NPTI students are intelligent, determined, and prepared. Gyms and clients know that today's personal trainer must be extremely knowledgeable about the body as well as the weight room in order to prevent injury, work with a variety of body types and ages, and succeed in different environments. The NPTI curriculum prepares our students for employment in many areas. NPTI alumni have found positions as club trainers, corporate trainers, consultants, hospital fitness specialists, business owners, and students pursuing advanced degrees in exercise science. Check out a sampling of our outstanding graduates below!

Thad McLaurin, BA, NPTI

Thad has been running and blogging about running for a long time now (see his runnerdude blog). After graduating from NPTI he has opened RunnerDude's Fitness. RunnerDude's Fitness will offer running, fitness, and healthy-living training and is conveniently located alongside Greensboro's network of walking, running, and biking paths. See his brochures and website for more information! 

Kory Bailey, BA, NPTI

Kory has a Bachelors of Arts in Communications Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a graduate of the National Personal Training Institute (NPTI) of Raleigh.

Kory has been in the fitness industry and passionate about helping people for more than 5 years. Since graduating from NPTI, he has become the Founder and President of Kinetic Bliss ™, a successful personal training business serving the Raleigh/Durham area. As a former record setting wide-receiver at UNC and member of the 2003 Grey Cup Champion Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, Kory’s experience has taught him these two things...

1.It’s never too late to chase your dreams.
2.You might as well have some fun doing it.

Visit Kinetic Bliss ^TM  or email Kory to ask him about his NPTI experience: kory@kineticbliss.com

Rocky Downey, NPTI

Rocky quickly learned that the big box gym setting was not right for him so he moved forward with his own business venture as an Independent Trainer. He now works for a studio firm, ITB Fitness, doing corporate training one-on-one and group classes at Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Also, he has secured a studio space to train individual clients outside of the corporate account. Rocky is extremely happy being his own boss and having control of his business, including being able to make his own decisions on the road to promoting health and fitness. Rocky is also working with a non profit to consult on promoting healthy lifestyles and exercise programs to lower income communities and for seniors to aide in the fight against obesity. When asked about his NPTI experience, Rocky states: "Thank you NPTI for the knowledge gained and for bridging the way to a new career path in the world of health and fitness!" Please check back soon for a link to Rocky Downey's new website for FitStudio LLC.

Kay Matlock, BS, NPTI

After graduating from NPTI, Kay found a good fit at the Triangle SportsPlex and now has nearly a dozen steady clients. Check out the Triangle SportsPlex Fitness Division Here.

David Vanie, NPTI, B. Science student

Following NPTI graduation, David decided to pump the brakes on going into a large scale business for himself.  David states "The industry is growing so rapidly and I can see that well educated health and wellness professional are in high demand".  So, David went back to school and is currently pursuing a degree in exercise sports science with a minor in public health from North Carolina Central University.  He will be graduating from this program with his bachelors in the spring of 2012 and plans on volunteer coaching with the strength and conditioning team during the next couple of years. David's ambitions are to seek longetivity and upper level opportunities with this industry.  "I have become extremely interested in the science of movement and actually believe I would like to go into research."  As a result, he plans on going straight from Central to UNC into the Exercise Physiology and Human Movement program.

About his NPTI experience, David states: "The background I learned in this program has been phenomenal to opening my eyes to this billion dollar industry and the needs of it.  The knowledge has been invaluable.  I am so grateful to have had that opportunity. Those 6 months have changed my life and helped me to realize that my passion has become my purpose. 

Marie Edwards, BA, NPTI

Marie is the Wellness Coordinator for Wake County. This position requires the identification and promotion of wellness activities and strategies to enhance the well-being of employees and to promote healthy lifestyles.

Colin Brough, NPTI

Colin Brough graduated from 2008 and since then has developed an independent client base while also working at Functional Fitness, a personal training studio. Functional Fitness has been successful in the Triangle area for over 7 years and Colin brings knowledge gained at NPTI to help continue the the business's growth.

Brian Fritz, NPTI

Brian Fritz is currently working for Physical Solutions in Raleigh. Visit their site here!