2016 VIPs & Celebrities

Jessie Graff

Professional Stunt Woman & Actress

Jessie is famous for being the first woman to qualify for the city finals on the fifth season of American Ninja Warrior. She was also a contestant on Wipeout in 2008. In season 8 of American Ninja Warrior, in the Los Angeles qualifying round, she became the first woman in American Ninja Warrior history to make it up the new 14 1/2-foot Warped Wall. Along with her, a second woman in the Los Angeles qualifying round, professional rock climber Natalie Duran, who finished 19th (but did not complete the course), moved on to the city finals. This was the first time two women made it into the Top 30. She graduated from Urbana High School, Frederick, Maryland, as a Track Team Leader, honor roll student, and member of National Honor Society.

She is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a black sash in Kung Fu, and is trained in five other styles of martial arts. She is also a championship pole vaulter and competitive gymnast.

Roger Callard

Celebrity Judge

• Roger L. Callard hails from Saginaw, Michigan, where as a youth it was evident early on he was a gifted young man. His blazing speed and athleticism earned him the nickname “The Brady Flash”. Equally gifted in the classroom, he scored one of the highest SAT scores in the nation, later attending Michigan State University on a full ride scholastic scholarship. Legend, Duffy Daugherty and coaches George Perles and Sherman Lewis on the football team noticed his speed and athleticism. It was here at MSU where Callard discovered another regimen that would alter his life forever: weight training and bodybuilding. Bodybuilders like Kent Kuehne and Don Ross urged the young Spartan to take up bodybuilding competitions in the off-season. Blessed with broad shoulders, great legs and a strong back, the rest would become history.
• In June of 1972 after graduation and winning the title of Mr. Michigan, professional football tryouts and the lure of the West Coast landed Callard in Venice Beach, California at the original Gold’s Gym. It wasn’t long before Callard was discovered by bodybuilding mogul, Joe Weider. The handsome, intelligent and broad shouldered bodybuilder was just what Weider was looking for to enhance his prestigious stable of world class talent. Callard became a featured contributor writing articles, appearing in ads and amassing National titles: Mr. Western America, Mr.USA and Mr. America. It would also be the time when a young Austrian sensation, Arnold Schwarzenegger, would take the world by storm. Their close friendship was forged along with other icons of the sport such as Frank Zane, Ken Waller, Robby Robinson, Bill Grant, Bob Birdsong, Franco Columbo and Lou Ferrigno. It was a magical time in the era of bodybuilding when this minuscule subculture became a worldwide pastime and inextricably changed the perception and face of sport and society in general, the impact which historians are only now beginning to comprehend. The popularity and mass appeal of films such as Pumping Iron, Stay Hungry, and World’s Strongest Man only further launched the sport into main-stream culture. Callard, along with Schwarzenegger, continued his film and acting career filming countless T.V. episodes, commercials and films while continuing to support the sport doing seminars and exhibitions.
• In 1983, President Ronald Reagan contacted Arnold’ s business office, Oak Productions, inquiring if Arnold knew anyone with the knowledge and qualifications to revise and analyze the U.S. Airforces training program and facilities to conduct seminars and set up an intermilitary competition for bodybuilding and power lifting. Callard was recommended and began communications with Pacific Air Command under then General Verle Rhinehart, of Hickam Air Base in Hawaii. Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney signed the orders. Callard served two tours of highly decorated duty in 1983-85 as a GS-12. His efforts and knowledge changed the face of modern military physical development among enlisted and special operations teams. The expertise and training methods passed along were invaluable to the development of military personnel around the globe.
• Callard continues his involvement and commitment today, serving on the board of the Red, White and Blue Project.org, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to raising funds for the families of fallen war heroes and wounded, disabled veterans. Roger’ s knowledge of bodybuilding and the Fitness industry stands as a testament to his stature and historical significance in the sport of bodybuilding.

