the team

Melissa Farley, CPT, CHC

founder and owner of FitTrition

Melissa is a fitness and wellness expert who spent much of her early years as a ballerina. She danced with the Joffrey Ballet at the Kennedy Center and has also appeared on film, t.v., and off-Broadway. As a natural evolution from dance, Melissa began her yoga practice in 2005. She found that yoga was beneficial to her dancing because it lengthens the muscles, provides greater flexibility, and increases energy to the core. 

Melissa has over 8 years experience as a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (National Academy of Sports Medicine).  She received her undergraduate degree in Theatre & Dance from the University of Maryland, College Park.  Melissa incorporates her love for dance and yoga with her signature blend of resistance, strength training, stability, balance, cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility, and core exercises into a fun, upbeat, and unique training style. 

Melissa worked as a private in-home trainer in New York City, in addition to New York Sports Clubs, Washington Sports Clubs, and Balance Gym DC.  Melissa has appeared in various commercials and magazines including: Sports Illustrated, GQ, Men’s Health, Yoga Journal and Runner’s World.  Recently, She appeared on NBC4 News interviewed by Doreen Gentzler for a segment about nutrition.  

Melissa is also a Board Certified Holistic Health Coach registered through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.  She is a graduate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.  Melissa’s holistic approach to total wellness comes from a balance of fitness and health.  Melissa also teaches her signature classes at lil omm yoga, and SomaFit Balance Gym.  Melissa's mission is to inspire, educate, and build a connection between quality food and a quality life!! 

Liz Osborn, CPT

personal trainer

Liz met founder Melissa on the first day of college at the University of Maryland, College Park where they were both Theatre Performance majors. They shared not only a love for performing, but fitness and nutrition too!  Like Melissa, Liz has over 8 years experience as a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (National Academy of Sports Medicine).  She has worked as a private in-home trainer in Los Angeles and New York City, in addition to Town Sports International's New York and Washington Sports Clubs.  

Liz loves to keep her workouts interesting and fun.  She believes that many people get "burnt out" or "fall off the exercise/diet wagon" because of repetition, boredom, and just not knowing what the best fitness or diet plan is for their bodies.  Using CORE work as a foundation for all of her work-outs, she is particularly good at working on strength and cardio in a fun and engaging way.  As an avid runner herself, she also specializes in helping people train for races.  She might even get out there and run with you!

Liz lives with her husband and two resuce dogs, Romeo and Lily, in Washington DC. We are thrilled to have Liz join team FitTrition!! 

Gabriella Robayo, MBA, CPT
personal trainer 

Gaby is a fitness and wellness enthusiast who is passionate about teaching others how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Raised in New York, Gaby spent over 15 years as a dancer and cheerleader. Her Latin roots infused her with a love for dancing salsa and merengue which quickly translated into a love for Zumba. She enjoys the high-intensity, energetic workout that challenges your flexibility and core strength. This inspired Gaby to become a licensed Zumba instructor and a certified personal trainer. Additionally, she has worked in the corporate wellness industry for several years, designing and implementing innovative employee health programs.

Gaby believes in keeping fitness varied and fun. She has a desire to inspire and strives to help others achieve their fitness goals. She has developed fitness and nutrition plans for individuals to reflect a holistic and balanced approach, the same approach she espouses.

Gaby recently earned a Master of Business Administration from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and completed her undergraduate studies at the George Washington University.

Liz Murphy, Brand Manager

Liz was born in Oakland, California, but moved back home to Washington DC - where her family is from - within two years of her birth. Since that fateful day in October of 1982, she has made it her mission to learn about the world around her, while having as much fun as she can. 

In her short time, she has had many adventures while living in Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, and North Carolina. But now she's back home in the District, with her husband, Patrick, and their two dogs, Horatio and Clover. 

By day, she's a Communications student and a new media, writing, and editing ninja. By night, she enjoys not destroying the family kitchen (hopefully) while trying new recipes, venturing out to new restaurants, taking in a Nats game, reading magazines like Real Simple and Food & Wine, and sitting outside with an amazing glass of wine. In addition, she's a bad karaoke rockstar and writes for Naptown Murphy, her lifestyle blog that takes her back and forth between DC and Annapolis.

To her, fitness means more than just about keeping active - it's about enabling a healthy mind, spirt, and body. She joined FitTrition because to work for a brand that advocates a truly happy and healthy lifestyle is just what the FITgal doctor ordered.

Angela Barnett, Marketing Assistant 

Angela was born and raised in the beautiful state of Colorado.  She spent most of her younger years as an all-around competitive gymnast.  After 15 years of balancing across balance beams, she now uses her strength and balance for running and yoga.

After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado in Journalism, she moved to Washington D.C. to live with her boyfriend and work at the Atlantic Media Company.  There, she has assisted The Atlantic, National Journal and the White House Correspondents Association’s media and event teams. The highlight of her work thus far, has been monitoring the red carpet at the 2012 White House Correspondent’s Dinner.

Angela joined FitTrition because she is advocate for helping people make lifestyle changes and choices and wants to help spread the FITgal mentality.   

Katie , Blogger, the FIT life

Growing up in New Jersey, Katie always figured she would end up calling New York home, but after graduating from Vassar College in 2009 with a degree in Media Studies she ended up postponing her big city dreams for the city of brotherly love instead. She gave a very fulfilling year of service through the Americorps VISTA program blogging for a nonprofit in Philadelphia supporting local entrepreneurs.