Using Accountability, Encouragement, and CrossFit.
Learn a little more about our world class coaches and team members.
Brian is the owner, founder, and head coach of CrossFit Contrivance, bringing more than a decade of experience, leadership, and passion to the gym floor every day. A CrossFit Level 3 Trainer, Brian is known for his high energy, deep knowledge of the methodology, and relentless commitment to helping athletes of all levels, improve their fitness and confidence.
Brian is married to his wife, Crystal, and together they are raising their three very active daughters. Family is at the center of everything he does, and that same sense of community and support is what he drives to build inside the gym.
Before discovering CrossFit, Brian developed a strong foundation in personal training and Olympic lifting during his high school and college years. What started as a hobby quickly became a passion, and passion eventually grew into a mission: to help others live healthier, stronger lives.
As a coach, Brian believes in meeting athletes where they are and pushing them to discover what they’re truly capable of. Whether he’s coaching a class, working one on one, or leading a large group session, his focus is always the same—create an environment, where people feel supported, challenged, and motivated to become their best selves.
When he‘s not coaching, you’ll likely find Brian on the sidelines cheering on his daughters at their latest games or competitions—running on espresso and reminding everyone that Wu-Tang is forever.
Crystal is a Crossfitter by marriage and a business professional by trade. She helps lead the business side of the gym and plays a key role in growing the community at CFC.
With a professional background in small business management and current role consulting within the global wealth management industry, she brings strong organizational and leadership experience to the gym. She takes pride in helping CrossFit Contrivance thrive both as a business and as a place where people feel welcomed and supported.
Crystal and Brian live in Holly Springs and are raising there three daughters. Outside the gym, she enjoys cooking with her girls, traveling, and cheering them on at their many activities and sports!
She believes the best part of CrossFit is the way it brings people together and creates lasting friendships and support.
Favorite CrossFit Movement: definitely a box jump!
Coffee Order: Venti Iced Coffee with Oat Milk
My advice to a new athlete: Give yourself grace and have fun! Trying something new is scary but CrossFit is the most welcoming community on earth and it’s infinitely scalable! You’ve got this and we’re happy you’re here.
Zac serves as the General Manager and Head Coach at CrossFit Contrivance, where he leads the coaching team and oversees day-to-day gym operations. His focus is helping athletes move better, get stronger, and build confidence in what their bodies can do.
Zac joined the United Stated Army at 17 and served for over 21 years, deploying twice to Iraq and later supporting Homeland Security operations in Washington, D.C. He retired in 2023 with the rank of Captain.
He began his CrossFit journey in 2019 and quickly developed a passion for coaching and athlete development. Zac earned his Crossfit Level 1 in 2021, started coaching in 2022 and achieved his CrossFit Level 2 in 2023. He also holds a USA Weightlifting Level 1 Certification and is currently working towards his Crossfit Level 3.
Outside the gym, Zac enjoys spending time with his wife, Brock, and their son, Graham, and starting active playing in a local recreational softball league. Whether in the gym or on the field, Zac loves the camaraderie that comes from working hard alongside others.
Favorite CrossFit movement: DB Snatches
Favorite Workout: Open 21.2
My advice to new members: Consistency beats intensity. Keep showing up and the results will come.
Coach Meghan Barrett has been a CrossFitter and CrossFit Coach since 2012. She has helped hundreds of athletes achieve their goals both inside and outside of the gym.
She originally started CrossFit so she could do a pull-up in her wedding dress! She now continues to CF in order to keep up with her 2 boys.
She is 2x Regionals Team Athlete in both South America (2013) and the Mid-Atlantic (2016).
She has experience CrossFitting and coaching at all stages of life and uses this to tailor to individual athletes. Her motto is "something is always more than nothing."
Erin is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT® 500, YACEP®) who teaches various styles of yoga; Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Slow Flow, Restorative and Yin. Her passion lies in tailoring yoga to suit your lifestyle. She truly believes incorporating a consistent yoga practice into your regular routine will affect positive change in all areas of your life. Her focus is awareness of body, breath and mind through stillness, flow and meditation.
