Meet The Team
Andrew Malek-Zadeh, Owner (CrossFit Level 2 Certified Instructor)
Andrew Malek-Zadeh is a certified Level 2 CrossFit instructor, a NASM certified personal trainer, and also holds a number of other CrossFit coaching certifications. He has been a fitness and personal training coach since 2010 at Hercules CrossFit, UFC Gym, and now CrossFit Endzone. His goal as a fitness coach is to inspire individuals to make long-term lifestyle changes to improve overall health and wellness. He is always eager to help others through fitness, and considers it a privilege to have the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives on a daily basis.
Andrew was active throughout high school in sports including football, basketball, and track and field. He went on to play football for Sacramento State while earning his Bachelor's degree in Communications. Through sports is where he found his passion for fitness and developed his competitive spirit. For the past 4 years, he has consistently ranked as one of the top male CrossFit athletes in the Northern California region, and in 2016, he competed in the California Regional CrossFit competition.
Andrew strongly believes that CrossFit's scalability appeals to all individuals with different abilities and backgrounds, and is the perfect fitness program to help everyone reach their full potential. He looks forward to being a part of everyone's fitness journey at CrossFit Endzone.
Ajay Goel, Owner and Olympic Lifting Coach (USAW Level 1 Performance Coach and CrossFit Level 2 Certified Instructor)
Ajay Goel is one of the Olympic lifting coaches at CrossFit Endzone. He is a certified USAW Sports Performance Coach and is also CrossFit Level 1 Certified.
Ajay played sports throughout his childhood, including tennis, basketball, baseball, and soccer. His athletic interest led him to MMA training, and competing in several body building shows. Ajay has been a member of the California Strength Olympic Lifting team since 2013, and has finished in the top 10 twice at the USAW Nationals Competition.
Ajay enjoys the competitive aspect of sports and sees it as beneficial to the development of one's athletic mindset. He believes this personal drive can help people perform beyond their own expectations. He finds it very rewarding to help people meet and exceed their fitness goals in class or in the competition environment, and believes that the confidence which comes from reaching one's personal goals can carry over to benefit all aspects of life.
Ajay looks forward to coaching and helping everyone at CrossFit Endzone.
Daniel Rivera (CrossFit Level 2 Certified Instructor, NASM CPT, Spartan SGX Coach)
It's pretty simple for me. I pride myself on building solid relationships with my clients. I know that nutrition and fitness goals are very personal and can be difficult for some to talk about. Clients will tell you that their success comes from more than just the science of my programs or coaching—it also comes from the deep trust they have in me and the support and encouragement they receive.
My deep interest in nutrition began to peak about 10 years ago. As most CrossFitters at the time, I was dedicated to a Paleo Diet. As I got older, however, the demands on my daily life and time increased. I began looking for something sustainable and centered around building muscle and fueling the body for workouts, as well as everyday life and recovery. I have committed myself to a lifetime of continued education and evidence based practices, in both nutrition and fitness, not only for my clients, but for myself as well.
I've recently earned my NASM CPT Certification and the title of Spartan SGX Coach. Spartan racing became a huge part of my life in 2019 and quickly developed into a passion I want to share with anyone interested in being coached through their first obstacle course racing experience or a vet looking to improve their stats.
I'm grateful and thrilled to be welcomed into the EZ community.
Vanessa McCurdy (USAW Level 1 Certified Instructor)
I began my fitness journey in college, where I learned how to weight train, then I turned to endurance running to find that competitive edge. But in 2011, I was introduced to CrossFit and fell head over heels with the variety of movements, the intensity of the workouts and the community of supportive and inspiring people.
I competed in local events for several years, until I narrowed my scope to Olympic weightlifting in 2018 and got my USAW Level 1 certification in 2020. And now, I have been a coach at CrossFit Endzone since September spreading the joys of movement and building healthy habits one WOD at a time.
Avissa Khashabi (CrossFit Level 1 Certified Instructor)
Hi, I’m Avissa!
My CrossFit journey began about 10 years ago when I walked past a gym and saw people flipping tires—I was instantly hooked. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to train others, compete in an Olympic lifting meet, and deepen my passion for fitness. In 2023, I took my commitment to the next level by earning my CrossFit Level 1 certification.
I’m excited to share my love for fitness and connect with like-minded individuals on their journey to becoming stronger and healthier. See you in the gym!
