Custom Fitness Specialists Trainers
Meet Our Coaches
Meet our elite team of fitness professionals at Custom Fitness Specialists in Madison, Wisconsin, dedicated to transforming your fitness journey.
With a wealth of experience in personal training, small group training, nutrition coaching, and contest prep, our certified trainers are the cornerstone of our commitment to helping you reach your health and wellness goals.
They bring passion, expertise, and a personalized approach to every client relationship, offering strategies and guidance designed to propel you towards your unique fitness objectives.
Discover the difference of training with the best in the industry today at Custom Fitness Specialists.
Lisa Feran
Owner / Head Trainer
BS in Physical Education, Health, and Coaching
ACE CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER
CISSN SPORT NUTRITION SPECIALIST
Lisa is a personal trainer, pro bikini athlete, nutrition coach, and studio owner.
Clients regard Lisa as “truly passionate” about helping people achieve their goals through fitness and nutrition. Lisa’s goal is to provide a life changing experience for everyone she works with by giving clients the tools they need to be stronger, healthier, and happier, all while creating the bodies they have always wanted. This results-based trainer holds her clients to high expectations and takes great pride in helping them achieve their goals.
Lisa has been a fitness and nutrition coach now for 16 years, she was one of the original coaches in the field before coaching was mainstream. Her core values for herself and her team include holding their education and knowledge to the highest standard.
If you are teachable and looking for truly amazing results reach out to Lisa and her team of coaches.
Ron Gratz
CERTIFIED NUTRITION COACH & PERSONAL TRAINER
Ron has combined two of his passions into his profession — fitness and helping people.
For over 10 years, Ron has worked as a personal trainer and nutrition coach. He’s developed group fitness programs for area gyms, mentored several personal trainers throughout the midwest, and was an area fitness manager for two gym franchises in Madison.
Prior to becoming a fitness professional, Ron worked in law enforcement for 10 years and held various assignments including negotiator, investigations, worked undercover, and in the schools.
Upon leaving law enforcement, he sold Mercedes Benz then was a paralegal/investigator before settling in on fitness. He got his start working at Xport Fitness in Chicago before moving to Madison to work at 3 area gyms, then starting his own fitness business.
Ron believes in building a solid foundation relevant to each individuals movement and abilities. He likes to work with all types of clients but those that need fitness to improve their health and mobility are his favorite.
When not training others, he loves to workout, likes to golf, play volleyball, softball, watches Badger basketball and football, Packers, Brewers, and Bucks games. Interestingly, Ron was Coach Bo Ryan’s administrative assistant for the UW-Platteville Pioneer Men’s Basketball team.
Recently, Ron achieved a goal he set 30 years ago by competing in two Mens Physique competitions. He now has his sights set on earning his blackbelt in Taekwon Do.
Whatever challenge you maybe having in fitness or nutrition, Ron has the experience to help you.
Zeenaz Bednar
Certified Personal Trainer
Zeenaz is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach.
She has always had a passion for how things work and has finally found a way to combine her passion for science with fitness, and believes this is one of the main reasons she loves helping people transform their bodies, and help people reach their true potential through fitness and nutrition. Her passion for lifting and nutrition began when she started noticing how empowering being strong physically and mentally felt. To carry all your groceries up in one trip is amazing and that’s how she wants her clients to feel! She wants to empower people of any gender and age to feel confident in the gym and to not be afraid to just start somewhere! The rest of the progress and results will come with the right coach, a healthy mindset, and consistency. That mantra motivated her to compete in her first physique competition and is excited to take the lessons and knowledge learned while in prep to help her clients achieve their goals no matter how small or large they may be. As a mom to one sassy little 8 year old girl, working a full time job, and the desire to take time for her own hobbies, she understands the struggle to fit everything in a day, and has helped her clients prioritize the gym and eating while also maintaining their normal routine. When not in the gym, she is most likely doing her daughter’s nails, hiking, biking, cooking, or listening to podcasts.
Emma Krueger
Ace Certified Personal Trainer
Emma Krueger loves learning and educating herself on how nutrition and exercise play a major role in our day-to-day health.
She holds certifications as an ACE-certified trainer, PN 1 nutritional coach, and Aid/CPR/AED. She has also competed the personal training program at Madison College. When she isn’t in the gym, she enjoys exploring the making of music, spending time with her loved ones, and traveling outdoors. Emma strives to educate and help others achieve their goals. She is passionate about empowering and helping people from all paths of life. She fully believes in finding your inner strength and empowering women in the fitness and wellness space.
Teresa Fosdick
CERTIFIED NUTRITION COACH
MASTER’S DEGREE CERTIFICATE IN HEALTH COACHING
Teresa is a certified Nutrition and Health & Wellness coach with a master’s certificate in health coaching.
