NSCA’s Southwest Region

Southwest Region

Regional Coordinator: Whitney Leyva, MS, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D
Contact:  whitleyva@gmail.com

Whitney Leyva-Camberos received her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). While at the university, she then pursued her Master’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Strength and Conditioning, and graduated in 2016. She is also one of five women who established the CSUF weightlifting club. In addition, she has been involved conducting physical evaluations with the Anaheim Ducks and other scientific research studies, while at the university. Today, she is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach of Fresno Pacific University. She has been volunteering with the NSCA since 2014, became Southern California Director in 2017, and is now the NSCA Southwest Regional Coordinator.

California (Northern) 

State Director: Jess Sayo, MS, CSCS
Contact: jchristiansayo@gmail.com

Jess Sayo earned his Master's degree in Kinesiology - Exercise Physiology from San Jose State University. He is a Sports Performance Coach for Menlo College, Menlo-Atherton High School, and the Owner/CEO of JCS Training Lab, all based in Atherton, CA. He is passionate about improving athletic performance across all ages, sports, and activities, while promoting the field of sports performance and coaching. 

California (Southern) 

State Director: Antonio Squillante, MS, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D
Contact: squillan@usc.edu

Antonio Squillante is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® with Distinction (CSCS,*D®), NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® with Distinction (NSCA-CPT,*D®), and a Registered Sport and Exercise Nutritionist (SENr) with over a decade of experience working with collegiate and professional athletes. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education from the Universita' San Raffaele (Rome, Italy). He earned a Master of Science degree in Sports Performance and Orthopedic Rehab from A.T. Still University and a Master's Degree in Biokinesiology from the University of Southern California. Squillante is currently conducting research at the Clinical Exercise Research Center, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles). He has authored serval books and textbooks on periodization and strength training for sport. Additionally, he is a faculty member at Setanta College and lectures for several universities in Europe and North America consulting for professional teams and private facilities around the world.

Hawaii 

State Director: Donald Pump, MS, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, RSCC,*D
Contact: dpump@hawaii.edu

Donald Pump has been an active member of the human performance industry for over two decades. Most recently, he has worked within performance athletics at the high school and professional levels. Pump has spoken at numerous professional events and his Performance Internship is a NSCA CEU provider. He an executive founding member of the NSCA Combat Sports Special Interest Group as well as the Hawaii State Director. His work with professional fighters has incorporated a multidisciplinary approach to performance coaching through a balance of performance psychology and exercise science. Pump holds an MS in Kinesiology from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and a BS in Exercise Science from Sacred Heart University. He has also served in the academic community as a kinesiology instructor at the high school level and as an anatomy and physiology instructor at the University of Hawaii.

Nevada

State Director: Leo Lozano, MS, CSCS
Contact:  wt.coach.leo@gmail.com 

Leo Lozano received two Bachelor's degrees, one in Exercise Science and one in Sports Psychology, from California State University, Long Beach. He also holds a Master's degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Biomechanics from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), a full-time lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences at UNLV, and a sports performance coach working with youth and college athletes in the private sector.