The Built Strong team

Our team of trainers, coaches, and therapists are all here to help you perform at your best.

image of Jill Matthews
Jill Matthews - Founder

As the founder of Built Strong Evolution, Jill has created a business that is focused on her passion for training people and teams.

Fitness is an important part of Jill’s daily life, and she wanted to share her knowledge to help people become happier and healthier within themselves. To that end, she has brought together an amazing group of people to serve clients in all aspects of their training.

Jill has always been heavily influenced by her involvement in sports and fitness.

She had a very athletic childhood and competed in bodybuilding as a young adult. Nowadays, she spends her free time as the biggest cheerleader for her children while they work to pursue their dreams and athletic goals. Jill also enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time with her friends and family.

Certifications:

Rehabilitation Practitioner- Grant MacEwan University
ACE- Group Personal Training
Muscle Activation Techniques
Canfit Pro- Personal Training
Certified First Responder
ISSA- Corrective Exercise

Mark Stratford - CEO
Mark Stratford - CEO

Born and raised in Oakley, England, Mark Stratford grew up immersed in sport, splitting his early years between the ice rink and the soccer pitch. He represented his town and county in soccer while developing as a standout junior ice hockey player.

Mark’s commitment to hockey eventually became his primary focus, leading him to represent both England and Great Britain at the junior levels. He went on to become a national champion and travelled the world competing, gaining invaluable experience and lifelong memories along the way.

Despite the demands of high-level sport, Mark has always stayed grounded in what matters most—family, friends, and the strong connections built throughout his journey.

Today, he brings the same passion, discipline, and drive from his playing career into everything he does, both on and off the ice

Brianna Horton -Kinesiologist/Volleyball Coach
Brianna Horton

Bri is a CSEP-CPT and NASM CES after graduating from the NAIT Personal Fitness Trainer program in 2012. During her time at NAIT, Bri was a libero for the Ooks WVB team. Bri then went on to graduate from the University of Calgary with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and later earned a master’s degree in coaching through the kinesiology, sport, and recreation faculty at the University of Alberta. Bri has been a volleyball coach and personal trainer for the past 13 years.

When she’s not working, Bri loves to hike, ride bikes, read, and be with her friends, family, and dog. Bri’s specialties include training clients with muscular imbalances, youth training, and both endurance and power sport athletes.

Certifications:

Alberta Kinesiology Association-Kinesiologist
NASM-Corrective Exercise Specialist
Masters of Coaching- University of Alberta
Advanced Development Volleyball Coach

Tara Thompson - Kinesiologist
Tara Thompson

Tara is a registered kinesiologist with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alberta and has been practicing since 2018. She possesses extensive knowledge and experience in fitness and injury rehabilitation. Tara has also trained equestrians to help them improve their riding and reach their full potential.

She is deeply committed to helping people enhance their fitness, giving them an edge in all aspects of their lives. Whether it’s training for a sport, playing with their children, training for a fitness goal, or just trying to stay healthy, Tara’s goal is to provide a positive and safe place to assist people in meeting their goals.

Certifications:

Alberta Kinesiology Association – Kinesiologist

Frasier Parry -Kinesiologist
Frasier Parry

Frasier is a personal trainer with a love for bodybuilding and youth athletic development. He grew up in Okotoks and, from an early age, developed a love for team sports and physical activity. As a result, he decided to pursue a degree in kinesiology at the University of Regina, where he focused on his personal fitness and began coaching bodybuilding-style clients in the city. Frasier is our practicum student turned staff! Since returning to Okotoks, he wants to use his skills to help unlock the full potential of youth athletes. His approach to athletic development is to blend functional skills and muscular development with teamwork-oriented activities to maximize athlete engagement and foster a love for fitness!

