Our Team

  • Rob

    Growing up I was the fat kid. I was over 335lbs at age 16. Unhappy and physically not in a great place. I had a strength coach in high school get me on to a fitness game plan and basic nutrition changes and lost over 120lbs in 8 months. From then I knew I wanted to help others do the same and pursued a degree in exercise science from George Mason University. Alana and I both played lacrosse in college and I started a private personal training business with the goal of opening a Strength & Conditioning gym. Fast forward to 2011, we found CrossFit and never looked back. CrossFit is the perfect balance of functional fitness, mindset, nutrition, and community-creating a bulletproof ecosystem for my own health and wellness and those we have the opportunity to impact every single day. We started CrossFit Vint Hill to influence a healthy change in our community and to create a ripple effect for wellness that goes deeper than a gym membership.

    Turning Point

    I was in a size 48 pants. I wore 2 t-shirts. I never swam in a public pool. I dreaded changing in the locker room. Long story short, kids can be pretty ruthless. I had someone pouring into me to realize that I got myself there and it was up to me to get myself out. I had to make the changes. I had to get outside my comfort zone to experience the growth necessary for change to happen. It started with one visit to the gym, then another and another. It continued with not eating processed foods, cutting out ice cream, and eating real food, mostly plants and proteins and little to no sugar. I got rid of sodas and made water my primary beverage. Did I ever mess up? Yes. Did I ever miss training days? Yes. No one is perfect. Yet day after day I created positive habits, had a community of support there at the gym, and a coach to keep me accountable. I think what drew me most to CrossFit - the elements of my previous fitness success were the same elements found inside the CrossFit gym culture. My turning point was when I replaced my excuses with sweat. When I made my fitness and nutrition a lifestyle rather than a season.

    Motivation & Passion

    Seeing people win. Hearing the stories of their success inside and outside the gym. Weight loss, strength, increased confidence, shopping for clothes they never thought they'd wear, lifting a load they never imagined lifting, running a mile for the first time without stopping. All of the current and future successes and "PRs" are what fuel my day. Knowing that we played a small part in making you the best version of yourself. People have everything they need to get started, we will take care of the rest. Together we change your life, forever.

    Qualifications

    CrossFit Level 1

    CrossFit Level 2

    CrossFit Weightlifting

    CrossFit Gymnastics

    USA Weightlifting

    Over 16 years of Strength & Conditioning/Fitness Coaching

    Bachelors in Exercise Science from George Mason University

    CPR/AED/First Aid

  • Alana

    I was born and raised in Ontario, Canada, and a three-sport athlete- Hockey, Soccer, and Lacrosse. A member of Canada's National Lacrosse team playing in the World Cup in Towson Maryland 1999, Annapolis Maryland 2003, & Czech Republic 2009. I received a full Division 1 scholarship for Lacrosse to Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, 2004-2006, and received several athletic awards, greatest on being NCAA Ground Ball Champion. In 2007 I later transferred to George Mason University, for lacrosse, to help GMU rank top 10 in the Nation. I was coaching elite travel teams for lacrosse and recruited to be an assistant coach for a Division 1 lacrosse Program until I discovered I was pregnant with her first child in 2010. Started training athletes and personal training clients with Rob and we discovered CrossFit together in early 2011. As an athlete for many years, Rob and I always knew we wanted to start our own gym and finally pulled the trigger and opened a CrossFit affiliation in our garage in 2013. Now a mother of 5 amazing children, Ethan, Emma, Gunnar, Porter, and Rip, and our fur baby "Kilo", a Belgian Malinois, I am blessed to own and operate CrossFit Vint Hill and pour my knowledge, love, and passion to others to live a full and healthier lifestyle. During my duration coaching at a high level in Lacrosse, parenting, and owning several businesses, it is my deep relationships with members, clients, and their families that have meant the most. To be a part of someone's fitness, health, and wellness journey is a blessing that I can't describe and to see that impact their family, kids, neighbors, and circle of influence to be better in their own health is priceless.

