Mike Mercurio Age: 66 Education: BS in Mechanical Engineering from Notre Dame MBA from The Kellogg School, Northwestern U.                             Certification: Certified Personal Trainer from ACE Experience: Seven years

About Mike –

I got an engineering degree and in the end had no interest in becoming an engineer. I got an MBA but was in no way motivated by making money. I was very idealistic and the only thing I wanted to do is become a diplomat with the State Department. For some reason, I was accepted by the Foreign Service and had a very interesting career working at US diplomatic posts overseas.

After 30 years of trying to save the world, I retired in 1994 looking for something else I could believe in. All my life I had been as physically active, and as I began to age, I increasingly valued my health. The possibility of bringing the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to other people was very appealing to me. This was something I could believe in.

My wife had already been certified as a personal trainer, so I followed suit, and we quickly formed Personal Training Associates with the idea of working principally with people over the age of 40.

To make clients feel comfortable even if they hadn’t exercised in a long time we provided lots of individual attention. The formula worked well and the company grew rapidly. I don’t take many clients myself any more, but Tsipi and I still work hard to make sure each client gets everything they need to succeed.

I strongly believe in what we’re doing and I’m having more fun running PTA than I ever had in the Foreign Service.  There are “second acts” in life, and sometimes they’re better that Act I.