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TFW Mahopac Coaches

TFW Mahopac has the most highly qualified, fitness coaches in Putnam County

Coach Vin Valenti

Born and raised a Mahopac Indian, Coach Vin graduated from Mahopac High School in 1994. He excelled as a two-sport athlete. A three-year varsity starter, he was named captain and earned All-Section Honors in his senior year in both soccer and baseball. It was during Baseball preseason, his sophomore year, that he fell in love with weightlifting. He attended University at Albany and played one year of baseball. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a minor in Psychology all while working out four to five times a week and playing several intramural sports. In 2008, he married his wife Christina, and in 2010, his twin boys, Dominic and Nicholas, were born. TFW Mahopac is a family-run business, and everyone is pitching in to help.

Having started as a Member in 2013, he immediately became addicted to everything about TFW Mahopac. The Coaches, the workouts, and the group format promoted a sense of family and team accomplishment. In 2020, Vin obtained his Personal Training Certification through NASM and was immediately hired as a Coach. Coach Vin worked for 26 years in various Compliance and Risk roles at several large investment banks. Finding this work unfulfilling, the opportunity to purchase TFW Mahopac came about in late 2023.
Coach Vin has a passion for helping people achieve their health and fitness goals. Having dealt with his own personal health issues, and having received so much help to recover, it’s become his mission to assist other people in any way that he can.

“I am dedicated to helping you reach your fitness goals as you start your journey to a healthier happier lifestyle.”

— Coach Vincent Valenti

Weight loss, Strength Training, Somers NY

Coach Dawn Petersen

Coach Dawn began her fitness journey in 2010 after having shoulder surgery. Her Physical Therapist mentioned kettlebells were a great way to stabilize her shoulders. She took her first kettlebell class and was hooked! Coach Dawn earned her Personal Trainer Certification in 2013. She joined TFW Mahopac as a Member in 2016, and she has not looked back. The close-knit atmosphere of the community and the class format was exactly what she was looking for in a gym facility. After teaching middle school science for 32 years, Coach Dawn retired in 2022, she finally had time to teach classes at TFW Mahopac. She looks forward to many years of health, fitness, and fun at TFW Mahopac.

Coach Ben LeBlanc

Born and raised in Westchester County, Ben developed a passion for strength training early on through powerlifting and strength & conditioning. While earning his bachelor’s degree in business management & administration at Mercy University, he became ISSA-certified and turned his passion into a career. Overcoming his own injuries inspired Ben to help others build strength, move pain-free, and find balance in their fitness journey. He believes training should enhance life, not consume it, and strives to make every session both challenging and rewarding. Outside the gym, Ben enjoys going to the beach, spending time with loved ones, and pushing his own physical limits. Ben states “My goal is to bring energy, knowledge, and motivation to help clients unlock their inner Warrior.”

Coach Michelle Deagan

Michelle Deagan is a proud graduate of Mahopac High School and a teacher at Carmel High School. Her love of fitness began in 2013 when she ran her very first 5K at the Bronx Zoo. Since that first race, Michelle has completed countless road races, Spartan Races, and even a few triathlons. Her drive and determination extended beyond running; in 2021, she earned her first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do alongside her two children.

Michelle’s fitness journey took another meaningful step in May 2019 when she joined Training for Warriors, a community that helped her blend athleticism with personal growth. Recognizing how much she loved not only training but supporting others in their own fitness goals, she pursued certification through NASM. By July 2025, she officially became a certified trainer, allowing her to combine two of her greatest passions: teaching and exercising. Michelle continues to inspire others through her energetic spirit, commitment to lifelong learning, and the example she sets as both an educator and an athlete.

Start learning how to Build Muscle, Lose Fat and Feel Good

Visit the TFW Mahopac Fitness BLOG

Fitness During the Holiday Season: Why “Something Is Better Than Nothing”

by Vin Valenti

The holidays can easily derail even the most dedicated fitness routines—but you don’t need perfection to stay healthy. In fact, the all-or-nothing mindset is often what holds us back the most. Learn why “something is always better than nothing” during the busiest time of year.