Meet our Amazing Team

FFAZ Coaches

DR. DAVID WAITE

OWNER / COACH / OSTEOPRACTOR

From childhood until my time in college as a two sport athlete, team sports and training were part of my existence. As an adult, fitness has played a big role in my personal evolution.

I obtained my Physical Therapy Doctorate in 2013. Since then, I have continued to refine my personal approach to health and wellness. CrossFit and functional fitness-based exercise has the best blend of human capacities while allowing full expression of human movement and design.

My purpose now extends beyond my personal journey to all the people that come through the doors of Fortified Fitness. My goal is to help members change the choices they make effecting their health, improving their mental and physical fortitude, while fostering community and relationships.

Thank you for trusting us with your health and fitness. I hope this community plays a small part in leading to your life fulfillment.

COACH / DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

DR. TRENT KUCERA

My introduction to fitness began at an early age. I played sports growing up and my parents exercised daily. I developed my love for fitness when I was in college. While playing collegiate basketball, I enjoyed the strength and conditioning more than the actual sport.

I was introduced to CrossFit in 2018 while finishing my Doctorate of Physical Therapy. I had pre-conceived ideas of what CrossFit was. Most of these ideas stemmed from what I had heard from the physical therapy and strength and conditioning communities.

What I found was the complete opposite of what I had heard. I found a training methodology that prioritized functional movement patterns with an emphasis of moving people forward on the sickness-wellness-fitness continuum.

I also found a community that was invested in the betterment of themselves and others. The latter is not typically seen in traditional gym settings.

My passion for CrossFit comes from the methodology and the community. I hope to use my background to help coach and empower our members to achieve their goals.

DR. TRENT KUCERA

COACH / DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

My introduction to fitness began at an early age. I played sports growing up and my parents exercised daily. I developed my love for fitness when I was in college. While playing collegiate basketball, I enjoyed the strength and conditioning more than the actual sport.

I was introduced to CrossFit in 2018 while finishing my Doctorate of Physical Therapy. I had pre-conceived ideas of what CrossFit was. Most of these ideas stemmed from what I had heard from the physical therapy and strength and conditioning communities.

What I found was the complete opposite of what I had heard. I found a training methodology that prioritized functional movement patterns with an emphasis of moving people forward on the sickness-wellness-fitness continuum.

I also found a community that was invested in the betterment of themselves and others. The latter is not typically seen in traditional gym settings.

My passion for CrossFit comes from the methodology and the community. I hope to use my background to help coach and empower our members to achieve their goals.

GABBY MORENO

COACH / NUTRITION COACH

Crossfit has been a part of my life for a number of years now. Initially, as a collegiate athlete, I was focused on performance benefits, and now as a coach my goals include providing a safe environment where adaptation can help our members achieve their fitness goals while nurturing the fun in our community. Between coaching in the gym and nutrition coaching, there is nothing I love more than witnessing people commit to their health and well-being. I am constantly focusing on consistency in movement, nutrition, and lifestyle and look forward to sharing those characteristics with our members.

VINCE FIORE

COACH

I began athletics by playing team sports at the age of four, then narrowed my focus to ice hockey and continued to compete throughout a collegiate and semi-professional level. Along the way I had the opportunity of being coached by some of the sports world’s top collegiate and professional trainers.

My training of others started at about age 16, by working with athletics in Special Olympics. As former owner of CrossFit Forbidden, I was responsible for CrossFit and other sport-specific training, conducting fitness and body assessments, minor-nutritional counseling, injury rehabilitation and weight management with an emphasis placed on achieving a similar variety and intensity for each individual, regardless of skill/athletic level and/or physical handicaps.

I am highly motivated and excited to help others reach their health and fitness goals and to perform at their peak potential.

