Whether through a swimming lesson, an art class, or simply a smile, each day the Tucson J staff brightens the lives of our members and guests. We are proud of the variety of skills and stories that our staff bring to their work, and celebrate this each week through our Facebook and Instagram “Staff Spotlight” series.
Continue reading on for a preview of our April spotlights, and check out the full posts at all @tucsonjcc accounts!
Jase Colson | Personal Trainer
Q: Tell us about your role at the Tucson J?
A: I’m a Personal Trainer at the J, which pretty much means that I’m helping clients with achieving their fitness goals, whether it be getting stronger, building muscle, or getting better at balancing.
Q: Exercise can be overwhelming and hard to stick with. What’s your approach to helping clients build long-term, sustainable habits?
A: I give them movements that they enjoy or that I feel like they need to do, and I have them progress just a little bit each week or each session. It could be an extra rep or adding an extra 5lbs to the lift, but from what I’ve seen, it creates anticipation for what they’re able to do in the future and minimizes the crushing feeling of failing a lift. The social aspect is also important. I always make an effort to be someone that a client is comfortable with and actively wants to be around.
Q: What’s the biggest myth in fitness that you wish more people understood?
A:You don’t have to do a boatload of reps and sets to make progress on a movement. I see people do 15-20 reps and 3-4 sets, and I don’t feel like you need to be doing all of that. You can be a lot more efficient and feel a lot less tired by doing 2 sets of 5-10 reps.
Kassandra Ramierez | Camp J Office Manager
Q: Tell us about your role here at the Tucson J!
A: As the Office Camp Manager, I help keep camp organized, on track, and stress-free from registrations to connecting with families so campers, parents, and staff can focus on the fun.
Q: What are you most looking forward to during Camp J?
A: Problem-solving, fast-paced days, and lots of camp spirit!
Q: If you could instantly learn any skill, what would it be and why?
A: Cooking. Being able to memorize and recreate any recipe after one look would be amazing!
Q: What is your favorite summer camp activity?
A: Any moment when campers are smiling, and everything’s running smoothly.
Sage Crofts | Member Services Associate
Q: Tell us about your role here at the Tucson J!
A: My role at the J consists of providing general information and customer service to all of our members and guests. Not only do members of our community stop in, but guests from all over the country stop by to use our amenities with their families as well. I also assist other staff members in successfully carrying out their day-to-day work. Above all, my role is to create a welcoming environment for our members, guests, and staff so they can fully experience all that the J can offer.
Q: What does community mean to you?
A: Community to me is a feeling of respect, safety, and kindness in which people make an effort to support others around them, regardless of who that person is. Community is a way to recharge your social battery, create friends, and find opportunities to improve yourself and the lives of others!
Q: What is your favorite memory at the J or favorite part of your role?
A: My favorite part about my role is the guidance that I can provide to help resolve frustrations or answer questions from guests and members. Nothing is more satisfying than helping resolve these, no matter how small, and leaving our community members feeling happy, supported, and heard.