She has found a passion in working with athletes, specifically CrossFitters, helping them supplement their extensive regimen with yoga to bring better mobility, strength, balance and focus to their training. As a CrossFit Athlete herself, she is able to use her own experiences inside the gym to offer personalized yoga sequencing that compliments the weekly programming.
Kelsey was born and raised in Seattle, WA with her parents and two younger brothers. In 2011, she started her cadet career at the United States Military Academy where she would eventually graduate in 2015 with her B.S. in Civil Engineering and commission as an Engineer Officer. At West Point, Kelsey was a proud member of Women’s Army Rugby for all four years. Since her time in the Army, Kelsey has been at Fort Knox, Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Belvoir, and Fort Liberty with a stint in Tel Aviv, Israel. While at Fort Knox, Kelsey earned her Masters in Engineering Management from the University of Louisville.
Her CrossFit journey started in 2017 at CrossFit Hard Knox and led her to earn her Level 2 Certification in August 2023. Kelsey is currently attending NC State as a full-time graduate and is hoping to earn her M.S. in Human Factors and Applied Cognition. Upon graduation, Kelsey will teach Engineering Psychology at West Point for three years. Outside of the gym you can find Kelsey at Costco, cheering on Seattle or Army sports, or going on a walk with her partner Katey.
Lacy is a wife, momma of 2 young children and a Flight Attendant for over 20 yrs. After living in Florida for many years Lacy a her family relocated to Holly Springs in February of 2020. That summer her dear friend introduced her to CrossFit for the first time, She absolutely loved it and has been doing it daily ever since.
Lacy loves CrossFit because it truly is for everyone. No matter your age or fitness level there is something you can do and improve upon. As long as you show up and challenge yourself you WILL be able to do movements and lift weight you might not thought possible.
Lacy knows this first hand, at 42 yrs young she is lifting heavier weights, and doing gymnastic skills she had never done before! This is why she has decided to begin her coaching journey, she wants others to fall in love with CrossFit like she has and help people grow within this sport no matter their fitness level.
Moto: Do better than yesterday
Kyle grew up in San Bernardino, California, about an hour east of Los Angeles, and spent most of his childhood in ice rinks. He played competitive hockey across the United States and Canada and still plays today with the Carolina Hurricanes Warriors, the veteran affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.
He earned his BA in Business Administration and his MA in National Security from CSU San Bernardino before commissioning as a Field Artillery Officer for the US Army in 2012 and deploying twice. Kyle first walked into a CrossFit gym in 2011 while preparing for Army OCS and has been hooked ever since.
As a coach, Kyle focuses on helping athletes discover that they are capable of consistently doing hard things. Outside the gym, you can find him coaching youth ice hockey, cheering on his kids playing hockey, Taekwondo tournaments, at a dance recital, or continuing the family mission of finding true California-style Mexican food in the RTP area.
I reluctantly started CrossFit in 2010 on a bet. At the time I was very happy doing Bikram Yoga and had no interest in CrossFit. But as one to never back down from a challenge, the deal was between a friend and I where we would each try the others activity for 30 days. The first one to miss a class would be the loser. Two weeks into the challenge my friend missed a Bikram Class, but I wanted to keep sticking it to them, so I finished up the 30 days. I can’t say I really loved CrossFit right from the beginning but after the 30 days, I had met so many fun new interesting people that I wanted to keep going so I could see them.
In 2011, I was on the committee that ran Hawaii’s first 4 man team competition. The Hawaii VA Loans Competition was founded to help Hawaii’s Veterans. Our first year over 80 athletes competed and we donated over $8000 to charity. Over the next three years, the competition grew with over 60 teams, 12 individual regional athletes and over $28,000 raised for charity. It was Hawaii’s largest local competition. I learned that all CrossFitters are very generous, caring and loyal people who love to workout.
