I honestly believe I have the best job in the world and my friends tell me I’m living the dream. I run this small business with the vision of creating a space for individuals to work hard, to have fun, to connect and relate to one another, and always feel safe. I teach people how to move properly which provides them the tools for lifelong fitness.

Born and raised in Seattle, I grew up participating in every team sport available. I draw on my positive experience in team sports to foster a thriving community at Slate Strength & Conditioning. As a community we focus on functional, whole body fitness that is accessible to all people no matter their current level of fitness. These are the things I value at Slate and guide me as both an owner and a coach.

As a coach, I provide a safe path and lots of encouragement for our member athletes to surpass what they thought they could achieve mentally and physically. This has translated to my client’s lives outside of the gym. I believe that my knowledge and excitement will cultivate and inspire a fun, fit and healthy lifestyle for all of us!

I grew up on a small farm in Oklahoma and joined the military right after high school. I found CrossFit in 2008 while preparing to try out for the Navy wrestling team. I immediately fell in love with the training, the community, and the results.

After leaving the military in 2010 I got my Level 1 and began coaching under one of CrossFit Invictus’s original coaches. In 2012 I moved to Okinawa, Japan and coached at one of the most renowned gyms in the Asia region.

In 2016 I moved to Seattle where I became an owner and coach at Slate and eventually a Seattle Firefighter.

I have a wife and 5 kids so if I’m not at the gym I will likely be at one of the many kid activities or doing a cold plunge with my crew.

Why I coach:
I want to share the knowledge that I have gained having coached at other gyms with other amazing coaches. It brings me the most joy when the people in our community become healthier and fitter and knowing that I had a small part in that.

Fun fact:
When I started CrossFit I quickly fell in love with the sport. I qualified for regionals from 2012-2016. I have competed in the U.S., Okinawa, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, and Australia.

You will see me smiling if:
Smiling?

I decided to take up functional fitness after doing football and wrestling at Cleveland high school in South Seattle. I found Slate on Craigslist at the time. Don’t know if people use Craigslist anymore.

Why I coach:
I love working out and to show how it’s done properly to the people in the community.

Fun fact:
I can strict press while in the side splits.

I’ll be smiling:
Whenever I see the number 420

I was born and raised in Seattle, WA and moved to the Bay Area where I played collegiate basketball at Sonoma State University. I spent several more years down there and had different opportunities to coach basketball at the college level, while also gaining experience working with at-risk youth and families through the foster care system. I have a huge passion for helping people build up their confidence and self-esteem, especially through physical activity and fitness.

I found Slate when I moved back to Seattle in the summer of 2020. I just started my Functional Fitness journey and found that Slate’s community oriented environment felt like a safe space to learn new athletic movements, ask questions, and build lasting relationships. I love functional fitness because it is inspiring to see what my body is capable of achieving!

Why I coach:
I coach because I love to build up others. Whether I am coaching youth basketball or adults at Slate, it is a privilege to be part of every athlete’s journey in reaching their goals. I take pride in being an educator and being a part of so many lives!

Fun fact:
I know every U.S state capital by heart. Feel free to test me!

You will see me smiling if:
I am on a warm and sunny beach.

I’ve been part of Slate Strength and conditioning as an athlete since September 2019 and started coaching in 2022. My background in coaching branched out of coaching wrestling at Nathan Hale High School. What I love most about this community is how accepting, loving, and coachable the athletes are and how amazing the team is. I enjoy getting to know the athletes and they inspire me to be a better coach and athlete myself.

Why do I Coach:
I strive to create a fun, safe environment for our athletes so they can have the best time possible when at Slate, while improving body awareness and learn how to move more efficiently and build life long health and fitness.

Fun Fact about me:
I can make an absolutely okay chai.
I love cats.

I’ll been seen smiling:
when around cats.

How did you find Slate or functional fitness and what do you love about it

I found functional fitness at a time in my life when I needed the competitive nature I thrived in during my years as a student athlete. I took that, plus my 10+ years as a coach of youth volleyball athletes, and blended it into a career of coaching adult strength and conditioning classes. After all, we are just big kids at heart! I have enjoyed sharing my passion of learning and teaching with those around me and couldn’t be more grateful to have found Slate Strength and Conditioning!

Where did you grow up and how did you end up in Seattle?

I grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago with my family of 9. I’m the oldest of 7 – I have 6 younger brothers! I had a burning desire to leave the Midwest and find somewhere new to call home. Packed everything I owned into a camper van, set my sights on Seattle and I never looked back. It continues to be the single greatest decision I’ve made in my life.

What do you do for leisure when not working out?

I read and play video games. I am a sucker for anything dystopian, zombies, or crime/horror. The more gore and guts, the better.

