Wayne Burns
Fortified Owner, Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Trainer
- Owner & Founder of Fortified Fitness with wife Stephanie Burns. Fortified Fitness was founded in 2013 – We are a family owned, local small business.
- Owner & Founder of Kingdom Custom Cabinetry with wife Steph Burns
- Experience
- Personal Trainer & Group Trainer since 2013
- Sportsmetrics Certified Trainer
- RRCA Certified Run Coach
- Fun Facts
- American Ninja Warrior Course Tester since 2017
- Seminar Speaker, Presenter & Curriculum Writer
- Occasional Guest Radio Host on Moody Radio
- Run For Him 5K & 10K Race Director (2013 – present) which benefits the Bruce Gilley Memorial Foundation which sends young people on missions all over the world!
- Worship Leader – guitar & vocals for over 20 years
- Over 25 years of carpentry experience – framing, custom trim carpentry & custom cabinet builder (Fortified obstacle rigs and obstacles designed and built by Wayne as well as Fortified Fitness Studio build out)
- My passion is to help people of ALL fitness levels discover their God-given potential and encourage them to set and reach fitness and health goals.
- Family
- Married to business parter, Stephanie Burns, since 1998 and dad to three amazing boys!
- We have a huge heart for fostering and adoption – God built our family through the amazing gift of adoption.
Contact Wayne: 615-202-2486 / email
Wayne & Stephanie Burns founded Fortified Fitness in 2013 out of a deep calling from the Lord to walk with, encourage and inspire people to reach their God-given potential and live life to the full.
After attending a family ninja warrior clinic, they were inspired to build a ninja warrior program to include all ages in 2017 in addition to the fitness studio.
Currently Fortified Fitness includes a 2400 sq. ft. private fitness studio as well as a 6,000 sq. ft. ninja warrior facility and runs programs for ages 3 & up – Fitness for the whole family!
Fred Mindach
Operations Manager, Personal & Group Fitness Trainer, Functional Screening Coach, Life Coach
- Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2017
- Certifications
- ACE Certified Trainer
- StrongFirst Level II Instructor Certification
- Precision Nutrition Coach
- Functional Movement Screen Coach
- Experience:
- Personal Trainer with the Institute of Human Performance
- Served in United States Navy as an Aviation Structural Mechanic and Hydraulicsman.
- Became a Second Class Petty Officer and was the supervisor for airframes in the Phase Division where I supported wartime missions after 9/11.
- Personal Training Director at Bally Total Fitness in California
- Led Physical Fitness Program for the Navy.
- During my travels I have been able to learn from some of the top strength coaches in the world, racking up many certifications in the process.
My mission now is to help people realize how awesome they were created and to work from there strengths instead of working from what they think are negatives. I want people to realize their full potential both physically and spiritually instead of living under a self limiting title that either they or those around them have given them.
Family: When I am not working I am training keeping my strength skills fine tuned and spending time with my awesome wife and 4 kids!
Janice Quick
HR Manager, Fitness Trainer, Events Coordinator
- Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2017
- Hometown: Aniston, AL
- Certifications
- Action Personal Training Certification
- AFAA Group Fitness Certification
- WERQ Cardio Dance Certification & Zumba certification
- CPR / First Aid Certified
- Experience:
- Was Certified Procedural Coder for 10 years (1997-2007) as a business manager of medical practice.
- FUN Facts
- Completed half-marathons & Spartan Races & Warrior Dashes
- loves the outdoors (camping, hiking, canoeing, ATV riding, OCR racing)
- Loves dancing and rock climbing
- Is a trained cake decorator
- Family
- Janice is a military wife and has been for over 20 years and thus is a big supporter and advocate for military/military families.
