about
THE Colfax Strong Strength and Conditioning STORY
Chad & Esther Pinther, CF-L2, USAW-1 - OWNERS
Chad and Esther Pinther are husband and wife owners of Colfax Strong. Our story began with two like-minded souls with a shared passion for fitness and health and helping others achieve their very best. Chad was a track & field and wrestling athlete and has been an international fashion and fitness model for over 20 years. Esther is a lifetime athlete herself, having competed as a level 10 gymnast and as a swimmer at the Olympic trials in butterfly.
Esther and Chad started on their path of wanting to open a Strength & Conditioning Gym in 2018 when they opened their first gym in their garage. They quickly outgrew this location and started looking for a larger place and this led to their purchase of Colfax Strong. Fast forward to now, and they have built a community of 200+ humble, hungry, and happy people whose lives Chad and Esther and their exceptional coaching staff work tirelessly to improve their health, happiness, and fitness!
OUR coaches
Roman Wagner
CF L-2 certified, B.S. Exercise Science w/ strength and conditioning minor, CrossFit Gymnastics Course certified, Bergener Strength L1
Roman's Crossfit journey began in 2014 when his friend asked him to jump in for a workout at a local CrossFit gym. This experience was so impactful that it left him wondering if he was actually fit at all. From that moment, he was hooked and dove straight into the world of CrossFit.
Two years later he obtained his CF-L1 to see what the world of CrossFit coaching could offer. This experience was life changing and made him realize his passion for sharing this knowledge with others. Roman’s passion for coaching stems from three basic principles. First, his love for fitness. Wholeheartedly, Roman holds that fitness is immensely beneficial in all facets of life, whether it be mental, social, and emotional well-being or physical health and longevity. Secondly, is his love for teaching. Helping others learn what their bodies and minds are capable of doing, and having the ability to watch members learn and grow is an infinitely rewarding feeling that Roman strives for in each class he coaches. Lastly, is his for the community. From the day he started CrossFit, Roman experienced such an abundance of warmth, acceptance and belonging and desires to have every athlete that he coaches feel the same way!
Robert Garcia
CF-L2, Opex Fitness, Bergener Strength L1
Robert's passion for coaching started after his first year of college football at Metro State. He started his CrossFit journey by receiving a degree in personal training and an internship at a local CrossFit gym. CrossFit was love at first sight for Robert.
After his internship, Robert pursued a coaching career in CrossFit and eventually opened up a gym with a few fellow members. Robert is constantly educating himself and has obtained his Crossfit level 1 & 2 and recently his Opex Fitness certification. Robert’s passion for fitness and helping others can be seen while he is coaching classes or or crushing it on the competition floor. Robert is a welcoming, non-judgmental and passionate coach who loves to change people’s lives through fitness and friendships!
Nick Law-Yue
CF-L1 Trainer
Barbell Strength Coach, Bergener Strength L1
Nick started his fitness journey at a young age through his love for martial arts and the art of Chinese Lion Dancing. Through this he realized that through movement one could reap benefits far beyond just the physical.
Inclined to help others experience the same benefits, he enrolled in the Focus Personal Training Institute in New York to begin his career as a personal trainer where he specialized in barbell strength and powerlifting. Shortly thereafter, Nick discovered CrossFit and was immediately drawn in by the sense of community and all encompassing approach to fitness it offered and hasn’t looked back! Nick loves using his unique skill set to help guide athletes on their own fitness journey to become the best version of themselves!
Miranda Schmitt
Nutrition Coach
Precision Nutrition
I received my B.S. in Kinesiology from Purdue University. I then started my personal training and nutrition coaching career. My professional experience includes worksite wellness, personal training, group training, and nutrition education.
With years of experience in training, personal and professional, I quickly came to realize how big of an effect nutrition has on goals and overall health. I obtained my Precision Nutrition certification to be able to help more individuals feel great and realize their personal and fitness goals. Nutrition is everything! Daily energy, mental health, internal health, and recovery, are just a few. How we fuel our bodies determines how it runs. I get so excited to share my nutrition education with anyone and teach them how to fuel their body for workouts and life!
Emma Wilbourn
RYT 500, E-RYT 200
Emma specializes in Vinyasa Flow, Functional Posture Alignment, and Injury Management within a physical yoga practice. Emma has over 500 yoga teacher training hours and has taught thousands of yoga classes to diverse levels of practitioners.
Emma believes in teaching the most up-to-date physical technique and cueing. Emma’s classes help the practitioner to become more aware of the alignment and movements within their body while keeping breath safe. Emma’s goal is to blend the wisdom of the traditional yoga practices and postures with the modern movement of yoga to create a space for all practitioners to grow physically and mentally. In Emma’s classes expect focus on breath, safe strong full-body movements, sweat, and possibly a laugh or two!
Evan Strauss
Client Success Manager
Communities are at their strongest when the individuals within it are happy, healthy, and feel supported. As the Client Success Manager at Colfax, Evan's goal is to create an environment that makes every member feel welcomed and that they're an integral part of our gym.
Evan discovered crossfit in Chicago in 2015 and soon after became involved with The OUT Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to break down barriers for the LGBTQ+ community in the world of health, fitness, and wellness. It was through this venture that Evan connected with the importance of building strong, diverse, inclusive communities and hopes to bring that same energy to Colfax Strong!