Our Staff
Colin Clark
Coach - Owner
CF-L2 / CF Kids / CF Mobility
In 2010, after several years of CrossFit training at a local box in Houston, Colin was convinced of the positive effects of this type of fitness regime and transformed his garage into a CrossFit gym. What began as a hobby transformed into a team of athletes dedicated to helping others reach their fitness goals. Originally from El Paso, Colin was a high school athlete and collegiate rower at the University of Texas at Austin. Not only is Colin passionate about the physical aspect of CrossFit, he enjoys the mental aspect and the strength that comes from mind and body alignment. As many will attest, he's also a stickler for perfect form. Outside of exercising (CrossFit, Skiing, Basketball), Colin loves cooking and collegiate football.
Rafael Gallo
Head Coach
CF-L2 / CF Gymnastic
2021 CrossFit Games National Champion of El Salvador
Rafael is a Canadian born, raised Texan, with a Salvadorian heritage. Raf played college football and went pro for 2 years. He started CrossFit in 2017 and became a coach in 2020.
Erica Calvery
General Manager / Coach
CF-L3 | CF Kids | CF Gymnastics
Erica believes CrossFit saved her life. Not in the sense that she was unhealthy and physically needing a change but more like a mental emergency. Like so many, she had lost her passion, and was unchallenged, uninspired, and withdrawing more and more. In January of 2012, she stumbled into her first box and left changed forever. It brought her back to life and led her to becoming a Certified Personal Trainer, a nutrition coach, and a Level 2 CrossFit trainer. A perfect day for Erica would include a meditation, a fresh meal shared with friends, and a spicy metcon. All of which she says require you to be fully present and not take yourself too seriously. She believes that’s the magic of Crossfit. “It reminds you that you already have everything you need to be healthy, happy, and whole, you just have to get out of your own way.”
Zack Hollday
Coach
CF-L1 / CF Gymnastics
Zack graduated in 2018 from Texas A&M with an Industrial Engineering Degree. He works full time as an Integration Engineer contracting with NASA.
Zack coaches at Derive because he loves CrossFit and has a passion for helping others reach their goals! He’s been doing CrossFit on and off for 8 years and has been doing Olympic lifts for 15. Outside of CrossFit, he also enjoys biking, running, and swimming which lead him to complete his first half Ironman in 2021.
Shannon Delaney
Coach
CF-L1 / CF Gymnastics
Shannon was introduced to CrossFit in 2019 by a coworker and was immediately hooked. She enjoys the supportive community, varied workouts, and learning new skills. Outside of CrossFit, Shannon enjoys running, soccer, and yoga.
Shannon currently holds her CrossFit Level 1 training certification. She has been a Physical Therapist for 9 years, working with the pediatric and neurological populations. She believes in the importance of exercising throughout the entire lifespan, because movement is medicine.
Vanessa Licardie
Coach
CF-L1 / CF Gymnastics
Vanessa was first introduced to CrossFit in 2017 in her hometown, Albuquerque, NM. The first CrossFit workout she ever did was a partner WOD with an echo bike and toes to bar which somehow kept her coming back for more. For her, CrossFit is about more than just working out, it's about holding yourself to a higher standard, pushing yourself past what you think is possible, and finding strength both inside and outside of the gym. Her favorite thing about coaching is the look on someone's face when they accomplish something they didn't think they could do. Being part of a community that holds you accountable and helps you cheer on your victories is what's kept her going.
Vanessa got her L-1 in May of 2023 and started coaching shortly after. When she's not at Derive, she's probably watching CrossFit somewhere as a spectator, spending time outside reading a book, or going on adventures with her little husky.
Caitlin Perez-Stable
Coach
CF-L1 / CF Gymnastics
Caitlin grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and then moved to Baltimore for undergraduate and is now a third year medical student here in Houston. She was a very active child growing up and participated in a lot of sports like rowing, soccer, ice skating, swimming, diving, and track. But her primary sport from the age of 6 was competitive cheerleading where she competed at the world championships for 3 years in high school. After high school, a friend introduced her to CrossFit and she did that on and off for a couple years while also doing college cheerleading. It wasn’t until later in college that she started doing CrossFit on a regular basis and now it’s been about 5 years!
“Staying active has always been a large part of me and what keeps me well in terms of both my physical and mental health. I loves the philosophy behind CrossFit – functional fitness that equips you to tackle life's challenges, maintain independence, and keep exploring as you age. Just as importantly, I absolutely love the community found in CrossFit and this is the reason I really wanted to start coaching. I hope I can play a role in shaping others’ CrossFit journeys and helping us all strive to be the healthiest, happiest, and strongest versions of ourselves.”
Nikki Lumpkin
Coach
Coach | CF-L2, CF Gymnastics, CF Adaptive, Precision Nutrition, HSN, XPT
With over 14 years of passion for CrossFit and strength training, Nikki has built 9+ years of coaching experience. She specializes in CrossFit, strength training, tactical training, self-defense, and parasympathetic training, helping fitness enthusiasts build muscle and achieve their full athletic potential.
Before pursuing her career in health and wellness, Nikki served as a police officer with HPD for seven years, resigning in 2018 to focus on her wellness goals. Outside the gym, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Chester, her boyfriend, Jason, and connecting with family.