Cleveland “The Truth” Thomas

Mr. America 2015 Overall Men’s Bodybuilding Champion

• Natural Professional Bodybuilder
• Stage Music editor
• Routine choreographer
• Professional guest poser
• Diet consultant
• Starting from age 5 Cleveland started out being active in various sports such as track, football, and weightlifting. As the years progressed, Cleveland had excelled in all three. He even boxed for about 3 months at the local boys club, but the love wasn’t there for boxing. Because of family and also residing in the south, football was the most influenced sport. But the love for weightlifting had led Cleveland to win 1st place at the Florida 5A State Power lifting Championships his senior year in high school. After leaving college football, he joined a local gym, and that’s when the transition from power lifting to bodybuilding all started.
• Through the years the muscular, symmetrical, conditioned and structured athletes had always captivated Cleveland. “It says a lot about an individual that takes pride in his or her God given temple, you only get one,” Says Cleveland because of the amount of discipline and quality time he was spending training for the perfect body.
• Cleveland came to the realization that he had always had an insane passion for the sport of bodybuilding since early child hood. At age 21 Cleveland started in the world competitive amateur bodybuilding competitions.
• Cleveland “The Truth” Thomas did very well competing as an amateur for ten years before deciding to turn Pro in 2003. The first year of earning natural Pro status, Cleveland started working his way up the Professional ranks, by winning both the NGA Pro Worlds and NGA Pro Galaxy Championships in the very first year of turning professional. Since turning Pro God has blessed Cleveland with 11 World Titles and close to 30 overall professional wins. His most recent titles are the IFPA GLOBAL champion & the title of 2015 Pro Mr. America.
• Competing in the top natural organizations, NGA, IFPA ,SNBF, PNBA & the WNBF…Cleveland has proven himself to be the most decorated pro natural bodybuilder on the planet. His love for God and passion for this sport has pushed him beyond borders.

Junior Bangura

Mr. America 2015 Men’s All Around Champion

• Personal Trainer
• Nationally Qualified Men’s Physique Competitor

Alhaji Sesay

Mr. America 2015 Men’s All Around Champion

• Professional Personal Trainer (NFPT)
• World Class IFPA Professional Bodybuilder
• World Class and Record Holder Power Lifter
• Outstanding Motivational Speaker
• Advanced and Basic Nutritionist
• M.A.T. (Muscle Activation Technique) Practitioner
• OCB Presidential Cup August 2010 – 1st place Debut, Novice and light weight class, Overall Novice winner
• NPC East Coast Classic September 2010 – 1st place
• WNPF Maryland/Virginia Powerlifting Championships 2010 – 1st place PL and Curl
• WNPF World Championship Powerlifting Feb 2011 – 1st place PL World Record + Curl
• INBF Missouri All Natural Championship April 2011 – 1st place Open Bantam weight
• OCB Presidential Cup August 2011 – 1st place light weight and overall winner
• WNPF USA VS World Championships November 2011 – 1st place PL and Curl
• IFPA Pro USA July, 2012 – 4th Place Men’s Bodybuilding Pro.
• IFPA Pro Yorton World Cup October 2012 – 7th place Pro Lightweight class
• USAPL Powerlifting Maryland Championships 2013 – 1st place PL and Curl
• IFPA Pro Global Championships September 2014 – 3rd place Pro Lightweight class
• IFPA Pro Gaspari Nutrition Pro Classic October 2014 – 4th place Pro Lightweight class
• IFPA Yorton World Cup October 2014 – 4th place Pro Lightweight class
• IFPA Pro-Bowl May 2015 – 1st place Pro Lightweight class

