CENTERS, LLC

01/26/2026

“Sport will strengthen belonging on campus, build town–gown relationships, and support community goals.” Kim Martin, Vice President of Business Development, CENTERS, LLC

This insight from last week’s Cimarron Global Solutions Future of Sport conversation reflects a broader evolution in higher education. Sport is no longer simply a program or an amenity. It is a strategic asset that advances the institutional mission and vision while strengthening connections between the campus and the community. When sport is intentionally aligned with institutional strategy and community priorities, it becomes infrastructure for belonging, well-being, and long-term impact. CENTERS is proud to contribute to an industry-wide dialogue that is redefining how sport supports student success, community engagement, and shared outcomes.

01/23/2026

In a recent Campus Rec Magazine podcast, Mike Schneider, Assistant Vice President of Operations at CENTERS, LLC, reflects on the shift from leading recreation at one institution to supporting operations across dozens of campuses nationwide.

The conversation moves beyond individual career moves to examine how structured career pathways, intentional professional development, and enterprise-level support create sustainable leadership pipelines in campus recreation. Mike shares what CENTERS is seeing across the country as staffing models evolve, expectations around community engagement deepen, and recreation continues to play a more strategic role in institutional success.

The discussion also highlights the distinct opportunities within community colleges and how their recreation programs, while different from four-year institutions, are equally critical to access, belonging, and student connection. It’s a forward-looking perspective on how the field is changing and what it takes to build careers that scale with impact.

Listen to Supplier Voice Episode 11: Inside the CENTERS Model — Rethinking Managed Campus Recreation Operations by Campus Rec Magazine on

01/21/2026

In the January edition of CENTERS Solutions, we examine how artificial intelligence is being intentionally integrated into campus life operations as a strategic asset. Not as a standalone tool, but as an extension of how institutions think, train, and operate at scale. Across the CENTERS portfolio, AI is already driving measurable impact. It is enhancing intramural staff training through real-world scenario simulations, strengthening P3 partnerships through smarter data and alignment, streamlining day-to-day operational workflows, and informing how we identify, develop, and recruit the next generation of campus leaders.

This is what cutting-edge innovation looks like in practice. Purpose-driven, people-centered, and aligned with institutional outcomes. The result is not more technology for technology’s sake. It is better decisions, stronger teams, and more resilient campus environments.

Explore the AI-focused edition of CENTERS Solutions and see how a forward-thinking strategy is being put to work across higher education: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/AI-at-CENTERS-People--Practice--Progress-.html?soid=1140449747975&aid=Ce24Sa1o3as

01/20/2026

CENTERS, LLC Moraine Valley Community College is seeking an ambitious, innovative professional to serve as Coordinator of Operations and Events. This role oversees the daily operations of a 113,000-square-foot state-of-the-art recreation facility serving students, faculty, staff, and more than 4,000 community members. You will lead and develop a team of 20 to 25 part-time staff while ensuring strong customer service, policy enforcement, custodial oversight, equipment audits, and preventative maintenance.

In addition to operations, this position plans and delivers high-impact student, department, and community events, including youth programs such as summer and school break camps. FitRec is more than a fitness center. It is a campus and community hub for athletics, academics, and connection. This role is ideal for a proactive leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, values accountability, and takes pride in creating welcoming, well-run spaces.

If you are driven by operational excellence, people leadership, and meaningful impact, this is an opportunity to lead where impact meets community. View full description here: https://careers-centersusa.icims.com/jobs/3059/coordinator---operations-and-events/job

01/15/2026

CENTERS, LLC is proud to be featured in Cimarron Global Solutions' Creating Community Through Sport, Issue 8, with insights from Kim Martin, Vice President at CENTERS, whose perspective reflects how sport is evolving into a strategic driver of community, belonging, and institutional value. “On college campuses, sport will feel local, inclusive, and well run. Facilities will serve students through recreation, wellness, and competitive sports, while also supporting broader institutional goals.”

