Does When You Exercise Make a Difference?

Guest Bio: Richard Cotton, MS

As the national director of certification programs, Richard Cotton oversees ACSM's strategic development of certification programs and projects and furthers ACSM's reputation as the Gold Standard in certification. Since 1975, ACSM has certified more than 25,000 health and fitness professionals. Cotton served as a regional certification director for the College since 1984.

He has worked in the health and fitness industry for 30 years and holds ACSM Preventive and Rehabilitative Program Director and ACSM Exercise Specialist certifications.

Cotton is also a personal wellness coach, assessing individual health and fitness needs and helping his clients to develop goals and objectives for achieving optimum fitness. Prior to joining ACSM, Cotton served as chief exercise physiologist for MyExercisePlan.com, a Web site dedicated to improving fitness for individuals and corporations. For the American Council on Exercise, he was chief exercise physiologist and vice president for publications.

Cotton holds a master's degree in physical education/exercise physiology from San Diego State University. He is a frequent expert source for the media, having contributed to many publications, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.