About Us

Owners Lisa and Jerome Shear

We were high school sweethearts and married in 2004. We have 3 active kids, Jordyn (14), Brayden (11) and Henryk (8). We have been Elk River residents since 2005 and love the community. While we both have day jobs, our real passion is for the legacy and community that Chris has built here. Chris Fournie started CFER in April of 2014. January of 2020, we started the journey of taking over the gym when Chris retired. It was a dream we hadn't even realized we had, and we have been overwhelmed by the love and support we have received from both current and new members from the beginning. Our hope is to be able to continue to provide an amazing CrossFit experience for our members, and eventually add a CrossFit kids course as well as strength training for off-season high school and middle school athletes in our community.

Jerome Shear

I joined CrossFit Elk River in August 2017. Lisa had joined a few months prior and loved it so much that I had to get in on the action. I quickly found my crew at the 6 am class and even turned Lisa into a reluctant morning CrossFitter too. I have always had a passion for sports and fitness and even started my college career with plans to be an athletic trainer. I eventually switched gears and went into corrections and my day job since 2001 has been in youth and adult corrections. I got my L1 trainer's certificate in November 2019 and began coaching at CrossFit Elk River. That is what I call my fun job and I love helping people with their health and fitness journeys.

Certifications:

• CrossFit L1
• CrossFit Dumbbell
• CrossFit Judges Course 2022
• CrossFit Nutrition 1

Lisa Shear

I joined CrossFit Elk River in May 2017. I quickly fell in love with the sport and found that the community and constantly changing workouts were the perfect combination to keep me motivated and coming back for more! Jerry joined me a few months later and we knew pretty quickly that this would be a permanent part of our life. The friendships and relationships we have built are a big part of our lives. When the opportunity to take over the business was presented, we were very excited about this new adventure. I handle most of the back office business operations for now and received my CF-L1 in the spring of 2021.

Certifications:

• CrossFit L1

Stephanie Domchick

I started CrossFit back in 2013 in Ohio and received my CF-L1 shortly after moving to Minnesota and joining CrossFit Elk River. CrossFit, Olympic Lifting, and the community we are fortunate to have at CFER have truly changed my life. I played sports in HS, didn't do much for athleticism in college and only very reluctantly decided to give CrossFit a try several years later, but quickly fell in love with the style of training. I'd never done any Olympic Weightlifting or gymnastic style work before, but truly enjoyed learning new movements and technical skills (and am still learning new things today!).

I feel very fortunate to be able to work with our members and show them, they CAN reach their health & fitness goals, they ARE athletes, and to help them build that self-confidence in themselves that CrossFit has also given to me.

Certifications:

• CrossFit L1
• CrossFit L2
• USA Weightlifting L1
• CrossFit Gymnastics

What’s Playing on Pandora while I Coach:

• Beastie Boys
• Rob Bailey & the Hustle Standard
• Missy Elliott

Julie Laramie

In 2016 I was working on finishing up my Master’s degree, working three jobs, and realized how out of shape I was. I also needed an outlet to relieve some stress. This is when I began my search for something in fitness that was a good fit for me. I found Crossfit Elk River, and my life was forever changed. Never in a million years did I think I would have any interest in participating in group fitness, nor want to lead others in it. I was certainly wrong! Starting Crossfit was the best decision I could have made; I absolutely love it. I appreciate the variability in the training and functional applicability of it. The challenge of always trying to perfect a skill or conquer a new one continues to drive me. Crossfit gives me the ability to excel in other areas of my active life. Additionally, I have met so many wonderful people through the sport. In January 2018 I obtained my CF-L1 certification and began coaching classes. The experience thus far has been beyond rewarding; I strive to help members reach their goals both in and outside of the gym. Success is defined in so many different ways by each individual person, and facilitating one’s journey towards it is gratifying.

Certifications:

• CrossFit L1
• CrossFit Gymnastics

What’s Playing on Pandora while I Coach:

• Dubstep Strength Training Radio (this would be on 100% of the time if anyone actually let me play it ever)
• Rap Strength Training Radio
• Hard Rock Strength Training Radio

Dylan Mortensen

I got into Olympic Weightlifting in High School as a means to train for football. After a roughly 8 year hiatus, the flame was rekindled through CrossFit. I enjoy the competitive aspects of it, but what keeps me coming back day in and day out is the community, and the constant learning and evolving that accompanies the sport. Outside of CrossFit I enjoy the outdoors, eating, crafts and mullets.

Certifications:

• USA Weightlifting L1

Andy Jozelic

I first saw CrossFit on ESPN and thought it could be fun. In high school I was a competitive swimmer and had been missing that feeling of being in shape and an athlete. My real first CrossFit experience was when a friend of mine brought me to a class with a 15-minute workout. I was hooked; the next day I was searching for a CrossFit gym/box to join and found CFER. I really enjoy the variable nature of CrossFit programming; I appreciate that there are many different skills to work on. Working out is so much better when you get to work out with your friends and community at the box. Since becoming a coach I hope to help people achieve their fitness goals.

Certifications:

• CrossFit L1

Wade Ralph

My CrossFit journey started in 2015 when a family member mentioned they had been doing it for some time. It took me a while, but I decided to check it out. I remember to this day my first on-ramp test of doing a half "Cindy" and I thought to myself wow! I am out of shape! Six months in to CrossFit I was asked to do a competition. I can't remember how amazing it was to see so many athletes with all different skill levels competing in challenging themselves, it was at that moment I knew I was hooked. My passion for CrossFit has grown over the last few years, and in 2021 I decided to get my CrossFit level one certificate and start coaching others. Now as a coach I am dedicated to helping others reach their fitness goals. In my spare time I enjoy bowhunting, mountain biking and Golf to name a few. I also stay active in local CrossFit competitions. I find the challenge to be rewarding. My goal as a CrossFit coach is to help CrossFit Elk River members take their athletic abilities to the next level and to see those members constantly improving. When I'm not coaching or working out you can usually find me hanging out with my two kids, Trey and Keira, as well as trying to keep up with my CrossFit wife Ashley.

Certifications:

• CrossFit L1

Ben Johnson

June 1st, 2016 is my CrossFitaversary, ie: “The Day My Life Changed… AGAIN.” I had zero first hand sports or fitness background short of middle school sports and casual games with friends before starting CrossFit. My goals on day one were to:

• Not get hurt
• Make it fun
• See continued progress

Most recently I’ve been working on body composition as that is the goal I so naively put on the board. Slow progress… but progress none-the-less. I don’t want to imagine my life without my CrossFit family. This supportive and healthy way of life was completely unexpected. There is no question that it has improved my health and wellness. It’s especially fun when your doctor does a double take at your “numbers” in comparison to last time and asks you what you’ve “been doing”. I really enjoy the fun that this supportive community, built on the foundation of integrity, has every day. It’s a solid and unwavering part of my day that I look forward to.

Certifications:

• CrossFit L1