Donal Levi Donovan “Donny” MS, MAT, HHC (they/he)

Donal "Donny" Donovan (they/he) is the Founder & CEO of Free Will Health and Wellness and the creator of the Transform Training App — a Pittsburgh-based inclusive wellness company specializing in gender affirming personal training, muscle activation, trauma-informed movement, wellness coaching, meditation, and adaptive strength training.

Donny holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Mercyhurst University, where they competed as a Division II Soccer player, and a Master's Degree in Health & Physical Activity from the University of Pittsburgh. They are also a Certified Holistic Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and have been an ACSM-certified Personal Trainer since 2010. Over the course of their career, Donny has worked with renowned organizations including the JCC, YMCA, and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

In 2014, Donny became a Muscle Activation Techniques Jumpstart Instructor and completed the Resistance Training Specialist Practical. In 2023, they became a Mental Health First Aider and earned a Trauma-Informed Weightlifting certification through the Center for Trauma & Embodiment at the Justice Resource Institute. That same year, Donny graduated from Yoga Roots On Location's Anti-Racist Raja Yoga Teacher Training at the 200-hour level and is currently completing their Meditation Teacher Training.

Prior to founding Free Will Health and Wellness in 2015, Donny served as the inaugural Wellness Manager at Persad Center and Program Manager of Phoenix Fitness — bringing inclusive, affirming wellness programming to Pittsburgh's LGBTQIA+ community. Donny has also presented annually at the Pittsburgh TransPride Conference on "Gender Affirming Personal Training," establishing themselves as a leading voice in the intersection of fitness and gender equity.

Donny has been honored as one of Allies Health and Wellbeing's Bright Young Leaders of 2023 and was recognized as a Pittsburgh Magazine 40 Under 40 honoree in 2024. Beyond their wellness practice, Donny is a member of Pittsburgh's LGBTQIA+ Commission, an Emerging Leader of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, and a musician. They are currently pursuing a Master of Public Health at Yale University's School of Public Health.

Outside of work, Donny is a proud dog dad to Potato and resides in Brookline with their beloved partner Gina.

Jess Novak (he/him)

When I say that health is the ultimate rebellion, let me expand a little.
 As a kid growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1980s and 90s, I was heavy into punk rock and heavy metal. I embodied the punk rock ethos, and I was something of a frequent flyer to the principal's office because I had a healthy skepticism of authority.

I went to WVU to study radio broadcasting but along the way took a yoga class that changed my life. Ultimately I changed my focus to health and fitness and became a nationally certified trainer under the American Council for Exercise. I'm also certified in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies at Cornell University (online), and I've completed numerous marathons and triathlons and hold a Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In 2025, I successfully completed the course The Human Animal taught by world renowned educator Frank Forencich. I have also been fortunate to have received close mentorship from expert coaches such as Ozana Marginean and Jason C. Brown.

But that all came from believing in myself to take that first step. We live in a world where myriad multi-billion dollar industries -- from fast food to pharmaceuticals -- have a financial stake in us being unhealthy. So to me, the ultimate form of defiance is to invest sweat equity in your own health and well being via exercise and nutrition.

Jesse is also a licensed Emergency Medical Technician and hosts the WYEP radio show, Roots & Rhythm, on Sunday mornings.

Ari Carden (he/they)

Ari is a Certified Personal Trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Ari graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2024 with degrees in Chemical Engineering and Human-Computer Interaction. During college, they developed a passion for powerlifting and decided to become a personal trainer to help make strength training more accessible and welcoming to others in the queer community. Ari uses their engineering experience to take a personalized, problem-solving approach to helping clients achieve their goals. In their free time, Ari enjoys rock climbing, learning the electric guitar, and collecting heavy metal CDs.