- Proud mom and grandmother
- Her biggest accomplishment = her kids
- one is a mom and a hairdresser
- one is an occupational therapist for a non-profit
- one does inner city mission work
Personal motto – “It’s never too late to become what you might have been.G
Sean Vance
Head Ninja Warrior & OCR Coach, Program Director, Group Fitness Trainer, Events Leader
- Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2017
- Hometown: Smyrna TN
- Experience & Accomplishments:
- Sent 15+ athletes to National Finals in Rock Climbing & Ninja Warrior
- Has Qualified for Ninja Warrior Nationals
- American Ninja Warrior Course Tester
- Favorite Obstacle: Muscle Balls
Michael Kenney
Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Trainer
- Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2017
- Certifications & Education
- ACSM Exercise Physiologist
- Bachelors degree in Exercise Science from MTSU
- Precision Nutrition Certification
- Experience & Accomplishments:
- Currently Serving as a Marine (for 7 years)
- Was a supervisor at Amazon for 3 years
- Completed the St. Jude Marathon in 2017
- His fastest mile time is 4:50
- His maximum pull-ups (strict) is currently 36
- Shot a Barrett 50 caliber 1880m and hit target at night
Michelle Austin
Personal Fitness Trainer, Group Fitness Trainer, Run Coach
- Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2015
- Education & Certifications
- Bachelor’s degree from MTSU in communication disorders
- Master’s degree from MTSU in speech-language pathology
- American Council on Exercise (ACE) certified personal trainer
- RRCA Certified Run Coach
- CPR/First Aid Certified from the AHA/American Red Cross
- Loves Running: 2 full marathons and 15 half-marathons
- Family: Mom of 2 teens and has been married for over 22 years
Callan Austin
Aerial Silks & Fitness Coach, Aerial Silks Program Director, Event Leader
- Worked at Fortified since June 2020
- Hometown: Hendersonville TN
- Education & Experience:
- Nutrition Major at MTSU
- Began teaching dance at age 17, silks at age 19
- Favorite exercise: Jumping Squats
- Fun Facts:
- Established Murfreesboro’s first silks program!
- Won dance competition scholarship to study in NYC with Broadway performers at age 12
- Middle child of 3
- I love to help others accomplish goals!
Jules Craddock
Group Fitness Trainer
- Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2017
- Certifications & Education
- StrongFirst instructor
- NSCA and FMS
- Has a Bachelor’s Degree from MTSU in Finance
- Experience:
- Has over 8 years experience in Professional Fitness Training
- Family – Married and has 3 kids and a grand-baby
Travis Heyward
Ninja Warrior Coach
- Worked at Fortified Fitness Since 2019
- Hometown: Myrtle Beach SC
- Favorite Obstacles: bar hoping like salmon ladder, flying bar, dejavu
- Favorite Exercise: Pull-ups – record is 28 strict
- FUN Facts:
- Love to build obstacles
- Training to compete on American Ninja Warrior
- Competes in OCR events: favorites are Spartan and Savage!
- Loves: running, climbing and parkour
- Completed p90x Series 4 years in a row (1 plus 2 and 3 extended)
- Certified Butcher
- Family: Married since 2014
Amanda Brown
Group Fitness Trainer
- Trained and Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2017
- Hometown: Murfreesboro TN
- Education & Experience:
- BS degree in Exercise Science
- Over 15 years experience teaching a variety of group exercises classes
- 4 years experience in Fitness management
- Family – Mother to 5 strong ninjas
- Loves: Jesus, being outside, hiking, exercising, colorful and spicy food, adventures with my family, reading, dark chocolate, and taking pictures.
Jonah Brown
Ninja Warrior Coach & Assistant Coach
- Trained & Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2017
- Hometown: Murfreesboro TN
- Accomplishments
- Participated in Season 1 of American Ninja Warrior Jr
- Placed at 1st in 13-17 yrs Savage Race Spring 2019
- Dead Hang record: 12 minutes
- Continuous Salmon ladder rungs: 30
- Has worked at New Frontiers camp
- Loves
- Jesus, climbing, ninja warrior, working at New Frontiers, being outside, spending time with family, and reading.
