Meet the RPM Team

Get to know the Ruzicka Performance & Mobility team by clicking on their photos below:

Jonathan Ruzicka

Joshua Dragna

Aaron Pineda

Nicholas Calderaro

Megan Waters

Jessica Mershimer

Ryan Davis

Robert Gonzalez

Arleen Hopkins

Tammy Adkins

Blair Baxley

Logan Lauffer

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Jonathan Ruzicka PT, DPT, FAAOMPT

Owner
Doctor of Physical Therapy

Jonathan was born locally in Houston, TX but grew up in The Woodlands. He comes from a large family of 10. After graduating from The Woodlands High School in 2004 he went on to play football at Midwestern State University and Texas State. During his time in college he had what he thought was a career-ending back injury with two bulging disks. The search for someone to help him fix his body without surgery is what led him to his passion for Physical Therapy.

He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas State and went on to get his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The University of Texas Medical Branch. After completing Physical Therapy school, he went on to join the top 1% of his profession by completing a 3-year Fellowship in Manual Therapy.

After opening a clinic for a colleague in Houston from the ground up, he discovered that his passion was to help even more people; by finding and implementing his knowledge so that everyone he encountered would have faster recoveries and the long-term results that they deserve!

Personally, Jonathan is married to a bombshell! [His words*wink]. He is blessed with two little boys (2yrs. and 6 months) that you may see on his Facebook page from time to time and Ollie, the fiercest Maltipoo north of 610.

Qualifications

Favorites

Place: Any mountains in the summer
Restaurant: Fielding’s for healthy, Carraba’s for Celebrations
Food: Italian
Holiday: Thanksgiving
TV Show: Game of Thrones, Shark Tank
Film: Legends of the Fall, The Program
Music Genre: Is Justin Timberlake a genre?
Book: Musashi, Red Rising, Eat Fat Get Thin
Sports: Football and Basketball
Team: Longhorns and Texans
Hobbies: Playing games of any kind, reading, nerding out on injury science

Joshua Dragna

Personal Trainer

Josh was born in New Orleans, Louisiana but grew up more so in Houston. Growing up, he played various sports including tennis, basketball, baseball and rugby. Through playing all of these sports, Josh knew he wanted to work in the sports and/or fitness industry for his career. While playing rugby in high school, he injured his shoulder, which required a short round of physical therapy to fix. This, along with other overuse injuries in his knees, got him interested in the realm of corrective exercise and physical therapy.

Since then, Josh has obtained multiple training certifications as well as a specialization in corrective exercise and is currently taking classes to receive a degree in Exercise Science from the University of Houston. He has been a personal trainer since 2014 and is always looking for ways to perfect his craft.

Qualifications

Favorites

Place: Las Vegas
Restaurant: Taste of Texas
Food: Steak
Holiday: Christmas
TV Show: Sons of Anarchy
Film: Forrest Gump
Music Genre: Rock
Book: 1984
Sports: Tennis, Football, Basketball
Team: New Orleans Saints, Houston Rockets
Hobbies: weight-lifting, watching sports, eating

Aaron Pineda

Personal Trainer

Aaron was born and raised in Houston, TX. He began teaching youth jiu-jitsu programs at his neighborhood gym at the age of 15, which helped him find his passion for coaching and training. This led to him obtaining both his personal and group fitness certification right out of high school. Afterwards, he found a love for nutrition and supplementation, and saw first-hand how impactful it be on an individual’s overall health. Since then, Aaron has continued to further his knowledge base with the goal of being able to help as many individuals utilize nutrition and fitness to reach their maximum potential whether that be in a sport, hobby, or everyday life.

Qualifications

Favorites

Place: Anywhere with mountains
Restaurant: One Love Tropical Cafe
Food: Cheeseburgers
Holiday: Christmas
TV Show: King of Queens
Film: Napoleon Dynamite
Music Genre: 80’s and Hip-Hop
Book: The Art of War
Sports: MMA, Jiu-jitsu, Bodybuilding
Team: Arizona Cardinals
Hobbies: Watching any combat sport, spending time in nature, weightlifting

Favorite quote: “They’ll tell you failure is not an option. That is ridiculous. Failure is always an option. Failure is the most readily available option at all times, but it’s a choice. You can choose to fail or you can choose to succeed.” – Chael P Sonnen

Nicholas Calderaro, PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant

Nick was born in Stonybrook, New York and lived in Deer Park, NY until the age of six. In 2003, he moved to Spring, where he spent 14 years throughout his childhood playing competitive baseball and was part of the Oak Ridge High School baseball team. During his sophomore year of high school, suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder which led him to go through the process of physical therapy and use that experience to grasp an interest in biomechanics and rehab. After Graduating from Oak Ridge, He attended community college before transferring to University of Texas at San Antonio to study Exercise Physiology. During that time, he became a CPT and began personal training while finishing his degree. He has now moved back to Spring area and is looking forward to continuing his chapter as a trainer and helping as many people as possible!

