our mission

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Coach

Alayna first found her passion for lifting in high school taking part in sports and weightlifting during school. She continued an active lifestyle into college and began her career as a trainer when she moved to Dekalb in 2014 to pursue her bachelors degree in nutrition. Once she graduated, Alayna continued to train at various gyms but always had a focus for nutrition. She loves coaching and being able to teach people how not only move their body but fuel it as well. She has trained various different styles and programs, from high school athletics to an assisted living community. She even became a certified yoga instructor in 2018. Alayna is excited to continue learning, coaching, and being able to provide people with a foundation for movement and nutrition.   Alayna also completes in powerlifting. The feeling of getting stronger with a barbell in her hand is something she loves. Out side of the gym, she enjoys spending time with her two children and husband, cooking and a good cup of coffee. 

Coach

Alex grew up in Memphis,Tennessee. He grew up playing all the typical childhood sports (basketball, baseball, soccer, etc) but stuck to rugby from 8th on. He went to Arkansas State University on a rugby scholarship. He got his CF-L1 in 2014 and coached at a gym down in greater Memphis area for 2 and 1/2 years. In 2017 he moved to Davenport to finish his undergrad credits and pursue a Doctor degree of Chiropractic at Palmer College where he also played rugby. After retiring from the sport he decided to get back into the sport of fitness.

“Working at a group training gym in Memphis, I built so many wonderful relationships and got to see people’s lives changed with movement and better nutrition. I’m excited to be back in that environment!” 

Coach   

Being a coach at the MoveMeant allows me to share my passion for fitness with others, while also learning more about it myself. I have learned so much about life outside of the gym as well, and have gained some lifelong relationships through the community of this sport.  

I was about 15 when I was introduced to the cross training world, and I instantly fell in love. From then on, it became my life! The gym has always been my outlet and the best part of my day, being the perfect mix of both health and happiness!

Outside of the gym, I work for John Deere as a Supply Management Planner, and I coach at a local gymnastics gym as well.  I am also currently getting my Master’s in Business Management at St. Ambrose University.  As full as my schedule is, the gym is always my number 1 priority, so you will always catch me in the gym at some point in the day!  We can’t wait to have you and welcome you into our community!

Coach

Breezy’s love for fitness started at an early age doing gymnastics. She later went on to become part of her college track team, where she discovered her true love for lifting. After college she coached gymnastics for a couple of years, before discovering cross training in 2013. This style of training reignited her passion for fitness and health. She has been coaching functional fitness for the past 2 years and is excited to continue learning and growing as both an athlete and coach! 

Coach, MoveMeant Moms

Courtney has a long history of sports & fitness - from playing collegiate soccer, to coaching soccer and teaching swim lessons to infants through adults from a recreational level to passing fitness exams for the military. She got into cross training after college looking for a little more structure, accountability, and competition aspect that she was missing from soccer. Although she never imagined she would eventually begin coaching, it combined the things she always loved about fitness, teaching, and helping people create good habits that they enjoy to create a sustainable lifestyle that’s healthy and fun! Her passion for movement, correcting movement patterns, scaling & adapting exercises to each individual’s abilities, and focusing on strength that transfers directly to life and daily activities makes her a great coach. Courtney is trained and certified in pre- and postpartum women, and her heart and soul is coaching women who are either brand new to fitness or wanting to get back to fitness & staying active after pregnancy. Outside of the gym, Courtney is a wife, a mom, a dog mom to a zoo of animals, nature lover, recycling and earth sustainability freak, & avid hater of IPAs.

Coach

Derek has always had a passion for fitness and sports ranging from wrestling and weightlifting to long distance running. He found happiness in competing in different styles of fitness, which is why he fell in love with the sport of cross training so fast after being introduced to it by a friend in 2017. Derek enjoys nothing more than to see others push themselves out of their comfort zone, and as a coach, is always excited to be part of their active lifestyle journey. Derek received his CrossFit L1 certification in April of 2018 and has been coaching ever since. Outside of the gym, Derek is a graduate of Western Illinois University and is enrolled in the physical therapy program at Bradley University.

