On Monday, November 3rd, Union Fitness hosted a bootcamp in support of Crisis Center North. It was inspiring to see our members and the CCN community unite, sweating it out, fostering camaraderie, and contributing to a cause that aids those affected by domestic violence. The event kicked off with a warm welcome, followed by an intense hour-long workout blending cardio and strength exercises. Our head personal trainer, Tristan Hillebert, led the strength portion and one of our high-quality trainers, Hannah Empfield, led the cardio portion. We were able to have participants using both the performance lab and the cardio lab. This allowed them to have more space and see more of what we offer at Union Fitness! We concluded with a poignant moment as a courageous survivor from CCN shared her personal journey battling domestic violence. 

 

Bringing our community together to emphasize the significance of physical activity for our wellbeing and raise awareness about local resources is a core mission at Union Fitness. We will continue to stand together, prioritize our health, and advocate for those in need.

 

-Ashley

What’s up UF family! After 3.5 years of being a full-time employee, and 1 year of being a part time employee total, the time has finally come for me to say goodbye to Union Fitness and step into a new chapter of my life. This decision was not made lightly, it has been an emotional process of reflection, gratitude, and hope for what lies ahead.

 

When I first stepped through the doors of Union Fitness, I could never have imagined how much this place would come to mean to me. It has been far more than just a job. It has become more like a second home. A place that over the years has been filled with smiles, happy tears, sad tears, lots of early mornings, and lots of late nights. A place where I have watched many lives transform. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. And I enjoyed every second of that.

 

As a manager, I have had the incredible privilege of working with a passionate team who showed up every day ready to inspire, push boundaries, and create a welcoming space for every single member. Your energy has been infectious, your dedication unmatched, and your friendships are something I will always carry with me no matter what. You will all go far and do great no matter where you choose to end up in your lives.

 

To the most important part about UF, our members: you really are the heart of this gym. Your commitment, strength, and growth have been the most rewarding part of my time here. Thank you for trusting me, challenging me, and letting me be a part of your fitness journeys. Watching your progress has inspired me more than I can put into words. I wish every single one of you the best in your future endeavors and appreciate all of the time we spent together.

 

This isn’t a goodbye forever, just farewell for now. I will still be cheering you all on, just from a different place. As I move on to explore a brand-new industry and lifestyle, I leave here with lessons that will serve me for a lifetime.

 

To everyone at Union Fitness: thank you. You have made this experience more than just a job. You have made it a community, and I’m forever grateful to have been a part of it.

 

Stay strong, stay moving, and never stop pushing yourself.

 

With heartfelt gratitude,
Toria Crispin

What’s up UF Squad! I wanted to take a few minutes to highlight our Push/Pull charity event from 2 weeks ago. Thank you to every single one of you who came out to compete and those who helped donate some money to a special cause as well. We ended up raising $671.50 overall for the No Empty Seats charity.

 

The No Empty Seats mission is to break the stigma behind mental illness and encourage showing unconditional love to friends and family. They invest in nationally recognized suicide prevention charities and share stories revealing the unspoken prevalence of depression and anxiety. Their goal is to emphasize the tragic effects of suicide, with partnered initiatives and projects spreading genuine compassion and acts of kindness.

 

Another big thank you to all our staff members and interns who volunteered for a few hours on their Saturday morning to help the event to run both quickly and smoothly. Congratulations to all our top lifters and to all of those who hit some PR’s on that Saturday. We love to see your progress and the work you all put in at the gym.

 

Cheers to another great event and looking forward to next years!

 

Team UF

Hey Union Fitness Fam!

 

My name is Emily Roan, and I’m beyond excited to be here!

 

I’m bringing over 10 years of experience managing large-scale recreation facilities—everything from fitness centers and climbing walls to indoor/outdoor courts, tracks, turf fields, and swimming pools. It’s been a wild ride, and I’m so pumped to bring that experience into this next chapter with all of you.

