Meet
the
Team
Cort Payne
Owner, Manager, Lead Personal Trainer, Handyman
Role at Pop’s: Owner, Manager, Lead Personal Trainer, Handyman
Hometown: Dallas, TX
College Attended: University of Nevada Las Vegas
Degrees: B.S. Exercise Physiology, M.S. Exercise Physiology
Personal Training Program Completed: ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist 2015
Other Certifications: Crossfit L2, Fascial Stretch Specialist: Medical L3, Functional Range Conditioning
Community Involvement: Volunteer at Cook Childrens Hospital in the Childlife Zone
Guilty Pleasure: Ice Cream
Baseball Walk Up Song: Blockbuster Night, Part 1 by Run the Jewels
Biggest Accomplishment: Finishing a Masters Program with a 3.9 GPA while opening Pop’s Gym
Spirit Animal: A dog because they are friendly and smart.
Fitness Background: Cort grew up playing multiple sports and always enjoyed the exercise portion of it. Exercise Physiology combines Cort’s two passions- learning the science behind how the body works and exercise!
Why did Cort become a personal trainer? A few elements of personal training drew Cort to the profession- the personal connection he forms with his clients, helping clients achieve their goals, seeing their excitement and confidence increase along the way and his ability to utilize current research to help clients reach goals more quickly.
Favorite Way to Workout: Strength/Hypertrophy Training
Favorite Place in Fort Worth: Pop’s Gym
Cort Payne
Owner, Manager, Lead Personal Trainer, Handyman
Chloe Robinson
Membership Coordinator
Role at Pop’s: Membership Coordinator
Hometown: Amarillo, TX
Guilty Pleasure: Dates & Peanut Butter
Baseball Walk Up Song: Classic by MKTO
Biggest Accomplishment: Finding a job that I love after graduating from Oklahoma State University.
Spirit Animal: An Otter, because I love hugs!
Fitness Background: Chloe played volleyball all growing up. She played college volleyball for two years at Angelo State University. After her volleyball career, Chloe gained a passion for running! Chloe ran her first Half-Marathon in Oklahoma City in 2021. Recently, she has loved Resistance Training and ways to make her stronger! Chloe loves being outside, going for walks, and especially playing any sport.
Why did Amber become a personal trainer? She is in the process of obtaining her NASM CPT. The reason she wanted to pursue this profession is being in the gym and seeing how much the other Personal Trainers are helping their clients. Chloe has loved seeing people be proud of what they are doing, along with feeling more confident in themselves. Chloe is really excited to start this journey and hopes to help those around her.
Favorite Way to Workout: Resistance Training & Cardio
Favorite Place in Fort Worth: The Tennis Courts by Tanglewood Elementary.
Chloe Robinson
Membership Coordinator
Hannah Sansom
Pilates Instructor, HIIT Instructor, Personal Trainer
Role at Pop’s: Pilates Instructor, HIIT Instructor, Personal Trainer
Hometown: Hallsville, TX
College Attended: Louisiana Tech University
Degree: B.L.A Communications with a minor in Marketing
Personal Training Program Completed: Cooper Institute, 2014
Guilty Pleasure: Beauty Products
Baseball Walk Up Song: That’s Not My Name by The Ting Tings
Biggest Accomplishment: Qualifying for the Boston Marathon
Spirit Animal: A giraffe because they eat slow and like to run fast!
Fitness Background: Hannah ran track and cross country growing up. After college, she began training for half marathons and, eventually, a full. While training for the Boston, she got a stress fracture on her pelvis. Not being able to run forced her to workout in other ways- spin classes, weight training, and, most recently, Pilates and HIIT!
Why did Hannah become a personal trainer? Hannah’s passion is helping people who typically don’t enjoy working out or feel intimidated by the gym look forward to working out. She loves breaking goals down into baby steps and seeing clients achieve them!
Favorite Way to Workout: Currently HIIT
Favorite Place in Fort Worth: The Modern Art Museum
Hannah Sansom
Pilates Instructor, HIIT Instructor, Personal Trainer
Jason Miyashiro
Personal Trainer
Role at Pop’s: Personal Trainer
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
College Attended: University of Southern California
Degree: B.S. in Exercise Physiology
Personal Training Program Completed: ACSM + NASM Certified
Additional Professions: Firearms Instructor
Guilty pleasure: Chocolate Covered Peanut Clusters
Baseball Walk Up Song: Glory by The Score
When is Jason most present?: When he’s shooting in a Sanctioned IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) match.