Coach

Emmilee has been involved in athletics since she was young, playing soccer through high school and recreationally into her college years. She fell in love with the feeling of having a heavy barbell in her hands in the high school Strength and Conditioning classes and following her older sister, Coach Courtney around at the local Y. Emmilee has a knack for teaching and correcting and started to build on that in high school when she began teaching swimming lessons. Emmilee started her cross training journey in college after realizing and coming to terms with the unhealthy lifestyle she had been living and seeing the problems it created in means on fitness, mental health and many other areas. Coach Courtney finally convinced Emmilee to start cross training and the addiction began at the first introduction class. She loved getting to build her on strength, learn new movements and the competitive atmosphere the gym provided. She loves learning new ways to coach to each athlete’s specific need and learning style and loves to help people learn to move a barbell correctly and efficiently.   Outside of the gym, Emmilee loves doing anything outdoors, spending time with her niece and nephew or friends, or can be found in the kitchen cooking or baking something new.

Coach, Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach

Erika played sports all through high school, but began her fitness journey in college where she started participating in and coaching group fitness classes. This kickstarted her passion for helping others on their journey to health. After earning her Active Life certification in the summer of 2019, she began doing personal training to help her clients move better, get out of pain, and commit to a healthy lifestyle. Shortly after, she began coaching classes. In the summer of 2021, Erika earned her NASM Nutrition Coach Certificate. Being a part of the health and fitness community as a coach has been a dream of Erika’s for several years and she is excited to continue to pursue this dream through continued learning, coaching, and competing. Outside of the gym, Erika is a full-time teacher who loves spending time with her friends & family, and treating herself to ice cream, coffee, and beer.

Coach, Personal Trainer, NTP

Katie was active in athletics from a young age through college, but really began her personal health and fitness journey in 2014 when she walked into her first cross training gym. She found so much joy in helping others that in 2016 she received her personal training certification as well as her Nutritional Therapy Practitioner certification through the NTA. Around that time she began coaching group classes and 1-1 personal training while also seeing nutrition clients. 

Her love for everything health, nutrition, and fitness led her to coach at the Foundation, and now, our Davenport location. She still sees 1-1 PT clients but outside the gym, she manages a marketing team and promotes the powers of nutrition with interested students at the Nutritional Therapy Association. 

Coach

Marisa started flirting with cross training in 2011, but really committed to the sport in 2013 when a gym opened up near her University. Prior to that, she was a long-distance runner and never wanted to touch a free weight. A lot has changed since those early days as she grew to love the range of functional fitness and the way her body moved and felt being stronger. Marisa got her CrossFit L-1, L-2, and Kids certifications and ended up a Coach at multiple gym locations.

The love Marisa has for achieving optimal health and wellness expands beyond fitness and nutrition, as she obtained her Doctorate of Chiropractic from Palmer in 2019 and enjoys empowering people’s lives through neurologically-based chiropractic care and through living from the heart. She especially loves being a naturalistic birth & chiropractic advocate for pregnant women and working with children. By working to live and not living to work, Marisa spends her precious free time with loved ones, enjoying food and wine, traveling, or cozying up with a soft blanket for a good book or movie.

Coach

Mike’s addiction to fitness began in 2010. 60-lbs and more than a decade later, Mike is passionate about inspiring and motivating others to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. Mike is a graduate of Augustana College where he was a member of the baseball team. Since his own playing career ended, Mike has continued to be involved with baseball by coaching at local high schools. Mike enjoys coaching, programming, training, and competing in fitness. Mike is a certified USAW Level 1 Coach. Outside of the gym, Mike spends his time reading, gaming, watching pro wrestling, and being a Dad to his pride and joy Ezra. Professionally, Mike is a Certified Public Accountant and is currently the Controller for Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors.

Coach

Will is no stranger to fitness and athletics, and played football and ran track from a young age. He also developed a love for running and other events such as triathlons, obstacle course racing, cycling, ultramarathons, and most recently, adventure racing. Being able to move and challenge himself physically and mentally is what drives Will’s fitness journey. 

Will first started coaching group classes in 2012 at a small gym in Orion, IL. He continued to coach elsewhere until finally landing at The MoveMeant. He loves CrossFit because of the dynamic, ever-changing community fitness element of the sport. He loves encouraging members to push themselves to overcome their mental barriers to help them realize their true potential.

Outside of the gym, Will is an environmental technician. He loves spending time with his wife and daughter, woodworking, welding, and convincing his friends to do crazy events with him.