Meet Our Team

CMO - Founder

Steve Hordinski

As the visionary and co-owner of Forge of Unity, Steve Hordinski embodies the brand’s mission to forge strength through connection and purpose. Serving as acting Chief Marketing Officer, Steve drives the brand’s bold narrative, blending strategic insight with unyielding authenticity. A lifelong martial artist, Steve draws on the discipline and focus honed through 29 years of jiu-jitsu training to lead with precision and adaptability. His military service, rooted in the Navy as a Deep Sea Navy Diver, instilled a deep sense of duty and resilience, shaping Forge of Unity’s ethos of building unbreakable bonds in the face of adversity. With a passion for uniting communities and a relentless drive to innovate, Steve Hordinski is forging a legacy of impact and integrity.

CEO - Founding Partner

Daniel Cornelius

Daniel Cornelius is the CEO of Forge of Unity, a veteran-founded fitness brand committed to building physical strength and mental resilience through purpose-driven gear—weighted vests, workout sandbags, EDC bags, and more. A U.S. Army Veteran who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Daniel brings over 15 years of experience in advertising and the creative industry, where he’s honed a strategy-focused, outcome-driven approach to leadership. He’s not only the founder—he’s an active user of Forge of Unity products and stands firmly behind their quality, design, and purpose. Daniel is deeply passionate about making a real impact in mental health, with a focus on combating suicide and supporting those affected by PTSD. A dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, he also finds fulfillment in the outdoors and quality time with his family.

Co-Founder

James Joseph Stelzer II

For over fifteen years, I have been focused exclusively on the Helium and Oil industries as it relates to private investing. This experience led to an opportunity to provide a better offering to my investors. As CEO, my business experience is client-centric , providing Helium and Oil programs for accredited investors. Throughout my career I have been integral in increasing revenue and providing my clients with outstanding results and communication. At the core of this, I have always been able to look at things from my client’s perspective and developed programs based on their desires. As an innovator, I always seek to improve processes and deliver to my client a better offering. Co-founding Summit Source Funding LLC, Summit Operating LLC, Boulder Helium Systems LLC as well as Helium Capital Group LLC are the result...bringing my experience and drive to bear on both the helium and oil industries.

CFO - Founding Partner

Tim Ray

I’m Tim Ray, a founding member at the heart of Forge of Unity (F.U.). Growing up in Louisiana without a father, I leaned on the Boy Scouts for structure, earning Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow honors that shaped my grit and leadership. As a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with 16 years of grinding on the mats, I’ve taught street-defense to men, self-defense to women, and young girls in Nepal, empowering them to resist trafficking. My success in real estate and DeFi fuels my mission to guide others toward financial freedom—a sovereignty I believe unlocks a man’s potential. I believe men should learn and train to be a sort of Swiss Army knife of abilities, to develop their inner James Bond. But my why runs deeper: the loss of my brother-in-arms, Keith, to suicide. Watching his mental health unravel despite his brilliance and generosity—creating tactical fitness gear like our Phoenix Bag—nearly broke me. His potential was boundless, and his absence drives F.U.’s commitment to donate a percentage of proceeds to men’s mental health and community-building initiatives.

At F.U., I’m helping forge a brotherhood for men craving direction, whether you’re a seasoned achiever or picking up the pieces. Our future jiu-jitsu and movement boot camps, survival skills workshops, and sandbag workouts aren’t just about sweat—they’re about building bonds that save lives. I know the stakes firsthand. Keith’s legacy lives in every piece of gear we sell and every man we lift up. On a personal note, some of my long-term dreams are to retire early, give more time to building community, roll with my family on surfboards and jiu-jitsu mats, and one day even go to outer space. Since we live in the now and now is where change happens, I’m here with you, helping to build a tribe where no man fights alone. Join us at F.U.—let’s build each other up and forge something unbreakable.

COO - Founding Partner

Jeremy Witters

Jeremy is a mission-driven leader with a career spanning corporate operations, the U.S. Navy’s maritime expeditionary forces, and emergency services. As Chief Operation Officer at Forge of Unity, he brings high-pressure leadership experience to advance the brand’s mission—forging strength through connection and purpose. His strategic focus and bias for action drive operational excellence and sustainable growth.

Grounded in a passion for martial arts—particularly Jiu Jitsu—Jeremy embraces the mental and physical discipline that fuels his leadership. He believes true strength is forged through challenge, focus, and the relentless pursuit of better.