Publications & Sites 
Former Navy Rescue Trainer becomes fitness director in Burr Ridge
Updated: October 16, 2012 9:54AM
BURR RIDGE — During his five years in the U.S. Navy, Erik Knowles served as a helicopter rescue swimmer and trained about 100 fellow servicemen to do the same.
Later, for about 18 months, he mentored at-risk teenagers in a boot camp setting.
So since starting his career as a personal trainer in 2004, he has been building on a foundation of discipline and dedication.
Now, he has been handpicked as director of fitness for Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Burr Ridge. He began in the post on Sept. 4, after Robert Diamond, Five Seasons chief club officer, tapped him.
A native of Florida, Knowles earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, with a minor in strength and conditioning, from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. He has a strong grounding in diet and nutrition, having competed as an amateur in body-building competitions and designed diet plans for competitive body builders.
Among his prior positions, he worked as a strength and conditioning coach in the University of Minnesota athletic department and designed and delivered strength programs for a broad spectrum of audiences, from youths to Olympic and professional athletes.
He and his wife, Lindsay, reside in Sycamore and have a 3-year-old daughter, Hailey.
