Meet the Team
Founded with a heart for movement, wellness, and people. Our studio is built on the belief that we’re stronger together. 🤎
Whether you’re brand new to fitness, jumping back in, or looking to take your training to the next level, Collective is a place where everyone belongs.
With decades of experience in exercise science, critical care nursing, and dance, we bring more than just workouts we bring purpose to every session.
This isn’t just fitness. This is Collective.
🤎 Rooted in Strength. Powered by Community
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OwnerJessica Felter is the owner of Collective Fitness and Felter Fitness LLC She was born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi, where her passion for health and wellness began at a young age. Inspired by her grandfather and aunt, both of whom were in the medical field, Jessica followed in their footsteps while also nurturing a lifelong love for dance. She began dancing at Middleton’s School of Dance at age three and continued throughout her college years, taking lead roles in the Soirée and serving as a member of the Adams County Christian School Dance Team. Jessica also held officer and captain positions and choreographed several routines.
Her dance journey continued at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she pursued a degree in dance education before transitioning her focus to the medical field. It was in college that she met her husband, Michael, and together they began working out, sparking a new passion for weightlifting and fitness. This love for strength training led Jessica to develop a strong desire to teach fitness, which eventually expanded to include running. She competed in multiple half-marathons and full marathons, including the Goofy Challenge at Disney World—running a total of 42.4 miles over two days and placing in the top 500 out of more than 10,000 competitors. She also earned 1st place in her division and 5th overall female the Hattiesburg Half Marathon.
Jessica holds a degree in Nursing from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and currently works as a registered nurse (ICU, Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, MS) on a PRN basis. Before becoming a nurse, her career in fitness included working as an administrator at E-Fitness and Wellness, teaching group fitness, and working as a personal trainer across various studios along the Coast, including Keesler Air Force Base.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jessica ventured out on her own and founded Jessica Felter Fitness LLC, focusing on personal training. In 2024, she relocated to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where she met Caroline and co-founded Collective Fitness—a studio that combines expert coaching with a strong sense of community and accountability.
Jessica is committed to continuous growth in her field and holds multiple certifications, including in strength programming, corrective exercise, child fitness, Pilates, Balanced Body Reformer Pilates, Barre Intensity, pre- and post-natal care, and nutrition.
Her mission is to educate, empower, and build confidence in every client she serves—helping them feel stronger, more capable, and more confident in their bodies and their lives.
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Maria Barr is a master fitness educator with nearly two decades of experience helping people move better, feel stronger, and rise together. A University of Southern Mississippi graduate, she began her fitness journey in 2005 and has since taught and educated instructors nationwide across barre, reformer Pilates, cycle, boxing, and functional formats. She brings 11 years of experience as a reformer Pilates instructor and educator across the Southeast and continues to teach and mentor instructors across the country as her full-time work.
With certifications through AFAA and MMA Kickboxing, a strong foundation in dance and athletic performance, and experience as a 4x HOTWORX Virtual Instructor, Maria blends science-based programming with intentional cueing, smart challenge, and real connection. She loves serving her community through movement and creating class experiences that are supportive, empowering, and just the right amount of spicy.
Known for her belief that “failure is success,” Maria encourages growth through curiosity, effort, and consistency — reminding every member that progress isn’t perfect and at The Collective, no one rises alone.
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Kristin Grizzard, aka KU, is a New Orleans native raised in Ocean Springs. She earned her degree in Kinesiology from Mississippi State and later completed her Physical Therapist Assistant studies at Bishop State.
As an endurance athlete, Kristin is passionate about running, lifting, and fueling the body well through cooking, constantly challenging herself to go further and grow stronger.
She has competed in multiple half marathons marathons as well as ultras.
Kristin enjoys her sharing her passion for healthy lifestyle and helping others feel better about themselves,.
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Cherie Wade-Markle is an attorney, wife, and mother with three active children, Cherie understands firsthand the challenges of work-life balance and how important it is to prioritize efficient and effective workouts. Having maintained an active lifestyle through various seasons of life, Cherie understands that fitness should not be a one size fits all approach. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Louisiana State University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Mississippi College School of Law.
As an NASM Certified Personal Trainer, she focuses on helping clients make the most of their time, build strength and endurance, and create sustainable habits that support a healthy, active lifestyle.
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Kelly Lane-Fore is a 41-year-old fitness enthusiast, devoted wife, and mother from Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Kelly is married to her husband Chris Fore and is the proud mother of two children, June and Leo. She balances family life with a strong commitment to health and wellness.
Kelly obtained her Level One CrossFit Certification and taught group workout classes for several years. She maintains an active lifestyle focused on strength training, cycling, and high-intensity workouts. Passionate about training efficiently, she constantly seeks better ways to improve performance while inspiring others to pursue their own fitness goals.
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Yaro is a Professional hockey player with 15 years experience. He holds a Master’s degree in Sports Coaching and Sports Management.
Yaro’s background includes extensive strength and conditioning work, as well as experience coaching kids in hockey development programs.
His specialties include building strength, athletic performance, mobility, and long-term consistency through simple, effective, and results-driven training methods.
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With 10 years of coaching experience, Stephanie Cruz brings a high-energy, fun, and empowering approach to every class. Her coaching journey started in Miami, where a close friend and CrossFit gym owner showed her what coaching could truly be: fun, authentic, empowering, and always focused on quality movement and proper form.
When Stephanie moved to Texas, she took that inspiration with her and began coaching at a local CrossFit gym. That’s where she fell in love with creating an experience that makes people feel strong, confident, and most importantly, excited to come back.
Stephanie believes fitness should challenge you without punishing you. She lives by the philosophy: “Movement is a privilege, not a punishment.” Whether it’s cardio or strength, she likes to keep things balanced, challenging, and a little spicy.
Her biggest fitness philosophy is simple: master the movement before you add the weight. Build the foundation, move well, and the strength will follow.
Outside the gym, Stephanie’s favorite way to start the day is slow mornings with her girls, filled with cuddles and plenty of laughs.
our mission
Our mission is to provide intentional, science-based, community-driven movement experiences that help every member build long-term strength, confidence, and connection.
Through our signature classes, SPRYNG, STRYKE, STRENGTH and the Collective Hybrid Series, we blend expert coaching, grounded design, and purposeful programming to create classes that are challenging, supportive, and accessible for all.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where people feel known, guided, and encouraged, and where movement becomes a shared journey toward sustainable progress and lifelong well-being.
At Collective Fitness, no one rises alone.
Our Vision
Our vision is to redefine what a fitness community can feel like in Ocean Springs; a modern movement studio where personal connection, purposeful training, and grounded design create an experience that feels both powerful and welcoming.
We imagine a space where every person feels seen, supported, and inspired to grow and where strength is built through rhythm, alignment, and community.
At Collective Fitness, we envision a home for lifelong movement: rooted in strength, raised by community, and built to help every individual rise from the inside out.