Conceived in the South, born in the North, raised in Alabama, Ohio and Texas. Alabama is my home. Roll Tide! Married Melody Gurley in March of 1980 … this coming March (2010) will be 30 years my lovely wife has proven her undying love for her husband. Some men are blessed. Some men are blessed more. Entered the nations military service in 1980 serving in the USAF. Stationed at Warner Robbins, Ga and Cocoa Beach FL … I had a tough tour of duty. During this time, Melody and I had our two children, Christian and Jeanie. After my tour of duty, I secured a job with UPS. Worked for UPS for near 8 years in Lakeland Florida until we had a disagreement … they said I wrecked a truck. I said I didn’t. Hum … I guess I didn’t secure that job after all. I moved back to Alabama in 1990 and went to school for computer science. It was during those two years that I knew what I would NOT be doing for the rest of my life. Went to work in 1991 for One to One personal training. Fell in love with personal training and helping people. In 1996, I was hired on with Health-Link, a physical therapy clinic, where I learned a tremendous amount about the human body, and how its imbalances cause pain for its owner. Oh … and how to restore balance back to the body to eliminate pain, via myoficial release techniques. It was during that time a young college student came to intern with Health-Link. His name was Forrest Walden. (Still is his name, BTW) He and I teamed up to run Health-Link’s fitness facility. In June 2001, we partnered to open the first Fitness Together franchise in the Southeast. In 2004, I sold my interests to Forrest and went a different direction. I began to study marketing. Fell madly in love with it. (I should be locked up) In 2008, the phone rang. It was Forrest calling to ask me if I’d ever heard of CrossFit. I told him “no.” He told me, “Go to the website and call me back.” I did, and I told him, “I’d have to get in shape before I could ever do this kind of workout.” He said, “No you don’t. Go grab a jump rope and do 50 squats.” That’s how I began CrossFit. And ultimately, that’s how I ended up on staff here at Iron Tribe Fitness. If you’ll allow me one bragging pleasure … … Going back to my children, each are married and each have provided Melody and I each with 3 grand-buddies each. But now, we’ve just been told we are going to have a 7th little grand-buddy. Everything you’ve ever heard that was great about being a grandparent is true … and then some! Finally, I want to say to you personally, that all of us at Iron Tribe Fitness promise to serve you like you’ve never been served in a fitness community before. Welcome aboard. Buckle your seat belts. It’s going to be a wild ride.