Denise Duffy
Personal Trainer and Owner - SmartCore Fitness
Denise has 20+ years of training experience with a specialty in Core Functional Training. She believes in the motto “Movement is Life” and knows that Functional strength training is essential for us as we move through our 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and beyond. The objective is to train people to move strongly with proper mechanics so they can continue to enjoy activities with friends and family outside of the gym. So much thought is put into the design of each circuit to combine exercises that will make a client strong in all planes of motion. SmartCore has a welcoming community of trainers and clients and we love to bring new folks into our way of training!
Kendall Shalley
Kendall was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. She attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and earned her Bachelors in Exercise Science in 2008. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2013. She spent a few years working in sports and athletics in an outpatient physical therapy clinic in Wilmington before PT school. After physical therapy school she worked in Raleigh, NC for the Orthopedic Specialists of North Carolina gaining more experience with athletic populations. She then found her home in Charlotte and is in her fourth year of practice with Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates specializing in spine care. She is trained in level I Graston soft tissue technique, Maitland spinal mobilization, postural restoration, and level I Selective Functional Movement Assessment. She is certified in the state of North Carolina in Trigger Point Dry Needling. She finds joy in expanding her knowledge of movement based functional physical therapy and is on a quest for continual improvement in her physical therapy skill set. She understands the importance of frequent movement, mobility, and core strength for optimal movement, health, and wellbeing. Being an exercise enthusiast herself, she is always eager to help her patients and clients achieve their optimal level of fitness and health as she understands the role they play in overall quality of life. She is excited to be able to apply her current skill set here at SmartCore Fitness.
Dr. Kylie Rabe
Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Kylie Rabe has been working towards her dream of becoming a chiropractor since she was in 8th grade. While in high school, she juggled playing 4 sports which began her training in sports injuries and prevention due to her wonderful coaches and weight lifting instructors. During her undergraduate studies, she continued her time in sports at the collegiate level all while maintaining a GPA which earned her All Academic Honors.
Upon graduation from Palmer College of Chiropractic, Dr. Kylie chose to take a job in the beautiful Charlotte area, drawn to the Great Smoky Mountains and the proximity of the Atlantic Coast. With her background in athletics, Dr. Kylie has a vast knowledge of injuries and preventative measures for athletes of all ages and skill level. She uses a wide variety of procedures and techniques, all geared toward patient specific care starting with a complete functional examination to get a full picture of each patients unique biomechanics. These techniques and specific skills have allowed her the opportunity to help SmartCore clients better the way they move within their workouts. Modifications and exercises have grown as the relationship between the Carolina Sports Clinic and SmartCore has become stronger. As she identifies specific dysfunctions in each of her clients, her goal is to help them explore and emulate the concepts of movement through perfect functional form in order to better their overall health and wellness in everyday life.
Her primary goal during training is to modify specific exercise and build on a strong foundation prior to advancing the client through the next progression. For this reason, Dr. Kylie has found a closely mirrored relationship between her treatments and the training at SmartCore. With exercises based heavily on functional training and movements, Denise Duffy is doing something right!
In her free time she loves to spend time outside with close friends and is always looking for a great hike; and you will catch her singing along with the radio the entire drive! Dr. Kylie also loves oil painting and cooking healthy recipes she finds on Pinterest and Facebook. Feel free to pick her brain whenever you see her around the studio!
“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We KEEP MOVING FORWARD, opening up new doors and doing new things… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
–Walt Disney
Jennifer Bryson
I was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. My family moved “South” to Aiken, South Carolina when I was 15. I graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Microbiology and went on to the Medical University of South Carolina to pursue my dreams of becoming a Physician Assistant.
Upon Graduation from MUSC, I moved to Charlotte and took my first job working as an Orthopedic PA. My job responsibilities included diagnosing and treating minor orthopedic injuries as well as assisting in the operating room performing total joint replacements. I eventually left orthopedics to pursue a job in Internal Medicine. My interests were preventive medicine and wellness education with a primary emphasis and focus on diabetes education. About a year after the birth of my first son, I left Internal Medicine to work for Presbyterian Urgent Care. After years of focusing all of my energy on school and my career, I realized that I was neglecting many of the things that I was encouraging my patients to do. I was struggling with my workouts and with my weight. I was 35 pounds heavier than I am today! I did not know how to incorporate exercise into my busy life. I joined the YMCA and shortly thereafter was introduced to Denise Duffy. I began running and weight training and have not looked back since! SmartCore helped transform the quality of my life through structured work outs and the encouragement of active participation in regular fitness activities. I decided that I wanted to help others in their fitness journey. So I got my personal training certification!
