Our Staff

Fitness for Health has an exceptionally trained staff of professionals from a variety of disciplines, including physical education, exercise science, health, fitness and recreation, movement science and motor learning. These attributes, in combination with our extensive training program, provide a safe and supervised environment in which your child can fully maximize his or her potential.

Marc Sickel, A.T.C. - Founder, Fitness for Health Marc Sickel founded Fitness for Health in 1989 to fulfill his dream of helping children maximize their physical potential. Since then, his innovative and creative approach to fitness has helped kids of all ages enjoy the benefits of physical activity—and have fun at the same time. By using specialized equipment and unique methods, Marc has created an exciting, safe environment where kids can develop the motivation and confidence to learn new skills and take on new challenges. Marc has been featured on the NBC Today Show, Fox TV Morning News, and WUSA TV-9, as well as in The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, Potomac Almanac, and Tennis Magazine. Prior to starting Fitness for Health, he was the Athletic Trainer at the Landon School in Bethesda and the Fitness Director at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Marc graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. He is a Certified Athletic Trainer with more than 24 years of experience.

	Christian Garcia Christian Garcia graduated from Salisbury University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. He was a varsity football starter at both the high school and collegiate levels. Christian has been an employee at Fitness for Health since July 2006.			Elana Divine, M.A. Elana Divine, M.A. is currently a 4th Grade General Studies educator at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. She has just completed her Master’s Degree in Jewish Education at George Washington University. Elana brings her expertise as an educator to integrate cognitive learning with motor development at our center.
	Mike Wilson Mike Wilson has more than 14 years of professional and collegiate basketball experience, including a 10-year career with the Harlem Globetrotters. In 2000, Mike set the Guinness World Record for the highest slam-dunk, successfully dunking on a 12-foot goal! Mike majored in education at the University of Memphis, where he played under Coach Larry Finch. He was a starting forward on the 1995 Tiger team that made it to the NCAA Sweet 16. Over the past 3–5 years, Mike has been working with children, with a focus on athletic development and improving skills in strength, endurance, agility, reaction time, and overall sports performance.			Julie Paul, M.A. Julie Paul joined the Fitness for Health team in August 2008, after receiving her Masters of Arts in Motor Learning and Control from Columbia University. While in New York, she worked collaboratively with occupational therapists and special education teachers in a school providing services for children with special needs. In 2006, Julie graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Movement Science from the School of Kinesiology. Recently, Julie has integrated yoga into our program after completing her certificate in the Radiant Child Yoga Program (RCYP 1-2) levels one and two.
	Ricardo Cunningham Ricardo Cunningham has been employed at Fitness for Health since September 2005. Ricardo holds a Physical Education degree from Southwestern Christian College, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Fitness and Recreation Resources from George Mason University. Ricardo is an avid runner who ran track at the collegiate level and represented Jamaica on the junior national team.			Shannon Poole Shannon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreational Therapy from Frostburg State University, and is currently working towards receiving her Certification in Recreational Therapy from NCTRC. Her previous work experience was providing support services for the autism community. In addition, she enjoyed teaching children with disabilities to rock climb.