    Turning Point

    There are many trials we experience in life, and how you chose to internalize it alters the person you are or become. I choose to see them as a blessing and thank God for those hardship experiences because it has opened heart and mind and has given me much more perspective of abundance and gratitude and has deepened my relationship with others. As a fitness coach and advocate for fitness/sport, working out has been the life changer to clear my mind, increase my self-image and interact with others for support in many ways other than just gym stuff. I am wiser to respond and not react to events and believe my life's obstacles have been a blessing to better connect with others and has made me a better overall parent and coach. God's grace has brought me closer to my faith and fitness has been a constant reminder to stay grounded and open-minded, humble, and to always be in a learning state of mind.

    Motivation & Passion

    Since early days of volunteering, coaching in youth sports, and serving as a personal trainer with a wide range of members and clients, I have a continuous passion and motivation to help others be better and improve their fitness and health, even if it only 1% better than yesterday! The joy of watching people improve their self-image, confidence and overall wellness causes a ripple effect of influence in the people around them as well!

    Qualifications

    CrossFit Level 1

    CrossFit Level 2

    Bachelors of Exercise Science from George Mason University

    CPR / AED / First Aid

  • Michele

    I grew up with a focus on music and academics and being told that I wasn’t athletic. I always liked physical activities and movement though. It wasn’t until I tried Olympic weightlifting and CrossFit after my third child was born that I really tested my athleticism. I’ve worked hard to gain my physical strength and skills as an athlete, and I’ve worked even harder to overcome my self-doubts. I’m passionate about coaching because I believe most people are more capable than they think they are. I want to be the person that helps you fix your movement to reach a new personal record or encourages you to push beyond your self-doubts. I’ve worked hard and learned so much in my journey to athleticism. I love sharing that knowledge with the athletes that I’m blessed to be able to coach.

    Qualifications

    CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

    CrossFit Level 2 Trainer

    CrossFit Gymnastics

    CrossFit Weightlifting

    CrossFit Spot the Flaw

    OPEX CCP Coach

    Bachelor of Science: Health Education from Utah State University

  • Mandy

    I had the advantage of being a "Military Brat" and traveled all over the Far East and the U.S. during my youth. I dedicated most of my past time to the sport of swimming and eventually swam Division 1 at Old Dominion University. During College, I spent several years coaching summer and recreational league swim teams as well as private swim lessons. Being active has always been an important part of my life, which led me to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science. After graduation, I became a Personal Trainer at Lifetime Fitness and worked there for 6 years. During that time, I was also lucky enough to have met and married my amazing husband, Derek. After having two kids, I realized that the only way I could be the Mom that I wanted to be, have two more kids, and still pursue my passion for helping people achieve their potential, was to start my own Personal Training business from home. I am still doing that after 15 years, but once I fell in love with Crossfit, the need to also be part of a larger supporting community became greater. When the opportunity to start coaching at Crossfit Vinthill became available, I was excited to accept. I have been coaching here since 2018 and have loved every minute!

    Turning Point

    Life is a long journey full of challenges to overcome. The toughest challenge for me right now is aging. It’s inevitable, and not necessarily conquerable. When you’ve been an athlete and active your whole life and then all of a sudden (at least it seems that way), things don’t start to recover as quickly and certain movements begin to cause pain, you begin to question yourself and your abilities. The new challenge is to learn to listen to what your body is saying. Allow for more recovery, clean up your movement patterns, and understand that the goal is longevity and not the top score on the whiteboard. The journey of fitness is forever changing based on the challenges of our lives. I look forward to overcoming this new turning point in my life.

    Motivation & Passion

    Watching a person achieve and go above and beyond anything they thought they were ever capable of achieving is a true passion of mine. And I love when those achievements in the gym begin to translate to goals in their daily lives as well.

    Qualifications

    CrossFit Level 1

    CrossFit Level 2

    CrossFit Weightlifting

    USA Weightlifting

    NASM

    ACSM

    Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science

  • Megan

    I grew up playing sports, but soccer was always my favorite sport. I played in college at Radford University, and we brought home two Big South Championships and made two NCAA appearances during my career. I was a captain for two years and always tried to lead by example on the field and in the classroom. I earned many academic achievements during college as well as athletic awards. I see myself as a lifelong learner, and when I was asked to join the coaching staff at CrossFit Vint Hill after taking the CrossFit Level 1 Certificate course, I knew this was an opportunity I wouldn’t be able to pass up! Whenever I am at the gym, whether I’m coaching or working out, I try to lead by example through my effort and my attitude. I embody the mindset that I am fortunate to be able to move my body each day at CrossFit, and I bring this mindset to my workouts!