Alexandra Roane

Mr, America 2015 Women’s All Around Champion

• Alexandra Roane aka “Alee” is a winner and aims to help those around her win in their goals. Alee is a Professional Fitness Trainer and health coach in the DC Metropolitan area. Her background and higher education is in Exercise Science. Alee is a certified Exercise Physiologist Specialist, as well as a Certified Exercise in Medicine Professional by the American College of Sports Medicine.
• Being active is big a part of who Alee is and helping others is the other BIG part of her craft. She has played sports her whole life. She loves to study the human body and how it operates which led her to get a B.S degree in Exercise Science. From there, Alee started working with athletes in a sport performance facility and then eventually moved to being an independent Fitness Professional and owner of The R.O.A.N.E Xperience. Alee has competed in some of the largest contests on the east coast and she won her IFBB Bikini Pro Card just recently in 2014. She won the Mr. America 2015 Women’s All-Around that included winning 1st place in the overall Bikini division, 1st place in the Women’s Athletics and Professional Interview. When asked about her motivation, she says, “My drive to compete and pursue the above achievements is fueled by my efforts in being able to relate to my clients better.”
• Bodybuilding was introduced to Alee through a friend and the rest is history with the things she has achieved, and will continue to achieve within this sport. Knowing her passion for fitness is one thing, but it is the discovery and realization that Alee believes she can have a huge impact on her clients and the community. She has now set out to educate people on how to improve their health and wellbeing through the “fitness” of their mind and body. Alexandra Roane continues to soar through the world gracing her motto: To change life’s perspective one workout at a time by gearing your mind to move your body to reach your attainable goals.

Eric The Trainer

Hollywood Physique Expert

• Eric the Trainer (Eric P. Fleishman) is a Hollywood Physique Expert with over 25 years of experience in physical transformation. He has worked with top actors and musicians, MMA fighters, and U.S. troops. His techniques are regularly featured in “Muscle & Fitness” magazine (where he sits on their advisory board), TRAIN magazine, and on Bodybuilding.com. He hosts the popular tv show “Celebrity Sweat” on Spike TV. He is a member of the Gold’s Gym fitness institute, where he serves as an expert and global spokesperson for the organization. Eric has traveled to the Middle East for the past two years to train American troops, a highlight of his career. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California.

Franco Harris

Pro Football Player

• Franco began his pro football career as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ No.1 pick and the 13th player selected in the 1972 NFL Draft. Harris established himself as a future superstar when he was the fourth rookie in the NFL annals to rush for 1,000 yards. Harris was born in Fort Dix, New Jersey on March 7th, 1950 and was selected to nine Pro Bowls, played in five AFC championships, and four Super Bowls.

Paul Anthony

Grammy Certified Artist With Full Force, “House Party” Cancer Champion*

• Celebrity Health Champion
• Founder of The Paul Anthony Foundation
• Member of Full Force Entertainment
• Bodybuilder for over 20 years
• Bringing Physicality through R&B, Hip-Hop and Pop

John Fair

Author of Mr. America: The Tragic History of a Bodybuilding Icon

• John D. Fair is the author of Mr. America: The Tragic History of a Bodybuilding Icon. He has also authored six previous books, including Muscletown USA: Bob Hoffman and the Manly Culture of York Barbell. He is a retired history professor (Auburn University, Montgomery, and Georgia College & State University) and has competed in nearly eighty weightlifting/powerlifting meets, served on the national AAU weightlifting committee, and judged many physique competitions, including the 1973 Mr. America Contest. He is currently Adjunct Professor of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas at Austin’s Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports.

David Chapman

Educator and Historian

• David Chapman is a California-born, Seattle-based educator and historian who has written over a dozen books and innumerable articles on physique photography, sport history, gender studies, film and popular culture. His first book was Sandow the Magnificent, a biography of Eugen Sandow (1867-1925) a famous vaudeville strongman and physique athlete who is often considered the founder of bodybuilding. Chapman is also a collector of rare photographs, posters and other items that chronicle the history of physical culture and the developed body. David Chapman was also chairman of the Mr. America Advisory Board 1995-1996.

