JILL THORNTON

OWNER, COACH

Jill is an accomplished athlete with a background in collegiate NCAA softball.

In addition to being a mom of 2, she is a competitive weightlifter (National and World Champion) and a top CrossFit Masters athlete in her region. What Jill loves about spreading her passion for health and fitness is having the opportunity to coach people in reaching their goals and seeing them build relationships through Cumming Strength and Fitness.

CERTIFICATIONS

  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
  • CrossFit Mobility
  • CrossFit Weightlifting
  • Outlaw Weightlifting Camp
  • Carl Paoli – Nakata Movement Seminar
  • Masters Weightlifting World Record Holder
  • Masters Pan American Weightlifting Record Holder
  • Masters Weightlifting National Champion 2016, 2020, and 2021
  • Masters World Champion 2019
  • By the Numbers Movement Method Seminar
  • Working Against Gravity Nutrition Certification
  • CPR/AED Certified

HUNTER THORNTON

OWNER, COACH

Hunter has been involved in athletics from a young age; he went on to play soccer for Berry College. Having been competitive all his life, he missed the structure and team environment of regular training and competition when he graduated from college. Hunter found CrossFit in 2006, and the intensity and training protocol immediately completed his active, athletic lifestyle. Today, Hunter enjoys sharing his passion for fitness and community with the members of Cumming Strength and Fitness. He strives to help people overcome personal barriers and obstacles and accomplish what they once thought impossible.

CERTIFICATIONS

  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
  • CrossFit Mobility
  • CrossFit Weightlifting
  • Outlaw Weightlifting Camp
  • Carl Paoli – Nakata Movement Seminar
  • Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified
  • By the Numbers Movement Method Seminar
  • CF Judges certification 2015-2022
  • CPR/AED Certified

ALEX COTTINGHAM

DIRECTOR OF COACH DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH
DIRECTOR OF YOUTH PROGRAMS
DIRECTOR OF COMPETITIONS

Alex comes to Cumming Strength & Fitness with almost a decade in the health and fitness field. He started CrossFit as a senior in high school (along with several other sports, i.e. football, basketball, track & field, weightlifting, etc.) and has been doing it ever since. He graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science and Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master’s in Christian Leadership.

During his time in college, he founded and directed the CrossFit University Affiliate at Liberty University, where he started with 3 members and grew it to over 100 in less than 3 years. Additionally, he programmed 2 CrossFit competitions during his time at Liberty University as well.

Since then, he has coached thousands of athletes over his 10+ years of coaching, competed in several CrossFit competitions, but ultimately finds joy in helping people become the healthiest version of themselves: physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally & spiritually.

CERTIFICATIONS

  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
  • Bachelor’s in Exercise Science
  • Master’s in Christian Leadership
  • ACSM: EP-C (American College of Sports Medicine – Exercise Physiologist)
  • CPR/AED Certified

TREVOR DEAL

FITNESS & NUTRITION COACH

Trevor comes to Cumming Strength & Fitness with a passion to help people experience a life without limitations. He grew up in Dublin, Georgia before attending the University of Georgia where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Science in Sport Management and more importantly met his wife, Erin!
Trevor found CrossFit after graduating from UGA and fell in love with the approach and communal component. He enjoys building relationships with people to help them improve all areas of their health. Trevor believes that as we increase greater levels of health, we enhance our ability to love others. You can find him coaching on our gym floor and working with clients through our one-on-one nutrition coaching!

CERTIFICATIONS

  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • Working Against Gravity Nutrition Certification
  • Bachelor’s in Sport Management

BRENT JOHNSTON

ENDURANCE COACH

Brent loves all things endurance. He has competed in Ironman Couer D’Alene, 8 half Ironman races, even more sprint triathlons, 10 half marathons, and countless 5k and 10k races. Brent also has a passion for CrossFit and has a few team competition podium finishes under his belt. He has an appreciation for the synergy between long races and CrossFit training, and enjoys helping athletes stay injury-free through strength training and technique work.

