Community Rec Magazine

Erica Barnes on Elevating Inclusive Family Programming to Maximize Retention

In episode 30, Erica Barnes, the director of business development at NinjaZone, details about challenges and opportunities facing community recreation centers. Specifically, she explains demand from families is strong, but many centers struggle to align with what they truly want — high-quality, affordable and inclusive family programming that engages all ages. She argues marketing is often blamed unfairly, and the real issues are program quality, retention and staff engagement, including continuous staff education. Barnes outlines best practices she sees among successful centers: offering kids programs that demonstrate visible progress, creating programming that genuinely appeals to children and making operations easier so staff aren’t constantly scrambling to fill schedules. She highlights a major industry trend toward non-traditional, inclusive activities serving kids who aren’t drawn to traditional sports. NinjaZone fits this shift by providing inclusive family programming plus a comprehensive support system. They tailor implementations to each center’s goals and spaces, from racquetball courts to aquatic viewing areas. Barnes’ key advice is to start thoughtfully, choose partners carefully, plan long term and avoid last-minute program launches that burden staff. Watch the podcast now for expert advice from an industry thought leader. Enjoy!

Andrew Page on Effective Staff Management in Community Rec

In episode 29, Andrew Page, the president and CEO of the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA shares how to cultivate a productive workforce that thrives through effective staff management strategies. In today’s fast-paced world, staffing is crucial, especially in community-focused organizations like rec centers. Page details his YMCA’s strategies for fostering a positive workplace culture and retaining dedicated employees. Whether you’re a leader in the recreation industry or looking to improve your organizational practices, this conversation will provide valuable guidance. Enjoy!

Nicci Bucher on Empowering Female Leaders in Community Recreation

In episode 28, Nicci Bucher, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, details effective strategies to empower women leaders in community recreation. As the first woman to hold this position at her YMCA, Bucher offers valuable perspectives on developing female leadership, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, confidence and community engagement. Bucher has dedicated over 20 years to the YMCA, primarily at the YMCA of Central Florida, and has recently taken the helm at the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg. Her journey to becoming a CEO is marked by a commitment to youth development and community support. Nicci’s leadership is rooted in her belief in the potential of women to lead and make impactful contributions. Enjoy!

The Bold Reimagining of JCC of Greater Vancouver

In episode 27, Eldad Goldfarb, the executive director of JCC of Greater Vancouver, shares how an aging 63-year-old facility sparked a bold, 13-year journey to create a self-sustaining, multi-partner community campus. Starting with a board-led vision in 2013, the JCC engaged architects, 30+ community organizations, and government relations firms to shape a project that integrates a new 200,000-square-foot JCC, expanded childcare, seniors’ services, an upgraded aquatics center, a new high school, and two 40-story rental housing towers. By emphasizing inclusivity, cross-agency collaboration, and alignment with government priorities like childcare, housing and recreation, the JCC secured major provincial and federal grants plus $200 million in community funding. The project models patience, perseverance and partnership-driven planning for large-scale community recreation developments. Enjoy!

Mark Williams on Effective Automation and AI with Arly

In episode 26, Mark Williams, the chief growth officer of Arly, shares how community rec organizations can meet rising expectations despite limited resources. Williams explains that instead of defaulting to hiring more staff, leaders can gain capacity by standardizing processes, unifying data into a single system, and using automation and AI to simplify routine operational tasks. Williams stresses that AI should augment — not replace — the human relationships at the core of community rec, helping staff spend more time with kids and communities. He also describes how Arly brings logistics, registration, communication, staff support, and curriculum into one platform and is rolling out new AI features — all guided by clear program goals and a strong evidence base. Enjoy!