Melle Mel

Pioneer of Rap & Songwriter for Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

• Melvin Glover, better known as Melle Mel and Grandmaster Melle Mel, is an American hip-hop musician – one of the pioneers of rap as lead rapper and main songwriter for Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. He was the first rapper to call himself “MC” (Master of Ceremonies). More recently Mel has appeared in Ice-T’s 2012 Hip-Hop documentary “Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap”, Kool Moe Dee and Grandmaster Caz in Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s song and music video “Downtown”, and Scorpio performing as Grandmaster’s Furious Five ft Melle Mel & Scorpio release their single ‘Some Kind of Sorry’

Gordo the Drummer

Australian Bucket Drummer

Freddy “The Detroit Diesel” George

MMA Strength and Conditioning Coach

About Freddy

• Freddy George is a world famous strength and conditioning coach, nutritionist, fighter and fight coach. Fred has a Sports Science Degree from Albion College in Michigan that he puts to work daily with his MMA, football, and hockey cliental.
• Fred never lost a Pro MMA fight in his short lived career. He was sidelined with a career ending injury otherwise he might have made history. He was also a collegiate football and hockey player, a great athlete and a true “Jack Of All Trades.” His passion for all three sports and coaching world class athletes fueled his desire to invent these cutting edge functional training technologies. Freddy can perform each of his modalities as well if not better than the athletes he trains. “How can you teach from the sidelines?…get in there and do it yourself…lead by example.”
• He has appeared in several major motion pictures such as A.I., Hoffa, and Virtuosity, numerous commercials including Snickers, Tylenol, and Capitol One and many TV Productions. You have also seen him in hundreds of National and International Fitness Magazines including Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Grappling, and Max Muscle to name a few.
• Freddy is now the fitness editor for MMA Worldwide and Tapout Magazines. Freddy became a fixture in the bodybuilding and fitness world where he invented personalized fitness and nutrition programs for some of the top bodybuilders in the world. In 1999, the MMA world started to take off and Freddy began training and fighting under Todd Medina and Erik Paulson.
• By 2001, Erik took him under his wing and in 2007 they teamed up to start the CSW Training Center currently located in Fullerton, CA. CSW is the home of Brock Lesnar, Josh Barnett, Ken Shamrock, Cub Swanson, Sean Sherk, James Wilks, and many others.
• Fred and Erik also trained Seal Team members, Israeli Defense Force in Tel Aviv and Haifa, Compton Gang Unit members, Special Forces, etc. in close quarters combat CQB, and arrest and control techniques.
• Fred is currently conducting Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition, and Fight seminars around the world. He also trained the L.A. Select 16AAA and 18 AAA hockey teams. This year he picked up the LA Jr. Kings and the Jr. Ducks of Anaheim. Using science to design personalized nutrition and training programs, Fred is revolutionary in coming up with some of the most state of the art linear and functional training tools on the market today. Fred designed the “ULTIFIT Circuit” using “The Burn Machine”, Stroops MMA and the Crosscore “War Machine.” These products are unbelievably challenging even for professional athletes..They test your core strength , biomechanical chain linking, and increase the strength of your secondary movers in order to stabilize the athletes shoulders and hips.
• Fred teaches world class athletes to live in a positive nitrogen balance using unsaturated fats for sustained energy versus carbohydrates as a fuel source. He keeps the athletes strength at a high level, while maintaining or dropping body fat. This is the state of the art scientific nutrition that has been adopted by the MMA and bodybuilding worlds. He calls it “walking the ketotic line.”
• Fred is a huge proponent of Beta Alanine, Arginine, Methylcobalamin, ANSI Extreme Shock, and CNP Propeptide protein supplementation. He helped design and build some of these products, which include probiotics, live yogurt cultures, real micellar cassein from Germany, and 5 gms. of peptide bonded glutamine in order to keep the athlete in a positive nitrogen balance and an anabolic state.
• He has also teamed up with legendary Rigan Machado in order to strength train his Hollywood Star packed client list. Fred and Tapout Magazine are also assisting Rigan with his new world BJJ Organization that is about to launch in order to find the best grapplers in the world.

