We truly love what we do
and helping you achieve your goals is what we do best.
Our Mission
At CrossFit Ampersand we are the HAPPY GYM! Everything we do stems from our belief in helping improve people’s lives through proven methods and FUN. Whether your goal is to lose weight, gain muscle, improve your quality of life, or train for a race/competition, we are here to help you reach your goal.
Meet the coaches
Jeff
Jeff's passion is to see people's lives changed. "I realized that doing the normal routine doesn't allow for growth and had to go find something different, and fun. That's when I found CrossFit. I grew up playing team sports and when I experienced the camaraderie of suffering through a WOD together, I was hooked." After seeing what CrossFit did for his life and his wife's, he continued his fitness education and became a CF-L1 trainer and opened his own box in order to give others this same experience. Jeff currently is a CrossFit Level 2 trainer and is continually seeking knowledge to better serve his athletes.
Jeff's favorite job is being a husband to his wife Harmony and father to his boys. Most importantly Jeff loves Jesus, and is thankful for His grace.
Harmony
Harmony is a native Nevadan who grew up hiking, biking, camping, and skiing from the time she could walk. She ran track and cross-country in high school and continued running throughout college, winning her first half marathon. A year later, a knee injury halted her running and she switched to strength training. Harmony found CrossFit while attempting to regain strength and mobility after knee surgery. She quickly grew to love it and has been training and coaching ever since.
Harmony is passionate about helping people find a happy and healthy balance for their life through exercise & nutrition. She is a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, PN1 Nutrition Coach, and a Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticsm Coach.
Harmony is also a follower of Jesus, avid reader, photographer, and collector of coffee mugs. She is madly in love with her husband Jeff and their little boys Judah & Asher.
Ilene
Hi I’m Ilene! I was born and raised in the Carson Valley and live here today with my husband and two amazing kids. I have been married since 2009 and love every moment of it. The core of who I am rests upon my faith, love for my family, and being part of my awesome community!
For fun I spend a lot of my time on home renovations, hiking with my dogs, and paddleboarding at the lake. I have trained in American Kenpo since I was 15. I was never athletic or coordinated but it was the one sport I excelled at, and I continue to train in it today. In 2015 I started leather working as an art hobby for myself, but now it has turned into a thriving business that I really enjoy!
A few years ago I discovered my absolute love for CrossFit. When I got started I knew nothing about real health or fitness. After I joined, I realized I had a real passion for it. I discovered my love for weightlifting, comradery with those I was training with and love for feeling stronger and healthier every day. After a while I knew I wanted to take it a step further, that I had to know more!
I knew I wanted to share this passion with others, so I studied and worked to become a coach! Today I get to live out that passion daily and I can’t get enough. I love working with people, seeing them achieve unbelievable goals, and getting to build into my community. CrossFit has become part of who I am and I can’t imagine myself without it!
Brandon
Hi I am Brandon. Born in Idaho, and raised in the Eastern Sierra. Recently moved back from the San Jose area where I had the opportunity to work with a variety of athletes in both group and personal training formats which included teachers, corporate types, roofers, grandmothers, professional triathletes, Olympic qualifiers, military, LEO, Secret Service and EMS personnel. What I eventually took away from each of those experiences is that we are all made out of the same stuff, and that it's really the software (our mental approach) that ultimately decides how fit we can be. Of course, wear and tear is different for all of us and that's where Ampersand's coaching approach really shines.
Past certifications have included RKC (Russian Kettlebell Challenge), CrossFit Endurance, CrossFit Level 1, ACE Personal Trainer, and USA Cycling (level 2). I've spent time training at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista and have competed in predominantly endurance centric sports (triathlons, ultramarathons, multi-day adventure racing, and the occasional 10k). Current focus is on Kettlebell Sport and hope to compete again in some long cycle events in the next couple of years.
One of my favorite parts of coaching is hearing your stories and how you got to where you are today, and of course to understand where you want to go next.
Let's do this!
Bianca
Tay
Hi, I'm Tay! I was born and raised in Carson City and love being surrounded by all of my family and friends. I love finding new adventures where I can feel the sunshine on my face.
