Sometimes the best experiences in life start with having a casual drink with a friend. For Steve Hopp - Dynepic’s Director of Programs - that certainly was the case. 

A former river guide, electrical engineer, retired USAF veteran, and active dad of three high school and college students, Steve has done a lot of wild things in his life. But after a few drinks and encouragement from a longtime friend, he went one step further and did something far outside his comfort zone. 

“We were having a drink on the patio and I was doing this silly jig to the music, just laughing and having a great time,” Steve said. “Then she turns to me, dead serious, and tells me that I absolutely have to try out for the upcoming local production of Spamalot (which is a musical version of Monty Python’s Holy Grail)!” 

Steve shared that while he was a bit taken aback as he’d never considered the stage, a little encouragement from his family, and a passion for pushing his limits was all it took for him to get to the tryouts and land a spot in the ensemble. 

“It’s a completely different world - one I never considered being a part of but I’m having an amazing time!” Steve said. “Spamalot with this crew has been the perfect first experience, and I’d be open to other shows down the road.”

Bravo, Steve! 

Maybe it was kismet. 

When Ben Schroeder, a successful personal trainer in Huntington Beach, California, posted a sign offering free trial sessions for residents of his apartment building, he hadn’t yet met Dynepic Co-Founder and CEO, Krissa Watry. An entrepreneurial powerhouse and previous Air Force Captain, Krissa was no stranger to challenging her mind and body. She tore the contact number off and set up a workout on a whim. 

“It was pretty clear from the start that we were on the same page about the state of American health and wellness, big pharma, and the downfalls of the food industry,” Ben shared regarding his first meeting with Krissa. “We’re both on a mission to change the world for good, to make people’s lives healthier and happier. She also walks the walk, and is willing to run through fire for what she feels is right.” 

That initial connection turned into weekly workouts, and when Krissa relocated Dynepic headquarters to Reno, Nevada in 2021, they switched to virtual training - and decided to invite the entire Dynepic team to join for what would eventually become Dynepic’s ‘Wellness Wednesday.’

“I’d been leading an in-person corporate wellness program at another company, but with the Dynepic team being fully remote, we wanted to try a completely virtual version as a benefit for employees,” Ben said. “It’s fun because the team is so diverse in age, physical ability and fitness, and personal goals. We do everything from Desk Detox stretch sessions to Tabata workouts that can be scaled for each person, and during rest breaks, we discuss everything from using food as medicine to supplements to sleep strategies.” 

Tiffani Clark, Dynepic’s Director of Platform Quality Assurance, has joined Wellness Wednesday from the beginning. 

“I've worked out with Ben for both Wellness Wednesday and Personal Training sessions - he’s awesome at keeping the workouts interesting and providing great suggestions for nutrition and supplements,” Tiffani shared. “Working out virtually is new to me but its been extremely convenient and (when I eat right ) I’m seeing great results!”

Dynepic team members aren’t the only ones who know Ben can change lives. Men’s Health Germany recently invited him to compete against more than 3,000 health and fitness professionals, where he earned a spot in the top 15! 

“It was a really great experience to be in my home country competing with others who believe in similar things as I do,” Ben said. “Just to be in the top final list feels like an amazing accomplishment.” 

Thank you for keeping us healthy, flexible, and excited for Wednesday mornings, Ben! 

Nathan Bennett has a big appetite for two things – learning, and great food! 

As Dynepic’s Cyber Security Analyst, Nathan’s role requires continual review of the company’s infrastructure security, incident response planning, prioritizing the remediation of vulnerabilities for our environment, and tons of research.

“The position is challenging, and you must be hungry for learning,” Nathan shared. “It’s very fitting for me because I’m fascinated with newly found Zero-Day exploits and passionate about the investigation piece of cybersecurity and understanding how these vulnerabilities work.”

A former Active-Duty Airman in the United States Air Force, Nathan said he was drawn to Dynepic because of how it is revolutionizing training for the military through cutting edge technology. 

“I understand first-hand the value MOTAR brings to the table,” he said. “The XR piece is crucial, first rate, and will shave off days, weeks, even months from necessary USAF trainings.”

While cyber security never sleeps, Nathan’s other passions include being outdoors with his kids, country music, and all fried chicken, burgers, sushi, Korean BBQ, and Tex-Mex. He’s also been leaning into Dynepic’s remote working world, as it's his first time working from home. 

“Once I had the right desk and chair and got used to not wearing slacks and polos every day, things went more smoothly,” he said. “Collaboration is key, and I’ve absorbed so much information working with the DevOps Team and Web Developers to secure our platform. The company may be fully remote, but everyone performs well together as a team.”

Welcome, Nathan!