Neil Schober
Founder | Partner
With over three decades of experience in the fitness industry, Neil began his journey as a trainer and worked his way up to owning his own fitness club, Hart’s Athletics, in Seattle in 1987. Under his leadership, Hart’s Athletics became an award-winning establishment, voted the best fitness company in Washington State. Neil’s entrepreneurial spirit and drive for success led him to establish ECA in 2010 with the goal of expanding the company to 22 locations by 2030.
MJ Reavley
President | Partner
MJ is a true leader in the fitness industry, with a passion for both fitness and people. As the president of ECA, he has been able to combine those passions and create community-focused fitness clubs. MJ’s journey in fitness began as a personal trainer after earning his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Northern Colorado, where he excelled as a student athlete. He went on to become VP of a successful chain of clubs in Arizona and eventually became a successful gym owner, operating multiple gyms for over a decade. With his experience in leadership and entrepreneurship, MJ leads the ECA executive team with his unwavering spirit, bringing his passion for fitness and people to every aspect of the organization.
Josh Kaplan
Recruiter | Partner
Josh is a seasoned fitness professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry. His love for fitness started at a young age as a two-sport all-county athlete in football and wrestling. Despite a severe football injury that prevented him from continuing in sports, Josh remained passionate about fitness and continued to educate himself by reading every magazine he could find on gaining muscle, nutrition, and supplements. With a deep desire to help others grow in their confidence in fitness, Josh transitioned into working in gyms, where he has made a significant impact. He firmly believes that being healthy and self-confident is the most impactful personal change an individual can make.
Emily Schori
District Coordinator | Partner
Emily is a Pacific Northwest native who has dedicated herself to helping others through her work at Emerald City Athletics. As the District Coordinator, Emily manages various administrative tasks such as billing and HR for all ECA locations. Her passion for health and fitness extends beyond her professional life, as she spends her free time enjoying outdoor activities like backpacking, kayaking, and practicing yoga. Emily values the importance of building strong relationships and believes that working together is the best way to achieve any goal, leading to a happier and healthier life. She also cherishes spending quality time with her dog, Sitka.
Barbie Gering
Director of Communications | Partner
Barbie is a Seattle native with a deep passion for health and fitness. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and advertising, she has leveraged her skills to promote wellness and physical activity. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Seattle University. You can find Barbie in a Champions Training class at ECA most nights of the week, actively pursuing her fitness goals. During her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, hiking, biking, paddleboarding, playing tennis, or spending time on the water with friends and family.
Stephanie Bidondo
District Fitness Director | Partner
Stephanie’s lifelong passion for fitness was sparked by the self-assurance it instilled in her at a young age. Growing up in Boise, Idaho, she played soccer and competed in track and field. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from the University of Idaho and is a CrossFit L1 Certified coach. As the district fitness director at ECA, Stephanie feels privileged to connect with coaches and members of the fitness community, encouraging and equipping them to achieve their fitness goals. In her downtime, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her furry companion, Millie, a golden retriever who shares her love of the outdoors.
Rachel Wilson
Chief Financial Officer | Partner
Rachel’s journey in accounting and finance began during her college years when she worked as a bookkeeper for a startup mortgage firm. Recognizing her natural talent for numbers, she decided to pursue a major in accounting. Over the years, Rachel has collaborated closely with small business owners across various sectors, gaining a passion for organizational development, company culture, and management. Recently, Rachel embarked on a new path as a health and wellness coach, with a particular focus on women’s health, which aligns perfectly with Emerald City Athletics’ mission. Rachel currently resides in Colorado Springs with her husband, two children, and two beloved canines.
Andre Jordan
District Manager | Partner – Ballinger Village & Columbia City
Andre’s journey with ECA began in 2019 as a coach, and since then, he has worked his way up to become a district manager. Andre’s love for functional fitness started when he discovered weight training as a young adult, and he quickly realized the value of working out in a group setting. He believes that his greatest relationships have been built through group fitness experiences. ECA has given Andre the chance to make a positive impact on people’s lives through coaching and training, as well as an opportunity to support others who aspire to work in the fitness industry.
Elijah Riley
General Manager – Wallingford
Elijah’s desire to be part of something larger than himself led him to a fulfilling career at ECA, where he connects people with the right path to achieve their physical and mental goals. With his innate talent for leading teams, Elijah applies lessons he learned in the Marine Corps to help make holistic changes in the lives of his team and ECA members. He believes that ECA provides a unique opportunity to serve others, and he is dedicated to creating a positive impact in the lives of those around him.
Dakota Sheffield
General Manager – Ballinger Village
Dakota’s journey into the fitness industry began when he was diagnosed with cancer at age 23. Determined to take control of his health and reduce the chances of the disease recurring, he became passionate about fitness and nutrition. He has since fallen in love with all aspects of fitness and aims to inspire others who have faced similar struggles. As the general manager at ECA Ballinger Village, Dakota takes pride in helping people transform their lives and achieve their fitness goals. His dedication to promoting health and wellness is rooted in his personal experiences and has made him a positive influence on those around him.
Phil Salinas
General Manager – Columbia City
Phil is a fitness professional with 15 years experience helping others achieve their fitness goals. He graduated from the University of Texas San Antonio in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is certified in personal training through NASM with multiple specialties. Before transitioning full time to fitness he spent time in government work with DHS and DOD, including serving as a federal police officer. Phil loves working for ECA and is invested in delivering the promise he makes to each and every member to accomplishing the goals set forth, whether they’re beginners or seasoned athletes. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, mountain climbing, skiing, and hiking with his two French Bulldogs, Chloe & Hugo.
Dallas Hopkins
General Manager – Everett
Originally from Idaho, Dallas developed a competitive nature from being a 3-sport athlete growing up. He believes that feeling strong and in shape is one of the best feelings, and he wants to help others achieve the same result. Dallas’s favorite part of his job at ECA is being just as excited as the members when they start to see results and their motivation increases because of it. Outside of work, he enjoys snowboarding, hiking, watching football and UFC, and spending time with his family.