At Inclusive Fitness®, our mission has always been to provide the highest quality training for the neurodivergent community. That mission is driven by our people.
We believe that the best leaders are those who have grown alongside our athletes, learning every nuance of what it takes to build strength and confidence. Today, we are incredibly proud to announce the promotion of three dedicated team members who have been instrumental in shaping our community. Please join us in celebrating our new Head Coaches and our Director of Programming & Coach Development.
Dan Cronin
Head Coach, Dedham
Dan’s path into this work became clear during a study abroad program in Cork, Ireland. While studying Exercise Science at Endicott College, he coached a virtual session for adaptive athletes as part of a course on Adaptive Physical Activity.
“The final for this class was to coach a workout session to a group of adaptive athletes over Zoom. This was the moment I knew for certain, I wanted to focus my career on working with athletes with all kinds of different physical, adaptive, and cognitive needs.”
Since joining Inclusive Fitness®, Dan has spent the past three years developing his coaching through direct experience. Session by session, he has learned how to read what is happening in front of him, adjust in real time, and meet each athlete where they are while still moving them forward.
He credits much of that growth to the people around him.
“All of these amazing people have taught me invaluable lessons over the years about what it means to be a coach, and continue to inspire me to give 110% to my job.”
In his role as Head Coach, Dan will continue coaching on the floor while also taking on greater responsibility for supporting the team. He will mentor newer coaches, help manage the flow of the schedule, and ensure that coaching quality remains consistent across sessions.
At the core, his focus remains unchanged.
“I will continue to champion the mission of Inclusive Fitness®: to bring the highest quality fitness training to the neurodivergent population and to give them the strength and confidence to thrive in their day-to-day lives.”
Monique Lapierre
Head Coach, Burlington
Monique’s connection to this work started long before Inclusive Fitness®. Through programs like Best Buddies and adaptive physical education, she was introduced early on to the impact of creating spaces where people feel included, supported, and capable.
“Movement has always been something positive in my life and I love to share my passion with others.”
That perspective continued to develop in college through her involvement with Empowerment3, where she helped organize adaptive swim programs, physical education activities, and movement-based events.
“Those experiences meant so much to me and really helped shape the path I’m on today.”
After joining Inclusive Fitness® as an intern, Monique built her experience on the floor, working directly with athletes and developing her coaching approach through hands-on practice. Now, as Head Coach in Burlington, she steps into a role focused on maintaining a consistent experience across sessions while continuing to support both athletes and coaches.
What drives her work remains grounded in the athletes themselves.
“What continues to inspire me to keep improving every day is the athletes. Their dedication, positivity, and the incredible community they create motivate me to work harder and be the best coach I can be.”
She sees her role as both a responsibility and an opportunity.
“I truly want to give them the best experience possible here at IF and support [the athletes] in reaching every goal they have.”
Lauren Ferraiuolo
Director of Programming & Coach Development
Lauren’s path reflects the long-term development of coaching within Inclusive Fitness®. She began as the organization’s first intern in 2020 while earning her degree in Exercise Science at Endicott College, later moving into a full-time coaching role and then into Head Coach.
Her connection to this work is personal.
“Growing up with my older sister who has Down syndrome, I saw both the importance of fitness and the lack of accessible opportunities for this population.”
That experience continues to shape how she approaches programming and coaching today, with a focus on creating structured environments where athletes can build confidence and independence over time.
In her current role, Lauren works across both Dedham and Burlington, supporting coaches, refining programming, and helping ensure consistency in how coaching is delivered. She remains actively involved on the floor, continuing to coach sessions and stay closely connected to each athlete’s progress.
“What continues to drive me is seeing the growth in our athletes—not just physically, but in their confidence, independence, and willingness to challenge themselves.”
Her focus moving forward is on strengthening the systems behind that progress.
“One thing that has continually surprised me is how much progress is possible when the right structure, support, and environment are in place.”
These promotions reflect the dedication Dan, Monique, and Lauren bring to the floor every single day. Their growth shows that as Inclusive Fitness® expands, our commitment to excellence, consistency, and athlete success stays strong.
Next time you see them in Dedham or Burlington, be sure to give them a high-five and a huge congratulations! We can’t wait to see the impact they’ll continue to make in their new roles.