About Us
OUR COMMUNITY
Mohawk Valley Wellness
Welcome to the Premier Gym, Fitness Facility, and Wellness Center in the Mohawk Valley!
WHERE WE FOCUS ON BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH FITNESS
WHAT MAKES MOHAWK VALLEY WELLNESS DIFFERENT?
A decade ago Mohawk Valley Wellness started in a garage with a few friends working out together. The idea was living a better life through fitness and positive social interaction.
We have grown to become the most successful fitness facility in the Central New York area, with a staff of the most knowledgeable, dedicated, and passionate coaches around. We have built and designed programs offering a wide variety of services to help you reach your health and fitness goals!
Find the ideal program for you:
CrossFit
Mohawk Valley Fitness (excludes a barbell)
Nutrition and Lifestyle Coaching
Personal Training
Vitality
Mohawk Valley Performance (teen athlete program)
We can’t wait to welcome you into our amazing Community!
Meet Our Trainers
What separates a “good” gym from a “great” gym? What separates Mohawk Valley Wellness as the “best” fitness facility in our local area?
The answer is simple: Coaching.
Anyone can stand in front of a group or an individual and read a workout off the board. Not just anyone can connect, engage, motivate and impact each member, while simultaneously making sure each person is moving safely and efficiently through the exercises.
One thing is for certain: our Coaches are the BEST of the BEST. They are educated, certified, knowledgeable, experienced, AND passionate in areas of health and wellness. They CARE about each member. They are DEDICATED to the goals and successes of every single client that walks through our doors.
At Mohawk Valley Wellness, even our COACHES get COACHED! Our philosophy in remaining the BEST in our area, involves our coaching staff sharing their knowledge and tips to each other as well!
John Bartholomeo
Owner & Coach
ABOUT JOHN
John Bartholomeo is the owner and the head coach at Mohawk Valley Wellness.
Mohawk Valley Wellness was opened in 2011 to fill to be the first CrossFit affiliate in the Utica area.
John was introduced to CrossFit while working in Iraq first as a Marine and then as a private contractor. After being exposed to CrossFit John’s training and nutrition have been completely changed. John currently holds his CrossFit 2 Level trainer certificate and a host of other certificates CrossFit and non CrossFit related.
John is extremely passionate about coaching and enjoys working with members of all experience levels. John has competed in CrossFit, Power lifting, Weightlifting, and Strongman competitions. John finds as much pleasure if not more in training and coaching new athletes than he does from competing himself.
CERTIFICATIONS
- CrossFit Level 1
- CrossFit Level 2
- CrossFit Olympic Lift Certified
- CrossFit Endurance Certified
- CrossFit Kettlebell Certified
- CrossFit Gymnastics Certified
- USAW Sports Performance Coach
Jenifer (Jassak) Bartholomeo
Owner & Coach
ABOUT JENIFER
Jenifer is co-owner of Mohawk Valley Wellness, focusing on teaching strength and conditioning methodologies to athletes, and helping them to achieve optimal fitness and nutritional results through daily programming and notable coaching. Here, Jenifer leads adult CrossFit classes and is the Head Coach and facilitator of the CrossFit Kids Program.
A dancer since the age of 4, and a dance coach since the age of 13, Jenifer was introduced to CrossFit in 2011 by her husband, and was inspired to focus on health, fitness and nutrition and make a lifestyle change from the results she achieved. She developed a passion for CrossFit, and decided to make it a larger part of her life. In 2012 Jenifer received her CrossFit level 1, as well as her CrossFit Kids Certification. She is now able to unite her passion for fitness with her passion for teaching and helping others. Jenifer received a dual Bachelor’s Degree from SUNY Oneonta in Early Childhood, and Childhood Education. She also holds certificate in CrossFit Gymnastics, CrossFit Kettlebell Coaching Course and has completed her Sports Performance Coaching Course through USAW. She has competed in Weightlifting, Strongman, Power-lifting and CrossFit competitions. Jenifer’s goals include continuing her coaching education, and growing her business to bring positive changes to more people’s lives.
CERTIFICATIONS
- CrossFit Level 1
- CrossFit Level 2
- CrossFit Kids
- CrossFit Kettlebell
- CrossFit Gymnastics
- USAW Sports Performance Coach
Vin Cannarelli
Head of Member Onboarding & Coach
ABOUT VIN
Vin Cannarelli grew up obese most of his life, and decided to make a change to get healthy. He has been faithfully involved in multiple areas of Mohawk Valley Wellness ever since! A year ago, Vin determined that an office job was no longer for him, and he pursued a career in health and wellness here at our facility.
Vin is certified in both Vinyasa and Yin Yoga practices and teach weekly at a local studio as well as Mohawk Valley Wellness. He is currently pursuing a Co-Movement certification, and looks forward to becoming a teacher of that style of fitness soon!
Vin is the Head Coach of our Mohawk Valley Fitness program, and coaches personal training sessions. He is also heavily involved in our nutrition coaching program.