Biggest Accomplishment: Being the Overall winner at the 2019 IDPA Western Championship. Division Champion and 1st Place Master.
Spirit Animal: An eagle because of its power and representation of freedom.
Fitness Background: Jason has been working out for the last 30 years with experience in physical and occupational therapy. Strength and conditioning and mental management coaching are his specialties.
Why did Jason become a personal trainer? Jason lost his grandfather at a young age and wished he could have helped him. He made the decision then to pursue a career in the health and fitness industry.
Favorite Way to Workout: Sport Specific Interval Training
Jason Miyashiro
Personal Trainer
Spencer Stilwell
Personal Trainer
Role at Pop’s: Personal Trainer
Hometown: San Ramon, California
College Attended: Texas Christian University
Degree: B.S. in Movement Science
Personal Training Program Completed: ACSM Exercise Assessment + Prescription Course within Degree Requirements
Additional Professions: Investment Representative at Gus Bates Financial Services
Guilty Pleasure: Donuts or Ice Cream
Baseball Walk Up Song: Power by Kanye West
When is Spencer Most Present: Spencer is most present when facing a problem that needs a solution (and after he’s had coffee!)
Biggest Accomplishment: Pulling off a surprise proposal for his fiance!
Spirit Animal: If Spencer were an animal, he’d like to be a lion so he could have a great beard and be king of the jungle.
Fitness Background: Spencer played basketball and football his entire life, both of which required a lot of time devoted to getting bigger, faster and stronger. Throughout the years, he fell in love with the process and the discipline it takes to get results.
Why did Spencer become a Personal Trainer? Spencer loves the relationship he builds with his clients. For him, there is no better feeling than seeing someone realize they are making progress!
Favorite Place in Fort Worth: Amon G. Carter Stadium
Spencer Stilwell
Personal Trainer
Grisela Medellin
Personal Trainer
Role at Pop’s: Personal Trainer
Hometown: Azle, TX
College Attended: University of Texas at Arlington
Degrees: B.S. in Kinesiology
Guilty Pleasure: Carbs!
Baseball Walk Up Song: All I Do is Win by DJ Khaled
When is Grisela Most Present: In the morning.
Biggest Accomplishment: Graduating from College.
Spirit Animal: If Grisela was an animal, she would be a wolf because a wolf always takes care of the pack.
Why did Grisela become a Personal Trainer?
Grisela became a personal trainer because she has always had a passion for sports. What really pushed her to this career is that she loves helping people push themselves and gain confidence they were missing.
Grisela Medellin
Personal Trainer
Amber Blake
Personal Trainer
Role at Pop’s: Personal Trainer
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Personal Training Program Completed: PFTA-CPT, Cooper Institute-Bio Mechanics, NASM
Guilty Pleasure: Pastries!
Baseball Walk Up Song: 10K by KB
Biggest Accomplishment: Starting a Production Company with husband Richard Blake and to date producing three feature films, most recently right here in Fort Worth!
Spirit Animal: An Eagle because the Philadelphia Eagles, fly Eagles fly!
Fitness Background: Amber played Soccer and ran Cross Country growing up. With a passion for weight lifting she competed in Power Lifting Competitions & won first place in her weight class in 2004. While living in Los Angeles, Amber studied and personally trained gymnasts for 10 years, while also finding a love for CrossFit training. She has experience training all ages. Recently, she has loved developing Youth in athletic training with Speed, Agility & Injury Prevention training to help pursue their specific Sport Goals and performance.
Why did Amber become a personal trainer? She loves Fitness & People! Believes that feeling good, healthy and strong in your own body will help empower your everyday – she loves to help people find their way to do so and have fun doing it!