Qualifications

Favorites

Place: New York City
Restaurant: Saltgrass Steakhouse
Food: Sushi
Holiday: Christmas
TV Show: The Office, SVU
Film: The Wolf of Wall Street
Music Genre: Genre: Rock and Roll
Book: The Great Gatsby
Sports: Baseball and Football
Team: NY Yankees and NY Giants
Hobbies: Mountain biking, working on cars, kayaking

Megan Waters, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Megan was born in Houston and grew up in Spring alongside her two sisters. She played for Challenge Soccer Club, but her career came to an end after undergoing her 4th knee surgery. Through her personal experiences with pain and injuries she developed a commitment to helping others overcome their own physical limitations and get back to doing what they love. 

Megan graduated from Texas A&M University in 2016 with a B.S. in Applied Exercise Physiology, and later received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2021. She is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and is continuing her pursuit for excellence by completing the Institute for Athlete Regeneration Sports & Orthopedic Manual Therapy Fellowship. She is looking forward to growing with RPM and helping our clients achieve the quality of life they desire!

Qualifications

Favorites

Place: Italy 
Restaurant: Superica
Food: Breakfast tacos by Adam 
Holiday: Christmas 
TV Show: any cooking show with Bobby Flay 
Film: The Lion King 
Music Genre: Country 
Book: Harry Potter (s) 
Sports: Soccer, football, golf  
Team: Aggies 
Hobbies: Exploring the Houston food scene with her husband Adam, learning to golf, enjoying the outdoors, reading

Jessica Mershimer, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Jessica was born in Poughkeepsie, NY where she grew up with her older brother and sister. She attended Our Lady of Lourdes High School and participated in track, cross country, crew and field hockey. Jessica was drawn to the field of physical therapy following her personal encounters with recurrent sports-related knee injuries and chronic Lyme disease. These experiences led her to appreciate the monumental impact physical therapists can have on peoples’ lives and overall health; they were the challenges that turned out to be blessings in disguise since they led her to discover her passion and career path.

Jessica received her B.S. degree in Exercise Science from the University at Buffalo in 2018. She gained experience in the field as a physical therapy aide, orthotic fitter and concierge personal trainer while in Buffalo. She then went on to pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC and graduated in 2023. Jessica initially came to Texas for a clinical rotation and upon realizing everything truly is bigger and better here, she decided to stay!

Jessica is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and relentlessly pursues continual personal growth in her knowledge and skills to reach that end. She can’t wait to be part of each client’s unique journey towards healing and their optimization of strength and mobility at RPM!

Qualifications

Favorites

Place: Italy
Restaurant: Le Petit Bistro in Rhinebeck, NY
Food: Italian or Mediterranean
Holiday: Christmas
TV Show: Brooklyn Nine Nine
Film: Guardians of the Galaxy
Music Genre: Alternative, Indie, Punk Rock, Country and many more
Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Sports: Track, Crew, Softball / Baseball, Soccer
Hobbies: Spending time with her fiance, family and friends, running, hiking, cooking / baking, exploring new restaurants and coffee shops
Favorite Quote: “Start by doing whats necessary; then do whats possible and suddenly you’re doing the impossible.” – St. Francis of Assisi

Ryan Davis

Personal Trainer

Ryan was born in Houston and raised in Spring, TX. He attended Klein Collins High School and played Football, Basketball, and Track. Before transferring to the University of Houston-Downtown to complete his degree, he walked on the football team at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. He has a passion for coaching and began his training journey by working with youth sports athletes in the Cy-Fair Sports Association. Ryan loves the outdoors and is becoming an avid hunter and angler. He currently attends Physical Therapy Assistant school at Lone Star College-Montgomery.

Ryan married his high school sweetheart Ashley and they have been together for over a decade. They love traveling together and have built a beautiful family with their children August and Amina.

Qualifications

Favorites

Place: Lake Tahoe
Restaurant: Any Pappas Restaurant
Food: Mediterranean
Holiday: Thanksgiving
TV Show: Game of Thrones
Film: American Gangster
Music Genre: Rap
Book: The Bible
Sports: Football
Hobbies: Hunting and Fishing
Favorite Quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world”

Robert Gonzalez, ACE CPT, ACE SPS, ACE FNS

Personal Trainer

Robert was born and raised in Houston TX, where he spent most of his time around or involved in sports. Robert played different sports from baseball, football, basketball, shot put and discus, to rugby. Playing in high school is where he found his passion for football and rugby which then introduced him to the weight room where he found another passion. A knee injury freshman year playing football is what started his interest in Athletic Training and Physical Therapy. After high school Robert attended the University of Houston-Downtown where he became a personal trainer and a group fitness instructor teaching bootcamp classes, leading healthy workshops, and training various clients. Transferring to the University of Houston Main Campus Robert changed his degree to Exercise Science in hopes to learn more about biomechanics and how the body works and functions optimally. He has also gotten various certifications from the American Council on Exercise such as Sports Performance Specialist and Fitness Nutrition Specialist. His aim is to help people by improving their movement and functionality and most importantly to have a good time! 

