Meet The Team

We coach with passion and genuine care to enable you to acquire the skills and habits that will transform your life inside and out. We also really love kettlebells!

Grant Anderson

Co-Founder

Grant is the social media face of the business, with a 140k+ following on instagram @kettlebellgrant. You can find Grant traveling all over the world to golf and swing bells with clients. Grant was co-owner of Chicago Primal Gym with Sean and spent over 7 years crafting world-class kettlebell training programs for men and women to get strong and build lifelong skills.

Sean Griffin

Co-Founder

Co-founder of Kettlebell Transformation, Sean got his start in fitness after quitting his corporate finance job in 2013. Sean started Chicago Primal Gym in his back yard and grew iit to 350+ members prior to the pandemic. Now he coaches KT clients all over the world out of his home office, while raising his 7 and 4 year old kids alongside his wife in Evanston, IL.

Rich Bihl

Fulfillment Director

Coach Rich is a 10-year veteran of the strength & conditioning industry after graduating from the University of Iowa. Rich spent 7 years coaching clients in-person on the North Shore of Chicago prior to transitioning his own training business online in 2020. Rich has served as a Head Coach and now Director of Fullfilment for KT since 2022. He resides in Mokena, IL with his wife and 3 young boys.

Marianie Bedolla

Creative Strategist

Marianie is a creative with a sharp eye and a bias for action. She works closely with our team to develop bold, high-converting growth strategies that genuinely reflect the brand behind them. Whether it’s crafting a story, shaping a voice, or dialing in the details, she brings both strategy and soul to every project. She lives in Mexico with her husband.

Peter Leonhard

Head Coach

Peter has been coaching with Sean & Grant since 2015 when he joined the Chicago Primal Team. By 2018, Peter served as Director of Programming and Lead coach at CPG. Peter has over 10 years of coaching experience. He played goalie for the University of Kentucky and then graduated from Michigan State. He lives in Michigan with his wife and 3 kids.

Casey Shirley

Transformation Advisor

Casey spent 25 years in restaurants and hospitality, learning to juggle chaos, lead teams, and connect with people. After his own health transformation, he brings that empathy to coaching with balance, encouragement, and real accountability (plus the occasional dad joke). Off-duty, he’s cooking, traveling with his wife and teenage son, or playing frisbee with his dog, Bacon.

Ray Singson

Head Coach

Coach Ray brings over a decade of experience in functional fitness and positive psychology, empowering individuals from all walks of life—ranging from competitive athletes to busy parents—to achieve healthier, happier lives. A Marine Corps veteran and graduate of Temple University, Ray blends discipline, expertise, and compassion in his unique approach to coaching. He resides outside of Philadelphia with his wife, Allison, and their four children.

Susana Sanchez

Fulfillment Support

Susana is part of the behind-the-scenes team that helps keep everything running smoothly. She works closely with the coaches to support client onboarding, organization, and day-to-day operations. She enjoys being part of a team that’s making a real difference knowing that her work plays a part in helping people feel better, get stronger, and live healthier lives. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, singing, and being in nature.

Jean-Pierre (JP) Rossouw

Head Coach

JP is a South African-born coach with 10+ years in strength and performance, blending technical precision with practical programming. StrongFirst, FMS, and Pre-Script certified, he specializes in strength, rehab, and accountability coaching for athletes and busy professionals. Off the floor, he’s a husband, dog dad, and part-time musician.

Gabriel Barros

Transformation Advisor

Originally from Brazil, Gabriel brings compassion, resilience, and a competitive edge to the KT team. A cancer survivor, he uses his story to connect deeply and help others push through hard seasons. He’s also a dedicated Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, living the discipline he teaches. In his role, he listens closely, asks smart questions, and guides people to the right coaching path.

Mike Connelly

Head Coach

Coach Mike has 20+ years in strength and conditioning, first certifying with RKC in 2008 and later instructing for multiple programs. He’s coached everyone from everyday adults to NHL and MLB athletes, and lives it himself through skateboarding, snowboarding, and golf. Mike's a husband and dad of three from Chicago.

Scott Crystal

Head Coach

Coach Scott has a decade of kettlebell experience and athletic grit. After years in craft beer, he traded hops for hardstyle, drawn to kettlebells’ simple power. Former collegiate swimmer and CrossFit athlete, he coaches busy men with StrongFirst precision and accountability. Scott resides outside Philly with his wife and two daughters.

Matt Travis

Transformation Advisor

Matt Travis is a high-performance coach and elite transformation enrollment specialist with 20+ years in coaching, teaching, and human behavior. He’s helped thousands upgrade health, mindset, and performance by blending behavior change, subconscious work, and strategic coaching. Matt’s mission is simple: help people break through what’s holding them back and build lasting confidence in a body—and life—they’re proud of.

