MIKI CAREY
HEAD COACH AND OWNER
Miki is a passionate and driven coach whose inspiration comes from clients and their successes finding their inner athlete. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a BS in Kinesiology/Exercise Physiology. She is a CFL2 coach, living and breathing everything about it. She has been an athlete all her life, dancing the majority of it. Through sports, dancing and training, Miki has learned that goals are a must in anyone’s life, and that your community is your support network. You need your community to achieve your goals and your goals need community for inspiration! Let’s show our community some support!
She specializes in strength development and functional training, for over 10yrs here in FL and over 8yrs in Michigan before.
Miki also travels for Jeff Martone (owner of Tactical Athlete) teaching CrossFit Kettlebell Certifications. She fully intends to make this list as long as possible to provide as much knowledge to clients as she can.
Miki loves to compete in CrossFit too! She competes as an individual, but loves the camaraderie of a team. It’s very motivational to compete side by side with your friends and clients. Miki prides herself in her unique and irreplaceable way to motivate clients to be their best, physically and mentally.
“Welcome to the community of people who have decided that easy will no longer suffice.” –Coach Rippetoe
CERTIFICATIONS
CrossFit Level 1 & Level 2 (And coached at Level 1)
CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting
Pendlay Level 1 & Level 2
Norwood Weightlifting (Russian Oly)
Columbus Weightlifting
USAW Club Coach
CrossFit Powerlifting
CrossFit Kettlebell Level 1 and Level 2
AKC Kettlebell
Tactical Athlete Level 1
CrossFit Gymnastics
CrossFit POSE/Endurance
ACE Personal Training, Pilates and CPR
JASON BONNICK
COACH AND CO-OWNER
I have been in the “strength and conditioning” aspect of the fitness industry for well over 10 years. My fitness background stemmed from High School/College football, to acquiring my NCFS Certification in 2011, to currently being a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. I can honestly say that “I have had a life changing experience due to CrossFit”. I am constantly amazed at all the different ways that CrossFit challenges me. Every day I look forward to creating new ways of progressively pushing myself and others. Through CrossFit we can learn to use what we once thought were road blocks and barricades, as stepping stones and building blocks to better bodies and brighter tomorrows.
CERTIFICATIONS
CrossFit Level 1
CrossFit Level 2
USA Weightlifting Level 2
USA Weightlifting Level 1
NCFS PT
ELMIR TAHIROVIC
COACH
I was born in Bosnia and moved to the United States at the age of 7. I grew up in Palm Beach Gardens playing Ice Hockey and having fun on the water as a kid.
Living in a major city was always a dream of mine. So in 2011 I decided to move to Chicago. It was there that I joined an amazing CrossFit box, and like everyone else I drank the CrossFit Kool-Aid and never looked back. On several occasions I booked my flights around my WOD schedule. I had to make sure I was able to get a workout in before I left, and as soon as I got back.
After some time I decided this is something I wanted to do. I signed up for the next available CrossFit Level 1 certification course, and a few years later I got my CrossFit Level 2 certification. I always look forward to learning something new, and passing it on to someone else.
I enjoy working with others and helping them achieve their goals no matter how big or small. I know it’s cliché, but CrossFit changed my life, it made working out exciting and I look forward to the day that I change someone else’s life.
CERTIFICATIONS
CrossFit L1 Certification
CrossFit L2 Certification
CrossFit Scaling Course
CrossFit Kids
CrossFit Strongman
SEMINARS:
Cal Strength 2012
Cressey Sport Performance: The BIG 3 2015
Kate Pate
COACH
I grew up in central Virginia, as a competitive cheerleader and cheered my way through college. I was that strange girl on the team who always loved the conditioning piece of practices. When I graduated, I went the traditional “Run 3-5 miles a day” route to try to stay in shape. I was invited to try a CrossFit by a few friends after moving down to West Palm Beach for a job. The plan was to try it out for three months and then go back to the globo gym. Ten years later, and I’m still showing up to CrossFit every day!
My other passion is helping people with their nutrition. I have coached both CrossFit and Nutrition in Chicago, Virginia and have come full circle back to where it all started, in South Florida. My favorite part of coaching is watching people do things they never believed they could do!
CERTIFICATIONS
CrossFit Level 1
CrossFit Level 2
USAW Level 1
Precision Nutrition Level 1
Nutritional Coaching Institute Level 1
CJ Rivera
COACH
CJ was born and raised in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He first found CrossFit in 2014 and quickly developed a passion for learning and teaching. Coaching since 2016, CJ takes pride in being able to connect, grow, and guide people while on their fitness journey. Outside of the gym, you can find CJ hanging with his four pitty puppies, volunteering at the shelter, spending time with family, or out on the water paddling or free diving. He brings a smile to every workout, training session, and class. CJ’s energy is contagious; he will have you laughing while on the path to achieve your goals.
CERTIFICATIONS
CrossFit Level 1
Tom Flaherty
COACH
I grew up just outside of Philadelphia, playing soccer and baseball from a very young age. It wasn’t until high school that I discovered the weight room, and quickly fell in love with it. I started trying to learn everything I could about Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean Claude-Van Damme and Bruce Lee. Since then, my involvement in the gym has evolved from the classic gym bro trying to max out my bench press every day in 2006, to the dedicated and passionate Level 2 CrossFit Coach you see today.
As the newest addition to the Gardens CrossFit Team, I feel privileged and proud to be able to share my experiences in the gym throughout the last 15 years with people from all walks of life. Whether it’s coaching CrossFit class or private training sessions, seeing the look on someone’s face when they accomplish something they never thought possible will forever be one of my favorite things. It is my firm belief that fitness should be as fun as it is challenging, and that there is a place for everyone at our gym.
CERTIFICATIONS
CrossFit L1 Certification
CrossFit L2 Certification
CPR/First Aid Certified
CrossFit Scaling Course
CrossFit Lesson Planning Course
CrossFit Dumbbell Course
Ashley McDonald
COACH
I’ve always joked that I’ve been bro-lifting since before it was cool; the only girl on the ‘boys side’ of the gym all through high school and college. I’m a native of NJ, but started Crossfit in September 2015 to meet people after moving to the DC area. I was immediately hooked, pursuing my Level I certification just months later with aspirations to coach as soon as I could.
The rumors are true; you can find love at Crossfit and I sure did! I met my future husband at the gym, who managed to convince me to move out to Colorado where I was lucky enough to be part of an incredible Crossfit community and staff, coaching there for ~8 years.
I’ve been dropping into Gardens CF for over 10 years when coming to visit my parents, and with our recent move to South Florida was so excited to join yet another amazing community to call home. In addition to my love of fitness (long chippers and overhead movements if I have my pick), I have a strong passion for health and wellness, cooking and eating, and could talk about nutrition all day long!
CrossFit Level 2
CrossFit Level 1
Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified
