The Arkansas Fitness Professionals Hall of Fame will officially launch its mission this spring with its first awards banquet, set for 6 p.m. on March 12, at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock. The evening will celebrate excellence in health and wellness by inducting 10 standout professionals as the inaugural Class of 2025.
“We hope the Arkansas Fitness Professionals Hall of Fame will not only honor so many who passionately devote their lives to improving the fitness of others but also lower barriers to entry for people in Arkansas who are seeking healthier lifestyles,” Riley Hill, Arkansas Fitness Professionals Hall of Fame founder and president, said. “The opportunities for community engagement across the state are endless. And we are just at the beginning.”
Quen Spencer
Little Rock trainer and Tap In University founder Quen Spencer will serve as emcee for the ceremony. Heather Baker, president and publisher of AY Media Group, will attend as the guest of honor, while Arkansas sports icon and former Razorback football player David Bazzel will deliver the keynote address. Additional special guests include Miss Arkansas 2025 Kennedy Holland and Miss Teen Arkansas 2025 Amelia Lisowe, who will assist with award presentations.
Heather Baker
The banquet marks a major milestone for the nonprofit organization, which aims to recognize fitness professionals who dedicate their careers to improving both physical and mental health across the state. Beyond honoring achievement, the Arkansas Fitness Professionals Hall of Fame seeks to inspire healthier lifestyles and greater community engagement statewide. There are 10 professionals being honored this year, five of whom are being honored posthumously.
David Bazzel
The Arkansas Fitness Professionals Hall of Fame inaugural class of inductees includes:
- Kerry Dare: Group fitness instructor at The Athletics Clubs
- Eric Godwin: Personal trainer at The Athletics Clubs
- Allen Maxenberger: Personal trainer and owner of Amax Fitness
- Angela Singleton: Group fitness instructor at Pleasant Valley Church of Christ
- Andy Stallings: Retired group fitness instructor
- Robert Farquhar (1957-2025): Personal trainer at The Gym
- Guy Gill (1990-2025): Personal trainer at Iron Fitness and The Gym
- Cynthia Gregory (1977-2025): Group fitness instructor at 10 Fitness
- Michael Gray (1971-2018): Personal trainer at The Gym
- Kristen Mougeot (1961-2024): Group fitness instructor at The Athletics Clubs
Individual tickets for the banquet are $75, with table sponsorships available for $1,000.
For more information about the inductees, check out this article by AY About You.
More about the Arkansas Fitness Professionals Hall of Fame:
Just one year after being inducted into the 2023 Arkansas Softball Hall of Fame, Riley Hill’s father-in-law, Gary Hill, tragically passed away. That’s when the idea was born.
“I’ll never forget the pride my father-in-law felt when accepting his Arkansas Softball Hall of Fame award,” Hill said.
In honor of Gary Hill (1951-2024)
Hill, who has been a group fitness instructor since 2017 and a personal trainer since 2022, has met various fitness professionals throughout the years whom she considers mentors. These are people whom she says molded her into the professional she is today. For that very reason, she knew it was time to create a nonprofit that could honor those individuals, as well as the countless others who would follow in their footsteps.
“I hope this organization can shine a light on our Arkansas fitness community by highlighting the best of the best!” Hill said. “Imagine the lives that have been saved by teaching and encouraging Arkansans to stay active!”
More information about the banquet can be found at www.arfitnessprohalloffame.com.
Feature Photo: Riley Hill
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