Written by Isabella Aranda Garcia & Gia Miller
For over 14 years, Mary Smith has been on a mission: combat the feeling of “gymtimidation”(that anxiety/intimidation many new gym goers feel). Along the way, those newcomers became regulars who don’t know where they would be without her. Smith, who relocated her training business to Apex Fitness four years ago, believes in inclusivity. Her clients range from those who want to maintain functional independence as they age to those with past injuries or neurodegenerative disorders, and everyone is given the same personal attention and care.
Smith’s clients sang her praises in a way that won everyone over. They described a person who constantly educates herself, truly understands the human body, takes time to get to know each client, and makes exercise challenging and fun. This line sums the numerous nominations up well: “The best trainer/coach I have ever worked with. Hands down.”
What We Love
Normally, we would ignore a family member’s nomination, but one of Smith’s sons wove an incredibly heartwarming tale, and we simply had to give you a glimpse. He wrote how, as an immigrant with young children, his mom always found a way to support her sons, even without a college degree or initially speaking English. He watched her enter the industry “head on,” persevere and “move up the ranks.” Today, her workday begins at 5 a.m., and when she’s done 11 to 12 hours later, she heads home to put dinner on the table. “She is the epitome of a hard worker and defined my own understanding of diligence.”
Runner up: Linda Gering Kreisberg (Yoga), Pound Ridge
This article was published in the January/February 2025 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
To view all 2025 Connect to the Best winners, click here.
Gia Miller is an award-winning journalist and the editor-in-chief/co-publisher of Connect to Northern Westchester. She has a magazine journalism degree (yes, that's a real thing) from the University of Georgia and has written for countless national publications, ranging from SELF to The Washington Post. Gia desperately wishes schools still taught grammar. Also, she wants everyone to know they can delete the word "that" from about 90% of their sentences, and there's no such thing as "first annual." When she's not running her media empire, Gia enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, laughing at her crazy dog and listening to a good podcast. She thanks multiple alarms, fermented grapes and her amazing husband for helping her get through each day. Her love languages are food and humor.
Isabella Aranda is a designer, writer and social media specialist with an M.A. in emerging media from the New Media Institute at the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication. Driven by curiosity and inspired by timeless modern design, she blends creativity and strategy to craft compelling narratives that engage diverse audiences.
Her expertise spans digital marketing, content creation and UX design, with notable achievements such as co-creating the Georgia On Your Mind podcast and leading digital campaigns that significantly boosted engagement. A Venezuelan immigrant, Isabella brings a multicultural perspective to her work, enhancing her ability to connect with and inspire others.
