John Spencer Ellis

John knew from the age of 12, when he received his first health club membership as a birthday gift from his father, that fitness & personal development would be his calling. His unique success story started in a 400 sq. ft. studio apartment where he slept on the floor. He had just $2,000. What began as a personal training business has grown into a multi-million dollar group of corporations providing a variety of fitness and personal development products and services globally. John has helped create over 500,000 jobs.

John competed in over 100 sports competitions including the Ironman triathlon and the Jiu Jitsu World Championships. He also finished 5th at the U.S. National Run/Bike Championships and won the Montebello Cycling Classic. It was because of John's love of cycling and triathlons that he created Endurance Plus, the name he gave his company in 1992. His passion for fitness education and business led him to develop the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA), which educates, certifies and provides business solutions for fitness, coaching and nutrition professionals. NESTA now has over 55,000 members throughout the world.

Fitness and Personal Development Expert:

Each week, over one million people enjoy a fitness and personal development program John developed. His systems are used in the top resorts, spas and fitness centers. John is the CEO of the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA), Personal Trainer Hall of Fame (PFHF), Fitness Hall of Fame (FHOF), Spencer Institute for Life Coaching (SI), International Triathlon Coaching Association (ITCA), and the Mixed Martial Arts Conditioning Association (MMACA). John created Adventure Boot Camp, the largest fitness boot camp system in the world. He also created Intense Mixed Performance Accelerated Cross Training (IMPACT), Kung-fu Fitness, TACTIX and co-developed Survival Combat Fitness (SCF). His programs are used by Cirque du Soleil, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, U.S. Secret Service and Coast Guard, and he's consulted the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships).

Philanthropist:
John is the CEO of the Get America Fit Foundation (GAFF) (501c3), which educates the public about living a healthy life and provides exercise equipment for schools and helps military veterans with physical challenges. He also supports multiple additional charities.

Endurance Athlete:
John has ridden his bicycle enough miles to circle Earth. He competed in cycling, running and triathlon events for over 10 years.

Martial Artist:
John has earned a 2nd degree black belt in Kung-fu, black belt in Ninjutsu, blue belt in Krav Maga, and blue belt in Kempo Karate and blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He also trains in Muay Thai and Tae Kwon Do. John is a certified instructor of self-defense, fitness kickboxing and fitness boxing.

Education:
John holds two bachelor's degrees (business & health science), an MBA, and a doctorate in education. He also completed doctoral level studies in naturopathic health education. He holds fifteen certifications including massage therapy, plyometrics, physical education, flexibility, nutrition coaching, water fitness, exercise rehabilitation, golf conditioning, Pilates, personal training, clinical hypnotherapy, sports hypnosis, PACE circuit training and yoga. His medical training includes a license in radiological technology, a medical assisting certification, and training in McKenzie rehabilitation. He has specialized training in ropes course facilitation and corporate team-building.

TV/Radio/Movies:
John has been featured on Oprah radio, ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, FOX, FOX Sports, FOX Reality, SPIKE and ESPN. He was featured as the fitness and lifestyle expert on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Orange County and Daybreak OC. John has also appeared on Starting Over, Life Moments, Camp Reality and America's Premier Experts. He is the creator and executive producer of the movie The Compass. He hosted the Ms. Fitness U.S.A. & World pageants on Fox Sports Net, The Fit Show, Health & Wellness Today, Core 360 Personal Gym infomercial, Personal Trainer TV, The OC Body, The Spencer Power Hour radio show, the now the Training & Coaching Lifestyle Podcast. John is featured in the movie Riches.

Print Media:
John is the former Fitness Editor for OC Flair magazine and has been featured or mentioned in the following publications: MMA Business, Muscle and Fitness, Businessweek, U.S. News and World Report, C magazine, IDEA Fitness Journal, Cosmopolitan, Fit, New York Times, Men's Health, Better Homes and Gardens, Women's World, Self and on the cover of Personal Fitness Professional Magazine. John is the publisher of Personal Trainer Magazine.

Speaker/Presenter:
John delivered the Commencement Speech for (IVC) Irvine Valley College and shared the stage/screen with the following luminaries: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Leigh Steinberg, Daymond John, Barbara De Angelis, Jon Biel, DC Cordova, Denis Waitley, Frank Maguire, Michael Gerber, Les Brown, Joe Vitale, Simon T. Bailey, John Assaraf, Brian Tracy, Larry Benet, Dr. John Demartini, Marie Diamond, Topher Morrison, Martin Rooney, Kevin Nations, Peter Thomson, Gary Goldstein, Dr. Robi Ludwig, Ryan Lee, T. Harv Eker, Dr. Bruce Lipton, and many others. He has also been an expert panelist for TEDmed and fitness expert for eHow.

Author/Co-author:
New Rules of Success, The Compass, The Code, How Badly Do You Want It, Peak Vitality, Power of Champions, The Wellness Code, The Ultimate Life Coach Business Book, Collaboration Economy, Rapid Body Makeover and the forthcoming Health and Wellness Today.

John has collaborated on books with other leading experts such as Dr. Oz, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Dr. John Gray, Eckhart Tolle, Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Michael Beckwith, Kevin Harrington, Yanik Silver and Mariel Hemingway.

Awards and Recognitions:
Amazon #1 Best Selling Author “Rapid Body Makeover"
Amazon #1 Best Selling Author “The Wellness Code"
Amazon #1 Best Selling Author “New Rules of Success"
Amazon #8 Best Selling Author “Collaboration Economy"
Personal Trainer Hall of Fame Inductee (2012)
Nominated for induction to the National Fitness Hall of Fame (2011)
Best Health Book: Nautilus Book Award “Peak Vitality"
Best Self-Help / Motivational Book: US Book News “Peak Vitality"
Top 10 New Release: Hudson News “The Compass" book
Communicator Award “The Compass" movie
Telly Award “The Compass" movie
Quilly Award from the National Academy of Best Selling Authors
Nominated for the California Community College Distinguished Alumni Award
Named One of the Top 100 Most Influential Personal Trainers of All Time
Named One of the Top 100 Fitness Entrepreneurs in the World
Named Outstanding Member of IDEA Association of Fitness Professionals
Named Top 40 Fitness Blog of 2013

Advisory Boards:
National Health Wellness and Prevention Congress, Exercise TV, Sleep Number Bed, Medical Wellness Association, Irvine Valley College, Life & Leisure TV, Health Journal Television, Fellow – National Board of Fitness Examiners