By 2012, I was in love with the sport of CrossFit. It’s the only place where we as adults can work on ourselves daily, get positive reinforcement and track our progress. And we are still getting better! At that time, there was limited resources on technique and movement progressions. I loved my coaches because their integrity for movement and passion for community was paramount. I thought, if I could just join in on their conversations on getting people to move better and understand movement, that would be kind of cool, so I got my CrossFit Level 1.
My whole idea of beauty as a woman has shifted thanks to CrossFit. I no longer care about the numbers on the scale but instead the weight on the barbell. I am not chasing cover model beauty standards, but instead chasing my next PR. I look forward to going to gym everyday. My very best friends are CrossFitters. I met my husband through CrossFit. I can’t imagine my life without it. As a Coach, I get to share what I’ve learned and experienced and if that’s the lightbulb moment that helps someone else get better…BOOM!
After competitive sports ended at the end of high school, Ryan was looking for a new way to compete with others while maintaining his health and fitness. A small CrossFit box was located in the ice hockey rink where he grew up having practice, so he decided to give it a try. After getting smoked by people two and three times his age in a simple WOD, he knew he need to come back and figure this “CrossFit” thing out.
Now after over 6 years of being members of various boxes across the country, 3 of which also as a coach, Ryan’ passion for the sport and love for the CrossFit community is stronger than ever. His favorite movements and workouts include anything with a heavy barbell and short sprints. When Ryan is not in the gym he is working as an engineering and construction project manager, building biotech and pharmaceutical facilities in the greater Raleigh area.
Favorite movement: Back Squat
Favorite WOD: Fran
In 2016, Jojo found herself in her mid-30s, with two young kids, a busy life, not having exercised in about 10 years and suddenly feeling weak, out of shape, and as if her body was falling apart. After sharing her concerns with a friend who had recently started exercising, she was introduced to CrossFit in St. Joseph, MI. The first 6 months of exercising were HARD and stepping into the gym was a necessity rather than enjoyment, but as strength, health, and friendships at the gym grew, so did the love and passion for CrossFit.
In late 2019 / early 2020, she decided to take her love for CrossFit to the next level and she earned her CF-L1 trainer certificate, as well as her CrossFit Kids certificate, and was coaching in southwest Michigan until the summer of 2023 when her family made the cross country move to North Carolina.
As a coach, one of Jojo's favorite things is seeing athletes' progress and growth not only physically, but also mentally! It's rewarding seeing the moments when members realize they CAN do all of the things they never thought they could do. Guiding and growing members of all ages from an often hesitant or intimidated state into a confident and strong athlete is what gives Jojo the most enjoyment out of coaching.
Liz graduated from RPI with a BS in Chemistry and a minor in Education, and then went on to pursue her MS in Physical Sciences from The University of Chicago. She began her career as a Chemistry teacher, and also coached Cross-country, track and field at the HS level. She had been a competitive runner her entire life, and considered herself a runner until she started crossfit. Her love for fitness and background in education coupled together to drive her to become a crossfit coach. She has been coaching crossfit for over 11 years. She feels fortunate to have found a career that she loves every day, all the time. She is happily married with 5 kids, 5 dogs, and 2 cats and understands the demands life brings. It is her goal to make this the best hour of your day. She’s a crossfitter for life and everyday she’s helping you to become a little stronger and a little better and that’s what she LOVES!
Max found CrossFit while living in Berkeley, California in 2010. Since then he has been a member at multiple CrossFit affiliates while living in four different states over the last decade. He and his family moved frequently due to his service in the U.S. Army Rangers and his full time job of leading preconstruction efforts and overseeing construction projects for a multifamily developer. When not at CrossFit Contrivance, Max loves spending time with his family, checking the boxes on a 'honey-do' list and being in the beautiful outdoors.
