About Us

Joe has worked in the health and fitness industry since 1980. He is the president and owner of The Bonin Fitness Group in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The last 25 years, he has been involved in the development, design and management of several hospital based wellness centers, sports medicine and rehab programs in Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio and Indiana.

As an undergrad and graduate student at Indiana University in the mid 70′s, Joe worked as an athletic trainer and strength coach at IU. He had the opportunity to work under such renowned coaches as Bob Knight, Lee Corso, “Doc” James Councilman, Sam Bell and Johnny Parker.

Joe began his career in the medical fitness industry in 1984 at Baptist Hospital Health & Fitness Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Baptist Hospital was the leader in sports medicine, rehab and corporate health programs in Middle Tennessee. He spent over 20 years consulting and developing comprehensive health and wellness programs for individuals, communities, corporations and hospitals throughout the country.

He has worked with medical experts and other health professionals throughout the country doing research, investing thousands of hours developing a comprehensive health and fitness improvement system.

Also, he has been involved helping thousands of people discover the powerful benefits of proper nutrition, time efficient exercise and adequate rest.

Joe has been on the forefront of taking health and fitness to the Internet in reaching millions of people and helping them achieve their personal goals. He worked on the start up of several on-line companies such as Sparkpeople and Hummingbird Coaching Services.

He is a leader in providing personal coaching services to individual and corporate clients throughout the country.

Joe is an active member of the Medical Wellness Association, National Strength & Conditioning Association, American College of Sports Medicine Association, Club Industry, Athletic Business Association and IHRSA.

His hobbies include family activities with his wife and three sons. He also enjoys sports, traveling, gardening, home repair and general fitness activities.

Joe’s mission is to educate, motivate, teach and encourage his fellow Baby Boomers to participate in a safe health improvement program.

For more information about Joe call 513.910.0358.

Coach Dick Conner has over forty plus years experience in the strength and conditioning field of high school, college and professional athletes. He was has always had a passion in helping people improve their physical condition to make them a better athlete. He started the Pit Barbell Club in Evansville, Indiana in the early 70′s. The Pit is one of the top strength training facility in the country due Coach’s dedication and commitment to his students.

Coach has influenced thousands of high school, college and professional coaches throughout the country on the proper training techniques for athletes. He has development many of his own training techniques and principles based on the research of the late Arthur Jones, inventor of Nautilus.

Coach Conner’s Pit Barbell Club Powerlifting Teams have won 12 National Drug Free USA Powerlifting Team Championships. He continues to coach his teams to state and national championships in recent years. He retired from the Evansville Police Department and continues to train individuals at The Pit Barbell Club.

Coach Conner is available for personal training on Wednesday and Saturday at The Pit. He uses High Intensity Training methods to help individuals achieve their health and fitness goals.

Dick Conner
Personal Trainer and Strength Training Coach
Former Owner of The Pit Barbell Club
Evansville, Indiana

Dan Franklin started his fitness career in the early 1970′s working with Arthur Jones,inventor and original owner of Nautilus Sports Medical Industries. He introduced the Nautilus training principles to coaches, athletes, fitness centers throughout the Midwest.

Dan participated in football, powerlifting and bodybuilding as a student at the University of Evansville. He has trained and educated thousands of individuals, coaches and physicians on the benefits of proper exercise, nutrition and proper rest.

Dan continues to develop revolutionary training techniques and methods that help individuals achieve their health and fitness goals. He is currently researching the benefits of Super Slow Training. Dan has over 35 years of experience in the fitness industry.

He is considered by many of the top trainers throughout the country as an outstanding and motivational fitness coach. Dan lives in Evansville, Indiana and continues to work with clients such as executives, athletes and individuals that want to improve their health. Dan specializes in high intensity training weight loss programs for men and women.

High Intensity Training videos with Coach Dan Franklin

Dan Franklin
Personal Trainer
Evansville, Indiana
812-589-7669

Coming soon.

Michael has over 30 plus years experience in the health and fitness industry. He designed and equipped corporations, schools, colleges, hotels, apartment complexes, resorts, hospitals, physician groups, rehab center and fitness centers throughout Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. He has consulted several exercise equipment companies with the design and development of their product lines. Michael has Bachelor of Science Degree from Western Kentucky University, Masters Degree from Indiana University and Ball State University.

In 1936, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the President of the United States, the book Gone With The Wind was published and a man named Art Becker from Northern Kentucky started a company called Fitness Equipment Company. He sold a product called “The Exercycle” door to door for years. Once the business built up enough customers, he opened a store in Norwood, Ohio. He added more product like treadmills, bikes, and gyms to sell to commercial facilities to help the company grow. Year by year it got bigger and bigger.

Art’s two son’s Mark and Jerry entered the business in the late 1970′s to help the company grow even more. They renamed the company Exercise and Leisure Equipment Company and opened a mega store located in Columbia Township in Ohio to showcase fitness in a grand fashion. In the 1980′s fitness and health started to become a main concern to people due to illnesses related to lack of exercise. Jerry’s two sons went to college and began to work in the family business in the late 1980′s/early 1990′s. In 1994 Exercise and Leisure Equipment Company expanded back to where it had started, Northern Kentucky.

Our Ft. Mitchell location showcases the highest quality residential fitness equipment brands on the market. Fitness equipment categories like treadmills, elliptical machines, bikes, climbers, rowers, free weight benches, home gyms, etc. are on display for customers to try out and ask questions. Exercise and Leisure Equipment Company has been the tri-state’s resource for home and commercial fitness equipment for many years. Come in and see 69+ years of experience in our company details. Here are just a few of them.

#1 Our “FITNESS TEAM” is educational about helping you make the correct purchase, not selling you on a piece of equipment. Meaning we will give you the information to help you make a decision based on product facts and exercise regimens. You make the decision to buy yourself, not “pushed” by a sales person.