Why do you coach?

I love seeing people show up for themselves and watching them push past their boundaries. I also take great pride in getting to know you through the ‘Question of the Day’ part of class. Watch out – I may even get you to spill the answers to your password security questions at least once or twice.

Fun fact about yourself?

I’m also a welder! I went to school for 2 years and can weld in multiples processes, positions and mediums. I don’t do much of it in my current life, but I plan on owning a welder for weekend projects in the near future.

You will be seen smiling if/when?

Anytime pizza is involved.

I’ve been a competitive athlete since I started swimming at age five back on the east coast. Since then, I’ve tried every sport you can think of (seriously, try me). After graduating college, I struggled to find an athletic outlet that held my interest. At first, I tried long-distance running (desperate times…) and started powerlifting with a personal trainer. A few years later, after moving to Seattle, I found rugby. It felt like the sport I was meant for, and I learned so much about myself, my body, and my capabilities. The community I built through the Mudhens has supported me through multiple serious injuries and ultimately, my retirement. Recuperating from these injuries led me to develop a more holistic training regimen that includes powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, swimming (for my poor joints), yoga, and high-intensity metabolic conditioning. My focus moving away from competitive sports is to proactively protect my body against any ailments that age or life may throw my way. I am so grateful for everything I have learned on my journey, and for how flexible and diverse functional fitness training is for those of us who want to do it all!

Why I coach:
I believe that every person has an athlete within them that can be nurtured and developed to meet their specific goals, however broad or specific they may be. As a lifetime athlete, I’ve experienced a lot of different coaches, coaching styles, and team cultures. I am excited to take what I have learned about what works, what doesn’t, and everything in between to a new sport with a new team. Coaching is a continuously evolving discipline that requires a holistic understanding and balance of individual athletes (including myself!) and the larger community. I am so excited to continue my education on this path and to develop my inner coach with the help of my new team.

Fun fact:
I have a rescue greyhound named Superman (aka Manny, ManDog, Manfred, etc.)!

I will be seen smiling if/when:
There is an animal around that I can pet and/or stare at lovingly 🙂

I was born and raised in Seattle, and have been here my whole life. At home, I’m lucky to have a wonderful wife and two boys who keep life so full and exciting.

I started coaching in 2013, and it’s been a source of joy and growth ever since. I get so nervous before coaching every class, but that nervous energy drives me to give my absolute best to the athletes I work with.

Whether you’re stepping into the gym for the first time or chasing a personal record, I’m here to guide, support, and celebrate with you every step of the way.

Why I coach:
Nothing fulfills me more than knowing that I can play a part in someone’s fitness journey—helping them achieve goals they once thought were out of reach.

Fun fact:
I love to organize things. And I don’t know how to swim.

You will see me smiling when:
I’m eating a cookie.

Although I wasn’t born in Seattle, moving to the PNW felt like coming home. I spent much of my childhood traveling between states and countries, developing a passion for culture and the environment. After trying multiple sports during my adolescence, I ultimately decided to pursue competitive soccer in college. My connection to the sport brought me overseas to train at academies in England and to work with a sport-for-development nonprofit in Malawi, Africa. I am deeply passionate about the power of sport to break cultural boundaries, build community, and foster personal growth.

I like to say that CrossFit helped save my life. After my first year of college, I developed an eating disorder and moved to Seattle to receive treatment. Although I first discovered CrossFit in high school during my college preparation training, it was during my recovery that I truly realized how functional fitness can change lives. In a world where weight, image, and “ideal bodies” dominate the fitness space, CrossFit’s emphasis on strength, empowerment, and community inspired me to develop a healthy relationship with food and my body. Having already worked as a personal trainer and soccer coach for years, I decided to transition into becoming a CrossFit trainer.

As a member of the queer community, inclusivity and acceptance are paramount to me. In my coaching, I aspire to provide a safe space for individuals of all backgrounds and identities to explore and enhance their relationships with their bodies. I am extremely open about my own journey and consider it a privilege to help others navigate theirs.
Fitness is as much mental as it is physical. Some of my proudest moments as a coach have been seeing my clients achieve what they once thought impossible and watching the ripple effect of that achievement reverberate through their lives. Fitness is for everyone and extends far beyond the confines of the gym.

I am grateful to be a part of the Slate community and excited to continue learning and growing as both a person and a coach alongside some incredible people!

WHY DO YOU COACH?
I believe movement can transform lives. I want to provide support, education, and empathy to help people explore their potential and establish a stronger relationship with themselves.

FUN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF:
I write poetry and am working on a book combining my writing with nature photography.

YOU WILL BE SEEN SMILING WHEN/IF:
I am alone in the mountains (especially in the fall) with my dog, Gio, and a pencil in hand!