Coaches

We are devoted to creating STRONG community. It is our mission to make everyone feel welcomed and be apart of something bigger than self. Every class is intended to increase our members knowledge, improved fitness, and skills that will make everyday tasks much easier. The impact we can have on our families, workplace, and communities can be stifled by one limiting factor... health!

Don Bernatowicz

Head Coach | Owner

I have been in the fitness industry for over 25 yrs now and love it more today than at any other point in my life! After spending 2 years in a sports med track at Mercyhurst college I decided to jump right into the fitness industry as a trainer. Since then I have held over 4 different personal training certifications, and have been certified in Pilates, Yoga, Body Pump, Spin, and now have my L1 CrossFit certification. Health and fitness has been a life long pursuit for me- first through athletics, then bodybuilding, and finally through CrossFit competitions as well as competitive Spartan racing! I have worked with hundreds of folks over the years from 8 years old to 86 yrs old. I am passionate about helping people no matter where they are at in their fitness journey to get to the next level, whether that is for the person trying to make exercise a regular part of their lifestyle or the elite athlete that wants to become more.

Cameron Baltimore

Thanksgiving day in 2017 began a new love I never knew I needed. After playing softball all my life and through college, I had found a new sport that kept me in the competitive game, but also led to new beginnings. I had been to M6:8 before when it was in Donnie’s basement of his house a handful of times, so I jumped at the opportunity when my cousin asked me to go that Thanksgiving morning. When we walked through the door, I was welcomed with open arms, and I knew then that I had found a second family. Throughout my life, I have been through many highs and lots of lows. CrossFit was an escape for me. I built new relationships with people that genuinely cared and pushed me every step of the way during my fitness journey and my walk with Jesus. A few years into this, and I had wondered if I would ever be good enough as an athlete or a person to become a coach. My dream had came true when Donnie called me one night asking if I would think and pray on being a coach. He had asked me a week or two later if I had an answer.. I didn’t. I wondered why I couldn’t just say yes when I had been wanting this all along. I had so many concerns and worries, so I continued to pray. God eased my mind with people coming to me telling me how great I would do and that they looked up to me. The weight was lifted off of me, and I had my answer. Coaching has brought a new aspect to my life, my relationships, and my fitness. I want everyone to have the same experience I have had, and to help with your fitness journey!

Jenne Callahan

I started my CrossFit journey in 2014. I was recently divorced and finding myself as a single mom with 3 kids needing an outlet. My very first day Karen was programmed. If you don’t know what that is, you’re lucky. Most people would have never gone back, but I loved it. I loved the structure of the class and the coach who wouldn’t let me quit. It wasn’t long before I realized how much I couldn’t run. After having to walk entirely too many 400m runs in a wod I decided to try running outside of class to get better. What I didn’t realize was how much CrossFit conditioned me for running. With the help of a few friends I set out to run as long as I could and before I knew it we had run 3.5 miles. I had never done that before. That was a much different experience than when I showed up freshman year at college to play soccer and the coach said: run 5 miles in 45 mins. We all set out, I came back an hour and half later, teammates weren’t so happy as I think we all had to run more as punishment. Since then I have completed several marathons. I hated running but it has become the one thing I love the most. If you have goals, I’m here to train right alongside you and hold you accountable wether it be in strength, cardio, gymnastics, or nutrition. I want you to succeed.

Garrett Ellis

I never expected starting CrossFit in 2015 that I would be a coach. It has been an up-and-down journey starting in 2020 when I got my CrossFit level one with Covid going on and then I was absent for a year from August of 2021 to August of 2022. I am thankful that Donnie stuck with me through this journey. I did not expect being a coach because getting up in front of people is not one of my strong suits, but Jesus has helped me along this journey of getting up in front of people. I love having fun with my students and teaching them if they have questions about a certain movement. I am thankful that God ave me this ability to do CrossFit.

Spencer Owens

I chose to start my CrossFit journey during the 2019 Open. I had no clue what an Open was or how anything worked, but my friends were doing it so I thought I would too. I had no idea that I would have found something that would not only support my health but something that would bring me a community where I felt like I belonged. Because I remained consistent doing CrossFit, I eventually found myself at M6:8 where I met my wife Sarah. God used the normal everyday thing I did to bring me not only my wife, but a community that loved me and accepted me where I was. I love getting to coach my students and help them to realize that CrossFit is not just for the elite athlete but it keeps them functionally fit. You’ll find me making my students work hard, joking around during the WOD, and talking a whole lot about Jesus. I’ll see you at the board!