President's Award

Maria Teresa Mendizabal, NSCA-CPT,*D

Maria Teresa was born in Puerto Rico, and for many years was a professional Ballet and Flamenco Dancer. She has a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico, and years later graduated Magna Cum Laude in Physical Education. She founded during 1970’s her Dancing and Fitness School. Today, many of her students are dancers and ballet teachers in Puerto Rico and the United States. During 1975 she introduced aerobics in Puerto Rico, and founded together with her dearest friend Christine Vega, Aerobic Trainings International, a Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Trainings Organization. Together they have travelled to South and Central America, Europe, United States and the Caribbean certifying more than 2,000 fitness professionals. During those years she was constantly invited to present in several Conventions and Fitness organizations in Europe, South and Central America, as well as in the United States. In 1995, she was a Gold Medalist in South Africa during the World Aerobic Competition. Had her own Fitness TV program for many years, and had her weekly fit-ness column in one of the best known newspaper in Puerto Rico. In 2004 she was elected by the National Strength and Conditioning Association the Personal Trainer of the Year , and a few years later she was appointed State Director for NSCA in Puerto Rico, and selected State Director of the year, years after. She holds several certifications among them NSCA-CPT,*D, ACSM, TRX, ZUMBA, Pilates, Willpower and Grace, and Ballet Barre. Her spicy styles, her unique choreography and her not ending desire to elevate the quality of the fitness profession keep her active in her Personal Training and Group Classes. She has been happily married to Hector Santiago, her beloved husband for 45 years, and together they have six children, and eight grandsons. Three years ago, she finished her book “Sorry, What’s Your Age”, where she reveals details of her life, and her desire to live 125 years, as still she has many projects to complete in her life.

Jerry Palmieri, MA, CSCS, RSCC*E

New Jersey native and longtime Tom Coughlin assistant Jerry Palmieri served 12 seasons as the Giants’ strength and conditioning coach, a position he assumed on Jan. 13, 2004. He was with the Giants for Tom Coughlin’s entire tenure as head coach. Palmieri was the New Orleans Saints’ assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2003. Prior to that he spent nine years as a strength and conditioning coach under Coughlin, one at Boston College (where he was the director of strength and conditioning operations) and eight with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Palmieri began his career as a strength coach at the University of North Carolina in 1982. From there he moved to Oklahoma State University (1984-86) and Kansas State University (1987-92) before joining Coughlin at Boston College. In addition to his coaching experience, Palmieri has taught physical education classes and written articles about strength and conditioning for national publications. Palmieri is a 1980 graduate of Montclair State University. He received a master’s degree in exercise physiology from North Carolina in 1984. Palmieri was a three-time New Jersey Golden Gloves champion (1976-78) and competed in international competitions as a member of the 1978 and 1979 USA Boxing Teams. He was honored as the 2007 Samson’s NFL Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. In 1999, Palmieri was honored by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society as Coach of the Year, and then in 2018, this organization presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award. He was a member of NY Giants’ staffs that won two Super Bowl Championships (2007 and 2011). Currently, Palmieri volunteers for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes advancing that ministry in North Jersey. He works closely with the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association to unify and provide professional education for the NFL Strength and Conditioning Coaches. He works closely with the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association to unify and provide professional education for the NFL Strength and Conditioning Coaches. He also speaks on topics of strength & conditioning and his faith, while also conducting workshops on Three Dimensional Coaching. Palmieri was raised in Dumont, N.J. He and his wife, Ellen, also a New Jersey native, have two children and one grandson.