Meet Our Team
Nicci Balestrieri, AA, CF-L1, USAW, FRC
“Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding.”– Jim Valvano
Nic is a certified functional range conditioning (FRC), crossfit level 1 (CF-L1), and USA weightlifting (USAW) trainer who works with athletes to improve speed, agility, strength and conditioning. Nic was a standout football player and sprinter at Manasquan High School, as well as a collegiate sprinter. He currently holds the MHS records in the 55, 100, and 200 meter sprints. Nic was a 2x state place winner in the 55m. During the 2008-2009 season, he was the Central Jersey Group II state champion and placed 4th overall at the meet of champions in the 55m. He has trained athletes of all abilities, from middle school through professional sports. Nic prides himself in his ability to communicate effectively across a broad spectrum of athletic abilities. In addition to Nic’s experience in the personal training space, he has worked as a paraprofessional in both a private school for children with developmental delays and home-based clinical settings where he assisted in developing individualized fitness programs for clients with communicative and physical challenges. Nic holds an associate of arts degree in the social sciences. Nic believes that effective coaching is about bringing out the best in all athletes — not catering to top performers. Nic’s fitness interests include cross training, Olympic weight lifting, football and track.
Alexa Harrington, M.A., BCBA
Alexa is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who began being involved in Autism Movement Project as a coach in 2018. Alexa received her Bachelors in Psychology at Stockton University prior to attending Georgian Court University where she received a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. Alexa began her career working as a paraprofessional at Search Day Program, a private school for individuals with ASD, before transitioning to providing in-home ABA therapy full time. Alexa passed her board exam and became a BCBA in 2019 and has since continued to provide ABA services as a supervisor in both center and home settings. Alexa tributes her love and passion for her career to her uncle who was diagnosed with ASD when he was 5 years old. Alexa is lucky to be able to bring her uncle to work with her as he has been an AMP athlete since 2020. Being able to provide individuals with ASD the environment to both exercise and socialize, while being able to spend the extra time with her uncle every week, has been the most rewarding.
Jordyn Blaney, MSOT, OTR/L
Jordyn is an Occupational Therapist currently employed in an inpatient rehab brain trauma unit. She became involved in Autism Movement Project as a coach in the summer of 2018. Jordyn received a Bachelors in Sociology from Rutgers University in 2017; and before going back to school to get her Master’s in Occupational Therapy at Kean University, and graduating in 2021. She has clinical experience at Children’s Specialized Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in pediatric occupational therapy. Prior to getting her occupational therapy license; she also worked as a paraprofessional in an elementary school and a therapy aide for an outpatient pediatric clinic. Jordyn has been working with children and adults with special needs for over 7 years to which she credits being inspired by her cousin who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy in 2015. Jordyn believes in creating equal opportunities which she is able to carry out through AMP’s mission of providing sports, fitness and social opportunities for all of our athletes.