid and a teenager I was considered
morbidly obese, and doctors would consistently tell me that I had to lose weight. And so with a
lot of trial and error I was able to lose over one-hundred twenty-five pounds! During this weight
loss journey I fell in love with the gym, and after some hard work and commitment I had finally
weighed in at under two-hundred pounds despite weighing over three-hundred at one point! I
regained so many things that I took for granted. I can tie my shoe without becoming out of
breath, run, and fit into clothes at the store. I wanted others to experience this freeing feeling.
So, I earned my personal training certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine
and set out on my journey to become the best version of myself as a coach!
During my tenure at the gym I started competing in the sports of Powerlifting and Strongman.
This has given me an extensive knowledge of ways to strengthen and condition the body. But as
someone who was still rather heavy, I had to work around many injuries and deficits in the way
that I moved. Being so injury prone, I chose to earn my Corrective Exercise Specialization from
the National Academy of Sports Medicine, this allowed me to rehabilitate myself and existing
clients through movement!
My favorite things outside of work are spending time with my wife, keeping up with the current
trends in the world of strength sports, and DIY projects that go horribly wrong 90% of the time.
Even though I’ve lost a lot of weight, I still enjoy trying new and fun foods from time-to-time and
would love suggestions!
Jesi Bitsoi
Certified Personal Trainer
Jesi was born in Phoenix, Arizona, but was raised in Northern Arizona on the Navajo Reservation. He grew up in a small community called Leupp, which is about 50 miles east of Flagstaff. He comes from a family of five, and is the oldest of three. For as long as he can remember, he’s always had a love for basketball. He continued to play throughout high school, in hopes that he would possibly play in college. Unfortunately, his senior year in high school he tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his left knee.
After the injury, he had reconstructive surgery and a 6-9 month rehabilitation process. Although the process was tough, and sometimes painful, the road to recovery was an eye opening experience. This life changing event introduced a love for exercise science and passion to help athletes of all ages upgrade their lives.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Sports Performance from Grand Canyon University. He’s had the opportunity to have worked with athletes of all ages and backgrounds from youth athletes to professional athletes. He currently holds two certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and from the National Association of Sports Medicine as a Certified Personal Trainer.
Nathan Vasquez
Certified Personal Trainer
Nathan was born in Chicago, Illinois and comes from a big family with 2 older sisters and 3 younger brothers. Having a father who has been in the marines for 25+ years meant that the family has moved 6 total times throughout Illinois and California. During high school, Nathan was a 3-sport athlete athlete playing football, wrestling, and track & field all 4 years. Being active started at a young age, when he first started playing sports and his father took him to workout. Since then, remaining active active has been very crucial in his life, especially when he decided to attend Arizona State University.
At school he joined the powerlifting club, worked at the school gym, and was an intern at EXOS working with MLB athletes. Nathan earned his bachelor’s degree in Clinical Exercise Science in 3 years and his personal training certification through ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine).
ASU is also where he met his girlfriend who also graduated in 3 years, but in Criminology & Criminal Justice. This is who he loves to spend any free time he has with. Post-graduation he moved away from home in Chicago to get away from shoveling snow and was working at the Boulders Resort as a maintenance man since he loves working with his hands. Now, he couldn’t be any happier to be back in the gym environment and to be part of a crew with amazing clientele.
Certifications:
- ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) Personal Trainer
- CPR & AED certified by American Red Cross
Lauren Harrington
Certified Personal Trainer
I was born and raised in Gilbert, Arizona while the rest of my family is from New York. I have 3 older siblings, 2 brothers and 1 sister. I grew up in a sports oriented family and my favorite sport is basketball. I attended Mesquite High school in Gilbert, Arizona where I won a state championship my senior year while a part of the girls’ basketball team. After graduating high school I attended Arizona State University where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Sports Science and Performance Programming. While attending college I started coaching high school girls’ basketball at my alma mater, Mesquite High School. I have enjoyed every second of it. In my senior year of college I interned at MOVE Human Performance Center in Chandler, Arizona. I had the opportunity to coach many people with varying fitness and health goals. Upon graduating from college I earned my Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
I believe the three main characteristics that every coach should possess are, the willingness to learn and grow in their knowledge, empathy for those that they work with, and a passion to help others in reaching their goals. As a coach I have continually strived to ensure I possess these characteristics and incorporate them with every person I work or come into contact with. As a coach I strive to make exercising fun and safe for all. I got into coaching and training because I want to help people on their journey in life. I love being able to use my knowledge and experience to help others reach their goals and help them grow a healthy relationship with exercise and movement.
Certifications:
-Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (NSCA)
Mike Offner
Certified Personal Trainer
I feel like my story starts out similarly to a lot of people. I was an active, fit athlete all through high school. Between college, work, and my girlfriend (now my loving wife for over 20 years😁), I didn’t have the discipline to maintain my health and fitness. Long story short, I put on 85 pounds and it wasn’t until about 15 years ago that I committed to myself to make a change. These changes inspired me to go back to school and get a degree in exercise science.
My personal training experiences I started at a big box gym, just learning the ropes really. I then spent some time in the nonprofit world coaching people who were either blind or visually impaired live more active lifestyles. I also had the opportunity to work in the corporate wellness realm at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, health coach, and health and fitness educator for the hospital staff.
The unexpected happened to me in February of 2022- I had an Ischemic Stroke. Thanks to the quick responses and amazing health care providers, my recovery has been as good as you could hope to have. As if something like that wasn’t enough for a year, we were also in the process of planning our move back to Phoenix after a 6 year stint back “home” in Ohio.
I’ve spent the last year and a half working in a clinic with a team of providers to facilitate rehab exercises for patients with back, neck, shoulder, and knee pain to see if I wanted to pursue the physical therapy route. I value the time and knowledge that I gain while working there tremendously. What this experience really brought to light for me is that my true passion lies in fitness!
Certifications and Achievements:
American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Trainer
CPR/First Aid
2,000+ Private sessions trained
1,200+ Hours group fitness classes coached
Lisa Dubiel
Customer Service Specialist
Hi! I am Lisa Dubiel the new
“girl” at Pinnacle Fitness.
I am originally from NJ and moved to
Arizona in 2009 with my Husband. I
am fortunate that I have
my three children. My four grandchildren made
Arizona their home as well!
When I am not at Pinnacle
Fitness, I enjoy Spending time with family, Hiking,
Biking, and Traveling.
Ben Holko
Massage Therapist
Hello, My name is Ben Holko, and I have been the massage therapist here for 2 years now! I was raised in Portland Oregon for the first 12 years of my life and I have been in Arizona even since. I got my degree in Exercise Physiology at ASU and my massage license at Cortiva Massage School in Scottsdale.