Trainers

We’ve been a part of the International CrossFit community for 3 years. We currently reside in a 7,850-square-foot building in Dilworth/South End, less than 2 miles from downtown Charlotte. We have a fantastic team of trainers that lead our classes and programs both in and out of the gym. All are experienced and well-versed in CrossFit and other training methods and practices. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality training in the area. Below is a brief synopsis of each trainer on our staff. Feel free to email us with any questions.

Lance Breeden - Owner
I’ve always loved sports and fitness. From starting to play football at 5 years old to learning to box at 30, I just want to be active. CrossFit is something that I can’t get enough of. I love the competition, the sweat, lifting big weight, but mostly I enjoy making people happy. Seeing someone reach a goal they never thought possible or change how they feel on a daily basis is one of the best things I’ve ever experienced. This job lets me do that everyday. I’m lucky. I tell everyone – If you show up consistently, work hard and eat well you can exceed your goals, and simply get better at life. I hope we can help.
• CrossFit Level 1 & 2 Certified
• CrossFit Kettlebell Certified
• CrossFit Endurance Certified
• CrossFit Kids Certified
• CrossFit Mobility Certified
• CrossFit Gymnastics Certified
• USA Weightlifting Certified Coach

Mike Hirst - General Manager / Trainer
The first time I ever tried CrossFit it was as if a light bulb went off, “This is how we’re supposed to train; this is fitness.” Crossfit has not only helped me to get stronger, faster, and more flexible, but it has helped me to feel better. I feel great, inside and out. I’m only in my early thirties but along with CrossFit as my sole training regimen and a sound diet, I don’t feel a day older than 20. The reason I became a CrossFit trainer is because I want to help everyone else feel this good too. I want to give you the best CrossFit experience that you can have. Give me feedback and I promise I’ll give you 100% everytime I walk through those gym doors.
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• CrossFit Mobility Certified
• USA Weightlifting Certified Coach
• CrossFit Gymnastics Certified
• CrossFit Games Competitor
• NSCA-CPT
• Former USMC Grunt
• Former Spartan from Michigan State University with a degree in Kinesiology
• I bleed GREEN

Carter Lewis - Bootcamp Director / Trainer
It all started with a bootcamp in Atlanta, May of 2008. My (now) wife and I participated for 4 or 5 months, were asked to be instructors, started hitting the gym and the rest is history. Some say CrossFit is a cult and I agree. To my knowledge, there isn’t a better cult in the world. I mean, we don’t blow ourselves up or terrorize anyone. We’re after life-changing fitness. I want to share with anyone who will listen (and even those who won’t, voluntarily) how this stuff works.  I’m eternally grateful to those folks who introduced me to a life of fitness and better health, and am dedicated to help anyone who’s ready to work hard.
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• USA Weightlifting Certified Coach
• CrossFit Gymnastics Certified
• CrossFit Mobility Certified
• Born in the “Unhealthiest Town in America” and committed to changing people’s lives

Dee Anna Clarke - Endurance Director
For years I was obsessed with running, running, and running. On occasion I’d drop in a triathlon to consider myself an all around athlete. I gave no thought to workouts outside my marathon training plan, as deviation would surely be a recipe for disaster and diminish the chance for my next PR. Fate brought me to Lance when he was first opening Ultimate CrossFit in 2007. I was immediately attracted to the variation and the benefits that CrossFit brought to my running. I used to think of myself as a Runner who happened to CrossFit, but I’ve proudly succumbed to the fact that I’m really a CrossFitter who happens to run (a lot). I’m excited to be involved in Endurance to help you reach your goals. Whether it be a faster Helen time, your first 5k, or an ultra-marathon, we’ll help you get to the finish line healthier, stronger, and faster.
• CrossFit Endurance Certified
• “Day job” as Chief Financial Officer of Charlotte Country Club
• Obsessed with box jumps, burpees, and half marathons

Whitney Bayer - Trainer
Level 1 certified and new mommy. I am inspired by new and competitive athletes alike; anyone who seeks to improve themselves through hard work whether that be achieving a muscle up or mastering their first rope climb. I’m proud to be a part of UCF coaches. Superpower: rower. Kryptonite: pull up bar.
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified

Jayme Bowles - Trainer
About 2 years ago I ran across a small group of CrossFitters tucked away in the back room of a local globo-gym. There was something very intriguing about this group of people that were all different shapes, sizes, ages, and fitness levels doing what looked to be a totally insane workout. I got a quick run down of what CrossFit was about and was invited to try. I showed up the next day, got my butt kicked, it was an instant addiction. I was an elite level gymnast growing up and have always been involved in some kind of athletics, none of which have been have been as challenging yet just as rewarding as CrossFit. It’s an honor to be a part of the Ultimate training team, and is so incredibly rewarding to helping others discover what their true athletic abilities are.
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• USA Weightlifting Certified Coach
• CrossFit Games Competitor

