Executive Staff Craig Keyes, MD Chief Executive Officer Erik Phillips, MS, ATC-L, NASM PES,CES General Manager, Senior VP, Program Research and Development Brian Kitts Chief Marketing Officer Chad Jones, MS, NASM PES Director of Programs, SportXcel Youth Fitness Foundation Lori Pitz Client Development Manager

Performance Team Justin Carter, NASM PES, NSCA-CPT Director of Coaching Darryl Johnson Performance Team Trainer Albert Sandoval Performance Team Trainer

Craig Keyes, MD - Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Keyes is a physician, board certified in both Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. A lifelong advocate of health and well-being, he is best known to Coloradans as the former Chief Executive Officer of United Healthcare of Colorado, where he was awarded "Power Broker of the Year in Healthcare" from the Denver Business Journal in 2006. Prior to his work in Colorado, he served as CEO of United Healthcare of New York.

Dr. Keyes received his undergraduate and medical degrees, both with Honors, at the University of Wisconsin, and completed his internship and residency at Columbia University and Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He also holds a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia University School of Business. A native of Wisconsin, he currently resides in Denver and New York City.

Erik Phillips, MS, ATC-L, NASM PES, CES - General Manager, Senior VP, Program Research and Development

Erik Phillips manages SportXcel's product development and exercise research, and advises on all performance enhancement programming. He works closely with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) on development of performance enhancement and corrective exercise protocols. SportXcel's staff bases its exercise programming on NASM’s research and its Optimum Performance Training (OPT) protocols.

Erik has spent more than a decade in conditioning professional athletes, most recently as Head Strength and conditioning Coach and Assistant Athletic Trainer with the NBA Phoenix Suns. Prior to that, he spent more than six years with the Denver Nuggets and assisted with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche minor league call-ups during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, the Arizona Athletic Trainers Association (AZATA) and National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Additionally, he is certified as a Performance Enhancement Specialist, Corrective Exercise Specialist and received a Master’s degree in Injury Prevention and Performance Enhancement from California University of Pennsylvania in 2005.

A 1998 graduate of Colorado State University, Phillips served as a student athletic trainer for four years at CSU, working with the men’s basketball, football, track and softball squads. Phillips was a three-year varsity letter winner for Rams’ track and cross country teams and participated in the WAC championships each year between 1993-96. He participated in cross country, basketball and track at Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, CO. Erik lives in Highlands Ranch with his wife Brittany and son Joseph.

Brian Kitts - Chief Marketing Officer

Brian Kitts has spent more than 15 years in the sports and entertainment marketing business. After working in field marketing and publicity for Walt Disney Pictures and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation, Brian spent nine seasons leading marketing and public relations efforts for Kroenke Sports Enterprises, overseeing branding and marketing for KSE properties including the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, MLS Colorado Rapids, NLL Colorado Mammoth and AFL Colorado Crush, and managing the company's corporate public relations.

Brian holds a BA and MA from the University of Denver. He is an adjunct professor in the Daniels College of Business at DU, teaching Sports and Entertainment Marketing.

Chad Jones, MS, NASM PES - Director of Programs, SportXcel Youth Fitness Foundation

Chad Jones manages programs of the non-profit SportXcel Youth Fitness Foundation which provides fitness conditioning and physical education to school-aged children. He also is involved in the daily operations of the SportXcel performance enhancement facility, working closely with staff and clients to maintain training programs. Chad also promotes and manages SportXcel's community outreach programs to adult and youth populations.

Chad is a certified Performance Enhancement Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO as well as a Master’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Science with an emphasis in Sport Administration from the University of Northern Colorado. While completing his degree in Exercise Science from Fort Lewis College, Chad also participated as an athlete in both football and rugby.

Upon graduation from Fort Lewis College, Chad worked as a strength and conditioning coach with the Texas Rangers baseball organization where he had the opportunity to work with professional athletes such as baseball All-Star Alfonso Soriano, former Colorado Rockies athlete Eric (EY) Young, former All-Star football/baseball athlete Brian Jordan, and current Cincinnati Reds standout pitcher Edinson Volquez. Chad returned to Colorado where he has worked with professional level athletes and youth programs throughout the state developing speed and strength training programs designed to enhance performance. Chad continues to work with numerous professional and minor league baseball athletes, athletes from the Denver Broncos football team, professional and semi-professional soccer athletes, and has trained members of the Denver Broncos cheerleading team.

Over the last four years, Chad has trained thousands of youth athletes from all over the state of Colorado. He has focused on preparing the athletes for sports such as football, baseball, lacrosse, basketball, track, volleyball, rugby, cheerleading and swimming. A Colorado native, Chad graduated from Arvada West High School.

Lori Pitz, Client Development Manager

Lori is a 2007 graduate of the University of Central Missouri with a BA in Corporate Fitness and a minor in health education. She was a four-time NCAA All-American track athlete and Colorado state champion at Windsor High School.

She has experience in training and coaching athletes from youth through college. Lori started C.A.R.A. Track Program for youth in the Windsor area. She has a son, Jayce.

Justin Carter, NASM PES, NSCA-CPT - Director of Coaching

Justin manages SportXcel's coaching staff and programs in addition to acting as a coach and trainer at SportXcel's youth clinics, speed clinics, school outreach and various elite clubs.

Justin was born and raised in Galena, Illinois. He attended Galena High School where he lettered in two sports. A two time all-conference winner, he captained his Class 1A football team to a State championship during his Senior year. In addition to football, Justin was a two time letter winner in baseball and an all-conference pitcher.

Justin graduated from Loras College with a BA degree in Sports Science with an emphasis in coaching. While attending Loras Justin was a member of the varsity football team for four years, completed three fitness and coaching internships, and volunteered his time to help many local organizations, including the Illinois Special Olympics. Well versed in training and program design, Justin has extensive experience designing (and leading) programs for youth athletes, college sports performance, adult fitness, and motocross racers, including, Chad Wienen of the Motoworks Can-Am race team.

Justin holds certifications through both the National Academy of Sports Medicine(NASM) and National Strength and Conditioning Association(NSCA). He is a Performance Enhancement Specialist through the NASM and is also a Certified Personal Trainer through the NSCA.

When not coaching, Justin enjoys mountain biking and hiking Colorado's 14ers during the summer and skiing and snowboarding during the winter months.

Darryl Johnson - Performance Team Trainer

Darryl Johnson is a Colorado State University graduate who also brings extensive youth fitness experience to his position as a certified professional trainer. Highly skilled in sports performance training, Darryl's training experience and expertise transcends numerous sports - soccer, baseball, lacrosse, basketball, football, hockey and gymnastics.

Darryl is a native of Colorado, a four-year letterman at Smoky Hill High School. As a student-athlete, he was a former Centennial League Champion and record holder in the 100 and 200 meters. Based on athletic ability, Darryl earned a full football scholarship to CSU where he played defensive back under Coach Leon Fuller.

Beyond his personal training, Darryl has served in both assistant and head coach roles in the Arapahoe Youth Football League for over 10 years. He's led numerous teams to championship runs.

Darryl's personal interests include training for a duathlon, weight lifting, cycling and cross training.

Albert Sandoval - Performance Team Trainer

Al Sandoval is a sports performance coach, specializing in individual and group training. Al has two years of experience working with professional athletes and one year of collegiate experience. Al is starting his third off-season with the Colorado Rockies as a Strength & Conditioning Coach. He has been through two full-seasons in the Rockies minor league system spending one season with the Rookie Ball team in Casper, WY and was currently in Tulsa, OK with the Rockies Double-A affiliate.

Before his professional experiences Sandoval helped design and implement the strength and conditioning program currently used by the Colorado State University-Pueblo Baseball Team. A 2008 Colorado State University-Pueblo graduate, Sandoval was an assistant S&C Coach for the baseball team in 2008. Sandoval was a three year varsity-letter winner for the Thunderwolves baseball team participating in two NCAA Division II Baseball West Regional’s in 2006-07. Al is a Colorado native who graduated from Pueblo East High School and was a four year varsity baseball letter winner as an Eagle.