Ashleigh Miller(CrossFit Level 1 Certified Instructor, Doctorate in Physical Therapy, Certified Strength Coach)
I'm passionate about advocating for strength training across all age groups, recognizing its benefits for physical and mental health, metabolic function, longevity, confidence, and injury prevention. I firmly believe in proactive healthcare rather than reactive treatment—everyone should have movement screenings before injuries occur. Please reach out if interested in any of my services - PT, movement screenings, body work, corrective exercise programs, skill development.
I hold a BS in Biology and minor in Exercises Sports Studies with emphasis in Fitness Instruction from UCSB, a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Western University, and I am also a certified strength coach. After college, I immersed myself in the world of CrossFit, competing for over five years and earning my CF-L1 certification.
I’m excited to be back in a CrossFit community and look forward to working with all of you.
Auri Lopez(CrossFit Level 1 Certified Instructor)
My name is Aurelia but everyone knows me by Auri.
Growing up sports weren’t a big part of my life. Soccer was the only thing I dabbled in for short period.
10 years later I was introduced to CrossFit by a friend of mine. I refused to give it a try because it looked so intimidating. My friend was finally able to convince me. I would have never guessed this was the beginning of my athletic journey.
April 2014 my life was forever changed thanks to CrossFit. I fell in love with the sport since day one. I instantly started competing 2 months later not knowing what I was getting myself into. The intensity, variation of movements, and especially the community aspect of it was like no other. I’ve been competing ever since. After years of training in CrossFit, competing as an individual and team, I decided to also do my first weightlifting meet, to my surprise I loved it too. The constant learning of movements and technique made me feel so accomplished. I was determined and motivated me to improve myself.
In 2021 I received the opportunity to started coaching. Taking my Level 1 Crossfit certification has made me love and appreciate the sport EVEN MORE!! I can whole heartedly say that I am passionate about everything that CrossFit has to offer. Being part of it improved every aspect of my life. Not just in fitness, but also in mindset, health and mental wellbeing. The best part is, I can now pass that on to everyone that walks in that door. I’ve been at Endzone since 2015 and love this community so much.
My goal is to better my coaching skills and forever be a student. To do the best I can to help those that are willing to give CrossFit a try. Nothing makes me happier than seeing people improve in their fitness journey no matter the size of their goal. I get the joy and privilege to be part of this amazing community and I don’t take that for granted.
I will always strive to become a better coach and continue to help those that have the courage to put themselves in a position to better their life. Come as you are, let us help you live a better life through fitness.
John “Johnny” Salvador (CrossFit Level 1 Certified Instructor)
My name is John, however, I got the nickname “Johnny” from a couple of the coaches here at Endzone and a few members. I was born and raised in Pittsburg, Ca. I have a Bachelors's degree in Kinesiology from San Francisco State University. It was a couple of years after I had graduated high school that I discovered my passion for working out. My brother had introduced/taught me to the Olympic weightlifting lifts (clean & jerk and snatch) and slowly introduced me to CrossFit. As much as I train, it brings me joy to see others wanting to improve their own lifestyle, grow, and get stronger. Growing up I played baseball and throughout high school, I played tennis. Outside the gym, I don’t do much other than play video games and spend time with my nephews.
Jim Albertson (Doctor of Physical Therapy, Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, CrossFit Level 1 Certified Instructor, ClinicalAthlete Certified Weightlifting Coach)
Hi everyone! My name is James Albertson, but I usually go by Jim. I am thrilled to be part of the Endzone team!
I am a Bay Area native and have been very active my entire life. I graduated from College Park High School in 2008, where I was a varsity athlete in wrestling and swimming. I continued my swimming career into college, first at Diablo Valley College, then at Colorado Mesa University, where I earned Academic All-American honors my senior year. One week after my last swim meet, I started working out at CrossFit Junction. I also finished up my degree in Exercise Science before I moved back to California. I then worked out and coached at Diablo CrossFit after earning my CrossFit Level 1 and certification in strength and conditioning. I eventually went to Physical Therapy school at Samuel Merritt University, graduating with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and earning my license in 2019.
I started working out at CrossFit Endzone in 2020 and started coaching here in 2022. About a year later, I began training in Jiu Jitsu and that has been my focus ever since. You’ll often see me in the early morning either preparing for Jiu Jitsu training or performing my Functional Bodybuilding workouts. I’m excited to help you achieve your fitness goals and look forward to working with you!