A woman in athletic wear running in a race with a crowd of spectators watching along the street, green trees, and a cloudy sky in the background.

MEET JESS      

Jess carries herself with a spirit of joyful optimism & makes a point of sharing it with the world.  Friends, colleagues & clients alike look to Jess for energy, inspiration & laughter. Jess founded SWJ in 2009 to share her passion for health & fitness but more importantly, to make the gym welcoming and accessible for all humans. 16 years later and that’s still her mission. Jess prides herself on the warm community she has built; a place for all to achieve their goals, get healthy and have fun!  She believed she could, so she did! Jess is about empowering others to LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE now! She reminds them to SHOW UP every day for themselves. Your goals will become her goals.

Personal accomplishments: 

  • USAPL Meet PRs: Deadlift (330lb), Backsquat (285lbs), Bench (170lbs)

  • NYC & Boston Qualifying Marathons: 3:17:06 (TC 2025) & 3:23:25 (TC 2024)

  • ULTRA 50-mile Finisher (2025), 34-mile Finisher (2025) 

  • Completed over 50 Half Marathons - PB (1:35:15) 

  • Crossfit Competitor 2017 - 2019 

SWJ Accomplishments: 

  • 16 years in the fitness industry! SWJ was founded in 2009 and officially became an LLC in 2014 but never stops evolving. 

  • Honored to have coached over 1,000 athletes & counting! 

  • Hosted 1st unsanctioned power-lifting meet December 2025

  • Best of Minneapolis (Gym) 2022 

  • Started Group MACROs coaching in 2023 to help clients build a healthy relationship with food 

  • Started Marathon, Ultra Marathon & HYROX coaching in 2024 to help more clients crush their goals

A woman in a red sports bra and shorts working out with a tire and sledgehammer outdoors, with graffiti and trees in the background.

Jess’s Family

A woman with blonde hair, wearing a purple knit hat and black jacket, smiling and crouching in the snow with four dogs, all wearing orange or pink jackets, in a winter forest.
A woman with long blonde hair wearing a pink visor, beige tank top, and black shorts, smiling and surrounded by five dogs, outdoors on a sunny day with green grass, trees, and a blue sky.
A woman laughing and wearing earmuffs and a red fleece jacket, sitting on a large rock outdoors in a wooded area with her five dogs. The dogs are wearing colorful jackets or vests, and they are all surrounding her, enjoying the moment on a fall day.
A young woman in a red sports bra, black shorts, and black and white sneakers is squatting on a black pavement, pouring water from a can and making a splash. She appears to be playing and having fun outdoors in a recreational area.

Meet Your Coaches

  • Hannah began coaching for Sweat with Jess in 2021 and has been in the fitness industry for 8 years. Her coaching style prioritizes safety and confidence while making fitness fun. Whether it’s your first day in the gym or you’ve been an athlete for years, she’ll work with you to improve your technique, push a little harder or learn something new.

    She believes fitness is for everybody and every body, no matter what.

    Outside of the gym, Hannah enjoys spending time with her loved ones, spoiling her dog, and finding new ways to explore and challenge her creativity.

A smiling man standing against a brick wall, wearing a black jacket and hat, with tattoos on his neck and hands.

  • Sawyer coaches Tuesday nights at Sweat With Jess. He has been coaching with SWJ for 2 years and has been in the fitness world for 15+. Sawyer’s first passion is running, and he has completed several half marathons, the Twin Cities Marathon and the Ice Age 50-Mile race in May 2025. He started his coaching business, True Earth Fitness in 2022.


    While Sawyer enjoys a variety of fitness activities, one constant is the pursuit of moving better and feeling good while doing so. He sees fitness as a tool to enhance life beyond the gym, and his training focuses on functional & intentional movement. Sawyer’s coaching approach has been described as, “down to earth” and “the perfect mix of challenging and encouraging.” He loves how welcoming the SWJ community is and is proud to be a part of it.

A woman smiling in athletic wear standing next to gym equipment, including dumbbells and kettlebells, outdoors.

  • Maren has been a SWJ member for almost 4 years and joined the coaching team in 2025! The strength, confidence, & friendships she’s gained through our programming and community have been truly life-changing, and she’s passionate about sharing it with others.

    Maren’s motto: Fitness is for ALL people, ALL bodies, and ALL ages!

    In her daily life Maren is a teacher and life-long learner, who loves being able to apply her knowledge of learning to coaching and watching people grow in the gym!