Who is strata

Hey! My name is Rylee Cunningham, and I am the owner / founder of STRATA Fitness.

As a small town girl originally from West Virginia, moving to Ohio just after graduation in 2016 was quite a shock for me. There was very little diversity, no “large” cities, and certainly not a clear outlook on the struggles of every day life people endure. Since moving here, I had to find my own path to understanding the vast cultures and experiences the rest of our country had to offer. I chose a career path that I felt best would fit my strongest qualities, and well, here we are… Now, I have a 10 year background in the security field, including 2.5 years working as a Correctional Officer for a level 3 mens prison in the state of Ohio. I have years of tactical training, crisis management, critical incident management, and even hostage situation training. for the last 3 years, I have been working as a Security Account Manager, overseeing a large scaled automotive operation, as well as being a High School Volleyball & Track coach - needless to say, I know my stuff when it comes to ensuring the people around me are safe.

Aside from my professional career, I was also a collegiate athlete, and find solace in going to the gym. However, I too fall victim to the unwanted attention, harassment, and abuse given by men in today’s society. Over the last year I have endured a stalking case by someone in my community that has persistently followed my every move. It started out as excessive communication on my cell phone, social media, and even email. It then moved to seeing them outside of my house, following me to work, the high school I coach for, and ultimately both of the gyms I had memberships to. I went as far as having local law enforcement check my vehicle for a tracking device, but at that point, enough was enough.

During this process, my only thought was this - if I am experiencing it, I know other women are too.

While I cannot escort everyone to and from work, the store, or even out to get their mail - one thing I can do is create a space that allows women to feel safe, secure, and have peace of mind knowing that they can still take care of their bodies and health without fear. Thus, STRATA Fitness was born.

(THIS SPACE IS WELCOME TO ALL WOMEN, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE TRANS COMMUNITY. WE ALL DESERVE A SPACE TO FEEL SAFE.)