Meet the Rise Team
The Rise Team
•
We are so grateful for our awesome Rise team. Read on to learn a little more about all of the people who work hard each day to serve all of our members in the gym.
Megan Miller
Director of Training
Megan is originally from Bismarck, ND, and has lived in the Fargo-Moorhead area for the past 14 years. She is excited to step into her new role as Director of Training. Megan holds several certifications, including Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Coach, Corrective Exercise Specialist, 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, Level-1 CrossFit, Certified Pre and Postnatal Coach, and is currently working toward her 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training.
Megan attended MSUM, where she studied Exercise Science and Math with a minor in Business. She loves that her work allows her to help people make positive changes in their lives.
Outside of work, Megan enjoys traveling, continuing her education, spending time outdoors, and hearing about other people's stories, experiences, and goals. She especially loves spending time with her husband, Eric, son, Hudson, and their goldendoodle, Finn.
Fun fact: Megan’s initials are M.O.M.!
Emma Gronholz
Director of Programming
Emma is originally from Alexandria, MN. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the College of Saint Benedict and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning from MSUM. With a wealth of programming knowledge, Emma is a valuable asset to the Rise team. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and her favorite lift is the bench press.
In her free time, Emma enjoys baking, quilting, reading (we like to call her Grandma), and spending time outdoors with her two dogs and fiancé. Emma is also passionate about furthering her education and hopes to pursue a Doctorate degree and become a professor, sharing her expertise with the next generation of strength and conditioning professionals.
Fun fact: She is getting married in April 2026!
Ellie Brewer
Coach
Ellie is from Nederland, Colorado, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics with a minor in Exercise Science from Concordia College in Moorhead, where she played on the Cobber women’s hockey team. Ellie is currently in graduate school at Concordia College, studying to become a Registered Dietitian. Ellie initially came to Moorhead to play collegiate hockey, and since then has gotten used to the Midwestern winters and come to love the community in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Ellie is also a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
Ellie has two dogs in Colorado - a border collie lab mix and a pure-bred border collie. Ellie loves spending time outside, especially going on runs in the woods with her mom and dogs. She has also been working on learning to handstand and revisiting her childhood by playing Mario Kart with her boyfriend, Adam. Ellie loves meeting new people and learning about what makes them smile.
Fun fact: Her full name is Estelle!
Kyra Nichols
Coach
Kyra is originally from Zumbrota, MN. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with minors in Psychology and French from Concordia College in Moorhead, where she also competed on the Cobbers track and field team. Currently, Kyra is pursuing a Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Jamestown in Fargo, with plans to graduate in 2026.
Kyra began coaching at Rise as an intern during the summer of 2022 and officially joined the team as a coach the following year. She believes that movement is medicine and that exercise should enhance and complement life, allowing you to enjoy the things you love for longer. Kyra enjoys connecting with others through fitness and building strong relationships as a coach at Rise.
Fun fact: She speaks French!
Gabe Thompson
Coach
Gabe grew up in Spicer, MN but moved after his sophomore year and graduated high school from Perham, MN. He is currently in his senior year at Concordia working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. Gabe started at Rise in May 2024 as an intern before becoming a coach in June 2024. In addition to coaching, Gabe competes on Concordia’s track and field team, with long jump and triple jump as his main events.
Gabe plans to study to become a physical therapist after taking a gap year following his graduation from Concordia. Gabe loves anything sports, whether it be playing or watching. He also enjoys hanging out with friends, watching movies, or doing outdoor activities. Gabe is known as the “knuck king” around Rise, and is always ready to give out fist bumps and cheer members on.
Fun fact: His favorite event is the triple jump which is a very unique and complex event. Go cheer him on for his final season!
Emma Bale
Coach
Emma is a Fargo, ND native. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology from NDSU, where she competed on the Bison dance team. Emma is a Certified Personal Trainer and is currently working towards obtaining her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Jamestown.
Emma initially joined Rise as a member in 2020. Not long after, she discovered an interest in coaching and came onto the Rise team in 2022 as a coach. In her free time, Emma loves reading, golfing, working out, and playing pickleball. Make sure to give Emma lots of love and knucks since she only has a few more weeks of coaching at Rise before she moves on to her final clinical rotation in Arizona. She plans to move to Milwaukee after graduation with the goal of working at a level one trauma center.