    Turning Point

    While playing soccer in high school with hopes of being recruited to continue my career in college, I suffered a season-ending injury during my junior year. After having knee surgery in the winter of my senior year, I knew I had missed the critical seasons in which college coaches could recruit me to play for their teams in college. Fast forward to my freshman year at Radford University; I was encouraged to try out for the Radford University Women's Soccer team in the spring. Out of soccer shape and still figuring out my new normal post knee surgery, I had never been so sore or felt so defeated in my life. I couldn't keep up with anyone on the team, but I didn't quit. I used these feelings to motivate myself to get stronger and fitter than I'd ever been. I've never wanted something so badly; not being able to play soccer because of an injury impacted me far more than if I had made the choice not to play in college. I never took a single practice, weightlifting, or fitness session for granted, and I still don't to this day. <br /> After having second knee surgery after my college career, I found myself in the same boat. I was working out by myself for years at home, but it wasn't the same as a “team” atmosphere in which I thrive. Enter CrossFit. My husband and I decided to drop in for a workout at CrossFit Vint Hill, and we joined that same day. The community and camaraderie found with our fit family can't be matched. Being able to move my body in healthy ways and push myself in a workout physically, mentally, and emotionally surrounded by like-minded people is the best way I can thank my body for everything it allows me to do.

    Motivation & Passion

    I have a passion for learning new things and bettering myself as well as educating others in every aspect of life. I love working with other people and watching them learn and grow as they try new things and overcome challenges. I get to spend my days teaching children at school and my afternoons working with athletes in the gym; what could be better!? I am impassioned to serve others who have a desire to grow and better themselves in all aspects of life, and I will be their biggest cheerleader along the way!

    Qualifications

    CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

    CPR

  • Deston

    Started checking out Crossfit Vint Hill in 2017, and came up with any excuse I could after visiting not to show up, life, work you name it. I've been the person who said, I can't do it, it's easier to just sit at home, and frankly - scared of CrossFit. Fast forward to 2022, life is a bit different now. The philosophy, life-changing aspects, and community made me want to dive in and learn everything I can about the history, and foundations of CrossFit itself, but there's more to my overall journey.

    Turning Point

    In 2020, shortly after COVID, my journey quickly morphed into something greater over time, which led me to coach. Let's try to cover this briefly. I realized after my kids became more active, that I was in very bad shape physically, mentally, and emotionally. It was quite the life change for me to adapt to having two very energetic kids. The oldest and I were out with his power wheel toy about 1.5 miles from home (he loves the thing), the battery died and he looked at me and said you need to carry me home. I couldn't get ahold of the wife to come pick us up so I had to grin and bear it, facing reality, I knew this would be tough. I put the kid on my shoulders and started to lug this 75lb duel seater power wheel back to the house. Every 8 ft I was stopping to breathe and try not to show weakness. At this moment I knew I had to get my life together. This is when I dialed up Rob and said, man, I gotta get back to the gym, but it wasn't just about working out, I had to clean up my diet else it was just going to be a waste of time. I started a fitness challenge that August and never looked back. I regained control of my life, my family, and myself. I really started to immerse myself in Crossfit. I’ve never thought of myself as someone who would ever be involved with fitness, nor someone that would even think about trying to coach at an established CrossFit gym. This was something I joked about in the past but having the opportunity to judge an upcoming Girls Gone RX competition really brought out a side of me I never knew existed. So I said hey, one day I’ll take that L1 class that was coming locally to Crossfit Vinthill. I had a ton of support to give it a go, so I did. After taking that class, I asked myself, what next?

    Motivation & Passion

    I reflected and told myself, I really want to take what I've learned, my journey, my constant fighting of myself to push through the challenges of wanting to quit and saying I could do it, but more importantly teach people that you don't need to be scared of Crossfit, you do it right, and you'll be just fine. You can take control of your life and tackle the hard stuff, it's 1 hour of your day, however, it's a lifestyle change that you can do.

