Clint Barr, Owner
Clint has a broad range of experiences as a professional athlete, collegiate strength coach, and personal trainer . His passion for strength training and fitness comes from his background as a competitive baseball player.
Clint completed his playing career with the New York Yankees organization where he spent two seasons at the A-advanced level in Tampa, Florida. Prior to playing professionally with the Yankees, Clint received a full athletic scholarship to play at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science from McNeese State. Clint also played baseball at Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colorado where he was named First Team All-Region IX Catcher and also received NJCAA Academic All-American honors in his sophomore season.
In addition to a career in athletics, Clint has worked as the strength and conditioning coordinator and graduate assistant baseball coach for Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS). During his time at LSUS Clint earned a Masters Degree in Exercise Science.
He also worked at the USA Olympic Weightlifting Development Center located on the campus of LSUS, which led to appointments at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs working for USA Weightlifting.
Clint is also a Best Selling Author as recognized by the National Academy of Best Selling Authors. “3 Steps To Your Best Body…In Record Time” reached #1 on two Amazon.com lists (Quick Workouts and Weight Training), #3 on Exercise and Fitness, #24 on Health, Mind and Body, as well as reaching #69 on the overall Best Seller list.
Clint now spends most of his time working on the business and developing his staff to deliver the best personal fitness experience in the greater Jackson area. Though his first love is working directly with the client, he is confident in the group of trainers he has assembled and invested in so highly. Clint wants you to know that at Raising The Barr Fitness only the best Jackson personal trainers become a part of his staff.
Brett Watkins, Fitness Coach
Brett joined the Raising the Barr Fitness team in February, 2010. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Exercise Science and has lived in the Madison/Ridgeland area for the past 3 years. Brett’s experience as a collegiate athlete introduced him to many positive benefits of exercise and leading a healthy lifestyle. His career in the fitness industry has spanned 5 years and has included time as a professional strength coach, wellness coach and a exercise physiologist. Brett is excited to be a part of Raising The Barr, and is looking forward to helping you reach your goals and achieve success greater than you ever thought was attainable!
Laura Thompson, Fitness Coach
Laura Thompson was born and raised in Mississippi as the middle of five active and athletic children. She is a former gymnast and while attending Mississippi State, earning a Bachelors Degree in Marketing, she was a collegiate cheerleader (Go DAWGS!)
Laura is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and is thrilled to have recently moved back to her home state and to be working in the fitness industry. She loves pushing clients beyond what they think is possible and helping them enjoy doing the work necessary to see the results they want. Laura continues to challenge herself by competing in the Tri-Fitness Organization, and in 2010 she placed 2nd overall at the World Challenge in Las Vegas, NV and hopes to very soon take over the top spot!
Daniel Woods, Fitness Coach
Daniel is originally from Zachary, LA and moved to Mississippi 6 years ago. He attended Belhaven University where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Biology. He is currently in the process of obtaining his CSCS certification.
Daniel has been passionate about fitness and athletics for as long as he can remember. He has experience in a vast array of sports ranging from Golf and Powerlifting to Rugby and TaeKwonDo and pretty much everything in between. He currently is in his fourth year of training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (A major component to MMA style fighting) and loves the competitive nature that comes along with the sport. Daniel loves seeing people succeed in their goals, both big and small, and hopes to change Mississippi’s obesity epidemic one person at a time.
Doug Hammond, Fitness Coach
Doug Hammond grew up in Brandon. He attended Mississippi State where he was a cheerleader and played lacrosse. While earning his Business Administration degree, he also served as a flight engineer with the MS Air National Guard. Soon after graduation Doug moved to Atlanta to work as a pharmaceutical sales rep.
Doug earned his personal trainer certification through ACSM. While in Atlanta he also began pursuing acting. These two passions eventually took him out to Los Angeles. After 5 years there, he is now back in Mississippi and has found a home at Raising The Barr Fitness.
Elizabeth Brassard, Admin Assistant
Originally from Jackson, Elizabeth spent most of her childhood moving around and going to different schools. Because of this, her interest in people and getting to know them began at an early age.
After college, Elizabeth took some time off so she could stay home with the true love of her life, her son. In the fall of 2010 she came across a job opening at Raising The Barr Fitness for an Administrative Assistant. After speaking with Clint and learning about the business she knew this was exactly where she was supposed to be. Most of our clients know her as the voice on the other end of the line but her true joy is being able to see and talk to everyone as they come through the studio.
Elizabeth now divides her days between her family at Raising The Barr Fitness and her family at home; and she wouldn’t have it any other way!
