OUR TEAM
Our Team is made of rare individuals who have chosen to make a difference by helping others. Love that. You will not find a better staff in the world, you are in great hands with our certified activity based trainers!
KAREN THOR
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Karen Thor worked in banking for over 20 years, holding positions as Director of Treasury Management, Small Business, Group Banking and Credit Cards. She completed her career in banking as CIO and Executive Vice President at National Commerce Financial, a $26B financial institution. She also ran a successful consulting company, Revenue Enhancement Associates, teaching community banks how to establish high performing treasury management and group banking divisions. Karen then joined Deluxe Corporation’s Treasury Management Solutions division as a national sales manager, leading a nationwide team selling complex payments software. In 2015, Karen’s son was hit by a car and suffered a C2 break, paralyzing him from the neck down. She and her family immediately moved to Atlanta so that Michael could rehab at the Shepherd Center, one of the top SCI rehab centers in the country. It was there she saw the immense benefits of activity-based therapy. After 2 ½ years, it was time to come home to the Raleigh area, but we found that the opportunity to continue aggressive activity-based therapy was very limited. We decided to open NextStep Raleigh to allow our son to continue his recovery while giving this same opportunity to others.
Jeramie Gray
Site Manager
Bio Coming soon.
Sam Pasnon
ACTIVITY BASED TRAINER
Sam was born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. He attended Valdosta State University where he graduated with a Bachelors in Exercise Physiology and is an ACSM certified exercise physiologist. During his time in the program Sam worked in the medical rehabilitation clinic supervising medically cleared individuals through their exercise programs. During his last semester of undergrad Sam interned at NextStep Raleigh and officially joined the team in December 2020. Sam’s passion for exercise and training others stems from his own journey of weight loss and witnessing first hand how quality of life can be improved for everyone through movement.
Travis Jones
ACTIVITY BASED TRAIning Assistant
Travis was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. He attended the University of Mount Olive where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and was a member/captain of the UMO Men’s Soccer Team. While in college, Travis spent time working in the wellness center and as an intern with the Sports Medicine department. He also gained experience developing personal training programs for clients and coaching youth soccer clinics within the community. Travis developed an interest in helping others rehabilitate after being treated by a Physical Therapist for a severe ankle sprain. He also has a passion for alternative medicine and nutrition, which blossomed during his experience working at the Vitamin Shoppe and aspires to further his education and training in physical therapy.
Travis has always been an athlete and was running before he could walk. He started playing soccer when he was three and moved up to a higher level right away. Over the years, Travis learned a lot from being on travel teams and earned a spot with the NC ODP (Olympic Development Program).
In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, watching basketball, and taking trips to the beach.
Oluwole “O” Thompson
ACTIVITY BASED TRAINER
O grew up in Raleigh North Carolina . In 2017, he earned a Bachelors degree in Exercise Sports Science from UNC Chapel Hill. While at Chapel Hill I worked as a strength and conditioning intern with the football team, a volunteer assistant in the UNC spine center’s physical therapy department, and as a lab assistant in a exercise physiology lab. The latter two sparked his interest in rehabilitation and treating injury in the community. In his free time he also work as a group fitness trainer and enjoys powerlifting, watching movies, sports, and outdoor activities.
Demonica Stanley
ACTIVITY BASED TRAINER
Originally from Edenton, North Carolina, Demonica graduated from Meredith College in 2019 with a degree in exercise science and a concentration in health in wellness. finishing up her Masters Degree at Liberty University in Exercise Science with a fitness and performance concentration. She serves as the Assistant Cross Country and Track & Field coach at Meredith College, which is where she competed and set many records including a conference championship win in the Javelin with a conference record.
With starting sports at a young age, physical activity has always been the primary focus of her life. However, health and wellness stemmed from going through various stages of physical therapy due to athletic injuries. Her hobbies include, photography, beach trips, concerts and sports.