As a personal trainer and Physician Assistant, I want to share my enthusiasm for fitness, encourage a happier and healthier lifestyle, and help you realize and reach your potential. I believe that with the right training program such as SmartCore, a bit of determination and support, anyone can achieve their goals. I hope to create an environment that not only motivates but empowers my clients to continually challenge themselves. My dream would be to incorporate a medical wellness component to fitness someday.
Oh yes, last but not least….In my spare time, I enjoy running, biking, and hiking. I have two boys that keep me constantly on the go! We love the beach and the WWC! I have participated in several half marathons and a sprint triathlon. I have been working out with Denise for over 15 years! I look forward to seeing you in the gym soon!
Dr. Casey Lee Schneible
Dr. Casey Lee Schneible is originally from the town of North Syracuse, New York. He grew up living in Central New York his whole life and loves the beautiful change of seasons that New York promises every year. In school, he played football and tennis. He also played basketball with the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) through his church.
Furthering his passion for creativity and his skill for working with his hands, Dr. Casey would help his father with building things and remodeling homes. Growing up with a father who was a business owner, Dr. Casey learned a lot about what hard work ethic was and from a young age knew that he wanted to help people.
After a high school project requiring students to look at different career possibilities, Dr. Casey discovered chiropractic. Gaining the opportunity to shadow a local doctor, Dr. Casey knew that chiropractic was what made sense to the passions in his heart. Learning that he could use his hands to “fix the body” (chiropractic, in Greek, literally means practice with the hands) welcomed him to a profession worth pursuing.
Exploring the possibility of studying away from home but remaining in New York is what led Dr. Casey to the University at Albany in 2008. There, he stayed very active playing intramural football, basketball, and softball while focusing on his studies of the human body and anthropology. Four years later, Dr. Casey obtained his Bachelor of Science in Human Biology, graduating with honors, summa cum laude. Upon graduating from Albany in 2012, Dr. Casey studied at New York Chiropractic College located in Seneca Falls, New York. He loved the charm of this small town, beautifully nestled in the region of the Finger Lakes. He takes pride in the fact that he attended this top school and appreciates its factual and evidence-based approach to chiropractic.
Dr. Casey’s love for traveling and adventure led him to Charlotte after graduating with his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 2015. He appreciates Charlotte’s weather and its centrality to the mountains and the beach. He also likes the economy of the city and how it is filled with younger, growing families. Dr. Casey currently works with Keith Clinic as part of their Chiropractic Team. Dr. Casey is the treating team Sports Chiropractor for the Charlotte Checkers and his team is also the Official Chiropractors for the Charlotte Hornets.
Dr. Casey lives by the motto, “Movement is life.” He notes that teaching people about biomechanics, proper posture and movement patterns helps improve their quality of life. He emphasizes that staying active does not have to be complicated. “Find those areas that are not moving properly and put motion there. It’s as simple as that.” When it comes to nutrition, Dr. Casey has personally experienced the benefit of food prepping, which allows him to plan out his meals, nutritionally and in correct portions. He encourages the same for his patients and even says that you…” don’t have to be strict all the time. Take a few days to learn the difference between what is a good bread to eat and a not so good bread to eat…or what the difference is between a good carbohydrate versus a bad carbohydrate is…It really can go a long way in your health.”
In his free time Dr. Casey loves to stay active. To maintain his lifestyle of health, Dr. Casey works out and plays a lot of sports like basketball, football, volleyball and tennis. He really enjoys outdoor activities and hiking the mountains. Though his team is the New York Giants, Dr. Casey isn’t ashamed to follow his favorite players from team to team. He loves to watch athletes perform at their best and for any game he watches to be competitive. He likes living in Charlotte because there is always something to do and because it makes going back home to visit friends and family better every time.
Interesting Facts about Dr. Casey
Fun Fact: Dr. Casey is a twin!
Favorite Food: Barbecue and Homemade Pizza
Zach Scarboro
Born and raised in south Charlotte, Zach is an ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist and Personal Trainer. Growing up as a multi-sport athlete, Zach had an early exposure to functional training with practical application. He has always had a desire to move, which has led to his pursuit of improving lives through health and fitness.
After graduating UNC Charlotte with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, group personal training was his first step and he hasn’t looked back. He’s been working as a full-time fitness coach at Orangetheory Fitness – Southend for the past 18 months, and his biggest passion is helping people continue to stay active. Prior to his work with Orangetheory, he spent 6 months interning at Architech Sports & Physical Therapy, in which he worked with patients of all fitness levels, observing a wide range of orthopedic injuries. Including a brief stint on UNCC’s track and field team, Zach has been exposed to high level coaching at both the high school and collegiate level. While his participation in functional training is extensive, Zach is looking forward to the challenge of expanding his knowledge of movement and how it can improve our day to day lives.
His weekends are balanced between and good sweat and a few local craft beers. His workout routine is mixed between cardio and strength-based OTF classes, traditional resistance training at the gym, outdoor running, and the occasional hot yoga class.