Meet The trainers
Start your new journey with a certified fitness professional.
Deborah Skinner
Deborah, a former college athlete, has been a fitness instructor since 2015. A lover of all things fitness. Through her own journey in health and fitness she understand the challenges and importance of taking a holistic approach to exercise, diet and healthy lifestyle choices. There has never been a fitness challenge she hasn’t wanted to conquer or a person she isn’t inspired to help. She thrives on challenge and competition, and believes that, “anyone can accomplish anything with someone in their corner”. She believes in the strength of team and is ready to partner up with you to help you overcome your fitness challenges. She is a ACE certified personal trainer, has done certifications with Mossa, TRIBE, Les Mills, Stages Cycling, and TRX. Her hobbies include running, yoga, water sports, hiking, and connecting with people! Whether you are 8 or 88 she is ready to help you take your next step to be the healthiest you!
Matthew Perdue
Matt, who hails from North Carolina, joined the Sun Oaks management team in August of 2011. Before coming to Redding, he developed his training background and philosophy through his experience in clinical research, coaching, and business marketing. This philosophy includes a focus on vision, progression, and fun in the training process.
Matt received his degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. He continued his education and development in exercise and training with a personal training certification from the American College of Sports Medicine, corrective exercise specialist from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Matt also works as the Head Trainer in the Athletic Dept; coaching and facilitating sport and athletic training programs. His expertise includes a Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and a Level 1 Sport and Performance certification from the US Weightlifting Association.
If you have any questions or need any help, feel free to stop by the weight room office and say hello. Matt is ready and willing to help with any of your exercise aspirations and goals.
Taylor Strickland
Taylor has lived in Redding for 5 years with her spouse their 2 children. Taylor’s passion for health and fitness blossomed at a young age and has always been something she loved to pursue. Taylor always strives to love her best life, which led her to become an ISSA Elite Trainer, Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism Coach and ISSA Certified Sports Nutrition Coach. Taylor’s heart and passion is to walk side by side with clients in their wellness journey to achieve and sustain their goals, whatever they maybe.
Shmuel Tarnor
I was born March 14, 1995 and lived in Kansas and Missouri until 1999
when we moved to Redding. I attended Enterprise High School and
graduated in 2013. During my senior year of high school, I enlisted
into the Marines Corps for 5 years active duty and spent my time
stationed at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. During
my time in the Marines I worked as an Avionics Technician for C-130
Aircraft. I also held roles as a Marine Combat Instructor of Water
Survival, Combat Marksmanship Coach, funeral honors, and participated
in a few shooting competitions. I left the marine Corps as a Corporal
Sep of 2018. Upon leaving the Marines worked a few various jobs,
ultimately returning to Redding where I decided to become a group
fitness instructor and moved into personal training and nutrition,
which has been the best job I’ve had to date.
Kama Hokanson
Jill Stone
Jill Grew up in Southern California and made her way up to Redding in 2010. She has been the fitness industry for 20 years and has worked with countless clients to help them develop a balanced lifestyle through the mind, body, spirit connection. Over the years she has developed the tools and resources to lead a well-balanced life through fitness, clean eating, and mindful living. Through relationship and accountability, she helps her clients stay focused and realize their success. She has obtained a master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in wellness and is currently working on a PHD in Public Health. Jill specializes in working with clients to help them remove barriers of fear and defeat, so they can passionately run after their dreams. After successfully raising four children on her own, she now enjoys mountain biking, kayaking, reading, and writing in her spare time.
Jill has been a certified Personal Trainer since 2010 with I.S.S.A. She also has a certificate in Cardio Kickboxing from American Kenpo Kung-Fu, Silver Sneakers, and Zumba.
Matt Montes
Livi Lindsey
Livi Lindsey is a certified personal trainer with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. She is originally from Redding, California and is a former collegiate athlete. Livi’s passion for health and fitness began at a young age during the participation of several sports. She has an educational background in exercise science, organizational leadership, and physical therapy. Livi believes in creating healthy habits and maintaining a positive and active work life balance. She loves encouraging and helping others on their fitness journey and makes exercise fun and something to look forward to. Some of her hobbies include basketball, running, snowboarding, and playing spike ball. She looks forward to meeting you and help you achieve your fitness goals.
Delaney Harris
Delaney fell in love with fitness in 2020 through group fitness classes. Connecting with people and community was something that she had a strong passion for, and she began her fitness career in 2021. After 4 Mossa and a YogaFit certification, she decided to become a NASM certified personal trainer. She thrives to give people that same sense of passion that she has towards fitness through making working out fun and accessible for anyone. Delaney also works with kids year around, and she’s currently in college working towards getting her bachelors degree! There has never been a challenge she hasn’t wanted to conquer, always having the mindset of: if you put your mind to it, anything is possible. She has passions in yoga, dancing, weightlifting, and picking up any book she can get her hands on. Delaney is ready to help you achieve your goals!
Wendy Parkhurst
Wendy has a passion for life and connecting with others. She holds a degree in Family Life Education from Concordia University, as well as certifications as an ACE personal trainer, TribeLife coach, yoga instructor, nutritarian coach and doula. Wendy is also a licensed esthetician and owns a retreat business, allowing her to use her experience and interests in all areas of health. Her favorite activities include whitewater rafting, snow skiing and kickboxing. Wendy strives to provide a positive, safe environment for growth and change. She enjoys working with all ages as a group or individually and looks forward to truly listening to each client and assisting them with their overall pursuit of wellbeing.
Gregory Powell
Howdy! Gregory Powell is from Kirkland Washington but was raised here in Redding California. His passion for health and fitness led him to become a Certified Personal Trainer through ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association). During his two-year tenure at Shasta College as a Student Athletic Trainer, he adeptly guided hundreds of athletes, advancing not only their athletic pursuits but empowering them to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. The abundance of athletes and their strong ambitions for success held him to a high standard, prompting for efficiency, focus and success.
Sara Strang
Sara Strang is a NASM-certified personal trainer and found her love and passion for fitness here at Sunoaks! She has lived in Redding California her entire life, and in her free time she enjoys long runs, snowboarding, and hanging out with her husky Levi.
Sara has always enjoyed having an active lifestyle, she participated in soccer and basketball in her younger years, but found her passion for weightlifting her freshmen year of high school. She also enjoys competeing in races from 5k to 10ks and is trying her first bikink comptiton this year.
Sara believes, with her years of training here at Sunoaks, that to achieve a healthy lifestyle you need to have a balance of all things of life. She sees how much fitness has changed her mental health for the better and explains fitness hasn’t just transformed her physically, but how it has improved her mental health. Sara enjoys meeting new people and is willing to work with any ages. She loves to see people achieve goals and challenge themselves to do better.
Sara wants to help you become the best and healthiest version of yourself.
Kole Minihan
I am a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Compared to most I am fairly new to the fitness world, I have been on my own fitness Journey since February of 2022. I’ve taken to the fitness life and have been loving the way I feel since I’ve made the lifestyle change. The reason that I’ve became a personal trainer is to help people enjoy their fitness journey the way that I do mine. I’ve enjoyed helping some of my family member with their weight loss goals, and I can’t wait to help you with yours.
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