Melanie Ash - Owner/Trainer
Melanie Ash (CPT, CFSC) has been working in the fitness industry since 2008, and holds specializations in Fitness Nutrition, Weight Management and Back Injury Prevention.
After falling in love with group exercise classes at her local gym, Melanie became a certified instructor and began teaching classes of her own. She loved helping others find more energy and confidence from working out and realized this was her true passion.
In 2012 Melanie and her husband Jason founded Melanie Ash Fitness and in 2017 they opened Fitness Evolution. Melanie believes taking care of your body with proper nutrition and regular exercise allows you to have more confidence and success in all areas of life. Her training style is a mix of functional training, metabolic conditioning and fun!
Shannon Cohn - Trainer
A Cleveland native, Shannon has a passion for helping people improve their fitness, get stronger and overcome both physical and mental setbacks. Shannon is a certified Personal Trainer and graduated from BGSU with a degree in Athletic Training. She brings to Fitness Evolution more than ten years experience working with both athletes and patients in Physical Therapy and Orthopedics.
Shannon loves to work with clients in person to see and experience their progress right along with them. Additionally she enjoys working on her own fitness, relaxing with her husband and two rescue dogs, and enjoying all of the great food and entertainment Columbus offers.
Jessica McKelvey - Trainer/Studio Manager/Client Experience Coordinator
Jessica began dancing at the age of six. After receiving a BFA in dance from The Ohio State University, she went on to perform professionally for six years.
In 2016 Jessica attended a Zumba class for the first time, and her excitement and joy for this form of movement was instantly ignited.
Within months of that first class, she became a licensed Zumba instructor, and has been sharing her passion for dance and self-love within the Columbus community ever since.
Jessica was driven by a desire to help others discover the positive benefits of exercise and became a certified Personal Trainer in 2019.
Molly Eastlake - Trainer
Molly is a former middle school teacher, and fitness has always played a significant role in her life. As a mother of two young children, she values the importance of feeling strong and healthy, and finding the energy to keep up with a little one.
Molly grew up in Athens Ohio, received her Bachelor's and Master’s Degrees in Education from Ohio University, and spent much of her free time hiking and trail running around the hills of Athens.
While taking a break from teaching to stay home with her daughter, Molly had the opportunity to revisit her passion for fitness and helping others enjoy movement and exercise. Molly completed her Personal Training certification in 2021 while experiencing hands-on education at Fitness Evolution. She’s excited to work with clients and help them achieve their fitness goals and improve their physical health.
In her free time, Molly enjoys all types of exercise, whether in a group class, going for a long bike ride with her family, or running with her rescue dog.
Laura Conaway - Trainer
Growing up in a small town in Northwest Ohio, Laura had the opportunity to play every sport offered in school. This led to a very active childhood and a love for fitness. Although Laura graduated with a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Wright State University, she never forgot about her true passion for health and fitness.
After thinking about become a personal trainer for several years, Laura finally decided to go for it and earned her certification through the American Council on Exercise in July of 2021. She is so excited to start working with clients at Fitness Evolution and help them achieve their health and fitness goals.
Laura enjoys spending time with her husband Greg, their family and friends, and working out. In 2020, she ran her first full marathon, and is now trying to bring rollerblading back in style!
Berkley Ash - Chief of Security
Berkley is an Ohio native rescued from New Philadelphia. He is a Norwegian Elk Hound mix and is on track to become our Chief of Security and part-time door greeter.
Berkley has completed twelve weeks of puppy training, is actively engaged in doggie day care at Park Your Paws Doggie Daycare and is working to improve his patience and obedience skills.
Once he is ready to join the team full-time and can refrain from jumping on the clients with his sharp little puppy claws and teeth, Berkley will be a regular figure at the Studio. Berkley enjoys chewing bones, destroying ropes, running in circles and engaging in any sort of mayhem.
Jason Ash - Operations
Growing up in Ohio and playing sports throughout his childhood, Jason gained an appreciation for the positive way health and fitness can impact one's life. He also understands the value of training with other people. Jason believes confidence and cognitive ability are directly linked to the physical well-being.
Jason is responsible for the back-end operations of the studio. He handles accounting, website function and maintenance as well as customer support. You may get a response from him if a question is submitted through FitnessEvolutionStudio.com or see him fixing things around the studio.
