Meet our Team Members
CEO of The New Beginnings Center, Tash holds the distinction of Master Strength Coach — the highest honor that can be achieved in the profession from the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association. She has held the position of strength & conditioning coach at Vanderbilt University, Purdue University, Kent State University and The University of Tennessee. Tash has personally coached thousands of clients across a range of sports, ages and abilities and guided them all towards their full potential.
Tash is a dedicated advocate for women and their abilities to push beyond stereotypes, self-doubts and self-imposed limits. She knows that health and fitness can be the very foundation to new beginnings and life transformations.
Certifications
CSCS (Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, NSCA)
MSCC (Master Strength & Conditioning Coach, CSCCa)
SFL (Strong First Barbell Instructor)
SFB (Strong First Body Weight Instructor)
OS (Original Strength Instructor)
FMS Level 2 (Functional Movement Systems)
PN (Precision Nutrition)
Karen Gillingham is the Director of Operations for The New Beginnings Center and has been a lifelong fitness enthusiast. Team sports, running, weight training and exercise classes ignited her passion for understanding how our bodies move and perform. She’s been an ACE Certified Personal Trainer since 2010 and owned a fitness studio in Dayton, Ohio for 5 years before relocating to Nashville. Karen is passionate about helping women establish and maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle through exercise and nutrition. She loves to cook and experiment with new recipes. She loves being outdoors, hiking, walking her dogs and being in or on the water when the weather is warm! In Karen’s pre-coaching life, she worked in development for an education foundation. She is excited to bring her former work experience and love of helping women become the best versions of themselves to New Beginnings!
With 10 years of college and high school strength and conditioning coaching experience, Amanda joins the NBC team as an outdoor enthusiast, a self-proclaimed chef, and firm believer in the education and empowerment of women in sports, fitness, and health and wellness.
Amanda has worked with teams across the U.S. such as Missouri State, North Carolina A&T, and Occidental College in Los Angeles. Amanda also holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Biology and History, a Master’s Degree in Applied Exercise Science, and certifications in CSCS (Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, NSCA), CEP (Certified Exercise Physiologist, ACSM), CFSC (Certified Functional Strength Coach, Mike Boyle), and RPR (Reflexive Performance Reset Level 1).
Rebecca Cashman
Coach
Rebecca Cashman is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor, and Barre Instructor hailing from Higganum, Connecticut. Prior to joining The New Beginnings Center in Nashville, Rebecca taught POP Pilates, group strength classes, barre, and beginner Pilates classes in the Greater Hartford area for two years. Rebecca attended Quinnipiac University where she studied journalism and political science. For three years, Rebecca worked in a newsroom on the assignment desk before relocating to Tennessee and transitioning into a sales role. When not instructing, or trying to make a sale, Rebecca is an avid bird watcher and is always on a quest for delicious vegan food.
Brenda M. Coulter is the COO for the New Beginnings Center. She moved to Nashville from New York in 2020, just weeks before the pandemic. With an Executive MBA from Baruch College – The City University of New York, Brenda applied her skills in management and technology to a distinguished career in financial services. Since moving to Nashville, Brenda has served on the board of the Tennessee Latin American Chamber of Commerce as an active participant on the Communications and Human Resources Committees. In addition, Brenda has volunteered as a student mentor in the Escalera Program for college access and success developed by Conexión Américas, a nonprofit focused on creating opportunities for Latino families to belong, contribute, and succeed. Brenda also served as a student mentor for Rock The Street, Wall Street, a financial and investment literacy program designed to bring both gender and racial equity to financial markets. During the 2022/23 school session, Brenda shared her time and talents to bring religious education to young students preparing for the sacraments of First Penance and First Holy Communion.
In 2021, Brenda earned a Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. This coursework ignited her passion for helping others to focus on our individual strengths and values to enhance wellbeing and create a meaningful life. Brenda joined TNBC in 2021 as a volunteer in the 12-week program and continued to expand her involvement with TNBC as a volunteer, taking on multiple assignments in various capacities. Brenda is an avid reader and enjoys taking long walks in Tennessee’s beautiful parks, as well as writing poetry and lyrics.
