Sherri Laffey Sarrouf – Owner

A Certified Fitness Trainer, President/Owner of Elite Fitness Professionals, Inc and SLS Fitness, Sherri is also the founder of the Fitness For a Cure fundraiser to benefit ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis TN, and the New England Volunteer Spokesperson for ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

For the past 15 years Sherri has been a group fitness manager for Gold’s Gyms in many NH communities and in Gold’s Gym Tewksbury, MA for 11 years.

Sherri is certified through ACE,  Strength and Conditioning, Todd Durkin Fit Quest 10 Boot Camp, Metabolic Effect, Thomas The Promise Kick Boxing, Maddog Spinning, Pre and Post Natal fitness, Yogafit and Les Mills Body Pump.

The breadth of Sherri’s experience in the group fitness industry spans 27 years in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Officially incorporated 12 years ago under the corporate banner of Elite Fitness Professionals, Inc. providing group fitness management for NH Gold’s Gyms in Nashua, Merrimack, Manchester and in Tewksbury, MA. Elite has continually provided a variety of first rate group fitness programs and quality fitness trainers.

Sherri’s motivational, inspiring and high energy style have brought 100’s to her weekly classes. She has trained thousands including classes specifically designed for the New England Patriots Cheerleaders and has been widely interviewed in area magazines and newspapers. Chosen in 2009 from Applaud magazine as one of their NH most inspiring women.

Ann Buerger:

Ann has been involved with fitness in one capacity or another from an early age. Starting ballet at the age of four, she progressed to modern dance in high school. In college, Ann was Captain of the elite University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh pom-pom squad.

After graduating with a BS degree in Education with a minor in Sociology, Ann began her thirty eight year classroom teaching career. Along the way, she continued her love of fitness and dance, taking ballet and jazz classes, “Jazzercise”, Gloria Stevens (yes, Gloria Stevens!) Workouts and aerobics classes.

In 1986, Ann took her first Sherri Laffey (the Sarrouf came later) highly motivating, aerobics class and was hooked on Sherri’s ability to energize, get fit and have fun!

Nine years ago, Ann decided to take her passion to the next level and become a certified group fitness instructor. She has been an instructor for Elite Professionals, owned by Sherri, Gold’s gyms and Focus on Fitness. Ann has taught hi-low aerobics to corporate organizations, weights conditioning classes, Pilates, water fitness, and iron and fitness yoga.

Some highlights of Ann’s fitness career have been judging the Green Bay Packer cheerleading tryouts, and conducting water fitness and yoga classes at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, NH, the Barceló Resort, Punta Cana, and the Occidental Resort, Aruba. She has also enjoyed teaching yoga routines to her fifth and sixth grade students, and being a proud member of the St. Jude Performance Team.

Through her energy, motivation and continual enhancement of skills, Ann provides effective, enthusiastic, and challenging workouts. To be able to live out her passion is a dream come true!

Education and Qualifications:
• AFAA certified group fitness instructor since 2002
• AEA certified group water fitness instructor since 2001
• YogaFit certified instructor since 2001
• CPR certified
• Pilates training
• Classroom educator since 1970

Valerie Williams

Certified Personal Trainer
Valerie has been into fitness and physical activity for as long as she can remember. She found her talent that earned her a scholarship to participate on the Women’s Track and Field Team at the University of New Hampshire. While there, she broke numerous records that qualified her to compete against the best runners in the country. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and also took various courses outside her major such as General and Sports Nutrition, Sport Psychology, and Kinesiology. She also holds a second degree black belt in Taekwondo and trained in that discipline for 15 years. Her greatest satisfaction from that experience was being able to train, teach and coach young students to become nationally ranked junior Olympians.

“Once an athlete, always an athlete.”  That is a powerful mantra Valerie carries with her. Ability and agility should not be taken lightly or for granted. That is why being part of the St. Jude Performance Team is nothing short of an honor. Being able to have seen the faces of St. Jude, one has to take a moment and recognize that being fit and healthy is a blessing, not a right. Nothing in life is guaranteed and one should make the most of the life they have and if they can try to make it a little better.

Nicole “Nikki” Russell:

Certified Group Fitness Instructor

Fitness has always played a pivotal role throughout Nikki’s life. From her first GBL All-Star Award as a freshman at Medford High to running cross country at the collegiate level where her team won the league championship three out of the four years Nikki raced at Merrimack College. Most recently Nikki was inducted into the Medford Mustang Hall of Fame for her accomplishments in Cross Country and Track while attending Medford High School.

After not seeing enough gain in muscle mass Nikki started looking for something different to change her workout and turned to Sherri and Metabolic Effect. Within a few weeks Nikki noticed significant gains in overall core strength and realized that this is what has been missing in her workout regime. Nikki was so impressed with this type of training that she wanted to introduce others to the strength and conditioning philosophy of SLS Fitness.

Susan Kirby

Susan began dancing ballet at the age of 10 and continued with the art through college.  In the 1980’s, she studied belly dancing at Odalisque in Cambridge and performed professionally in the Middle Eastern restaurants in MA and NH.  After graduating with her MBA, Susan became AFAA certified and started instructing step aerobics and kickboxing.  Over the years, other areas of training and joy include yoga, pilates, weight training, Zumba and her new love Metabolic Effect!  Susan is also a mother of four daughters and works in publishing.  She met Sherri in 2007 and was instantly inspired by her energy, fitness knowledge and business skills.  Her inspirations are mountain climbing, skiing and last but not least, being at SLS Fitness!

Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts, Syracuse University, Masters of Business Administration, Simmons Graduate School, Metabolic Effect Certified, AFAA Group Fitness Certified, Zumba Trained, CPR Certified