Caleb Brown
Ninja Warrior Coach & Assistant Coach
- Trained and worked at Fortified Fitness since 2017
- Hometown: Murfreesboro TN
- Accomplishments
- Qualified for TOP 4 in 11-12yr olds on American Ninja Warrior Jr – Season 1
- Participated in American Ninja Warrior Jr – Season 2
- Placed 3rd in 13-17 years – Savage Race Spring 2019
- Dead Hang record: 23 minutes on rings
- Loves
- Jesus, climbing, photography, camping, ninja warrior, time with friends, reading and sweets.
Rachel Beth Drake
Ninja Warrior Coach & Assistant Coach
- Trained and Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2017
- Hometown: Lascassas, TN
- Favorite Obstacle: vertical limit and cliffhanger
- Accomplishments
- 2x UNAA Top 10 finalist, 1x NNL Top 10 finalist
- Is qualified for NNL Finals 2020
- Dead hang record: 35 minutes on wooden rings
- Fun Facts:
- Participated in rock climbing for 3 years before getting her start in ninja
- Has been homeschooled her entire life
- Likes to go hiking
Rachel Brown
Ninja Warrior Coach & Assistant Coach
- Trained & Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2018
- Has trained for Ninja Warrior for since 2015
- Accomplishments
- Conquered her first 14 ft warped wall at age 12
- Has competed in Adult Pro division since she was 12
- NNL Season 2 Top finalist – 2nd Place – Women’s Pro Division
- She was the top youth female in UNAA Finals Season 1 & 2
- She placed in top 5 in Pro Women at UNAA Finals – Season 3
- Fun Facts
- Favorite Obstacle: Warped Wall – to date she has conquered a 16ft warped
- She has trained Martial Arts and holds a Black Belt
- She has enjoyed gymnastics, power tumbling, basketball, track and flag football wall and is working towards an 18 ft warped wall.
Elijah Browning
Ninja Warrior Coach & Assistant Coach
- Trained & Worked at Fortified Fitness since 2018
- Accomplishments
- Contestant on American Ninja Warrior – Season 1 – “The Boss Ninja”
- The only kid who has qualified & competed at all 7 National Ninja Finals (NNL and UNAA)
- Won 2019 UNAA World Finals (13 & under category)
- Won 2019 State Games of America 1st ever Ninja Challenge (13 & under category)
- Point leader in the NNL 2017 & 2018
- finished 2nd 2019 Savage Race Pro 17 & under division
- Fun Facts
- runs track and XC (for years) & plays flag football (9 years)
- has competed ninja at 46 gyms in 24 states
- loves building ninja obstacles with his Papaw, competing with his friends from around the country and training kids
FOLLOW on YouTube & Instagram: Elijahthebossninja
Anna Bobo
Aerial Silks Coach & Assistant Coach
- Worked at Fortified Fitness since November 2020
- Hometown: Lascassas, TN
- Accomplishments:
- Dead Hang PR: 11 minutes
- Pull-up PR: 19 consecutive
- Member of Soccer Team that won D-1 State Championships
- Favorite Obstacle: Pegs / Favorite Exercise: Sprints
- FUN Facts:
- Played Soccer since age 4 / Travel Soccer since age 8
- Has Traveled to 5 countries
- Participates in mission work in India
- Loves: Jesus, soccer, ninja warrior, aerial silks, adventures, photography, learning different languages, baking, time with friends.
Josh Burns
Ninja Warrior Assistant Coach
- Son of Wayne & Stephanie Burns, Fortified Fitness Owners
- Helped build Fortified Fitness Studio & Fortified Warrior Ninja rig and obstacles with his family
- Attends Siegel High School
- Member of Siegel Cross Country Region Champions in 2020
- Sports: Cross Country, Soccer, Ninja Warrior, Basketball
- An every day runner – Longest Run Streak: ran every day 2018-2020 – 1000 days in a row