    Qualifications

    Crossfit Level 1

  • Jimmy

    Bio 

    I was very active my entire life growing up in the country and playing multiple sports. I played baseball and rugby but football was my first love. I started playing football at the age of 6 and played through college. Eventually college came to an end as did my playing days. Like many, I went into the working world and began to gain weight. I was in debt from school, had a job I hated and was dealing with this new found stress by eating comfort foods, happy hours and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. This continued for years along with the weight gain. I first found CrossFit in 2016 and quickly fell in love. It had unlocked something I didn’t even realize I was missing. I was craving everything sport had provided growing up. Competition, being part of a community of like minded people, physical fitness and a way to consistently challenge myself.

    Turning point

    I allowed myself to get lazy during COVID and used it as an excuse to not exercise and fall back it into old habits. The thing is, I was in a much different place then I was when I graduated college and those stressors, habits and excuses no longer applied. I have a wonderful wife, 2 beautiful children, the house of my dreams and a great career. The only thing I did not have control of was my health. One day I was clearing some limbs on our property and struggling terribly. I stopped and thought how ashamed I was to be so physically exhausted with such a simple easy task, how did I let this happen? That night I had an extremely honest conversation with myself. I decided I deserved better, but more than that I owed it to my family to try and provide them with the best version of their husband and dad I could. That week I walked into CrossFit Vint Hill and never looked back. 

    Passion

    It is such an amazing thing to be part of a community of people who all have a common goal. Everyone is there to better themselves. Everyone is rowing the boat in the same direction. It’s contagious. Just to be in the gym surrounded by this is awesome. When I was asked to join the coaching staff I was hesitant, I felt that I was still at the starting line for my own journey, but I decided to go for it. I knew the trajectory I had set for myself and the thought of helping others along the way was too good to turn down. There is something I used to say to myself and something we hear often, “I don’t have time”, my answer to that is everything in your life is important….. until you’re sick. Invest in yourself now, you’ll be glad you did later.

    Qualifications

    CrossFit Level 1

  • Jordan

    Qualifications

    CrossFit Level 1

    USA Weightlifting

  • Gregg

    For more than two decades, I led a life working over 70 hours a week, constantly on the move, visiting almost every state and over 12 countries. My focus was on my career and providing for my family, but in the process, I overlooked one crucial aspect—myself. This demanding lifestyle took a toll, leading me to reach my heaviest weight of 275 lbs., grappling with stress, anxiety, and struggling to climb stairs. My health was deteriorating, marked by high blood pressure, excess weight, and looming health concerns.

    Turning Point 

    In a routine checkup with my doctor in late 2019, he urged me to incorporate fitness into my routine, specifically mentioning CrossFit. Despite making excuses for almost a year, a shift occurred in late September 2020 when my extensive travel came to an end. Determined to take control, I searched for a way to eliminate excuses and discovered CrossFit Vint Hill, the nearest gym. Initiating what would be a life-changing decision, I reached out and met with Rob Jenkins. Our discussion about goals, life, and nutrition resonated deeply, marking the beginning of my transformative journey. The CrossFit Vint Hill community quickly became my second family, and for the first time, I started investing in myself.

    Passion 

    Being part of this incredible community and collaborating with like-minded individuals has awakened a new passion within me. Witnessing smiles, fist bumps, and a sense of pride and accomplishment during personal records or overcoming perceived limitations brings me immense joy. This perspective motivated me to become a coach at CrossFit Vint Hill. Acknowledging that we are all on unique journeys with different abilities and struggles, I am fervent about helping others navigate injuries, find a scale, and seeing people ‘investing” in themselves.