DR. CORY SMITH

COACH / DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

My introduction and intrigue with fitness and the capabilities of the amazing human body began at a young age. As a basketball player from as long as I could remember, that intrigue was motivated by a drive to become the best I could in my sport. That led me to a career at the collegiate level and a short stint professionally in Europe. I was inspired by my experience as an athlete and love of service to pursue and complete a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. After completion of my Doctorate in 2014, I found myself looking for a new challenge, and was drawn to Crossfit due its inclusion of weightlifting, gymnastics, and other functional movements, but more importantly the atmosphere.

As a member of a team for almost my entire life up to that point, I loved the community of encouragement during every workout and actually found that was what truly kept me coming back. My passion now is longevity. Having treated people of all ages and levels of wellness as a physical therapist, I have a better understanding of how important it is to continue to push and challenge our bodies and minds, while minimizing risk of injury, as we age for improved quality of life. I am a servant and hope to improve the lives and longevity of others by sharing my knowledge, as so many others have done for me.

TYSON HARDMAN

COACH

I have spent my entire adult life coaching or teaching. As a Police officer in So. California, I was a training officer and defensive tactics instructor for over 20 years. I also spent 25 years coaching high school football. After retiring in 2013, I opened my own gym in Ojai, California. I started Crossfit in 2006 while working at the Ventura County Police and Sheriff’s academy. I hold Crossfit L1, L2 and Olympic lifting certificates.

My wife and I moved to Arizona in February 2019 and have never looked back. We love it here! On a personal note, I have been married to my wife Jerri for 38 years. Together we have 4 children and 4 grandkids.

SARAH BACKUS

COACH / DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

My love for fitness and intrigue for movement began at an early age. I grew up playing sports, was a competitive dancer and admired my mom as a fitness and certified yoga instructor.

I was introduced to CrossFit in 2015 while receiving my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Besides the incredible stress relief, I loved the functional movement, physical and mental challenge- but was hooked by the community.

I practice a holistic approach to health and wellness, and believe in the importance of both physical and mental training for longevity. As a pelvic health physical therapist, I use my unique skillset to incorporate proper core and breathing mechanics in order to reduce risk of injury and improve performance.

I’m excited to use my expertise and passion to assist members on their health and wellness journey.

AHANU KINNEY

COACH

I have been part of the CrossFit community since 2014 since 2024. With five years of coaching experience under my belt, I have returned to coaching after taking a three-year hiatus.

A former military brat, I now call Cave Creek home, where I live with my beautiful wife, Alyssa, and a little one on the way.

I’m thrilled to bring my energy, experience, and passion for helping others reach their goals to the Fortified team!

JOSH SCHNEPP

COACH

I moved to Arizona from Oregon in 2014 to attend GCU (getting an exercise science degree) and got to be a part of starting CrossFit as a club sport in 2015, I’ve been hooked ever since.

I love to learn, grow and compete, to honor the way my body was designed. And especially to help others move well while gaining the joy and longevity that comes along with all the sweat!

COLTON TRCIC

COACH

Filmmaker by day, RX-ish CrossFitter by night, Colton found CrossFit in early 2018 and somehow fell in love with it despite Karen being his very first WOD. Dabbling in some local comps and never missing the Open, he started coaching in 2023 and enjoys heavy lifts and sprint-style workouts but won’t turn his nose up at a good chipper. When he’s not in the gym he’s probably off adventuring with his wife Rachael or creating something awesome for his clients through his company Hard Copy Media. A self declared Thicc with two Cs athlete, he’s excited to be getting to know the afternoon crowd coaching at Fortified Fitness.

BEN SHEPS

OFFICE MANAGER

Fitness and discipline have been common denominators throughout my life. My introduction to CrossFit came at the age of 13 when I quit racing motocross. I fell in love with it the first day. For me, the draw to CrossFit is it gives no other option but for you to be totally present in a heavy lift, a tough workout, or anything in between.

I am going on my eighth year of CrossFit. Fortified Fitness is the only gym I have had a membership with. The inviting atmosphere is why the current members stay and new ones choose to call Fortified “their gym.”