Hugo Mendez

Head Coach

Hugo is from Lima, Peru, now based in the Rockies. A former marathon and Ironman athlete, he hit a wall during COVID—30 pounds up and totally unmotivated. Hiring a kettlebell and nutrition coach flipped the switch, rebuilding his strength, mindset, and purpose. Now he coaches men over 40 because he’s lived the journey himself. Off the clock, he’s into kettlebells, great coffee, loud music, and time with his wife, Amy.

Peter Nieman

Head Coach

Coach Peter Nieman has over a decade of coaching experience in hardstyle kettlebell training and specializes in mobility training via the Internal Strength Model. He lives in Metro Detroit and focuses his personal development time in old school strongman lifts. He enjoys chess, astronomy, and helping men reach their fullest potential in strength and health.

Brett Jones

Head Coach

Brett Jones is a StrongFirst Certified Elite Instructor and former StrongFirst Director of Education, based in Pittsburgh. A CSCS and certified athletic trainer, he’s been teaching kettlebells since 2003 and FMS since 2006, and is the author of Iron Cardio and other training resources. With 30+ years in the field, he’s consulted for pro teams and athletes worldwide. A cancer survivor and lifelong lifter, Brett still trains hard and is relentless about helping students master the craft.

Rafael Barber

Consultation Coordinator

Rafael is a tech-savvy problem solver who brings curiosity, heart, and purpose to the team. He keeps the sales calendar locked in—clearing schedules, smoothing communication, and keeping the process running fast so coaches can focus on clients. Outside work he’s into video games, music, movies, and his cats, and he’s deeply grounded by family. He sees his role as more than logistics: it’s making life easier for others and leaving a positive impact.

Paulina Bedolla Jimenez

Onboarding Coordinator

Originally from Mexico, Paulina now lives in Minnesota with her husband and works as an Onboarding Specialist. She welcomes new clients and walks them through everything they need to get started with confidence. She enjoys being part of a team dedicated to improving lives and takes pride in offering genuine support in every conversation.

Nicola Saba

Accountability Coordinator

Nico is the Accountability Coordinator, helping clients stay on track by keeping them engaged, supported through roadblocks, and closely connected to their coach. He’s big on clear communication, consistency, and habits that actually stick, and believes small daily wins create big transformations. Outside work, he’s always leveling up his own mindset and skills so he can better guide the people he serves.

Max Hansen

Transformation Advisor

Max is part of the KT enrollment team, helping men take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident. Based in Bozeman, Montana, he’s into fitness, nutrition, and getting outside with his dog whenever he can.

Brian Vance

Transformation Advisor

Brian is a husband and father of five whose fitness journey came full circle. Once a lean CrossFit competitor, he set his health aside while building a career and raising a family, eventually gaining 60 pounds he fought for years to lose. That experience gives him real empathy for busy men in the same spot. Now with KT, he’s passionate about helping dads reclaim their health, rebuild strength, and show up fully for their families.

Scott Crystal

Head Coach

Coach Scott has a decade of kettlebell experience and athletic grit. After years in craft beer, he traded hops for hardstyle, drawn to kettlebells’ simple power. Former collegiate swimmer and CrossFit athlete, he coaches busy men with StrongFirst precision and accountability. Scott resides outside Philly with his wife and two daughters.

Matt Travis

Transformation Advisor

Matt Travis is a high-performance coach and elite transformation enrollment specialist with 20+ years in coaching, teaching, and human behavior. He’s helped thousands upgrade health, mindset, and performance by blending behavior change, subconscious work, and strategic coaching. Matt’s mission is simple: help people break through what’s holding them back and build lasting confidence in a body—and life—they’re proud of.

Hugo Mendez

Head Coach

Hugo is from Lima, Peru, now based in the Rockies. A former marathon and Ironman athlete, he hit a wall during COVID—30 pounds up and totally unmotivated. Hiring a kettlebell and nutrition coach flipped the switch, rebuilding his strength, mindset, and purpose. Now he coaches men over 40 because he’s lived the journey himself. Off the clock, he’s into kettlebells, great coffee, loud music, and time with his wife, Amy.

Peter Nieman

Head Coach

Coach Peter Nieman has over a decade of coaching experience in hardstyle kettlebell training and specializes in mobility training via the Internal Strength Model. He lives in Metro Detroit and focuses his personal development time in old school strongman lifts. He enjoys chess, astronomy, and helping men reach their fullest potential in strength and health.