Owners
After being founded in 2016, the most common question Clark and Rachel received was, “Why the Yellow Rose? What does it mean?” The Yellow Rose is a symbol of friendship, joy, and health. It’s also an amazing way to instantly boost someone’s mood (who doesn’t love a Yellow Rose?!). The husband and wife team couldn’t think of a better symbol to encapsulate the mood for this gym, and give a little nod to Texas spirit!
But the REAL reason behind the Yellow Rose? Clark gave Rachel a bouquet of Yellow Roses on their first date without knowing that this is commonly a friendship flower. He was scared he sent the wrong message! Turns out, Yellow Roses are a big part of her family. Her grandfather used to give her grandmother yellow roses every week, and it became a sweet symbol of their relationship. They weren’t just romantic like the red roses suggest… they were best friends. Since 2016, Yellow Rose Fitness has been serving the Oak Forest/Garden Oaks community with quality service, passion, and positivity. It’s a place that brightens your mood, fills you with joy, and gets you the results you’ve always deserved.
Owner/Coach
Clark is the owner and operator of Yellow Rose Fitness along with his wife Rachel. With over 15 years in the fitness industry, Clark uses his technical knowledge of movement and his passion for people to help each client find their own unique fitness journey. Outside of the gym, Clark loves to be at home with his family, pups, and to play golf. Clark has a bachelor of arts from the University of Houston, and loves all things U of H. Go Coogs!
Owner/Head Nutrition Coach
Rachel is the Co-Owner of Yellow Rose along with her husband, Clark. She is a mom to twin girls (Birdie and Lila) and spends most of her free time with her family and chasing after her wild toddlers. She loves staying active with outdoor activities, taking walks to the park, exploring Houston, trying new restaurants, and curling up with a good book on the couch.
Rachel is a certified nutrition coach and personal trainer. She has a degree in English and Secondary Education from the University of Texas at Arlington. After teaching in the classroom for 9 years, she decided to leave her teaching job to pursue nutrition coaching and gym ownership full time. She is incredibly passionate about all things health, nutrition, and fitness. As a nutrition coach, she can help you meet your goals and create a sustainable lifestyle that is based on your individual needs and preferences all while still eating the foods you enjoy and love. She’s looking forward to helping you crush some goals!
Coach
Brian began his fitness journey in 2012 when he first started doing CrossFit. His passion for coaching stems from his two year tenure teaching a Lab while getting his Masters in Hospitality at the University of Houston (aka The Harvard of Southeast Texas, Go Coogs!). Outside of the gym, Brian loves going to concerts, and spending time with his wife Kati and their three daughters.
Nutrition Coach
Brittney grew up in Washington state and moved cross country to New York to play D1 soccer. After graduating college, she moved to Houston and entered the corporate world where she quickly learned her passion for health and fitness was far too important for her to put to the wayside. After having her own personal training business for 6 years, Brittney discovered a passion for Pilates and is a lead instructor at Body Rock Pilates. The Yellow Rose Nutrition program has been a big part of her life and she used it as her goals evolved: ranging from fat loss, better relationship with food, pregnancy support, postpartum weight loss, to maintenance. She knows what the program is capable of because she has done the work.
Coach
Cameron Coday is one of the Youth and Group Class coaches! With a background in music education and six years of teaching experience in Houston, she brings an infectious energy and passion for proper form to the gym. She began her fitness journey through CrossFit in 2016, and has been coaching group fitness and weightlifting since 2020.
Cameron holds a Master of Music Education from Central Washington University and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Colorado. She is known for being Coach Amanda’s endurance sidekick, and can often be found training for races, or local CrossFit and olympic weightlifting meets. She spends her free time teaching her cat new tricks.
Coach
Chad has been coach and member at Yellow Rose for 2 years, but began coaching over 10 years ago. Chad loves helping clients learn and get the most from every workout, with particular focus on the mental aspects of fitness. Chad lives in Oak Forest with his wife and two children.
Coach
Chloe discovered Crossfit after many years of Martial Arts had her bored and feeling a lack of challenge. After 8 years working out in classes she decided in 2021 it was time to get her L1 and start coaching! You can find Chloe in class whenever there is a heavy barbell especially if it’s a good complex.
Coach
This is Chris! He is originally from the San Antonio area but considers himself a native Houstonian nowadays. He has a degree in Biochemistry and Genetics and a background in data analysis and sales but is now an elementary teacher at a public Montessori school! He takes great joy in helping and teaching others, which is why he loves being a coach and personal trainer with Yellow Rose. He first got into fitness through running, having run six full marathons and 12 half marathons so far. His next goal is to tackle the Abbott World Marathon Majors! When he isn’t running or at the gym, he can be found baking fun creations or in his garden with his dog Bailey.
Coach/Youth Program Director
Christian is Youth Program Coordinator and Coach. Outside of coaching at Yellow Rose, Christian teaches K-5th grade PE in HISD. Christian graduate from Houston Baptist University with his degree is Kinesiology: Health and Wellness, he earned his Masters Degree from Sam Houston State in Kinesiology: Sport and Human Performance.
