Nordic Walk Now founder Suzanne Nottingham is a fitness industry pioneer, well known for original award winning program development, with specific leadership expertise for outdoor sports and fitness. Her extensive marketing and exceptional educational leadership spans 25 years, hundreds of articles, television appearances, books and conferences.

In 1989, she received an award from City Sports Magazine in Los Angeles, CA as “Outdoor Cross Training Pioneer”. This small gesture from one publication inspired her to launch a career. Since 1990, Suzanne is a spokesperson and continuing education provider for the American Council on Exercise and is on the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Along with other recognition and awards, in 2000, she received the fitness industry’s highest honor for teaching excellence as IDEA’s Instructor of the Year, and is well-known as one of the early pioneering marketers who was instrumental in the launch and success of inline skating in the US.

In her 25 year career, she is credited with innovating and spearheading popular fitness programming trends including Outdoor Cross Training, Boot Camp, Winter Sport Training, and Balance Awareness & Conditioning. Today Suzanne continues to innovate new pioneering initiatives, bringing consumers “in touch” the latest, greatest and safest education for their favorite outdoor sports and fitness activities.

After completing a multi-year contract as LEKI's Director of Nordic walking education, she remains focused on continuing to help lead the launch of Nordic Walking in North America with innovative programs and products. Her new book, Nordic Walking for Total Fitness, Human Kinetics, will be released December 2009 and is sure to change the complexion of how people utilize poles to train for health and fitness.