Qualifications

Favorites

Place: Anywhere outdoors (lake for fishing)
Restaurant: Pluckers or Truth Barbeque
Food: Barbeque
Holiday: Christmas
TV Show: Yellowstone, Anime, Game of Thrones
Film: Friday Night Lights, Troy
Music Genre: Country
Book: Legacy by James Kerr
Sports: Football, Baseball, Rugby
Teams: Astros, Texans, Rockets, Coogs, Sabrecats
Favorite Quote: “The harder you work, the luckier you get” – Gary Player

Arleen Hopkins

Administrative Assistant

Arleen was born in Zapopan, and lived in Guadalajara, Jalisco until 2001. She and her family moved to Houston where she was raised. A Tapatia growing up in the big city was a culture shock, but she stuck to her roots, surrounding herself by nature and animals. After high school, she sought out a college education and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Her true calling has always been to help people, which led her into the healthcare industry. Upon seeing the healthcare gap, it ignited a passion for herbalism and nutrition. Consequently, she now spends her time cooking from scratch for her husband and going on walking adventures with their two goats, Poppy & Coco, all over Houston.

Favorites

Place: Bali
Restaurant: Cool Runnings
Food: Shabu-Shabu
Holiday: Cinco de Mayo
TV Show: Girlfriends
Film: Shrek
Music Genre: R&B, Soul, Latino
Book: Cookbooks
Sports: Pickleball
Hobbies: Baking, Reading, Gardening
Favorite Quote: “We must be impatient for change. Let us remember that our voice is a precious gift and we must use it” – Claudia Flores

Tammy Adkins

Client Success Manager

Tammy was born in Garden City, Michigan. After living in Michigan for a while, she and her husband moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. They lived there for about 8 years before ending up in Spring, Texas where they now reside. She has 3 grown children, two that live here and one that lives in Michigan with her 3 grandchildren.

Tammy attended Wayne County Community College in Detroit and graduated with an Associates in Applied Science in Veterinary Technology. She worked as a veterinary technician for many years before transitioning into a manager. Tammy recently graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science. She loves reading, traveling, and hanging out at home with her family and pets.

Favorites

Place: Beach
Restaurant: Olga’s (Michigan Restaurant)
Food: Steak
Holiday: Halloween
TV Show: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Film: Halloween (The Original)
Music Genre: Old School Hip Hop
Sports: Roller Derby
Hobbies: Reading, Travelling
Favorite Quote: “Well-behaved women seldom make history” – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Blair Baxley

Executive Administrative Assistant

Blair was born and raised in Montgomery, Texas where she now resides with her daughter. She took part in competitive choir and theater productions during grade school and high school. She went onto college and earned her AAS in Medical Administration as well as two certifications in business operations. After many years in administrative leadership and supporting roles for traditional medicine, she trusts that the body can be healed in many ways and that not one way is correct for everyone. That is how she found her way to be part of the team here at RPM Physical Therapy. Blair is free-spirited and believes in the importance of genuine connection as well as showing up authentically as yourself. She greatly enjoys lifting people’s spirits and making people laugh. She looks forward to many years of supporting the mission, the team, and the culture at RPM Physical Therapy.

Favorites

Place: South Walton, Florida (or anywhere on the Emerald Coast) in the summertime, Germany
Restaurant: Another Broken Egg Cafe, any good Mexican restaurant
Food: Breakfast food and Steak
Holiday: Easter and Thanksgiving
TV Show: Gilmore Girls, Dexter
Film: Encino Man, What Dreams May Come, Liar Liar and The Greatest Showman
Music Genre: 50s Golden Oldies, 90s Country and Heavy Metal
Book: The Harry Potter series, Kissing Doorknobs
Sports: Volleyball
Hobbies: Paddleboarding, Car Karaoke, Attending Concerts and being weird
Favorite Quote: “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are” – Carl Jung

Logan Lauffer

Doctor of Physical Therapy

A native of Salina, KS, Logan grew up with two brothers in a very active household where every day at least one, if not all three kids, had practice or a game. He went on to play baseball and football in college at Ottawa University in Kansas, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree before moving to Texas for PT school at the University of the Incarnate Word. He continued to pursue his love for sports by completing his Sports PT Residency at UIW. There he worked with athletes from 23 Division I athletic programs and was on staff with Football and Track.

Following his residency, he moved to Miami where he worked heavily with professional athletes from all sports. The long hours and commitment to recover from his own injuries in high school and college led him to pursue a career where he could help people physically and mentally to get back to the activities that bring them joy. Whether you’re a professional athlete, a weekend warrior, or someone who just wants to maintain health, he’s happy to help you get out of pain and build toward your goals!

Qualifications

Favorites

Place: The Rocky Mountains
Restaurant: Chili’s
Food: Mac n Cheese (The Lauffer Family Recipe)
Holiday: Thanksgiving
TV Show: Game of Thrones
Film: The Creed Series
Music Genre: Hip Hop
Book: The Bible
Sports: Football, Basketball
Hobbies: Working Out; Spending time with his wife, son, and dogs
Favorite Quote: “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” Kobe Bryant

Advanced Warning!

We have an upcoming Knee Pain Workshop event, with limited places available, that you do not want to miss!