    Qualifications 

    CrossFit Level 1

    CPR / AED / First Aid

  • Eric

    I guess you could say that I don’t have the typical background of most people that are fitness enthusiasts. I tried my hand at the typical team sports as a young child but never grew a passion for any of them and definitely never stood out as an athlete. Into middle and high school, my focus was on unhealthy habits (to say the least) and sports or fitness weren’t even a blip on my radar. Having no clue what career track I wanted to pursue after high school as well as the fact that I wasn’t about to get accepted into any University with my GPA, I decided to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. That decision changed the trajectory of my whole life and although I didn’t realize it at the time, began my lifelong passion for health and fitness. I soon learned how out of shape I was when I could not pass the minimum physical fitness standards required just to go to boot camp. After months of remedial training and finally making it to Parris Island, SC for boot camp, I broke my foot during training week 2 and was sent to the Medical Rehabilitation Platoon (MRP) until such time that I was healthy enough to train again or be medically separated from the military forever. MRP is where I learned mental fortitude. Over the next three and a half months, I self-dieted while I healed and when I was finally cleared to train again, I went back to re-start my regular boot camp cycle 40 pounds lighter and 100X mentally stronger. For the first time in my life, I was recognized for my physical abilities, mental toughness, and after six and a half months on Parris Island, was selected as the Honor Graduate of my Platoon. As my enlistment in the Corps continued, so did my passion for fitness. Whether it was heavy rucking up and down the dark, stuffy well-deck ramp of an aircraft carrier or spending hours under the Iraqi sun doing prison workouts with a couple sets of old rusty, sand-covered dumbbells, I was always striving to level-up my capacity for fitness. 

    Turning Point

    My turning point was when I decided to separate from the Corps in 2009 and return to civilian life as a completely different man than I had left it. I was not about to let myself revert back to old negative habits as I’d seen so many of my fellow Marines do. I made it my personal mission to not only maintain my physical fitness, but become even better than I had been in the military. It started with long runs, biking, swimming, and hypertrophy weight training until one day in 2010 my brother talked to me about something called CrossFit and asked me to attend a class with him. I was in the best shape of my life at the time and that WOD floored me in under 30 minutes. I couldn’t believe how much more room for potential I had and I was hooked. Fast forward to the present and I am truly blessed that I have found CrossFit Vint Hill as my gym home and have been given the opportunity to give back to the community that I love through coaching. We don’t have members, we have extended family who would not hesitate to do anything for one another both inside and outside of the gym. 

    Motivation and Passion

    My beautiful wife, Samantha, and our two beautiful young girls, Hailey Virginia and Emma Lynn, are my persistent motivation and passion. As a husband and girl-dad, I bear the enormous responsibilities that entail my roles as provider and protector, of which I cannot do to the best of my abilities without being in the best physical and mental shape possible. CrossFit Vint Hill and the community that comes with it, hold me accountable to that every day.

    Qualifications

    CrossFit Level 1

  • Lori

    BIO:

    Growing up a homeschooled hooligan meant I was free to push my physical limits in the outdoors from a young age. I always loved a physical challenge and was afforded plenty of time and space to expand myself in that arena. At my eleventh birthday I started CrossFitting at a box run out of someone’s garage, but I mostly did gymnastics until fifteen when I made CrossFit my main sport. A few months after starting a competitive training group after hours at my gym, I qualified elite in the teen division at the Granite Games. I also coached gymnastics throughout high school and after, and developed a love for working with kids from that and while working with the Boys and Girls Club. Getting to coach the CrossFit Kids pairs my passion for fitness and for serving youth. I learned a lot of life lessons from growing up in the sport myself, and it’s my honor to be able to pass that along to another generation.

    TURNING POINT:

    As an athlete, I only understood performance. I had been taught that mind should always dominate matter, and no matter how you felt you should always perform at the same caliber; an extremely important practice for an athlete and for anyone, of course, but as someone raised in the sport, I took it to extremes and ended up often overtraining and harming my body and my mind or feeling guilty for taking breaks and resting. “Go hard or go home” and “no pain, no gain” were respectively my life mantras, and ended up being detrimental to my overall growth as an athlete and as a person overall. I learned in the last few years being back in CrossFit that you can go more gently and still improve, sometimes less really is more, and that your body is very capable of letting you know how to train, and everyone can benefit from listening to it. CrossFit is an amazing tool when used properly, and finding a gym like CrossFit Vint Hill that prioritizes the overall health of the athlete instead of their performance is incredibly rare and one of the reasons I value the community they’ve created here so much.

    MOTIVATION/ PASSION:

    My motivation is to help people know how to challenge themselves safely and find a healthy work/rest balance so that they can avoid unnecessary stress and injury. Also, I learned a lot about discipline and grit from being involved in CrossFit, and fell in love with the fierce, fun, competitive aspect of it, and feel privileged to help others be able to maybe experience the same.

    Qualifications

    CrossFit Level 1