Joseph “Joe” Martell 

St. Joseph’s/Candler is proud to have Joseph “Joe” Martell as the Head Athletic Trainer at Richmond Hill High School. Joe has been employed with St. Joseph’s/Candler along with doing outreach at Richmond Hill since July 2022. Prior to his position at St. Joseph’s/Candler, he was employed at Optim Health Systems as the Statesboro High School Athletic Trainer. 

Joe is a native of Savannah, GA, but later moved to Illinois for high school. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at Berry College in 2019. He continued his education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and earned his Master of Science degree in Athletic Training in 2021. Joe has been a nationally board-certified Athletic Trainer since May of 2021 by the NATABOC and is a licensed Athletic Trainer in the state of Georgia. 

Joe and his wife, Erin, have two animals: a cat named Piper and a dog named Hazel. Joe enjoys spending time with his wife and pets along with playing pickleball, volleyball, and kickball in his downtime.

 

NaKia Jones 

St. Joseph’s/Candler is proud to have NaKia Rene’ Jones as the Associate Athletic Trainer at Richmond Hill High School. NaKia has been employed with St. Joseph’s/Candler, providing outreach services at Richmond Hill High School since January 2026. 

Prior to her position at St. Joseph’s/Candler, NaKia was employed with Southeast Georgia Health System as an Athletic Trainer. She has also served as a Health Sciences Instructor and Head Athletic Trainer at University High School, and as a Health Sciences Academy Instructor and Assistant Athletic Trainer at Mainland High School. 

NaKia is a native of Chicago, IL, and later moved to Jacksonville, FL. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Movement Science from Delaware State University in 2018. She continued her education at the University of North Florida, where she earned her Master of Science in Athletic Training in 2021. NaKia has been a nationally board-certified Athletic Trainer since May 2021 through the NATABOC and is a dual licensed Athletic Trainer in the states of Florida and Georgia. 

Outside of athletics, NaKia enjoys participating in community service events and spending time with her loved ones.