Coach
Eileen is a coach and personal trainer at Yellow Rose Fitness. She was born and raised in Houston, Texas and decided to make fitness her full-time career in 2022. Her favorite thing to coach is olympic weightlifting and has her USAW-L1. She also has a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Coach
Jimmy is a coach at Yellow Rose Fitness where he’s been part of the community for the last four years. A primary area of interest for Jimmy is the intersection of physical movement, nutrition, mindset, and personal growth. A native Houstonian, he works in the oil & gas industry and lives with his family in The Heights. Jimmy holds a bachelor of science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the University of Texas.
Coach
Fitness has always been an integral part in Leah’s life and career. She has coached high school athletics teams, taught group fitness classes at various gyms, and developed wellness programs for teachers. Outside of the gym, Leah works full time in education as an assistant principal, enjoys taking hiking trips, and always has a book nearby.
Coach
Melissa was born and raised in Nebraska but moved to Houston in 2002 to teach 2nd grade. After getting married and having her son, she became a stay at home mom. When her son was 16 months old she was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. Through her recovery she found a passion for health and fitness which lead her to becoming a PN Certified Nutrition Coach. She and her husband stay very busy with their son’s select baseball schedule but when they have free time they like to travel. She also adores her three very spoiled dogs.
Coach
Monique is a single mom to one awesome nine year-old, Delilah, and one antisocial rescue cat, Kale. She comes into coaching as a student herself. She found a love of fitness in 2020 as a way to keep herself from going crazy and has found a new home at Yellow Rose as a member turned coach. She has her CF-L1 and looks forward to getting stronger and helping others reach their goals. She has seen over 75 different musicians in concert – anything from EMO to Hip-Hop!
Coach
Pam has over 20 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. She graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a Kinesiology degree and a minor in Nutrition. She has coached, trained, educated, and served many people of all ages towards a healthier lifestyle. She prides herself in helping people reach their personal wellness goals. Being an athlete all of her life, she has done her fair share of pushing her body to its limits. She is a 2x Ironman with a goal to complete a marathon in every state.
Coach
Summer started crossfit in 2015, in an act to try something new while also trying to find healthier habits. She loves a workout with a heavy barbell and some gymnastics! She has an undergraduate and Masters degree within the educational field, and was an elementary math teacher for several years. She is currently at UH working on her PhD in Quantitative Research within Educational Psychology. When she’s not at school or at the gym she’s either enjoying the outdoors, hanging out with friends, or chilling at home with her cat.
Operations Manager
Advancing Happy Specialist
Kara was born in Mississippi, raised just outside New Orleans, and has called Houston home since 2008. A graduate of Ole Miss, exercise has come in and out of Kara’s life. Lifting weights, step aerobics, Rumba, running, and now she has found Yellow Rose. After many years of tending to babies and never having time for herself, she has now made it a priority, all while helping YRF staff behind the scenes.
Outside of YRF, Kara enjoys volunteering at her children’s schools and at the local ballpark, TSA. Her extra time is spent serving as a taxi driver for her boys to all of their sporting events. She would love to spend extra time with a book, but the laundry calls way too often. Kara has been married to her husband, David, for 16 years, and they have 3 amazing boys, Graham (13), Elliot (10) and Keller (7). Kara is serving as a client success assistant and is here to help when and where needed and is excited to join the Yellow Rose family.
Coach
Gracie got into group coaching after working in the demanding hospitality industry in New Orleans. She was in search of a meaningful career where she could help others while making an impact on her own life.
She has a Bachelor’s in Exercise Physiology through the University of New Orleans, L1 in CrossFit, and PT Certification through American Council in Exercise.
Gracie uses her knowledge in exercise science to help empower women through strength training and mindful nutrition practice. She believes it is not the way you look but how you feel that embodies confidence and self-worth.
On her days off you can find Gracie playing pickleball, bike riding, or taking a long walk at Memorial Park.
Coach
Anna grew up in south Louisiana and moved to Houston right after getting married in 2019. She began her fitness journey back in high school and, after having her first child, decided it was finally time to turn her passion for health and fitness into a career! She loves to help others find joy in working out and seeing their bodies get stronger while also recognizing the mental benefits that accompany eating healthy and moving your body.
Anna earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in Business from LSU. She has her CrossFit Level 1 and can primarily be found coaching private training clients.
Outside of the gym, Anna loves to run, cook, travel, read and spend time with her husband, daughter and two very clingy dogs!
Coach
Brogan originally calls Louisiana home, but he also moved several times throughout the US as a kid. He played competitive sports growing up, focusing on soccer and football. Brogan attended Tulane, then LSU for his MBA. After college, he found CrossFit to be a great way to stay in shape in a group setting and find a community after moving to Houston in 2019.
Coach
Dennis is a Louisiana native raised between the northern state of Illinois and good olde Texas. He developed a passion for teaching fitness after finishing his tenure as a student at The Texas A&M University.
