Toni Genovese is a Certified Professional Wellness Coach, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Certified Personal Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. The Beauty and the Beach Run holds a special place in her heart, as it was the very first race for which she trained. She is excited to join us again as a steering committee member. She is a divorced mother of 3 amazing kids, enjoys running, strength training and yoga.

Angela is a life long resident of Long Branch. She is an avid runner who loves running along the beautiful Long Branch boardwalk as well as throughout the Jersey Shore area. She currently works as a personal trainer, health coach and group fitness instructor, while writing health-related columns for her blog and various media outlets. She began working with the Beauty and the Beach steering committee in 2015 and hopes continue to assist the committee in any way that she can. Her favorite parts of being involved in the event are: helping to raise money for Aslan Youth Ministries and seeing the impact that the Beauty and the Beach Run makes in the lives of female runners (new and experienced) throughout the tri-state area.

A self proclaimed adventure seeker who took up running to age gracefully, lose weight and to have the energy to enjoy random and planned adventures. Beauty and the Beach in 2009 was the first race I trained for which happened to fall near my birthday. Thus beginning a tradition I have since followed. I tend to choose races that support a cause and as an American of Haitian descent who is also an educator of young children, the work that Aslan Youth Ministries does in Haiti and with at risk youth in NJ helps two causes that are close to my heart. Currently an ambassador for the dynamic running group Black Girls Run Central New Jersey chapter, actively promoting consistent healthy movement for all with a focus on the African American female population.  Running is an adventure to me and I look forward to many more years of adventure!

Mekela is 57 years young and currently resides in Robbinsville New Jersey. While participating in a health challenge for work in 2012, she was introduced to Black Girls Run, and is now an ambassador for the Central New Jersey chapter. Mekela has completed numerous races of all distances, and recently ran her first marathon. In addition to running, she also loves biking, hiking, and water sports. She is very interested in learning more about nutrition and professional coaching, and would love to be able to help others achieve their fitness goals.

Jean Buckley has walked in the Beauty and the Beach Run since it’s inception. She has been tutoring
for Aslan Youth Ministries weekly for the past two years and feels it is a great way to see the ministry in
action.  As a member of the steering committee she hopes to encourage women to sign
up as a group or an individual to walk or run for Aslan!