She brings with her more than a decade of experience in the health care field, having worked as a Registered Nurse in oncology, digestive health and surgery. She has a passion for fitness and testing what the body is capable of. This led her to complete two full Ironman distance triathlons, multiple marathons and countless shorter distance triathlon, swimming and running races. She’s also a regular CrossFitter and you can find her at the box most mornings before the sun comes up. Teresa’s interest in nutrition and coaching started with her discovery of using food as fuel and how her nutrition impacted not only her performance in athletic ventures, but her everyday life. As a wife and mom of two, Teresa understands the challenges of balancing family and work, while still taking the time to prioritize health and wellness. Her goal is to help you learn what works best for you and how you can eat to perform your best as well. She wants to help everyone discover the best version of themselves!
Brandi Rogers
Level 1 CF Coach
PN CERTIFIED NUTRITION COACH
NCI CERTIFIED NUTRITION COACH
She cannot overstate how transformative getting serious about diet and nutrition has been.
This decision marked a turning point for her. Not only did her fitness, health, and confidence dramatically improve, but she discovered her passion for helping others do the same. ULTIMATELY, THIS simple realignment in my priorities led to a new career in fitness and nutrition, and it gave me renewed direction and purpose.
Michelle Hoeft
Certified Nutrition Coach
After spending time in HR, Accounting, Business Administration and private school admissions, I chose to step away from the daily grind to focus on my family staying home for nearly 5 years.
As a wife and mother of 2, my focus was often on caring for the needs of others. I began to focus on my physical needs by joining running groups and doing large group classes (HIIT/Boot Camp). But, there was always a missing component. Dealing with food sensitivities and digestive issues, food was often at the forefront of my mind. Yet, I had never learned how to eat correctly!
My path to becoming a Nutrition Coach began as a CFS Client. My passion for all things nutrition and fitness grew quickly as I began preparing for my first Figure competition. I loved when people would stop and ask about my journey. As they’d ask questions about nutrition, I realized how much I enjoyed being able to help educate others on the process.
I am currently working on earning my Personal Training Certification and will continue to work towards furthering my coursework with Nutritional Coaching Institute.
I am eager to share my knowledge and experience with CFS clients and help them make the life-altering changes I implemented in my own life. Learning to properly fuel your mind and body can lead to so many exceptional changes in the way you live. I hope to inspire others through nutrition and learning to make sustainable lifestyle changes that will benefit them for years to come.
Kirstie Skul
Certified Health Coach
Bachelors in Exercise Science
Masters in Health and Wellness Management
Kirstie comes to CFS with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of South Carolina.
She also has a Master of Science degree in Health and Wellness Management from UW Parkside, a Certification in Health Coaching from ACE.
With her education and experience, she has developed a deep understanding of the human body and how to optimize its health and wellness.
Kirstie’s journey with CFS started when she contacted our own Ron Gratz for training about 1 year ago. Since then, she’s become passionate about CFS, its mission, and the culture.
“The community at CFS is inclusive, supportive, and motivating. It instantly felt like the perfect fit for me and I’m excited to help others grow through their fitness journey, just as I am!”-Kirstie
Favorite hobbies include walking her aussiedoodle, Mobley, hiking, fishing, bonfires, anything on a lake, live music, and discovering new restaurants. She also enjoys real estate and has been a realtor for over a year now.
Kirstie is excited to get started helping clients at CFS achieve optimal health and wellness. Her passion for fitness, wellness, and empowering others makes her an asset to our CFS team.
Brittany Quimby
NCI Certified Nutrition Coach
[Bio coming soon!]
She also has a Master of Science degree in Health and Wellness Management from UW Parkside, a Certification in Health Coaching from ACE.
With her education and experience, she has developed a deep understanding of the human body and how to optimize its health and wellness.
Kirstie’s journey with CFS started when she contacted our own Ron Gratz for training about 1 year ago. Since then, she’s become passionate about CFS, its mission, and the culture.
“The community at CFS is inclusive, supportive, and motivating. It instantly felt like the perfect fit for me and I’m excited to help others grow through their fitness journey, just as I am!”-Kirstie
Favorite hobbies include walking her aussiedoodle, Mobley, hiking, fishing, bonfires, anything on a lake, live music, and discovering new restaurants. She also enjoys real estate and has been a realtor for over a year now.
Kirstie is excited to get started helping clients at CFS achieve optimal health and wellness. Her passion for fitness, wellness, and empowering others makes her an asset to our CFS team.
Julie Murphy-Agnew
ASU & Mayo Clinic Health and Well-being Certificate
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
NASM Certified Nutrition Coach
NASM Certified Sports Nutrition Coach
NASM Virtual Coaching Specialization
TRX Group Training Certification
Julie is a wife, mom, solopreneur, author, nutrition coach, certified personal trainer, creator traveler, 3-time ironman triathlete, hot yogi, strength training enthusiast, a true Madisonian, and proud Wisconsin Badger.
Her passions lie in adventure, sustainability, design, well-being, and helping others live a healthful, fulfilling, and joy-filled life.
Julie obtained her undergraduate degree in interior architecture from University of Wisconsin- Madison. Ten years later, she obtained her master’s degree from the school of architecture at the University of Florida.
So many factors in her life over the last decade led her to be placed perfectly as the creator of Lifecycle Health & Well-being. Since its inception in 2020, she has earned the following certifications.