Eric Carpenter - Trainer
What is CrossFit? Why do I CrossFit? Why do I coach CrossFit?
I get these questions often and I am always filled with a mix of enthusiasm and frustration in preparing answers because it is so difficult to communicate the uniqueness of CrossFit.  As someone who has done various fitness regimens, I can testify there is no more efficient way to be fit. As a business person I can tell you that there is no greater return for the resources employed. And, as a coach and a participant I can tell you that there is no greater community with which to be a part.

I coach and participate in this community because the benefits are measureable, sustainable, and I am always better for it. If you think the best you can be is behind you, please let us show you it is in front of you.
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• CrossFit Mobility Certified
• First Aid/CPR Certified
• 2010 Masters National Weightlifting Championships – 2nd place
• 2010 Masters Pan American Weightlifting Championships – Qualifier

Andy Douds - Trainer
n September of 2008 I found CrossFit by way of a recommendation to visit the main website – CrossFit.com. Scaling (a lot) the main site WODs immediately showed me 10+ years of little activity had left me inflexible, weaker than I would have guessed, and just enough cardio to run and hide! With a consistent diet of CrossFit those three areas improved significantly and efficiently – largely due to the combinations of cardio and strength. My current fitness goals include starting to compete in Masters Weightlifting sometime in 2011.
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• CrossFit Kids Certified
• Myers Park High School Engineering Teacher

Craig Errington - Trainer
From being a wee nipper (kid) I have always been active in sports. I had the true fortune to play professional rugby all over the world. I always worked out at traditional gyms and never thought rugby could be replaced. I was pursueded by a rugby friend to try one workout and hooked would be a understatement. Ultimate CrossFit replaced rugby!! The comparisons between rugby and CrossFit are uncanny. Both have a individual element, a team element, the element of watching yourself and all around improve day by day, practice by practice. The friends born in the trenches of rugby are the same of the toil and sweat at Ultimate, pushing each other, rib on each other, coaches asking more of you. “CrossFit, life after rugby”
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified

Cameron Green - Trainer
I have always loved to workout, the longer, the better. I competed for JMU in sprint triathlons to half-ironmans, and continued post-college. I couldn’t get enough of training for hours and hours on end. I started getting injured from training so long each day. I never strength-trained and couldn’t understand why someone would choose that over a 2 hour run. I was also eating everything and anything because I felt like I deserved it after 2-5 hours of working out. Not so. I came across CF in 2009 and after going about 2-3 times a week for 6 months, and continuing to train for half-marathons and triathlons, I crossed over to mostly CF in 2010, but kept a balance of hot yoga (to keep me flexible) and trail running (because I love it so). I changed my diet, saw changes in my lifts, workouts, and body.It became contagious and I knew I wanted to become certified to encourage other people to not be scared of lifting heavy weights. Being able to coach at Ultimate and work out among such dedicated and motivated athletes is an absolute honor. I am excited to keep helping people to become the best athletes they can be, and feel inspired myself each time I coach.
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• CrossFit Endurance Certified

Chad Hagerman - Trainer
When I first walked into the Ultimate CrossFit gym over 2 years ago, I didn’t know what I was getting into. This isn’t your normal gym. I felt like Rocky training to fight Drago but I was hooked. Maybe a little blood, lots of sweat, but no tears later, I’m in the best shape of my life. My personality is that of wanting to help others. I’ve coached multiple youth teams over the years and the drive to coach is still there. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and seeing kids and adults alike make strides to improve themselves both physically and mentally. It’s amazing how results build confidence! Only CrossFit had the intensity to make me consider quitting during a workout but I couldn’t wait to come back and do it again tomorrow.
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• Diehard Virginia Tech Hokie
• Washed up athlete… now Crossfit is my sport

Amber Lewis - Trainer
I love CrossFit. I love nutrition – I am a foodie at heart and sometimes that doesn’t go hand in hand. So I spend a lot of time paleo-izing foodie food! I love challenging myself and others to be their very best. Whether it’s to pick up a max weight deadlift, run a 5k or cut out the soda. I am always ready to talk shop – friends & family will say I am “mildly” passionate about it. You will find me both in the gym and outside leading bootcamp. My loves outside the gym are my dogs and my Mini (“Pearl”).
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• USA Weightlifting Certified Coach
• Learned the kipping pull up before my husband (the other Lewis)