Fun fact: She studied abroad in Australia.
Anthony Peters
Coach Intern
Anthony grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado and started his undergraduate program at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He is now finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science at NDSU. After graduation he plans to work with people of all ages and abilities to become stronger and live healthier lives, either at Rise or at a similar strength and conditioning facility somewhere in the United States. Anthony is interested in returning to school to earn a Master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning!
Anthony also enjoys reading, playing video games, hiking, running, and mountain biking.
Fun fact: He is ambidextrous.
Jack Bungarden
Coach Intern
Jack is from Woodbury, Minnesota, and is currently in his senior year at MSUM, studying Exercise Science. In his free time, Jack enjoys fishing, golfing, and staying active. His favorite way to move is through lifting and jiu-jitsu.
Fun fact: Jack played football at MSUM for four years.
Dawson Persons
Coach Intern
Dawson is originally from Grand Rapids, MN. He is currently working toward his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science at NDSU and has worked as a trainer for the past year. Although he’s still exploring what life after graduation holds, Dawson is passionate about fitness and movement.
In his free time, Dawson loves spending time outdoors, especially canoeing, camping, and fishing. His favorite way to move is by playing sand volleyball.
Fun fact: He’s married to the most beautiful girl in the world!
Jessica Pham
Coach Intern
Jessica is a Moorhead, MN native. She is working to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology at NDSU. She has worked at the YMCA and has experience coaching adults.
After graduation, Jessica plans to study occupational therapy at UMary with the goal to become a pediatric OT. In her free time, Jessica enjoys crafts, crocheting, and reading, and loves going on walks outside.
Fun fact: She can juggle.
Yoni Barnnie
Coach Intern
Yoni is from Morrisville, PA, but she grew up in Bismarck, ND. She is currently attending NDSU, and will graduate in the spring with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. Yoni is experienced in stretching techniques for mobility and flexibility, and in addition to school and coaching she works at Stretch Labs.
After graduation Yoni plans to pursue a Master’s degree in athletic training, with the additional goal to become a certified personal trainer and a licensed esthetician, eventually moving back to the east coast.
Yoni loves to watch movies and TV shows, try out new foods, move her body through yoga and stretching, read, and go on walks in nature.
Fun fact: When she was 15 she was diagnosed with a cataract in her right eye, and she now has a permanent scar in the middle of her retina.
Heidi Morlock
Director of Social Media and Graphics
Heidi is a Fargo, ND native. She studied business and art at the College of Saint Benedict. With a background in marketing, she loves working behind the scenes on marketing, social media, and design projects for Rise. Heidi stays home with her three young kids, so you’ll typically find her working on gym projects during nap times and evenings.
In her free time, Heidi enjoys spending time with family and friends, baking, reading, and, of course, working out at Rise. While she used to be an avid runner, strength training has become her new favorite type of exercise—especially after marrying a strength coach!
Fun fact: Heidi is a painter and photographer.
Aaron Lien
Owner
Aaron is a Moorhead, MN native. He obtained a B.S. in Graphic Communications at MSUM and also played for the men’s basketball team, achieving All-American and conference Player of the Year awards. In 2018, Aaron co-founded Rise with Chase in a “Swiss army knife” type of role – website, graphic design, business operations, and assisting with coaching duties.
He pursued a full-time career as a software engineer in 2021 while continuing to contribute to Rise on the side, mainly focused on building and maintaining its software technology.
In his free time, Aaron enjoys playing competitive sports – specifically basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. He and his wife, Maddie, are avid hikers, love road trips, and enjoy time at the lake.
Fun fact: He’s left-handed, but right-handed with stick sports.
Chase Morlock
Owner
Chase is a Moorhead, MN native. He is a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and is one of the founders and owners of Rise. From 2013-2018, he attended NDSU and obtained his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology. During his time at NDSU, Chase competed on the Bison football team and earned 3 National Championship titles.
Chase is passionate about helping adults get strong, stay healthy, eat right, and live better.
Some of Chase’s hobbies include learning guitar, reading, spending time with his wife and three kids, and seeking out any and all opportunities to compete (Spikeball, volleyball, running - you name it.)
Fun fact: He can’t go a day without saying “Fire up!”
Our team is dedicated to the success of our members and are passionate about helping you reach your goals in and out of the gym. Thank you for trusting us to be part of your health and fitness journey!