MGM Group Fitness Virtual Conference 2025

Leslee Bender, ACSM, NASM, FAFS, FAI, NPCP, is a 40-year veteran in the fitness industry and recipient of the 2020 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year award. She is the coauthor of I Am Ageless Now, the owner of Ageless Now Academy, and the creator of the Bender Method of training, using the Bender Ball™.

Bender has presented worldwide and has appeared on national television. She has filmed video content for many companies, including Savvier, IDEA, Reebok, SCW, Ageless Academy, and more. The creator of Barre Above Pilates training and cocreator of Barre Above through Savvier Fitness, she has certified and trained thousands of fitness professionals internationally.

Bender is the programming director at Sports West Athletic Club in Reno, Nevada, where she trains all levels of students, specializing in pre- and postrehabilitative modalities. When in Florida, she works with professional athletes who compete in sports that emphasize rotational core movement, such as tennis and golf. She has a passion and love for the fitness industry and continues to grow and evolve her craft.

Eliza Stone has dedicated over three decades to helping individuals achieve healthier, happier lives. A certified Nutritionist since 1998, Eliza has worked in diverse settings, including hospitals and gyms, combining her expertise in fitness and nutrition to transform the well-being of countless patients.

As a Fitness Coach (AFAA, ACE and AEA), Zumba® Education Specialist (ZES), and Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) Therapist, Eliza's holistic approach empowers people to make lasting lifestyle changes. 

She is the founder and owner of 21nutrifit, a company promoting healthy habits through high-quality supplements and nutritional products. Her mission is to help others build a foundation of wellness that fuels both body and mind.

Keli Roberts has been recognized for many prestigious awards in the fitness industry. She was named IDEA International Fitness Instructor of the Year, awarded the Best Female Presenter , received the Lifetime Achievement OBOW award and inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame. Keli was also honored as Presenter of the Year in the USA and was recognized with the Inspiration Award for Empower! Conventions. Keli is an ACSM EP and holds certifications through ACE as a GFI, HC and CPT. Moreover, Keli is an SCW Faculty Member, a BOSU Elite instructor and a SCHWINN Senior Master Trainer and an Ambassador for Ryka athletic wear.

Marietta Mehanni is not your average fitness presenter. She is a true innovator in the industry and a game changer when it comes to group fitness. With over 30 years of teaching experience, Marietta has won multiple awards including being inducted into the AusActive Roll Of Honour and is highly regarded as one of the best educators in the business.

As the Education Coordinator for Gymstick International and the World Master Trainer, Marietta is a true leader in the fitness industry. She is also the co-founder of My Group Move, an online platform that offers exceptional group fitness education to instructors all over the world.

She has trained hundreds of instructors around the world in both land and water-based group exercise. Marietta is particularly well-known for her expertise in aqua fitness, where she has established herself as one of the world's leading presenters.

Marietta's passion for aqua fitness stems from her belief that water-based exercise offers numerous benefits to people of all ages and abilities. Her dedication to this field has earned her a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable and inspiring aqua presenters in the world.

Maria Teresa is a renowned fitness expert and entrepreneur with over 28 years of experience in the industry. Originally from Mexico, she began her journey in 1996, specialising in both group fitness and water-based fitness classes. Her career has taken her across the globe, leading master classes, training instructors, and presenting at international fitness conventions. 

In 2009, Maria Teresa was instrumental in the successful launch of Zumba® in New Zealand and Australia. Over the past decade, she has trained thousands of instructors throughout the Australasia Pacific region, earning widespread recognition for her leadership and impact. In 2016, her contributions were formally acknowledged when she was inducted into Fitness Australia's Roll of Honour. 

As co-founder of the online platform My Group Move, Maria Teresa provides essential training and ongoing support to group fitness instructors worldwide. A passionate advocate for holistic well-being, she is a certified health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and co-creator of the 18 Days to Well-being program with her sister, Eliza Stone. Based in New Zealand with her husband and two children, she continues to inspire women through Powerful YOU, her home workout program designed to empower and nurture both body and mind.