About SQUAD

I’m Jenna! I am a licensed Physical Therapist with over a decade of experience, an 8-year Army veteran and recipient of multiple Army Physical Fitness Awards, former collegiate basketball player and distance runner, lifelong athlete, and mother of three boys (a sport of its own). Most of all, I love pushing my body and the strength — both mental and physical — that’s built through consistent fitness training.

As hard as it is believe now, group fitness was not always my thing. Despite my background in the military and on sports teams, I’ve often leaned toward doing things alone and that was especially true when it came to working out. In my early adulthood I trained alone, convinced no one wanted to work out as intensely as I did and uncomfortable with the idea of working out with people I didn’t know.

Then a friend convinced me to try a crossfit-inspired workout with a group of ladies in our neighborhood. She promised the workouts were hard and would complement my running training, and she was right. I found workouts I liked and that pushed me in ways that didn't happen when I was alone, but what I didn’t expect to find - let alone enjoy - was the camaraderie. The women I trained with both challenged and supported me in ways I hadn’t experienced before. They became close friends. It wasn’t about competition. It was about showing up for each other as well as ourselves, working hard, and having fun while doing it. It was my first “squad”.

When I relocated back to Gig Harbor in 2025, I started training consistently with a friend out of my garage. Once again, I felt the power of shared effort — the accountability, the encouragement, and the energy that comes from having a buddy. Soon, others joined us. I realized how much I loved programming the workouts, watching relationships form, and creating a space where women could recognize the strength they already possess. Thus, SQUAD Strength & Fitness was born.