Founder & CEO

Olya Schaefer

Throughout her 20’s, Olya’s fitness regimen consisted of diet soda, cigarettes, and the treadmill. She wanted to be strong and fit but didn’t know how. “Sometimes I’d watch what other people did in the gym and copy them, but I felt unsure of myself and after a few halfhearted bicep curls, I’d be back to half-hearted jogging. When I moved to St. Pete in 2014, I tried lots of local gyms and really got into cross-functional fitness. I loved it, but I was always tired. And everything hurt! I didn’t look as strong as I felt, and I still didn’t feel like I truly knew what I was doing in the weight room.” Over time, Olya has worked with various trainers and eventually really got into the study of fitness and nutrition herself. What she learned is that the targeted, personal approach works best. Clear metrics are far more indicative of progress and fitness than subjective tape measures or the bathroom scale. The Athleticus was founded to unite like-minded coaches, mentors and athletes, and create a community of wellness.

Advisory Board Member

David Williams

David has extensive experience in enterprise and startup executive roles. As a technology leader and founder of several software development firms, David brings C-level leadership and systems experience, as well as a passion for fitness to our team. He provides strategic and leadership advice, and has helped with the creative aspects of The Athleticus. And he is of course a fitness enthusiast! David holds a black belt in kung fu.

SENIOR COACH

Andrew Durrett

Andrew came to St. Pete via DC and Virginia Beach to join The Athleticus and some of the best trainers and fitness professionals in the area. Andrew has a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, and is a human encyclopedia of knowledge in strength and conditioning via his voracious appetite for continuing education and academic study in health and fitness. Andrew has more than 9 years of experience in fitness training, athletic training, coaching, and rehabilitation. 

Andrew’s dynamic and comprehensive experience and education in fitness and human anatomy contributes to his deep and personal understanding of body alignment and movement compensations, awareness of how muscles work in tandem, and how to recognize an individual’s current state of fitness and how to program the appropriate approach/program. In addition to helping clients with wide-ranging goals, Andrew is a great match for clients who come to him with joint pain, arthritis, movement dysfunction and can help them with pain relief and movement mechanics through proper assessment and proper training prescriptions. 

Andrew combines his high degree of professionalism, experience and education to help his numerous FIT clients. Along with his education, he has received multiple personal training certifications from some of the most respected companies in the industry including NSCA, NFPT and AFAA, Grey Institute CAFS. Andrew is never done learning. This is a unique devotion in our industry, the pursuit of professional improvement. “As your trainer, I will do my utmost to help you achieve your goals. In my 11 years of experience, I have a working expertise in multiple areas of fitness including kinesiology, linear and non-linear periodization, bodybuilding, corrective exercise and rehabilitation, functional / foundational fitness, physical therapy and nutrition. Although I have over a decade of experience in multiple disciplines of fitness, I have honed my specific focus to functional/foundational fitness as it lends itself to enabling you to accomplish day to day activities. This area of study really focuses on mobility, tissue preparation, biomechanical variation and 3D global movements, which is going to help you move as efficiently as possible.

In my free time I enjoy everything that this great city has to offer including live music, museums, and outdoor physical activities. As active as I like to stay, I love a night in binging whatever I can find on Netflix and rewatching every Marvel movie and Disney Movie. Thank you for taking the time to read my bio, and I hope this short glimpse into who I am will give you frame of mind as to what I can help you accomplish!”

COACH

Taylor Temnick

Taylor has been a board-certified and licensed Athletic Trainer since 2012. She holds a bachelors degree in Athletic Training with a minor in Psychology, a Masters degree in Teaching Physical Education, and a doctorate in Leadership and Policy Study. As an athletic trainer, Taylor has worked in the primary care setting, as well as the secondary, collegiate, and physical therapy settings providing wellness promotion, immediate and emergent care, and injury and illness prevention and rehabilitation. In addition to being an athletic trainer, Taylor is a NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist, an ACE Fitness Nutrition and Weight Management Specialist, an ARPF Brain Longevity Specialist, and a registered Yoga Teacher with an emphasis in restorative yoga. Taylor takes a client-centered approach in programming and considers all aspects of health and wellness, from sleep and recovery, stress management, to nutrition and functional needs. She is passionate about helping others reach their health and wellness goals. 

In her spare time, Taylor enjoys spending time with her husband, Michael, and family, as well as her two cats and parrot. She loves to scuba dive and hunt for shark teeth, metal detect for Spanish treasure on Florida’s east coast, and traveling. Taylor is excited to share her knowledge and help you reach your goals!

COACH

Luke Farrington

Meet Luke, the “Golden Retriever” of fitness trainers! With a fun-loving, outgoing, and loyal personality, Luke forms a genuine bond with every client, becoming their biggest supporter throughout their fitness journey. An experienced trainer with over 4 years of experience in the field, Luke has built a diverse career across the country. His expertise spans bodybuilding, functional training, weight loss, corrective exercise, and overall health and wellness, equipping him with a comprehensive knowledge of various training styles.

Luke began his fitness career in Colorado Springs and has since worked with clients in Murrieta, San Diego, and Manhattan. He has now found his home at The Athleticus in Saint Petersburg! Having worked both independently and with large franchise gym corporations, Luke has enriched his experience and approach to personal fitness. His journey into fitness started with a lifelong interest in athletics and a deep-rooted passion for strength training. This passion led him to train and compete as a bodybuilder, earning multiple accolades with INBA PNBA Natural Bodybuilding. Eventually, he shifted his focus to functional training, longevity, and sharing his extensive fitness knowledge with others.

Luke’s goal is to help his clients not only look their best but also feel their best, both physically and mentally. Outside the gym, he enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, paddleboarding, and running, as well as spending time with his golden retriever puppy, Lola. Luke and his girlfriend, Alie, share a love for physical activity and travel, so he particularly enjoys hearing about his clients’ travel adventures. With his well-rounded and adventurous spirit, Luke is continually inspired by his community and those around him. He is thrilled to be a part of The Athleticus team!

Chief Greeter

Maggie Noodle

Maggie is the Chief Greeter and Happiness Ambassador for The Athleticus. She enjoys back scratches, long walks on the beach and stray chicken wings discarded by strangers. Maggie’s favorite workouts are sprints after tennis balls, various yoga poses and competitive eating.