Trainers
Kim Smith
Trainer
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Kim was a 3 sport athlete in high school. She got serious about fitness after watching a grandparent struggle with multiple health issues brought on by a lack of physical activity and poor diet. She began working out religiously and as she got, stronger, fit, and more active, people took notice and started asking her how she did it. That set her out on a journey that became her passion. Kim received her ACSM Personal Trainer Certification in March 2009 and TRX Certification in March 2011. In early 2012, Kim became interested in Olympic Lifting and CrossFit. She earned her Level 1 CrossFit Trainer certification in October 2012. Turning 58 this December, Kim understands the benefits of fitness and hard work. She wants everyone to understand that age should not be a limiting factor in fitness and its never too late to start working out. In fact, studies show it becomes more important as we age! She stresses the importance of having a fitness plan and fitness goals. Kim embraces the idea that CrossFit is scalable to anyone’s fitness level, therefore, making it a variable option for everyone.
Kate Schamel
Trainer
Kate Brouwers Schamel grew up on a family farm south of Chicago where she was influenced by a combination of city life,
country living and a strong Dutch heritage. At Manteno High School, Kate was part of two state final-four volleyball teams. She also ran track and was an active show choir and drama performer. Kate was also a high school cheerleader and, along with volleyball, continued at Olivet Nazarene University.
Kate married Tom Schamel in 1992. After spending several years in the banking industry, Kate owned and operated Teachers Helpers retail stores. Kate’s renewed interest in fitness began in 2001. She became a Spinning, water aerobics and Les Mills Body Pump fitness instructor for Richmond’s Health Connection.
Later, while living in New Mexico, Kate continued to teach group cycling, core and weight classes at several Santa Fe gyms and wellness centers. Highlights include an indoor cycling class that lasted up to five hours long. After moving back to Richmond, Kate continued to teach a variety of group classes. Eventually, she became part of the Health Connection/Family Fitnessworks management team until the birth of her 4th child in 2010.
Currently, Kate leads Spinning, TR-X, Power Core, and Just Win along with Les Mills Body Pump and Body Combat. While not leading group classes and Crossfit, kate particularly enjoys her role as a personal trainer. Kate’s passion for functional fitness training and Crossfit strengthens every day--right along side the bodies that are getting stronger because of it. She became a Level 1 Crossfit Trainer in July 2012. Her instructor was Christmas Abbott, an emerging national face and voice for Crossfit. Kate continues to coach and train even as a mother of four, and one of her children has even progressed enough to become one of our newest crossfit certified coaches.
Chuck Powell
Trainer
Chuck graduated from IU-East with an Associats in Criminal Justice. He is a certified EMT, and currently works for the Richmond Fire Department. Chuck is married to Jennifer and they are the proud parents of Chloe. Chuck has always been very active and athletic. In high school, Chuck was a varsity letterman in both football and basketball. In 2005, he became very involved in fitness training and went on to compete in both power lifting and body building. Chuck joined the Richmond Fire Department in 2007. Being a Firefighter and EMT, Chuck takes fitness seriously and maintains a high level of physical fitness, even competing in the Firefighter Combat Challenge (“the toughest 2 minutes in sports”!). In 2012, Chuck became an NFPA Certified Personal Trainer to advance his own fitness knowledge and help those around him.
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Chuck became interested in CrossFit after watching the 2012 CrossFit Games. He started doing CrossFit WODs in 2013 and enjoys the varied workouts and the challenges that every WOD brings. In October 2013, Chuck took it one step further and became a certified CrossFit Level 1 Trainer! He looks forward to sharing his CrossFit knowledge and helping members reach new levels of fitness with every WOD.
Brent Henderson
Trainer
Brent grew up in Richmond and graduated from Richmond High School. He is married to Amanda and is studying to be a Physical Therapy Assistant at Ivy Tech. Brent has been vegan for 9 years and consumes no meat, dairy, or animal products of any kind. Health and fitness is very important to Brent. He comes from an endurance sports background, focused mainly on running and triathlons. “I have competed in every distance race from a sprint triathlon to a half Ironman, trail runs, 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons.” Brent had some experience in weightlifting, but since being introduced to CrossFit, his workouts have become quite diverse and include a lot of power and strength training. In turn, Brent has attained a new level of fitness and it shows in every WOD!
“I've been doing CrossFit since July of 2013 and fell completely in love with its methodology and intensity! I can’t think of anything else that can rival the CrossFit definition of fitness!” Brent became a Certified Level 1 CrossFit Trainer in October 2013. It is thru CrossFit that Brent feels he can increase your level of fitness to meet any goal that you wish to accomplish or any task you have in sight.
Brooks Baker
Trainer
Brooks grew up just outside of Richmond and graduated from Northeastern High School. He has always been active in recreational “stick and ball” sports, along with cycling on and off road. He didn’t make fitness a real priority through most of his 20’s, but he credits his wife Stephanie for his dedication the last few years. Her example and encouragement to attend the various group classes she instructs at FFW made exercise a part of their lifestyle. It even got him back in shape and back on the bike to complete the annual RAIN ride across the state of Indiana twice.
When FFW became a CrossF​it affiliate Brooks was immediately interested in the variety and intensity the workouts offered. Since the summer of 2013 Brooks has used Crossfit to maintain and increase his fitness and strength. After a trip to the Crossfit Games Central East Regionals, he even convinced Stephanie to try it, and now she is hooked. His step daughter, Addison, is a Cross​F​it Kids member, and their youngest daughter, Ava, enjoys doing burpees in the living room as she is not old enough to join yet.
