RACE Rx Academy of Exercise Sciences

Matt Rhea, PhD, CSCS*D
President, RACE Rx
Director, RACE Rx Academy

Dr. Rhea completed a PhD at Arizona State University focusing his research on exercise prescription and sports/occupational performance. He has completed over 50 studies on a variety of exercise and sport science topics. He has presented at national and international conferences, including at the National Strength and Conditioning Association conferences, the International Olympic Committee's World Congress on Sport Sciences, and the International Conference on Strength Training. He was awarded the Outstanding Young Investigator award by the NSCA in 2008. His research has been highlighted in Men’s Health, Muscle Media, Athletic Management, PFP Magazine, Shape, and Flex Magazine. Dr. Rhea has worked with many leading exercise and sport science organizations including the Phoenix Suns, Athletes Performance, San Francisco Giants, Arizona State University football, the U.S. Olympic Training Center, National Academy of Sports Medicine, and Phoenix Fire Department. He is on the editorial staff for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Strength and Conditioning Journal, and the NSCA Performance Training Journal. He also serves as an Associate Professor in the Human Movement online Master’s degree program at A.T. Still University.

Jeff Blair, MS, JD
Mr. Blair currently serves as an adjunct faculty for A.T. Still University and a Functional Training Expert for a University of North Carolina Sports Medicine/National Academy of Sports Medicine research analysis project. He works in Los Angeles as an athletic performance specialist. His undergraduate degree is from Centre College of Kentucky and he earned a Master of Science degree in Human Movement from A.T. Still University. His academic interests include strength and power production, football and exercise regulatory and legal issues.

Derek Bunker, MS, CSCS
Mr. Bunker completed a master’s degree in Human Movement at A.T. Still University before joining their faculty. A former college baseball player, he continues to examine injury risks and prevention strategies for baseball players. He presented findings regarding shoulder injuries at the 2008 NSCA sport-specific conference and at the national conference. He also has interests in sports performance enhancement and has consulted athletes and performance coaches in golf, baseball, and basketball.

Joe Kenn, MS, CSCS*D
Nineteen-year coaching veteran Joe Kenn was named the strength and conditioning coach at the University of Louisville on January 4, 2008 after serving seven seasons at Arizona State University, including five as the head coach of ASU's Sports Performance program. A member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and American Football Coaches Association, Kenn was named the College Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year in 2002 and has been a finalist for the award four times during his career. He also earned conference recognition in 1998 (Big West Conference) and again in 2000 (Mountain West Conference). Kenn earned his Bachelor of Science degree in health and sports science from Wake Forest in 1988 and his strength and conditioning specialist certification in 1990. He then earned his Master of Arts degree in curriculum and instruction from Boise State in 1993. As a football player at Wake Forest, Kenn was a two-year letterman, named a NSCA All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete award winner as well as Wake Forest's Weightlifter of the Year and the Bill George Award as Linemen of the Year.

Shannan Lynch, MS, CSCS, HFS
Shannan completed a Bachelor's degree at Penn State University and a Master of Science in Human Movement at A.T. Still University. She has worked for many years in the fitness industry, now serving as the Health and Fitness Program Manager for Aquila Health and Fitness Solutions where she oversees and directs the day-to-day operations for several L.A. Metropolitan corporate health clubs.

Pedro Marin, PhD
Dr. Marin completed a PhD at the European University of Madrid in Exercise Science. He has completed numerous studies in the area of sports performance enhancement, injury prevention, and overall fitness development. In Spain, Dr. Marin teaches at the European University Miguel de Cervantes and continues his work in physical therapy and rehabilitation as well as consulting major occupational and fitness companies.

Mark Peterson, PhD, CSCS*D
Dr. Mark Peterson is a Ph.D. graduate of Arizona State University, in Physical Activity, Nutrition and Wellness. He is currently an NIH-funded Research Fellow at the University of Michigan, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, as well as an adjunct instructor in Human Movement, at A.T. Still University. His research endeavors include examining performance enhancement strategies for various populations, as well as advanced exercise prescription for hierarchical muscular adaptation. He has been able to present his work at many national and international conferences, and has published numerous peer-reviewed research articles. Additionally, he has taught health promotion, applied exercise science, kinesiology, and sport performance enhancement at the undergraduate and graduate levels, for the last five years. As a practitioner, Dr. Peterson has worked in personal training and strength and conditioning for the last 11 years, and has been involved with hundreds of athletes at the high school, collegiate and professional level. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as certified Sports Performance Coach through the United States Weightlifting Association (USAW).

Ben Potenziano, MEd, ATC
Mr. Potenziano is presently in his 5th season with the Giants, 4th at the Major League Level. He returns for the 2007 season as the Assistant Athletic Trainer/Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. His duties with the Giants have also been the Rehab Coordinator for the Minor Leagues during the 2003 season. His minor league experience has previously been the head trainer at short-season Bellingham, WA (1995), single-A San Jose, CA (1996), double-A Shreveport, LA (1997-1998) and the club’s affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League (2003). His undergraduate degree is from the University Maine at Farmington with a BS in Community Health Education/Sports Medicine. He obtained a graduate degree in Exercise Science from the University of Maine at Orono where he worked with men’s football and basketball.