Jen Hoage
Coach
ABOUT JEN
Julie Hoage
Coach
ABOUT JULIE
Kathleen Ingersoll
Coach
ABOUT KATHLEEN
Kathleen or better known as Kat is the Assistant Director of the Self-Direction Department through the Resource Center for Independent Living. She has worked for the Not-For-Profit for the last 13 years assisting individuals with developmental disabilities live their lives to the fullest. Kat has been a member of MVW since the winter of 2017. She grew up in New Berlin, NY and settled in the CNY area and started a family in 2004. She has always been an avid athlete competing in soccer and softball all throughout high school and college. After graduating from college and settling down, she started running and participating in HITT classes to fill the void of competitive sports. When she found CrossFit, she knew that this was where her love for fitness and competition would thrive. She has a passion for helping others and pushing them to be the best they can be through fitness and transcending themselves. Assisting others grow and succeed is something she strives to deliver on a daily basis. When she’s not coaching Mohawk Valley Fitness you can find her at sweating at an early morning CF class or sharpening her barbell skills through the Olympic Weightlifting class.
Brandon Schrader
Coach
ABOUT BRANDON
BIOGRAPHY
Brockport alumni with a bachelors degree in Kinesiology. Athletics have always been a part of my life, from AYSO, high school sports, and collegiate athletics (Lacrosse). Once all of the “competitive’ team sports had ended, commercial gyms and pick up lacrosse was all that was left. Then I found CrossFit, specifically CFMV. I had watched countless videos of all the greats before I finally decided to take the leap of faith, 2014 was the beginning to an obsession that is still as strong as it was then.
Since taking that first sip of “koolaid” I have gained much strength, well yeah strength is about it J Seriously though I am in the best shape of my life. After figuring out how the whole CrossFit thing worked, I tended to gravitate towards Olympic Weightlifting, it meshed well with me and I now coach the Olympic Weightlifting Class at CFMV.
The biggest takeaway would be the community that I have become a part of.
CERTIFICATIONS
- CrossFit Level 1
- ISSA Fitness Nutrition
- CrossFit Weightlifting
Jim Laurey
Coach
ABOUT JIM
Jim resides in Whitesboro with his two boys, Jackson and Carter and wife Emily. He is a sergeant with the Utica Police Department and Co-Director of the Mohawk Valley Police Academy. Jim has always had a passion and love for fitness and knows the importance that physical fitness plays in the Law Enforcement profession.
Wanting to change up his traditional workout routine, Jim was introduced to CrossFit in 2012 and immediately fell in love with it. After seeing that CrossFit made him stronger, faster and healthier, Jim began to instill the methodology of CrossFit into the fitness program at the police academy and immediately saw a drastic improvement in the health and overall fitness of the recruits.
Jim has competed in several CrossFit competitions, and is is passionate about training athletes and his recruits and motivating them to be the best version of themselves.
CERTIFICATIONS:
CrossFit Level 1
Jocelyn Gacek
Coach
ABOUT JOCELYN
Jocelyn is a Colorado native and a former ice hockey player. She is an Occupational Therapist and has her CF-L1 certification. She has been a part of MV Wellness for over 5 years now and says, “Spending time at the gym is my favorite part of the day. I love all things fitness, hiking, and doing anything outdoors during my free time.” Jocelyn coaches our CrossFit classes, Mohawk Valley Fitness classes, and does personal training. Jocelyn is also a Mohawk Valley Wellness Brand Ambassador.
CERTIFICATIONS:
CrossFit Level 1
Christy Harlander
Coach
ABOUT CHRISTY
Christy has a background in counseling and has found a way to tie it into the wellness piece, making for a complimenting host of knowledge that aids in her work with clients. She loves helping people achieve their health goals, aiding in making those important connections to be healthier version of themselves.
Christy is continually seeking ways to contribute to the members and community in order to aid in leading a healthy life. She believes nutrition is a pillar of health and wellness. She also believes in having a positive approach and outlook to aid in the changes that come along in life. With that, she has become a Certified Life Coach and is starting her own brand and business, Dare Act Rise. Her vision is to help others re-imagine their life and to let go of thoughts and behaviors that undermine you, so that a renewed and fulfilled you can emerge. She has a love of helping others move safely, all while keeping her caring disposition, leaving members feeling cared for at the end of their workout.
CERTIFICATIONS
- CrossFit Level 1
- CrossFit Level 2
- CrossFit Kids
- CrossFit Spot the Flaw
- CrossFit Scaling
- Fitness Nutrition
- Life Coach Certification
John Gio
Coach
ABOUT JOHN
BIOGRAPHY
John was raised in New Hartford, NY where he was a competitive athlete lettering in football and lacrosse. He moved on to graduate from Utica College where he was a four-year letter winner in lacrosse and 2010 Utica College Men’s Lacrosse Citizen Award winner. Following his collegiate athletic career, John is active coaching youth, club and college lacrosse in the local area. During this time he discovered CrossFit and the Mohawk Valley Wellness community enjoying the competitive nature of the sport and camaraderie of the members in the facility. In the summer of 2019 John joined the coaching staff and enjoys working with all the members in the facility.
Currently, John teaches middle school mathematics and resides in Utica, NY with his fiancé, Lisa, and dogs Thor and Jagger.