Max joined CrossFit Contrivance in June 2021 after moving to the area and joined the coaching staff in November 2021. Constantly striving for personal improvement and the endless challenges CrossFit presents are what fuels Max's desire to learn more about CrossFit and share that with our members. He enjoys sharing a 'Word of the Day' in his whiteboard briefs and helping members improve their movement patterns which enables them to live a healthier life.
Tom began his fitness journey at age 45. After years working long hours as a chef, the toll on his knees and back made working out feel impossible. But he wanted more energy and a better quality of life, so he started training at a local gym, then a boxing gym, and eventually discovered CrossFit in 2018. The challenging workouts and strong sense of community quickly drew him in and he was hooked.
In 2022, after moving back to the Raleigh area, Tom found a new home at CrossFit Contrivance, where his passion for fitness continues to grow. His personal transformation has improved his health, reshaped his body, and inspired him to help others pursue their own fitness goals, no matter their age or fitness level.
Tom is especially focused on proper form, movement mechanics, and smart modifications to keep workouts safe and effective. Outside the gym, he lives in Holly Springs with his wife, Rebecca, and their two yellow labs. He enjoys spending time in the backyard, cooking, and perfecting his pizza dough.
I am one of the rare ones lucky enough to be born and raised in Apex, NC. I am a proud NC State Alum and have lived in this area my entire life. I love to build things. As a professional, I am a General Contractor and I build commercial buildings and teams. I love to build people as well, which led me to coaching. Few things are more satisfying than seeing a friend or a loved one improve themselves through grit and hard work.
I discovered my passion for lifting weights while playing high school football and I found CrossFit in 2009. My introduction to CrossFit was with a small group of folks that met in Bond Park after work to train. I was quickly humbled. In spite of being 'strong' I could not move my body well. I could barely do a pull up! I bought in immediately to the concept of high intensity, constantly varied movements to develop true functional fitness which I still believe provides the foundation for a long life worth living. Since then, I have been a member of several different CrossFit boxes, but found a home at CFC, which further inspired me to begin coaching. As a coach I want to push and inspire you. I want you to love the process and exceed your goals.
Outside of the gym, I am blessed to have a big local family. I have 3 siblings who are all married with children and I am married to the love of my life. We have a beautiful son together who keeps us on our toes. I am sure you will see him in the gym! I am a huge Wolfpack fan and Caniac. I love good food, fellowship, late 90's rap music, inappropriate jokes and tailgating.
FILL OUT THE FORM (2 MINUTES OR LESS) AND PICK A CLASS
COME TO THE CLASS, INTRODUCE YOURSELF, AND SWEAT WITH US.
BECOME A PART OF OUR AWESOME COMMUNITY.
The CrossFit Contrivance community respects and accepts everyone. So whether you are a seasoned CrossFit athlete or brand new to CrossFit, you have a place here.
Our coaches and community will be there for your success, helping you overcome your physical and mental challenges. Both in and out of the gym, we are here for your success.
Here, our fitness is a tool to help forge relationships, build lifelong success, and encourage you to become better and better every step of the way.
We’re not just a gym — we’re a movement built on grit, heart, and showing up for each other. At our core, we believe in raising the bar — for ourselves, and for the people around us. Every class, every rep, every drop of sweat serves a bigger mission: building better humans through CrossFit.
Community First: You’ll feel the difference the moment you walk in. This is a place where names are known, high-fives are earned, and no one gets left behind.
Excellence Always: From coaching to programming, we don’t cut corners. We train smart, we train hard, and we hold the standard high.
Accountability Built In: We don’t believe in half-measures. We show up, we check in, and we push each other to keep going — even when it’s tough.
The use of skill to bring something about or create something.
Our philosophy is simple: we’re not just in the fitness business — we’re in the transformation business. At CrossFit Contrivance, we stand on the front lines of lasting change, helping people build stronger bodies, sharper minds, and better lives. We’re more than a gym, more than a box — we’re a community built on grit, heart, and the drive to meet every athlete where they are, then push them further.
Give us a little information and we will be in touch shortly.