Tom Platz

• When it comes to discussions of who amongst all bodybuilders has the best legs – and even though it is now over 27 years since he last competed – there is only one candidate: Thomas Steven Platz, born June 26, 1955, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, who is known to have the best legs ever!
• One of the most dreaded phrases in bodybuilding is “leg day”, and everyone who saw Platz could see – and maybe feel — the years, months, sets and unending number of reps that had gone into building the best legs ever.
• The bodybuilding community admires, respects and adores him with a depth that has not been bequeathed on any other bodybuilder.
• In the ‘80’s, his annual seminar tours of England attracted unprecedented crowd numbers, and he could be found signing autographs and magazine covers (without charging) until maybe two hours after a seminar had finished. He has been noted as the most popular bodybuilder in the world and has fierce loyalty from the muscled masses. He toured the UK extensively in the past because the UK audience couldn’t get enough of him.
• And no-one, ever galvanized and incited audiences like the Tom Platz, the man they called The Golden Eagle. His signature posing music was Ride Like The Wind by Christopher Cross, and when the opening chords of that tune would drift into a packed auditorium the assembled throng would go nuts, knowing the appearance of the sport’s favorite son was imminent. And then, there he was before them. He would smile and wink at the audience and the decibel meter would threaten to go off the charts. Then he would run his right hand through his blond hair while flicking a quad with his left hand before “Boom!” that quad would blast into life with more cross striations than one could count. Then the decibel meter would go off the charts. You’d seen it countless times, knew it was coming… but it never got old. It is said that you never heard audiences create such noise as they did when Tom posed.
• Tom Platz was, and still is, a force of nature with an immovably enduring effect on the bodybuilding community and everyone who was so lucky to have seen his posing routine back in the day.

Ryan Hall

• Ryan has posted the best-ever American times in the Half Marathon and Marathon and has represented the US in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
• Fastest American Marathoner – 2:04:58 at the 2011 Boston Marathon
• U.S. Half Marathon Record Holder 59:43 at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in Houston, Texas.
• U.S. Debut Marathon Record Holder – 2:08:24 at the 2007 London Marathon
• US Olympic Trials Record Holder – 2:09:02 at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in New York City
• 5th Place. 2008 Flora London Marathon – 2:06:17
• 10th place Olympic Games

“I’m very excited to support this years Mr. America 2016 All America Sports Festival, which has something for every age and level of fitness. After running and competing for the past 20 years I’ve recently started my own pursuit of trying to get as big and strong as possible while still doing a fair amount of running. It has been really fun for me to get stronger and still keep my endurance. It’s rare to find an event that marries endurance and strength, which to me is the truest picture of what it means to be Mr. America. I look forward to being inspired by both the amazing athletes that will competing as well as those that are competing to have fun. It’s a honor for me to partner with Mr America.”

Tiny Meeker

• TINY MEEKER IS THE GREATEST BENCH PRESSER OF ALL TIME.
• THE HIGHEST BENCH PRESS IN HISTORY AT 1102 LBS.
• THE GREATEST BENCH PRESSER OF ALL TIME.
• ELECTED TO THE WABDL HALL OF FAME IN 2012.
• 25-TIME DRUG-FREE BENCH PRESS WORLD CHAMPION.
• WORLD RECORDS: 800 LBS. X 4 LIFTS, 700 LBS. X 8 LIFTS, AND 600 LBS. X 14 LIFTS.
• HEAVIEST MAN TO EVER BENCH-PRESS MORE THAN THREE TIMES HIS OWN BODY WEIGHT.
• OWNER OF TINY MEEKER’S POWER STATION AND MONSTER GYM IN KINGWOOD, TX.
• FIRST TESTED LIFTER TO BENCH PRESS 800, 900, 1000, AND THE ONLY LIFTER TO EVER PRESS 1100 POUNDS!
• TINY MEEKER IS 45 YEARS OLD AND IS FROM HUMBLE, TEXAS
• TINY HAS BEEN LIFTING FOR 30 YEARS AND COACHING AND TRAINING LIFTERS FOR 15 YEARS. HE HAS TRAINED OVER 75 WORLD CHAMPIONS