our founder
Lawrence Herrera
Lawrence is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He is the state director for the NSCA, the worldwide authority on strength and conditioning. He has helped 1000’s of recreational and professional athletes achieve their goals since 2003. He consulted for one of the largest sports and fitness companies in the world, Nike.
Lawrence was nominated for the “2017 World MMA Awards, Trainer of the Year.” He holds a degree in exercise science from the University of New Mexico. He has done national presentations for the NSCA on “Training Combat Athletes in a Group Setting” as well as “Strength Training for Endurance Athletes.” He has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals as well as been featured in Men’s Health magazine, as well as appeared on several UFC Countdown and Road to the Octagon shows.
In his off time, Lawrence enjoys mountain biking with friends and family. He enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his 3 daughters and wife.
our coaches
Brendan
COACH
Brendan comes from Cambridge, England and moved to the US in fall 2016 to play soccer in college. Brendan was a 1st team All-American while playing and studying at Colorado Mesa University, and prior to this was a professional soccer player in England for Northampton Town FC. He earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in May 2021, and moved to Albuquerque with his wife Danielle and dog Sirius soon after.
Prior to working at The Performance Ranch, Brendan worked as a strength and conditioning intern at CMU while also working with the men’s and women’s soccer and diving teams. Alongside this he completed his personal training certification through NASM.
During his free time Brendan enjoys: watching New Mexico United, exploring the USA, and spending time with his wife Danielle, her family, and his dog Sirius.
Taylor Havlick
Coach
Taylor is born and raised in Albuquerque and has competed in various sports including swimming and track. She will be graduating with a bachelor’s in Exercise Science from the University of New Mexico in December 2022, and has aspiring goals to become a physical therapist.
Prior to joining the Performance Ranch team, her coaching and training career has grown over the years starting with teaching small group spin classes, to assistant coaching with a club swim team, to being a head swim coach for the Sports & Wellness summer league team.
In her spare time, Taylor enjoys hiking, teaching swim lessons, bartending, and spending quality time with her family and dog, Kona.
Espe Torres
Coach
Espe, a native of Northern New Mexico, is an enthusiastic certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor. With a background in various sports like track, basketball, and volleyball, she has always been driven by a love for physical activity and competition. Following her high school education, Espe made the move to Albuquerque to pursue her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science at UNM.
Espe finds great fulfillment in coaching and empowering her clients to make positive changes in their lives through fitness. She takes pride in being part of their unique fitness journeys, guiding and supporting them every step of the way.
Beyond the gym, Espe cherishes quality time spent with her family, exploring new destinations through travel, and immersing herself in nature by going on invigorating hikes. These experiences outside the fitness realm bring her joy and inspire her to lead a well-rounded and balanced lifestyle.
Mason Calvert
Coach
Mason is an active and enthusiastic trainer that was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Throughout his life, he has been athletic and thrived by living a physically active lifestyle. During his youth, Mason participated in various disciplines of competitive cycling which he thoroughly enjoyed. In addition, he was a member of his high school ice hockey team where he fell in love with skating as it was a new and exciting challenge. Both of these disciplines required countless hours of training and work that have ultimately set him up to understand strength and conditioning from an athletes perspective.
In May of 2023, Mason graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology and shortly after gained his ACSM CPT certification . He is extremely eager to work with clients who want to change their lives for the better. Mason believes that through systematic planning and guidance, he can set you up to make changes that will serve you far beyond the walls of the gym. Helping people be their best is what makes him “tick”, and he can’t wait to discuss what he can do to make you the best version of yourself.
In his free time, Mason enjoys spending time outdoors; specifically going on hikes, golfing with friends and riding bikes.
Amber Hunter-Seymore
Coach
Coach Amber has her Master of Science in Exercise & Sports Nutrition with her thesis completed on female athlete menstrual and sports nutrition knowledge. She has years of experience working as a nutritionist in a clinical, private, and sports setting. Her philosophy is to promote sustainability and independence within her client’s own nutrition choices. She encourages a diet full of whole, natural foods and believes there is no one-size-fits-all approach to dieting.
She is also a new mom and wife to a professional athlete/personal guinea pig. She enjoys lifting, creating delicious and healthy recipes, and playing with her beautiful daughter.
Ann Marie Leyba
Coach
Ann Marie Leyba, NASM-CPT, brings a wealth of experience and passion to the realm of health and wellness. As a Lead Physical Therapy Tech and former health coach for a Wellness practice based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ann Marie has dedicated herself to empowering individuals on their journey to optimal health.
Originally hailing from Albuquerque, NM, Ann Marie’s career has taken her on a transformative path. After venturing to Arizona, where she led a team of Physical Therapy Techs and collaborated closely with Physical Therapists and Specialists, Ann Marie recently returned home to New Mexico, where her roots lie.
Ann Marie’s diverse background encompasses a deep understanding of physical therapy modalities, honed through years of hands-on experience. Her lifelong commitment to remaining active and fit stems from her upbringing, where she immersed herself in various forms of dance, cheerleading, and sports.
Driven by a desire to make a positive impact, Ann Marie finds joy in helping individuals of all ages and backgrounds realize their fullest potential. She firmly believes that true health begins from within, reflecting externally through lifestyle choices and habits.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Ann Marie cherishes moments spent with her family and embracing new adventures. Whether it’s cheering on her son at college baseball games, enjoying quality time with her daughters, or exploring the great outdoors through hiking and weight training, she embraces life with enthusiasm and vigor.
With a decade-long tenure in Radiology at a local hospital in New Mexico and eight years directing and teaching at a local preschool, Ann Marie’s dedication to service and education shines through in all facets of her life.
