Meet Our Trainers & Instructors

Sam Butts

Director of Fitness and Sports Performance Training

Sam graduated from Thornton Academy (Saco, ME) and St. Joseph’s College (SJC) of Maine (Standish, ME) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science (2009-2013). A 4-year Varsity hockey player and Travis Roy award finalist, he moved on to be a 4-year starter and captain of the SJC baseball team. Sam has over a decade of measurable success in sport performance training, yoga, and extensive knowledge and practice in health, wellness, and nutrition. He completed an internship with the vaunted Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning program where he worked with athletes at all levels. The Boyle program is regarded as the best strength and conditioning program in the country.

Sam has developed a lifelong passion for movement, sports and performance training through his own experiences as an athlete. He aspires to build this same passion in every athlete he works with and, as a coach, he hopes to have the same positive impact on others that so many of his coaches had on him.

Sam believes in building the basics and takes pride in consistently doing the common things uncommonly well. He focuses on creating an athletic foundation to support injury prevention and increased performance in sport. Most importantly, he hopes to instill self-confidence and build high-character individuals who appreciate and love the process of striving to get better each day- physically, mentally, and in every other way- through taking ownership of their own journey.

Email Sam at: sbutts@macbythesea.com

Lindsay Mzaouakk

Master Trainer

Lindsay began personal training and teaching group fitness classes after graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and Psychology. She holds certifications in ACE Personal Training, Functional Movement Screening, Stott Pilates, Les Mills Body Pump, Zumba, PiYo, TRX, Total Barre, Barre Above, and Bolly X and is a graduate of Dance Teachers Club of Boston.

Lindsay’s passion for fitness developed at a young age after studying various styles of dance, and teaching dance to children, teens and adults. She currently teaches Mat Pilates, Zumba, PlyoJam and Barre at Manchester Athletic Club and was the Group Fitness Director for 14 years.

Lindsay enjoys teaching and motivating people of all ages and fitness levels to reach their goals. She likes to teach her class participants and clients about proper body alignment, posture and educate about general fitness and muscle actions. Lindsay was an Amateur and Professional Ballroom Dance Competitor for over 15 years in the Latin Ballroom and American Rhythm Style, competing and performing nationally. Now Lindsay spends her free time being a mom to her 2 young children and salsa dancing.

Email Lindsay at: lmzaouakk@macbythesea.com

Nikki Parisi

Director of Group Fitness, Master Trainer

Nikki earned her Associates Degree at Burdett Business School in 1989. After having her first child she knew that she had to fight genetics and got involved in group fitness. She has been in the industry for almost 3 decades, and working at Manchester Athletic Club for the past 23 years as a Master Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor. From beginner, elderly or athlete,

Nikki loves helping people set and reach their fitness goals, and enjoys teaching a wide variety of classes including SPIN, Muscle Conditioning, and TRX. She was responsible for the launching of our Fit-At-Any-Age Class, and helped with the Start up of the American Cancer Society’s Spin for Hope. When it comes to Personal Training, Nikki emphasizes the importance of combining cardiovascular, functional, strength training and fun into her clients programs.

Nikki’s certifications include: NETA and AFAA Personal Trainer, Madd Dog SPIN Instructor, Kickboxing, Step, TRX, INDO ROW, Functional Movement Specialist, and Senior Fitness. When not teaching a class or Personal Training, enjoys fitness conferences, the beach, gardening, travel, and spending time with her family and friends. Her passion is rowing, and spends as much time as possible on the water.

Email Nikki at: nparisi@macbythesea.com

Haley Allison

Pilates Instructor

What began as a love for fitness blossomed into a passion to help others enjoy a more active lifestyle. In the industry since 2004 Haley has acquired many different fitness certifications. As the Pilates Reformer Studio Coordinator, Haley is fully trained in Stott Reformer, an equipment based Pilates repertoire, as well as Essential and Intermediate Pilates Mat Work. You can also find Haley teaching in our barre studio and other group ex classes as well. Due to her extensive education in the fitness industry, Haley has acquired a deep knowledge of fitness, and as a result her clients reap those rewards.

Susan Palmero

Pilates Instructor, Personal Trainer

Susan has been working as a fitness professional on the North Shore for 25 years. She holds certifications in AFFA/ Personal Training, AFFA/ Group Exercise, BBU/ Reformer, TRX, Madd Dog Athletics/ Spin, Pilates, Kickboxing, Strength Training, along with teaching various group fitness classes. She has directed group exercise programs and operates a small business for women’s fitness.

Susan’s passion for strength training developed in her young adult years realizing along with a strong, fit, healthy body, came a strong mind. This motivated her to design programs and classes for women to build long, lean, muscles. Infusing her personal training experience with group training she advocates form, technique and body function/movement into her group fitness classes.

Living on the North Shore she enjoys being outdoors and staying active with biking, hiking, or exercising on the beach. Susan believes keeping her body moving is a great strategy on fighting the aging process. To create a happy, healthy lifestyle she spends her free time with family and friends.

Angela Calvano

Personal Trainer

Angela is a strength and conditioning coach with over 10 years of experience helping people build strength, confidence, and a love for movement. A 2019 graduate of Endicott College with a degree in Exercise Science and Precision Nutrition certification, she has coached clients ranging from competitive and professional athletes to busy adults who want to feel strong in everyday life.

Her passion for fitness grew from seeing how strength training not only transforms athletic performance but also restores the ability to enjoy daily activities and adventures. Angela has worked with youth athletes, professionals, and clients rebuilding strength after injuries, always tailoring her programs to meet people where they are.

Her coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that strength is for everyone. She blends evidence-based training with a joyful, encouraging approach to help clients discover that fitness can be both empowering and fun. Her goal is for each client to feel capable, resilient, and ready
to say “yes” to life’s opportunities—whether that’s competing in sports, hiking a mountain, or simply moving pain-free.

She works with clients of all ages and levels and is dedicated to making every session an opportunity for growth. When she’s not on the coaching floor, Angela can be found at the beach, hiking in the mountains, or drawing landscapes with a cup of tea nearby.

Email Angela at: acalvano@macbythesea.com

Jason Maker

Personal Trainer

With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Jason specializes in helping individuals move better, perform stronger, and train with purpose. His approach combines post-rehabilitation training, sports performance enhancement, and comprehensive movement screening to create individualized programs that support long-term health and peak performance.

Jason is a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), a Strength and Conditioning Coach through the National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF), and a Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC) through Mike Boyle—a system widely respected for its focus on movement quality, strength development, and injury prevention.

Throughout his career, Jason has worked with a diverse range of clients, from individuals returning to activity following an injury to athletes seeking to elevate their performance. His training philosophy centers on building quality movement patterns, improving mobility and stability, and developing strength that translates to both sports and everyday life.

Outside the gym, Jason maintains an active lifestyle that continues to shape his coaching. His interests include martial arts, snowboarding, paddleboarding, hiking, and recreational sports such as flag football, soccer, basketball, and softball.

Jason’s goal is simply to help clients move better, feel more confident, train intelligently, and perform at their highest level. He welcomes the opportunity to discuss how his background and expertise can be of service.