Ryan Nance - Trainer
Exercise has always been my way of escaping the problems of the world. I’ve often referred to it as my “drug” of choice and for good reasons. When I have a bad day I don’t think about having a beer, I think about burning off that steam by training, although I’m not against a beer now and again either. I happened upon Ultimate Crossfit by chance in the corner of an old warehouse-turned gym in ’08 and quickly fell in love with it. Yes, I had invested many hours at the Y and Gold’s Gym over the years but I had always preferred sports or martial arts for my exercise because such endeavors didn’t bore me. Crossfit changed my entire perception of what exercise could be. I had never considered there could be a sport where you tried to out-exercise each other or at times, yourself.  I have yet to get even slightly bored with this fitness system and I don’t foresee that ever happening. As a student of Crossfit, I love the anticipation I feel before each WOD when I hear “3,2,1, GO!”  As a coach I equally enjoy the thrill and satisfaction of watching someone achieve their goals.  My only warning to anyone who wants to try it out: Crossfit is addictive!
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• Youn Wha Ryu Martial Arts Instructor

Elizabeth Naum - Trainer
I grew up playing and loving sports, but once I graduated from college and started a family, I sought out new ways to stay active and competitive.  After a few years of running full and half-marathons (hating every second of it) and developing a serious gym-hero complex at the local Y, I was introduced to Crossfit.  I was hooked instantly – I feel like I’ve been let in on a fitness secret that I want to share with everyone!!  Crossfit boasts all of the best elements of sport: hard work, heart, determination and camaraderie.  Yet, perhaps its greatest attribute is its community – the trainers and other athletes – who support and encourage each other through bad days and PRs, toward personal greatness.  As a trainer, I have to say it is the best feeling in the world when you can help a client work out a skill like muscle-ups or double unders, or hit a PR!!  I am so excited and honored to be a part of the Ultimate Crossfit community and look forward to helping others attain their own personal goals.
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• CrossFit Kids Certified

Jaye Peterman - Trainer
If you read a few of these bios, you’ll notice a common theme. All of us love CrossFit and love helping people achieve their goals. Crossfit is simply the most effective way for anyone, and I do mean anyone, to develop all aspects of fitness. It just makes you better, all around. I’ve been active my whole life, especially cycling and rock climbing, and I used to spend/waste a lot of time trying different exercise programs that were supposed to get me “in shape” for one thing or another. Some worked for a while, but weren’t sustainable. Most of them were a waste of time, but (you knew this was coming) not Crossfit. I participate in Crossfit because it’s fun and it works. I coach Crossfit because I want to help others experience this as well. Come and see for yourself.
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• CrossFit Gymnastics Certified
• CrossFit Mobility Certified

Bryan Russell - Trainer
I was drawn to CrossFit after years of running, and way too much time with personal trainers. I was looking for something that would really kick my butt and get me in the best shape I could be in. The first class I took at Ultimate told me I’d found what I was looking for. I’ve never really been involved in team sports, but there was something so cool about doing a work out with 15 other people, all of whom were at different skill levels yet all of whom could appreciate the work everyone did in the work out. I knew I had to make it part of my life for good. I was drawn to training because I wanted to help others discover what I had found. I was by no means a great athlete, or even a good one when I started. But through the training I received I made a lot of progress, and I wanted to help others make that same progress.
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• CrossFit Mobility Certified
• CrossFit Nutrition Certified
• CrossFit Endurance Certified
• USA Weightlifting Certified Coach

Taylor Seeloff - Trainer
After high school I was pretty much out of the world of competitive sports. It did not take me very long to realize how much I missed competing in football and baseball. I had some friends doing Crossfit and I spent about 6 months staring at the crossfit.com website before deciding to try a workout. Finally, “Barbara” came across the screen and I decided to give it a shot. Told myself I was never doing that again and then the next day I gave Eva a go. Definitely decided to retire my Crossfit days and move on… Anyways, here I am a year and a half later and I cannot turn away. It has become a major part of my life and I love every minute of it. I eventually got my Level 1 Cert and after being at UCF for 6 months and I was blessed with the opportunity to become a member of the trainer staff. It has added an entirely new perspective for me regarding Crossfit, and has made me love it even more. I want everyone that gets involved in Crossfit to have as great an experience as I have and I hope to help facilitate that environment in any way possible.
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified

Mie Yoshinaga - Trainer
I love love love love love love to snatch. And Clean and Jerk. And CrossFit. But more than anything else, I love Ultimate CrossFit and everything about the gym. I became a trainer, because I want people to love them too!
The best moment I had as a trainer was during a snatch workout. A client looked at me and she said, “this is really fun.” My heart melted.
• Experienced CrossFit Athlete
• CrossFit Level 1 Certified
• USA Weightlifting Certified Coach