I never felt "athletic" growing up. I tried all the sports but never really found my fit. In 2021, my best friend convinced me to do a No Sweat Intro and I was convinced that it would not be for me. Little did I know I would find my passion and a group of people that would become invaluable to me. I found a sense of confidence and challenge that made me want to grow and get stronger every day both physically and mentally.
In 2023 I realized that the next adventure on my list was to venture into coaching. I started by becoming a PN1 Nutrition Coach and shortly after became a Crossfit Level 1 trainer. I am passionate about meeting people and helping them to see their potential and challenge themselves in all ways!
Ashley
Hi, I’m Ashley! I was born and raised here in the Carson Valley and I couldn’t dream of a more beautiful place for me to raise my little girl! I am a school secretary by day and a CrossFit enthusiast in my off time. I also enjoy hiking, exploring, trips to the river and Tahoe beach days with my friends and family.
I’ve always been athletic. I grew up playing softball, played volleyball after high school and I began training (CrossFit) in 2010. After having my daughter a few years later, the fitness aspect of my life fell to the wayside and I found myself to be out of shape. I got back into CrossFit and started training with CrossFit Ampersand in June, 2016.
I quickly fell in love with CrossFit and the Ampersand community. The support and motivation between our athletes is incredible! I can honestly say, I have made everlasting friendships with the most genuine people I know!
This journey over the past few years has changed both my life and my health immensely. After my own transformation, I knew I had to pursue my love of CrossFit and my passion for fitness. I received my CrossFit Level 1 in March, 2020 and my next goal is to become nutritionally certified as well.
I am SO excited to be able to help others in their journey and look forward to training with you!
Maddy
Hi I’m Maddy! I’ve been a Nevada transplant since 2022 due to being stationed at the Marine
Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center across the state line in California. The Eastern Sierras have been an incredible place to be stationed and it brought me back to my passion for Crossfit because of the Ampersand community.
I initially took my Level 1 in 2015 and just recently received my Level 2 in 2024. If that isn’t proof that the Crossfit methodology works, I’m not quite sure what is. While the discipline of the exercise is designed for consistent progress and health, the communities within the discipline are so much greater than that.
I have used Crossfit to train for personal goals like running a marathon, participating in GoRuck and Spartan Race endurance events, and ultimately to keep me at my best for my career in the Marine Corps. I want our members to use Crossfit for ways to accomplish their own goals.
I am here to be the best advocate for you all in this gym. Thank you for showing me the proof of concept in fitness and community. How can I make your time with me the best hour of your day?
Liza
Hi, my name is Liza.
I was raised in the Carson Valley and grew up loving sports and the outdoors. I waterskied competitively until I was 16, I ski raced into college, and was an avid soccer player.
Once I finished ski racing, I started coaching for the Kirkwood Ski Team and I coached 13-18 year olds for 15 years.
Because of my involvement in sports, strength and endurance training was an important part of my life. After skiing, my fitness was still important and I went through phases of working out at a gym, road and mountain biking, at home workouts, and then in 2019 I found CrossFit and I was immediately hooked! Not only did I love the community atmosphere of Ampersand, but I once again found that feeling of competition that I had playing sports while growing up. I love that there are so many skills to continue to improve on and I can see my progress in benchmarks that we test.
It is rewarding to coach and to help athletes reach or exceed their goals. I am excited to be a part of the Ampersand team and to help our athletes reach their fitness goals and to achieve skills they never thought possible.
Greg
Hi my name is Greg!
I was born and raised here in Nevada and currently living in Gardnerville with my loving wife Brandi.
I have a passion for racing and riding dirtbikes. Six years ago after a riding accident, I joined Ampersand to help rehab my injury and take my fitness to the next level. During that time, I became just as passionate about CrossFit as I was about racing.
I decided to get my CrossFit L1 certification and began a year long Intership with the coaches here at Ampersand! I am excited to share my passion with others, not only helping racers but anyone looking to achieve their fitness goals!