Meet The Team
MITCH SHOOKS
Personal trainer, nutrition coach, and owner of GRIP Center, Mitch holds a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and has been certified by NSCA, ACE, NASM, PIMST, and FST. He is also a Level 3 Poliquin International Trainer and a specialist in Biosignature Modulation, an effective fat loss system that addresses hormone imbalances and other health concerns including poor sleep, low energy, and impaired cognitive function. Mitch has worked as a personal trainer and strength coach in the Grand Rapids area since 1999, and throughout his career he has helped people of all ages achieve their health and fitness goals. He specializes in providing customized nutrition and exercise programs that result in optimal health. He is committed to educating his clients and holding them accountable to ensure their success.
BRAD STEENWYK
Brad graduated from GVSU with a finance degree but decided to pursue his passion for fitness and helping others. He is a certified trainer and has a strong interest in program design. He has completed the DTS Level 1 and Kilo Program Design certifications to better understand how to best assess and program for his clients. In his free time you can find him hiking, playing with his dog, or enjoying the outdoors. He has a strong desire to help people achieve a long, happy, healthy, and pain-free life through fitness.
CONNOR HOLLEMANS
Connor truly enjoys helping others reach their fitness goals. After completing two years at Calvin University, he acquired his NASM certification and worked in Holland as a personal trainer. His favorite part of training is seeing how the body reacts to different types of workouts, and he loves to teach others about how to fuel and support the body with optimum nutrition. When Connor's not in the gym, he enjoys golfing, soccer, cooking, and masonry.
CHELSEA LAWRENCE
Chelsea is a kind and encouraging trainer who focuses on building lasting training habits and positive lifestyle changes. A lifelong athlete and certified personal trainer through ACE, she completed the GRIP Internship program and now blends strength, mobility, and flexibility training into her approach. With over six years of experience as a yoga instructor, Chelsea helps clients connect to their bodies, listen to what they need day-to-day, and find the balance between challenge and recovery. Even if you’re not working directly with her, don’t hesitate to say hello-she loves meeting new people.
SEAN HALVERSON
Sean graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Exercise Science. His background spans both clinical settings and sports performance, giving him the ability to work with a wide range of clients. A former collegiate wrestler and Olympic weightlifting enthusiast, Sean is passionate about helping people move past chronic pain and discover strength they’ve never experienced before. He brings a smart, results-driven approach to improving athletic performance and total-body resilience.
GARREN CARREL
Garren is an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer, MI40 Level 1 Certified Coach, and Certified Nutrition Specialist. He found his passion for fitness through his own personal transformation and now dedicates himself to helping others unlock their potential. Garren believes in the power of consistency, smart training, and a clear plan to help each client achieve lasting results.
RYAN MAPES
Ryan is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach with a strong passion for helping others build stronger bodies and more confident lives. After going through his own personal transformation, he pursued formal education in health and fitness and further sharpened his skills through GRIP’s in-depth internship program. Ryan believes that real progress comes from consistency, curiosity, and a growth mindset—principles he brings to every session. He aims to make fitness both approachable and rewarding. Outside the gym, you’ll find him lifting, exploring the outdoors, or diving into something new to learn.
JOSH JUBENVILLE
Josh is currently a professional lacrosse player on the Toronto Rock in the National Lacrosse League. He graduated from Davenport University with a Master's degree in business administration and management.
Deciding to pursue his passion for fitness and health, he joined the team at GRIP. His athletic background and functional approach to fitness give him a unique perspective on training. Josh's hunger for helping others achieve peak performance is evident through his consistency and commitment to high standards. As a professional athlete and dad, Josh understands the importance of leveraging sleep, recovery, nutrition and training in order to make progress in and out of the gym.
In his free time Josh lives an active lifestyle playing various sports and spending time with his family.