Lisa Reed '96

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Lisa Reed '96 discovered her love of fitness through opportunities and challenges.

For Lisa Reed '96, owner of Lisa Reed Fitness LLC, fitness is her life and career. Her Washington, D.C. based company provides group training, boot camps, weight loss and nutrition programs to national and international clients.  As a student at Radford, Reed was an energetic gymnast who fell in love with Radford's gymnastics program.  "Paul Beckwith was my gymnastics coach and was very influential in my gymnastics decision," says Reed. Reed says everything about her experience at Radford was perfect.  She had the best of both worlds.  If she was not with her team, then she was with her friends experiencing college and Greek life.  Reed at first entered Radford as an elementary education major.  However, she knew all along that her true passion was in athletics.
During Reed's senior year, she was team captain, and during her fifth year at Radford she served as gymnastics assistant coach. 

As a team captain, Reed was responsible for conditioning the team, and Reed traveled to Virginia Tech to learn about the requirements of strength and conditioning. Immediately, Reed became intrigued and pursued her graduate degree in strength and conditioning.

She served as a strength and conditioning coordinator for the United States Naval Academy and The University of Florida. She designed and implemented strength, speed, and conditioning programs for the athletes there.  Reed also served as a performance coach for internationally renowned tennis champion Monica Seles.  Reed then competed in International Federation of Body Building Fitness, but a knee injury caused her to change directions when medical experts told her she may never be able to regain her active lifestyle. 

Reed took this disheartening news and ran with it.  Instead of giving up, she created her own business.  Reed now has a team of six well-qualified trainers who help train clients, such as children, elite athletes and seniors.  Reed serves as a fitness expert during the Sports Talk Live, The Pet Show and Let’s Talk Live segments on News Channel 8 ABC DC. She also serves as an on-air nutrition and exercise expert for the radio station WTOP, a nationwide all-news radio station. She also writes articles for the Living section of its website.

"The most rewarding part of my job is watching the difference I make in people's lives.  I enjoy teaching people about healthy lifestyles and inspiring them to keep going," says Reed.  After making a miracle recovery from her knee injury, Reed embraces challenges.  "The challenge I force upon myself is to continue, every day, to make a difference in people's lives and to challenge them to be the best that they can be." 

By using the latest social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, Reed hopes to inspire others to challenge themselves daily to reach their goals.
Thinking back on her time at RU, Reed encourages students at Radford University to fit a workout into their daily schedules.  "I encourage everyone to embrace the body they were given and treat it the best you can by clean eating, exercise and enriching your mind!”