Brooks completed his Level 1 Certificate Course in October of 2014 at CrossF​it Mayhem. The home of 4-time Cross​F​it Games champion Rich Froning. He is excited to continue developing as a trainer and athlete, and to help others reach their fitness goals as well.
“With CrossFi​t, I look forward to getting to the box for every day’s workout because it will not be the same thing I did the day before, or even the week before. My own internal motivation was never enough, and the natural competition each WOD creates is the push I needed to ignore thoughts of quitting when it gets tough.”
Steve Hornak
Trainer
Steve Hornak grew up in Richmond and attended Seton High School. Steve was a 3-sport athlete, lettering in soccer, basketball, and baseball. After graduating from SHS, he attended Earlham College where he played a year of Division III baseball and graduated with a degree in Biochemistry in 2014. During college, Steve coached high school varsity baseball and remained active by going to the gym. This eventually introduced him to CrossFit. Steve recalls his very first CrossFit WOD, Barbara, and says “it absolutely crushed me and I’ve been hooked ever since!!” Steve and his wife, Steph, enjoy doing CrossFit together at FFW CrossFit.
Steve says that what he likes most about CrossFit is the level of intensity, the unique and varied workouts, and the implementation of Olympic lifts. He was surprised to see how CrossFit quickly reveals ones weaknesses in regards to physical fitness. “It is truly a one of a kind fitness experience that will make you better in all realms of physical and mental fitness”. Steve believes that CrossFit is one of the most effective ways to become an all around more fit human being, no matter what your goals are. CrossFit is an all inclusive sport that can be beneficial for the stay at home mom all the way to the elite level athletes.
As a Certified CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, his goal is simple…”to help others improve their overall fitness in a fun and safe group atmosphere” and he believes that the community feel is what makes CrossFit so special. “To be able to get together with a group of people that are just as crazy about fitness as you is what makes the WOD’s so much more fun!"
Jake Schamel
Trainer
Jake Schamel graduated from Richmond High School, where he was active in both soccer and track. Jake became a certified Level One CrossFit® Trainer in October of 2014. He now plans on earning his ASCM Personal Training Certification and is looking to begin working towards a degree in Exercise Science.
Jake regularly participates in CrossFit®, Olympic Lifting, and various fitness competitions. He ultimately aspires to qualify for the regional and national CrossFit Games®. During the 2015 Open, Jake finished in the top 10% of adult males worldwide for one event, completing the first workout of the five-week series at the age of 17! Jake is an active member of both the USA Weightlifting and the American College of Sports Medicine organizations.
Beau Smith
Trainer
Beau Smith grew up in Frederick, Maryland. He received his undergrad degree in Health and Physical Education at the University of Mount Union (Go Raiders!). While a Raider, Beau played baseball and accumulated some impressive stats! Beau went to graduate school at Coker College and then went on to be the Assistant Baseball Coach at Thiel College in Greenville, PA. In 2014, while coaching the Thiel Tomcats, Beau was named an Associate Scout with Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals! He also coached at Black Bull Crossfit in New Castle, PA.
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In January 2016, Beau began his journey to becoming a CrossFit Trainer. He attended the training seminar at Rogue Fitness and received his Level 1 Certification! In June 2016, it was announced that Beau was joining the staff at Earlham College as Assistant Coach. He became a member at FFW CrossFit and the trainers at FFW are happy and excited to have Beau as a member of their trainer team!! Beau says his favorite CrossFit movement is the Snatch and his favorite dirty girl is Elizabeth!
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Heather Dils​
Trainer/Owner
For as long as she can remember, fitness has always been a very big part of Heather Dils’ life. In 2009, Heather and her husband, John, purchased a local fitness facility with a desire to make it a place where families could be active together. That desire grew into Family Fitness Works.
Heather was introduced to CrossFit when she attended the 2012 CrossFit Regionals in Columbus, OH. She was amazed at the skills and abilities these athletes possessed and thought to herself, ‘there’s no way I could do the things they were doing!’ In 2013, FFW became a CrossFit affiliate, which prompted Heather to begin her CrossFit journey. It took some time to work up the nerve to start, but once she did, she hasn’t looked back! “CrossFit challenges me to get out of my comfort zone and do things I never thought possible. I am a 40 year old mother of two and truly believe that I’ve never been in better shape and I contribute all of that to CrossFit!”
Heather attended the 2013 CrossFit Games in Los Angeles, CA. Heather says, “I knew at that time CrossFit had another purpose for me. I wanted to teach and share everything that I loved about CrossFit”. As a CrossFit coach, she wants to share the CrossFit experience with the FFW athletes; to help individuals tackle the challenges that scare them and celebrate their victories with them. “I want to help someone have the kind of life-changing experience I had when I discovered CrossFit”. Heather looks forward to welcoming you to the FFW CrossFit community.
John Dils
Trainer/Owner
John was an NCAA swimmer at University of Indianapolis, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting. John placed third overall at the 2005 USA Triathlon Ultra Distance National Championship winning his age group. He is a three time Ironman world championship qualifier Kona Hawaii (2006, 2007 and 2011) and a 7 time Ironman finisher. Fourteen time half Ironman finisher with 2 overall wins and 6 consecutive USA triathlon All-American seasons. John has also finished 11 marathons. John cycles frequently and currently holds the course record for the Ride Across Indiana (RAIN), set in 2010. John and his family are very active and into fitness. John & Heather opened Family Fitness Works in November of 2009 and worked steadfastly to bring Richmond the best gym, fitness programs, and trainers in the area. John learned about CrossFit by chance catching the CrossFit Games on TV. He was hooked and began training; he received his CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Certification in October 2012. He has been passionate about bringing CrossFit to FFW and was proud to announce the opening of the FFW CrossFit Box.
Jeff Horton
Trainer
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