Certifications:

Bachelor of Kinesiology – Human Kinetics

Ami Foti
Amie Foti
In a world where so many individuals suffer in pain, Amie Foti feels blessed for the opportunity to help people make positive, lifelong changes through personal training and fascial stretch therapy. She constantly encourages her clients to move their bodies with intention and thrives on watching their confidence grow and flow from the gym to all aspects of their lives. Amie found her passion for personal training in 2011, when life led her to a small-town gym. Amie learned very quickly this is what she was destined to do! The ability to make an impact in others’ lives the way training has allowed her to is one of her most treasured life gifts. After working in multiple gym settings, she found her home in 2019 at Built Strong Evolution. She is grateful to be part of a team that have similar core values when it comes to personal training. She is dedicated to helping her clients focus on proper muscle activation and techniques to ensure proper progression and injury prevention.
When Amie is not in the gym, she can usually be found with her 3 kids at a variety of events, from MMA matches to ballet recitals. Her favorite place is on the ball field with one of her three slow-pitch teams. As a devoted Roughriders fan, she may also be spotted at McMahon Stadium sporting her latest watermelon accessory.

Certifications:

Personal Trainer Specialist
Muscle Activation Techniques Specialist
Fascial Stretch Therapist
TRX Instructor
Precision Nutrition—Nutrition Coach

Sharron Ward - Trainer, Aqua Fitness
Sharron Ward

Sharon is a personal trainer and an aquafit instructor. She focuses on strength training as well as ROM, flexibility, core, and balance. Sharon loves to have fun and enjoys working with clients to help them lead a better quality of life.

Sharon has always led an active lifestyle. She was an athlete in college and is passionate about sharing her knowledge around health, wellness, and active living.

In her free time, Sharon enjoys spending time in nature and being outdoors. She and her husband love camping and traveling in their motorhome to visit their adult kids and other family.

Certifications:

CALA- Basic Fitness Theory
Foundations of Vertical Water Training
Group Aqua Fitness Leadership

Stewart Barcelo - Muscle Activation Technique Specialist
Stewart Barcelo

He is our Muscle Activation Technique specialist. M.A.T. uses a gentle approach to help reactivate muscles and systems that may be dormant, causing imbalances and muscle compensation patterns. This technique is extremely beneficial in treating repetitive injuries and long-term pain!

Certifications:

Muscle Activation Techniques

Harrison King - Canfit Pro- Personal Trainer
Harrison King

Harrison uses personal training to help people become their best selves. He enjoys witnessing his clients’ progress and the moment when people realize they are stronger than they thought.

Outside of work, Harrison enjoys spending time with his family. They moved here from England in 2010. He also spends a lot of time training, playing soccer, and doing MMA, and is a National Muay Thai champion.

Harrison is currently working on multiple ISSA certifications and athletic research to improve his coaching.

Certifications:

Canfit Pro- Personal Trainer

Catherine Faulkner - Manual Osteopathic Therapist, Registered Massage Therapist
Catherine Faulkner

Catherine specializes in assessing all body systems to identify dysfunctions and restrictions, working collaboratively with clients to support their body’s natural repair and regulatory processes.

Every body tells a unique story, and my passion lies in listening to that story, ensuring vital systems function as they should. My goal is to make every client feel heard and respected on their health journey while empowering them to better understand their body as we address their specific needs.

Her background in various sports and activities gives me valuable insight into the unique demands of athletes. From extreme equestrian sports like polocrosse and wild horse racing to competitive archery—where she proudly represented Canada at the world championships—BMX racing, jiu-jitsu, and more, these experiences shape my approach to care.

Certifications:

Manual Osteopathic Therapist
Registered Massage Therapist
Bemer IBD
Graston Tech IASTM

Kaitlyn Young - Dynamic Cupping and General Craniosacral Visceral Manipulation, massage therapist
Kaitlyn Young

Kaitlyn is a massage therapist at Built Strong.

She aims to create a comfortable and therapeutic environment for her clients. As a hockey player, Kaitlyn was able to experience the benefits that massage therapy can have for athletes. She takes pride in being able to use her skills to help people relieve their pain and improve their mobility.

In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys hiking, wake surfing, travelling, and playing hockey. She also enjoys spending time with her siblings and pets.

Certifications:

K-Taping
Dynamic Cupping and General Craniosacral
Visceral Manipulation

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