The Team
Yurii and Kerry Hanson
Owners
Yurii and Kerry Hanson are the owners of CrossFit Billings. They have been a CrossFit Affiliate since October of 2008. They started CrossFit out in their home garage and from there moved to Yurii’s dad’s garage, and then finally into a commercial setting in March of 2009. Working out has always been a passion of both of the Hanson’s and that passion turned into a reality. YURII If you spend any amount of time with me, you will soon discover that I am a very passionate person. For sure, exercise has been a passion of mine and I have been involved with it my entire life through sports. Being a gym rat also helped prepare me for my career as a professional firefighter. However, there is a deeper passion that drives me. That passion is people. Relationships with people are the driving force behind what I do. More specifically, my desire to provide hope and joy in peoples’ lives. This was the driving force behind Kerry’s and my decision to start CrossFit Billings in 2008. It is the perfect combination of my passion for exercise and people. I use my love for health and fitness to educate and inspire people to have a life they never thought possible. A life where they have the freedom to pursue their passions rather than being road blocked with lack of energy and resources, high stress, or being sick and tired all the time. I had spent years as a personal trainer in various health clubs prior to opening our gym, but I knew there was something missing. While I was working with my passions to help give people hope and their lives back, I sensed that there was a missing element. There was something more available to help empower people. That element finally came when Kerry and I opened CrossFit Billings and witnessed the forming of a community unlike anything ever experienced in a regular gym setting. A place where people come together and genuinely care about each other. A gym where they encourage one another through challenging workouts and challenges in life. A fitness center where people authentically celebrate goals being achieved in the gym but also in life. A health club where you are more than just a name and a face, you are a person who is cared about and known. The real transformations seen in our members’ lives and the strength of our community ultimately helped lead me to a major step of faith. In 2013, I left an 11 year career as a professional firefighter to go “ALL IN” with our gym. My decision to leave the Billings Fire Department was one of the best decisions I have ever made. While I enjoyed my job and loved the brotherhood and sisterhood of the job, I have been able to focus all of my efforts on impacting peoples’ lives through health and community. I heard someone say once that you can do a lot of good things or a few great things. I chose the few great things. KERRY In the past 25 years fitness has been a ride for me to say the least. Going from, sports in high school (Baskeball is MY LIFE), to being a collegiate athlete (Basketball is STILL MY LIFE), then working in a globo gym (what am I doing with MY LIFE?), to owning a CrossFit gym (ahhhh, I finally understanding what I am supposed to be doing with MY LIFE). Being in a community of like minded people, helping one another become the best version of themselves, has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. It’s not normal to walk into a regular gym and plug in to people’s lives and genuinely care about what is going on in each persons life and offer a prayer or a bent ear to listen to a personal need. However, that is exactly what happens at CrossFit Billings. Daily, I get to witness people doing things they never thought possible, and I have the opportunity to instill hope into people’s lives. That is what makes going to this gym like no other. I love being part of a community where people push each other beyond their limits, encourage each other, and simply enjoy life together inside and outside of the gym. CrossFit Billings is an extension of my immediate family and my favorite part is seeing people doing things they never thought possible!
Alec Clinger
Gerneral Manager/Head Coach
Certifications: BS Health and Human Performance, CrossFit Level 2, CrossFit Weightlifting, and CrossFit Gymnastics.
Alec has been passionate about fitness his whole life. He has a background of bodybuilding before starting CrossFit in 2012. He started coaching in 2013, and has been passionate about helping others achieve their fitness goals since.
Jenny Reichert
Coach
Certifications: Certified CrossFit Trainer (L-3), Crossfit Movement & Mobility, USA Weightlifting Level 1
Jenny started CrossFit in 2009, and began coaching in 2012 first in Nevada, Ohio, and now Montana. She is proud to call CrossFit Billings her home. Jenny is especially passionate about helping athletes mitigate injury and improve joint health through mobility. When she’s not coaching, you can find her teaching at Rocky Mountain College in Billings as an Associate Professor of Psychology.
Annie Foster
Coach
Certified CrossFit Trainer (L-3) CrossFit Nutrition, CrossFit Kids, and Precision Nutrition Certified
Annie started her career in the health and fitness industry in 2002. In 2008 She became a CrossFit coach and co-owner of Crossfit Utah Valley. In April of 2012, Annie and her husband, Nolan, decided to sell their portion of CFUV and move to Billings, Montana. Annie Started coaching at CrossFit Billings in 2012. Besides coaching and providing nutrition coaching Annie stays busy with her 4 young kids. Annie would love to help you reach your health and fitness goals, whether that is focusing on nutrition coaching, working on a skill or lift, losing weight, gaining muscle, or just overall health! Annie believes that the key to success is through consistently eating good food, and training hard… at CrossFit Billings!
NOLAN FOSTER
Coach
Certifications – CrossFit Level 2, CrossFit Football, CrossFit Nutrition, CrossFit Movement & Mobility.
