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96 || FITNESS MAGAZINE || NOVEMBER 2015 MFM: You played collegiate soccer at The University of Victoria (UVIC), did you ever had dream to become a world soccer player?AG: Ironically no, I didn%u2019t set my sights on the world-class level in soccer. It was a sport I picked up really late in life, around age 18, after making the cut for Vancouver Island%u2019s first elite rep team. For many years we had incredible experiences traveling around the country but I wasn%u2019t a worldclass player. Playing for UVIC during college years, being top in the country, was an awesome ride.MFM: In 2003 you graduated from UVIC and began your life-long love affair with exercise physiology, strength and conditioning. Can you recall a defining moment that lead you to this path?AG: It seems I was born to be, and do exactly who, and what I%u2019m doing now. Athletics, strength, and beautiful physiques fascinated me from a very young age. Influential teachers/mentors throughout school also supported this desire and allowed it to unfold. I was pushed forward, never held back.MFM: You now certified MS/CSCS/CISSN/CCN/CNS, Is this where you envisioned you%u2019d be when you started?AG: Yes! Without knowing about these degrees and credentials at the time, I knew I wanted to be in the field of Exercise Physiology/Sports Nutrition. If it involved sport and athletics I was there. Always wanted to excel and be among the best, professionally.MFM: What has been your greatest professional success and biggest setback?AG: I haven%u2019t had my greatest professional success yet! As it unfolds, I%u2019ll let you know. Setbacks of course are many, I prefer to think of them as minor zigs and zags. Moving from Canada to the US and starting from scratch certainly had its challenges. Building everything while being in a Masters Degree full time was rather contortionistic but worked out very well. Compared to many, my setbacks have been more about structure and streamlining life as opposed to truly falling on my face.MFM: What are the most important skills that your job demands and who are some of your most important clients?AG: For my own happiness within business and working with clients, I must always feel %u2018on the ball%u2019. Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists must have excellent technical ability while also being great coaches. We must make correct decisions with all clients, athletes or not, as we are essentially guiding/helping to manage the health and performance of these individuals. Excellence, day in and day out, requires sharpness of the mind and body. All of my clients are high-performing, influential, successful people - some are adults, some are young athletes. MFM: What parts of your work do you enjoy the most and greatest stresses at work?AG: To say I have work-stress would make me a fool! I get to work with dedicated, hard-working people every day in a safe environment full of other happy, positive people that want to be there. You know, I%u2019m not stuck in a desert somewhere wondering if my teammates and I will live another day - so really, not much to stress about. There will be the %u2019challenges of expansion%u2019 etc. very shortly, however, I%u2019ll always minimize my use of the word %u2018stress%u2019 when dealing with first world problems. MFM: Based on your experience in the industry, what do you think are the most respected schools/departments in your field that really make a difference for graduating students?AG: In Canada, The University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, McGill, and University of Toronto are world-class. There are