CERTIFICATIONS

  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • CrossFit Endurance
  • USA Weightlifting Sport Performance Coach
  • CPR/AED Certified

CAITLIN PORTER

COACH

Caitlin comes to Cumming Strength and Fitness with almost a decade of Crossfit and coaching experience. Caitlin initially got involved in Crossfit as a way to meet new people, she fell in love with Crossfit and was drawn towards coaching others. In the past, Caitlin has experience competing in high level competitions. These days Caitlin focuses more on training for longevity and helping women navigate the prenatal and postpartum seasons of life. Caitlin has experience navigating Crossfit through both of her pregnancies and has a passion for helping other women find ways to continue to workout in a safe manner during those phases.

CERTIFICATIONS

  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
  • By the Number Movement Method Seminar
  • BirthFit Educator Certification
  • CPR/AED Certified

KALI REEVES

COACH

Kali’s passion for athletics started during high school, carried her through college, and continues as she is approaching a decade of CrossFit experience. She started CrossFit as a new mom and has felt an undeniable pull to the workouts, lifestyle, and community ever since. It is her goal at CS&F to help others feel as inspired as she has been (and still is) by living a well-balanced and healthy lifestyle.

CERTIFICATIONS

  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • CPR/AED Certified

CHRISSY WILLIAMS

NUTRITION COACH

Chrissy joins the CS&F team after having been a member for 2 years. She has a passion for fitness, health and nutrition. Her focus will be on nutritional coaching and helping our members make better decisions in the kitchen which will ultimately impact their performance in the gym. Chrissy has experience in acute care, nutrition counseling, and working one-on-one with clients to achieve the optimal healthy balance!

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
  • Licensed Dietitian
  • Bachelors of Science from UGA
  • CPR/AED Certified

LAYTON POITRA

COACH

Layton’s athletic experience includes both freestyle and folkstyle wrestling throughout high school. Layton found CrossFit at 15 years old through conditioning for wrestling and found a passion for it that was unlike any other in his athletic career.

Once he found CrossFit, he pursued it intensely on his own and taught himself the majority of the movements over the course of about a year and a half. After a year and a half of training by himself in a garage, he finally sought out an affiliate and discovered an even deeper appreciation for the communal aspect of CrossFit. Upon joining an affiliate, he soon found growing interest and passion for sharing his love of CrossFit and an active lifestyle with anyone willing to listen.

Over the last five or so years, Layton has come to realize that he has discovered a genuine peace and happiness in being able to assist others, through CrossFit, in coming to know their true strength, in honoring themselves, and in understanding that they are capable of so much more than they previously may have believed.

CERTIFICATIONS

  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
  • CPR/AED Certified

JEFF GRAVITT

COACH

Jeff was introduced to CrossFit in 2014 at the age of 36. After years of competing in various team and indiviual sports, Jeff was searching for a systematic approach to fitness within the context of a group environment.  The moment following Jeff’s first CrossFit workout, he couldn’t help but become a lifelong advocate of CrossFit.  After years of experiencing positive changes in his physique, strength, stamina, and energy, Jeff began to coach.

As a coach, Jeff enjoys seeing people experience the same positive changes for themselves.  Jeff’s purpose as a CrossFit coach is to assist people in becoming healthier and fitter, within the context of healthy relationships.

CERTIFICATIONS

  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
  • CPR/AED Certified

KATE SANDERS

COACH

Kate has been an athlete since a young age. She started out as a competitive gymnast and swimmer, then moved on to triathlons and marathons as an adult.

After having two beautiful girls and wanting more out of her fitness, she found CrossFit at the age of 38. Kate fell in love the with challenge of lifting weights and used her endurance background to crush the met-cons. Her body and fitness goals changed in ways she never knew was possible and wanted to do the same for others.

Coaching has become a passion for her by helping others reach their goals by encouraging her athletes and teaching them they CAN do hard things. Kate is a very positive, enthusiastic and caring coach who loves seeing her athletes succeed.

CERTIFICATIONS

  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • CPR/AED Certified

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