 

When I’m not at the gym, you’ll find me running my small business, Odie Bear Brand, where I handmake dog accessories (because dogs are the best, and I’m a little artsy fartsy—it’s my favorite creative outlet). I also love being outdoors—growing up in rural Central PA left its mark on me. Hiking, biking, camping, kayaking… count me in. I’m also a big travel bug and try to cross off a new state or country whenever I get the chance.

 

My husband and I have two mini Bernedoodles, Odie and Zoey, who are truly two of my best buds.

 

Please come say hi if I don’t beat you to it! Catch me in the gym soon, I’ll be the tall one belly laughing at someone’s joke, dancing to my playlist in between sets and helping you crush your goals!

 

Let’s gooo 💪✨
—Emily

Hello Union Fitness gang!

 

My name is Tristan Hillebert! Some of you may remember me from many moons ago, I completed my internship through Union in 2023 and worked the front desk for a brief period after.  I have spent the past two years away from Union working at Shape Training where I trained one-on-one, semi-private, and coached athletes ranging from youth to professional. I’m excited to be back, and will be joining the team as the Head of Personal Training.

 

In my free time away from coaching I enjoy anything that gets me outside… fishing, shooting, working on my truck, etc.  I also played hockey at the NCAA level, and enjoy playing in local adult leagues with buddies from school.  Like every retired athlete I’ve developed quite an addiction to golf in my down time.  If you ever want to talk sports, outdoors, or just want to chat, feel free to come say hi!

 

Tristan

Hello!

 

My name is Josh Daub. I was born and raised in Milton, PA. I am currently in my last semester at the University of Pittsburgh for a Bachelors in Exercise Science. In the fall of 2025, I will attend Chatham University’s Physical Therapy program.

 

I have a passion for exercise and physical therapy! This started because of my experience as an athlete in high school who dealt with injuries. My favorite form of exercise is resistance training with a hypertrophy focus. Outside of the gym I enjoy watching sports, playing video games, hiking, and kayaking.

 

I am excited to learn from the staff at Union and to get to know everyone this semester. If you need any help around the gym, don’t be afraid to ask!

 

Josh

Hi! My name is Jon Rathfon and I recently started interning here at Union Fitness. I am also currently a senior Exercise Science major at Pitt in my final semester looking to enroll in Physical Therapy school in 2026.

 

As for a little background about me, I grew up in Monroeville, P.A. and throughout my entire life, I’ve been extremely passionate about various forms of exercise. Growing up, I loved nothing more than playing soccer, which is what sparked my interest in exercise. Around when I was 16, I started weight training to improve my strength for soccer, and this is where my passion really took off. I fell in love with the process of developing athletic qualities, and from that point onward it has been a lifelong goal of mine to expand my knowledge of fitness as far as possible. Since then, I have been exposing myself to as many forms of training as possible and over the past couple of years, Rock Climbing has become a newfound passion of mine and gave me another new training modality to learn and pursue.

 

Someday, I want to use all this knowledge of training I acquire to be able to help people achieve their physical goals, whether it is to improve athleticism for a sport or to be able to build and retain functional strength despite age/injury. Interning here at Union Fitness will give me the opportunity to gain valuable experience training clients in a variety of methods which will prepare me for the future and help expand my knowledge of the field. I am more than happy to be here, and if you see me around the gym, don’t be afraid to say hi!

 

Jon Rathfon

Hello! My name is Kaitlin, and I am a new intern at Union Fitness! I am currently in my senior year at the University of Pittsburgh receiving my Bachelor’s in Exercise Science! I am planning on getting my Master’s in clinical Exercise Physiology, and my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. I’ve lived in Pittsburgh for the last 3.5 years for school, but my home base is in New Jersey.

 

Growing up I played soccer and have now gained interest in weight training, running, cycling, and other forms of exercise. In my free time I like to read books, cook, and spend time with my family and friends! I am excited to begin my journey here at Union Fitness as I am interested in teaching group fitness classes and programming my own classes. I am also interested in personal training and believe this opportunity will provide me the steppingstones to start that journey. I am so excited to gain many skills and a lot of knowledge to further my ability to excel in my profession! If you see me around say hello!

 

Kaitlin