Nolan has always been drawn towards sports, working out, physical activity and competition. Now that his competitive sports days are over, the competitive spirit and the camaraderie of CrossFit has filled that void. Whether he is working out in class or teaching, he appreciates being surrounded by hard-working people who are striving to make themselves better than yesterday. Whether you are seeking to improve your performance in the gym or are focused on bettering yourself for life outside of the gym, CrossFit Billings can take you to that next level.
BECCA PAGANO
Coach
My passion is to share this community with others. To share that CrossFit is attainable, it assists into everyday life, and that anyone is capable. I love creating connections with people, helping them reach their goals, and seeing them try something new. In February 2017, I walked into CFB to start a membership. Like most, I was nervous, out of shape, and timid. My life changed for the better that day. The coaches took me in and helped me improve my mindset on health and fitness. I fell in love with CrossFit and its community. Since day one I’ve lost 80 lbs. and gained confidence! I decided I wanted to help others walk this path. I share my experiences, meet you at your level and take this journey with you. I am 28 years old, married to my husband Ben, and we have one son. I was born and raised here in Billings, graduated from Skyview High School, attended MSU-Billings, and completed my CF-L1 Trainer Certification. Can’t wait to meet you and see you soon! “Doubt kills dreams more than failure ever will.”
KALLI CUNNINGHAM
Coach
Certifications: BS in Kinesiology, BS in Nursing, CrossFit Level 1
Kalli has been in athletics since a young age and has continued to make physical activity a priority throughout college and into adulthood. As a nurse, she believes that consistent movement and nutrition are the best medicine for both the mind and body.
ALI ZENT
Coach
I am a mother to 5 amazing children who motivate me on a daily basis to be the best version of myself possible. I started my fitness journey at a young age. I played competitive sports throughout high school and college. After college I began coaching high school athletes in a variety of sports along with teaching in the classroom. Both of these endeavors feed an intrinsic desire I have to build relationships with people and help them achieve their goals whether in the classroom or on the court/field. I found crossfit in 2013, I fell in love with the coaching aspect of helping others strive to be their best. I had coached kids sports in the past, but this was a whole new level. I see it as not just showing someone the movements and yelling at them to go faster and lift that heavy stuff. It is helping them face their fears, becoming more flexible, improving their quality of life, developing better eating habits and building a discipline. I love to see people overcome mental roadblocks, crush a WOD, do a WOD RX for the first time and hit a PR. “Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.” – George Halas
STEPH SMITH
Coach
Certifications: CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, CrossFit Kids, CrossFit Nutrition
Born in Great Falls, MT Engaged to Parker Marquardt. Two amazing kids Charlotte + McCoy plus two bonus-sons Owen + Liam Two long-haired German shepherds Grace + Hope plus one miniature schnauzer Wally Graduated 2001 from C.M. Russell High School in GF Played high school basketball, volleyball, and track Played volleyball at the University of Providence (U of GF) for three seasons Transferred to MSU-Billings, graduated 2006 B.S. Elementary Education B.A. History K-6 Health + PE teacher for 5 years 4-6th grade Montessori teacher for 3 years 15+ years of coaching high school + middle school girls volleyball Focus: elements training for new members, personal training for all ages & stages, sports-specific training for youth, small group training for homeschool children, coaching ladies only classes and CrossFit kids + preteens classes Hobbies: writing, reading, hiking, camping, CrossFit, leading small groups at church, and making memories with Parker, our kids, and family + friends
CHRIS COLLINSON
Coach
The “Ballad of Chris Collinson” Born on Long Island New York in 1956. Age 66. Married with 4 children. Spouse Konnie Graduated Patchogue-Medford HS 1974 Played Football and threw discus Veteran USAF 1974-1978 Career in Air Traffic Control 1974-2011 USAF and FAA Studied Aviation at University of Alaska Anchorage Licensed Pilot Degree in Management Rocky Mountain College Blackbelt Tae-Kwon-Do Pink Gloves Boxing instructor. Real Ryder Spinning instructor. Conjugate Powerlifting Trained CFL-1 certified 2011 to present. Placed 41st in the world in the 2012 CrossFit open Masters 50-54 All around nice guy.
KARISA STAPP
Coach
Before finding CrossFit, I was a colligate rower at Western Washington University. During that time, I also trained in MMA and bodybuilding. After finding CrossFit in 2018, I competed in 2021 on a team at the CrossFit Games, and have competed as an individual at Semifinals in 2022 and 2023. For much of my early life, I was afraid to try new things. Now, I love stepping out of my comfort zone to tackle a new challenge. We all have a journey, whether that be to make it to the CrossFit games or to simply become healthier and find the full potential in our lives. I truly love the opportunity to take the things I have learned over the years into a coaching perspective, and I am excited to continue my own journey here at CrossFit Billings.
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