I am grateful to be able to be of service to an establishment that has done so much for me. Having just completed by B.S. in Finance at ASU and having a background in music production and merchandising operations, this is a natural convergence of my passions.

See What Others Have to Say About Us!

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Usman SEO profile picture
Usman SEO
10 months ago
Love the gym environment that boosts up your stamina.
Nicolas Nelson profile picture
Nicolas Nelson
1 year ago
Love this Crossfit box and the folks who make it feel like a fitness family! I live in Tacoma but visit family in Scottsdale pretty regularly, and have been looking for a good workout place here. I've only worked out at Fortified a couple of times so far (it is the fifth gym I've tried in the Valley of the Sun) but this one is a keeper. Their box has a ridiculously high ceiling, so there's plenty of room for sophisticated pullup rigs, and they took advantage of that. The climbing ropes (two Spartan, one natural-fiber) go twice as high as the regulation height, which they mark with red gaffer tape, so if you're looking to level up your rope climbs, this is the place. You'll find all the fun Crossfit toys here too. Plenty of barbells & plates, kettlebells, dumbells, wallballs, bands, Concept2 rowers, assault bikes, even treadmills for running inside when outdoors is too much like a pizza oven. Cold fitness drinks & protein bars for sale, LMNT by the box, other stuff too. They even have good showers, which isn't usual for a no-nonsense Crossfit box like this one. (And bathrooms of course, that ought to go without saying.) Best of all, as I hinted earlier: great coaches and friendly members. This is not a show-off gym; no floor-to-ceiling mirrors for posing and people-watching. This is a wide variety of people—athletes to grandmas and everything in between—coming together to get fit, to level up their fitness, to broaden their abilities and perfect their form, and ultimately maintain all ten measures of physical fitness for as much of their human lifespan as possible. Pretty damn impressive. My Crossfit home-away-from-home. Hope to see you there sometime!
austin lambright profile picture
austin lambright
2 years ago
An amazing place to workout! Great staff, friendly members and a place that makes you feel like family! I would totally recommend to anyone.
Brett Brandau profile picture
Brett Brandau
2 years ago
Sean Jurkowski profile picture
Sean Jurkowski
2 years ago
It would be impossible to express the positive impact that this place has had on my family. It is like a second home. The coaches are top notch and many are physical therapists. The overall vibe is friendly and welcoming. In many ways it is much more than just a place to workout. So do your future self a favor and come check it out for yourself.
Becca AZ profile picture
Becca AZ
2 years ago
I found this gym as I was finishing treatment for a back injury from the gym’s team of physical therapists. The final stage of my therapy consisted of weight lifting which was brand new to me. I had done group fitness and Pilates/yoga/barre classes for decades but had never weight lifting so I was terrified. As I left my first class, instead of fear, I found a group of supportive people at varying stages of life and fitness with an array of different goals, but all of whom made me feel welcome and supported as a beginner. They offer classes at all times of the day, but I am particular to their impact hour which is a perfect place to learning correct form and modify exercises based on recovery or injury. Regardless of your weight lifting ability, everyone can find their place at Fortified Fitness with highly trained coaches, a welcoming community, an empowering atmosphere and a safe place to learn and grow. Grateful to have found a place that’s been so integral to my physical and mental health!
Vincent Fiore profile picture
Vincent Fiore
3 years ago
We cannot say enough about how amazing of an experience we have at Fortified Fitness! Outstanding coaching, incredible camaraderie and friendly competition amongst members. Best gym ever, imo... :-)
Madeline Fiore profile picture
Madeline Fiore
5 years ago
Fortified Fitness is such an awesome CrossFit Gym!! I’ve been coming here for years and the community atmosphere is so welcoming! Whether it’s your first time trying CrossFit, or you’ve been doing it for years, there are athletes at EVERY level which makes it so much less intimidating than some other gyms. The owners, coaching, and programming are so great and motivating, it makes me actually like working out! (Who would have thought that was possible! 🤣)

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