CERTIFICATIONS:
CrossFit Level 1
Melissa Leone
Coach
ABOUT MELISSA
Melissa has always loved competitive sports and fitness. Before discovering CrossFit, she was an avid hockey player and spent ten years as a jammer for the CNY All Stars roller derby team. This past year, she trained and competed in her first Spartan trifecta. She loves the constant challenge that CrossFit provides!
She’s lucky to have a spouse who also enjoys CrossFit and introduced the sport to her. She is the proud mother of two active girls, both of whom can often be found climbing the ropes or performing pull-ups at the gym on Saturday mornings. Melissa is a lifelong resident of Deerfield, NY, and has been doing CrossFit since 2018. She received her CrossFit Level 1 certification in 2020.
CERTIFICATIONS:
- CrossFit Level 1
- Nutrition 1
Kelsey Dowdall
Coach
ABOUT KELSEY
BIOGRAPHY
Kelsey has been involved in competitive sports of all kinds from a very young age and immediately developed a passion for all things fitness related! She started CrossFit in 2015 after finishing playing college hockey for 4 years. Kelsey found that it was an awesome way to continue being involved with others who enjoy fitness and maintain her own drive for competition.
Kelsey graduated from Utica College in 2015 and has been teaching high school mathematics full time ever since. She really enjoys working with students and athletes and loves to share her knowledge and experience with the members of MV Wellness.
She joined MV Wellness as a member in 2017 and then became a coach in 2019. Kelsey runs the MV Performance program where she works with high school athletes on improving their overall strength and conditioning. She currently coaches CrossFit and MV Fitness classes as well. Kelsey is also a Mohawk Valley Wellness Brand Ambassador.
CERTIFICATIONS:
- CrossFit Level 1
- NYSED Coaching Certifications
Amanda Turnbull
Coach
ABOUT AMANDA
Amanda coaches our Mohawk Valley Fit Kids Program. She loves coaching this age group and making our gym a comfortable and exciting place for our youngest athletes. Her goal is to help our kids build confidence, learn new skills, and of course have fun! Amanda came to Mohawk Valley Wellness in search of a new fitness routine after her years as a collegiate rugby player came to a close. She found her passion in CrossFit and since then has trained and competed in CrossFit and Strongman competitions, as well as several road races.
Outside of the gym, Amanda is a Social Studies teacher. She received her Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Potsdam in History and Secondary Education and will soon have a Master’s degree in Education Innovation and Technology from Capella University. Amanda loves photography, hiking, cooking, spending time with family at camp, and of course hanging out with her puppy, Sully!
Mark Harlander
Coach
ABOUT MARK
Mark Harlander is an MV Fitness Coach and a Middle/High School teacher at Poland.
Mark began CrossFit at MVW in 2015 after running his first Boilermaker. Mark’s training and nutritional lifestyle changed at that point and he took an increased interest in health and wellness. In addition to coaching at MVW, Mark is also the head wrestling coach for Poland.
CERTIFICATIONS:
NYSPHSAA Coaching Certification
Allison Jones
Coach
ABOUT ALLISON
Allison was born and raised in Deerfield, NY, where she currently resides.
Allison is a 2016 graduate of Le Moyne college where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She was a scholarship player and a four-year starter on the Division II Le Moyne women’s tennis team. She is a 2018 graduate of Utica College where she earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Allison works as a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist for the Utica City School District. She enjoys helping students achieve a wide variety of goals to improve their skills and success across the academic setting.
Allison has always enjoyed being active, partaking in sports, and partaking in outdoor activities. She was introduced to CrossFit by her sister in the summer of 2017, while completing her Occupational Therapy fieldwork in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Allison was instantly drawn to the integration of constantly varied movements and the strong community aspect. This is her “why” for her continued participation in CrossFit classes, her passion for coaching Mohawk Valley Fitness classes, and providing personal training. Allison enjoys teaching members and clients how to implement progressions for a variety of movements in order to improve form and technique in a safe and successful manner. She enjoys getting to know members and seeing them achieve their goals inside and outside the facility.
Allison is CPR/AED certified. She currently coaches Mohawk Valley Fitness classes and provides personal training.
Jillian Golden
Coach
ABOUT JILLIAN
Jillian grew up in Deerfield and attended Notre Dame Jr/Sr High School. In 2008 of her senior year, she was named Captain of both her Cross Country and Softball teams. In 2012, Jillian graduated with her Bachelors degree from Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts.
Jillian was first introduced to CrossFit in 2016 in Cape Cod Massachusetts. She quickly fell in love with the strong community aspect along with the constantly varied movements. It was at this Box that Jillian formed lasting friendships and learned the true core values of CrossFit from her coaches. Upon moving back to the Utica area, Jillian and her sister (Allison) were eager to continue their CrossFit journey and found an immediate and welcoming home at Mohawk Valley Wellness.
Jillian is excited to pass along all of the knowledge and skills that she has learned throughout her years involved in sports and the CrossFit community. She is constantly inspired by the amazing coaches and members of Mohawk Valley Wellness. When she is not at the gym, Jillian works as a full time ultrasound technologist. She is currently coaching Fitness classes at MVW.