Favorite Way to Workout: Strength & Athletic Training
Favorite Place in Fort Worth: Pop’s Gym
Amber Blake
Personal Trainer
Richard Blake
Personal Trainer
Role at Pop’s: Personal Trainer
Hometown: Kenosha WI
College Attended: Northwestern, IL – Columbia College Chicago – UCLA
Degree(s): B.S. Sports Medicine, Film Production, Minor in historical literature
Personal Training Program Completed + Year: NASM 2008 – ISSA 2018 Master Trainer, Transformation Specialist 2016, Body Building Pro Card 2012, CrossFit and Boxing certified
Other Certification(s): Nutrition, Red Cross, ACE
Other Jobs (if any): Actor, Writer, Producer
Community Involvement: Hoping to bring a passion and growth for health and wellness as well as quality entertainment opportunities to the Fort Worth area.
Fun fact: Has been in 11 feature films and 23 television shows. Was featured on the cover of Men’s Health in 2012.
Guilty pleasure: Scotch or Bourbon
Baseball Walk Up Song: “Where the River Flows” by Collective Soul
When are you most present?: Monday through Thursday all day, Friday & Saturday am
Biggest Accomplishment: Writing, Directing, & Producing my first Feature Film “The Rocket”
If you were an animal, what would you be and why? Lion. My name means Lion, I love the power but also confidence and self control of a Lion, my hair often looks like a cartoon Lion
What is your background with fitness? Why did you become a personal trainer?
Richard Blake has been a professional trainer since 2004. His love of fitness began at a very young age after suffering a tragic accident that left him unable to play any contact sports. He turned to weight training and began studying the body, it’s functionality, and all that was possible to learn about building a healthy and inspirational lifestyle. Through out his training career he has worked with many high profile clients as well as celebrities such as Britney Spears, Hugh Jackman, Irina Voronina, Elias Koteas, Colm Meany, Kenneth Mitchell, Shawn Ashmore, Brady Tutton, Jesse Williams, Boston Tom, Billy Gibbons, Michael Carbonaro and Country music artist Liz Hill to name just a few. He and his pro-athlete wife Amber, have both competed in weight lifting, cross fit, and gymnastics competitions. Richard has run four marathons and works side by side his clients when pre-paring them for any competition, role, photo shoot, or helping them to maintain a healthy active lifestyle on a weekly basis. With an education in Sports Medicine Richard is also able to address specific individual needs, train around injuries, and rehabilitate muscle atrophy and cardiovascular inefficiency.
Favorite way to work out: With Purpose
Favorite place in Fort Worth: Pops Gym
Richard Blake
Personal Trainer
Jordan Brookins
Personal Trainer
Education and Certifications – B.A. in Criminal Justice and Psychology – ISSA Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Jordan played football for Friends University. He has a background of playing multiple sports, specifically football, basketball, and boxing. Jordan became a personal trainer because of his passion to help people grow and motivate others, whether it is reaching small or lifetime achievements physically and mentally.
Jordan Brookins
Personal Trainer
Adrian Matei
Personal Trainer
Role at Pop’s: Personal Trainer
Hometown: Madrid
Personal Training Program Completed: 2022 Westside Special Strengths, 2018 Deuce Prep Course, 2016 CrossFit Scaling, 2015 CrossFit Judge, 2014 CrossFit Weightlifting, 2014 CrossFit Strongman, 2014 CrossFit Endurance, 2014 CrossFit Coach Prep, 2013 Crossfit Mobility, 2013 CrossFit Trainer, 2008 Personal Trainer for High Performance
Guilty Pleasure: Pies!
Baseball Walk Up Song: Kanye West – Runaway
Biggest Accomplishment: Have worked with more than 500 clients in almost 15 years of Coaching, and surpass with most of them a lot of adversities and have accomplished their goals from recovery from injuries to become professionals in their sports.
Spirit Animal: Wolf because represents the wilderness.
Fitness Background:
Powerlifting, Strongman, Olympic Weightlifting, Rowing, Climbing, Running, Cycling, Swimming, Tennis.
Why did you become a personal trainer?
I see myself as a teacher concerned with organizing and optimizing movement to maximize physical performance without injury.
Favorite Way to Workout: I am combining diverse functional movement disciplines like powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, strongman, gymnastics, running mechanics, jumping, throwing, swimming, rowing, biking and many others covering pretty much the entire spectrum of positions and movements that the body can adopt. That means that every movement performed has a transferable application to sport and life.
Favorite Place in Fort Worth: Pop’s Gym!
Adrian Matei
Personal Trainer