about

THE Colfax Strong Strength and Conditioning STORY

Founders of Colfax Strong

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!

Nick Law-Yue

CF-L2 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!

Coach Alexis Winn

Alexis Winn

CrossFit Level 2
NASM Sports Nutrition Certified
NASM Certified Personal Trainer

From Phoenix, Arizona, Alexis discovered her love for CrossFit in the summer of 2019 and it has been a part of her life ever since. Growing up she found every outlet she could, from football to cross-country to dance. When she first got the opportunity to try CrossFit, she was hooked immediately and knew this was going to be her sport.

She started out taking class three days per week, which quickly turned into spending as much time in the gym as she could, which finally led to her becoming a coach. Her favorite part about CrossFit is that with a new goal always on the horizon, you are never done working!

Mitch Howieson

CF-L1
B.S. in Exercise Science w/Strength and Conditioning Minor

I started Crossfit in 2016 after a class trip to a local box in Moorhead, MN. I started coaching shortly after. The thing that drew me into CrossFit was the constantly varied workouts. I have always enjoyed coaching and helping people improve. I enjoy coaching Olympic lifts the most. It is always awesome to see someone hit a new PR! Outside of the gym I enjoy playing all kinds of sports, mostly going snowboarding and playing hockey.

Gabriel Romero

CF-L1 Trainer
Barbell Strength Coach

I was wrestling at the Olympic Training Center in 2008 when a friend introduced a few of us to "CrossFit." I saw Air Squats and Burpees and thought, how hard could this be?

I was sore for three days and consequently fell. In. Love. with CrossFit – it fits me like a glove – and I have been coaching and competing ever since. Early on I realized that if I wanted my CrossFit to improve, my olympic lifting had to take precedence over anything else. So I focused solely on lifting for a year: I worked with Natalie and Casey Burgener and focused on technique and strength and it changed my abilities. I’ve been very fortunate to have had so many amazing coaches along the way and developed those abilities from some of the best people out there.


I am currently the barbell club coach at Colfax Strong and I look forward to helping you make progress in your olympic and power lifts!

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!

Sean McCormick

Sales Director

In 2009, Sean was in the middle of applying for graduate school and decided to join a local gym to combat the effects of living a typical college lifestyle. What started out as a simple hobby quickly grew into a full-blown passion. Sean has worked in several areas of the fitness business to include general manager, trainer, and has extensive experience working in sales. His personal approach to fitness is simple: to blend heavy lifting, progressive calisthenics and active alignment. His favorite exercises include Muscle-Ups, Handstand Walking, Deadlifts, Broad Jumps, and Turkish Get-Ups.

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