Kim’s contribution reframes sport as a connected system. One that expands participation through adaptive and low-barrier pathways, leverages technology to simplify experiences and improve operational decision-making, and positions facilities as community engines that balance wellbeing, access, and sustainability. Issue 8 explores how sport is moving beyond competition into a platform for connection, culture, and long-term impact across campuses and communities. https://cimarronglobal.com/future-of-sport-january-2026/

01/14/2026

Our team at The Johns Hopkins University recently presented at the university’s Student Affairs Professional Development Conference, sharing practical insight on what it truly takes to open and operate a high-impact student center. CENTERS, LLC Executive Director Eve Esch and Operations Manager Taryn Brady led a session titled “Lessons Learned from Opening a New Student Center,” focused on translating vision into ex*****on. The conversation went beyond construction timelines and opening-day logistics, diving into how intentional operations, team alignment, and early decision-making directly shape student connections, community building, and the space’s long-term success.

The session generated strong engagement and meaningful dialogue, reinforcing that student centers do not succeed by chance. They succeed when strategy, people, and operations are aligned from day one. A strong way to start the year, setting the tone for how thoughtful planning, aligned teams, and operational excellence drive lasting impact across campus.

01/13/2026

Matthew Schmiedl’s feature in Campus Rec Magazine makes a clear case that 2026 marketing is shifting into what many are calling The Great Simplification. Instead of chasing expensive, complex campaigns, campus recreation teams need systems that protect staff time, respect limited budgets, and still deliver measurable results. His framework is built around four low-cost growth levers that campus rec is well-positioned to execute on, given how closely teams work with their communities.

What Matt lays out for 2026

- Retention, engagement, and win-back systems: Instead of constantly chasing new users, Matt emphasizes reducing silent churn and extending the value of current relationships. Simple systems like participant newsletters, session-end brunches or completion parties, themed events, client appreciation gatherings, special offers, and targeted outreach campaigns keep people connected and reactivated when they drift away.

- Customer referrals as a primary growth channel: Word of mouth is still the most reliable driver of new participation. Matt reframes referrals as a coordinated strategy, not an accident. Practical examples include bring-a-friend campaigns, referral promotions, capturing and sharing testimonials, and training front-line staff on customer service and relationship management so every interaction supports reputation and growth.

- Practical AI for content and creative work: AI is positioned as a co-pilot, not a replacement. Teams can use it to brainstorm ideas, outline articles and campaigns, generate first drafts, create social captions, edit photos, and produce basic image and video assets. The goal is faster output with the same staff, while humans still control tone, accuracy, and brand alignment.

- Short-form vertical video and trend-hacking: Matt calls this the default content format moving forward. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts now drive far higher engagement than traditional video. Campus rec teams should focus on product and program showcases, quick how-tos, highlighting participants and staff, event promos, and sneak peeks. The strategy is video-first, where one idea becomes multiple short clips, posts, and supporting content, maximizing return on effort.

Taken together, Matt’s trends create a flywheel built on relationships, efficiency, and visibility. Retention and referrals keep the focus on people you already serve. AI and short-form video let small teams communicate more often without increasing cost or headcount. If you are planning 2026 marketing in campus recreation, the full Campus Rec Magazine article is worth reading for the deeper context and ex*****on details that bring these strategies to life:

Matt Schmiedl shares low-cost marketing trends that campus rec professionals can implement for the new year.

01/12/2026

Built first. Built to last. CENTERS, LLC was founded to do something no one else was doing in higher education. Build and manage recreation and student life facilities as strategic engines for campus success. Nearly three decades later, that same mindset still drives us. We do not just operate buildings, we build teams, careers, and experiences that shape how students, staff, and communities show up every day.

What makes CENTERS different is not a single program or one shiny initiative. It is how everything connects. Recreation, student centers, arenas, and events all run through one partner, one strategy, one accountable team. That bundled model reduces silos, strengthens financial stewardship, and creates consistent, high-quality experiences across campus. It also creates something just as important: real career pathways for people who want to grow in higher education operations. If you are the kind of person who likes solving problems, building systems, leading teams, and seeing the direct impact of your work on students and campus life, this is where you belong.

Explore open opportunities here: https://careers-centersusa.icims.com/jobs/search?ss=1&searchPositionType=2049

01/08/2026

Growth continues to shape the direction of Campus Recreation at The University of New Haven. Under the leadership of Jessica Scibek, the department is expanding its reach through updated professional roles, the return of club sports, renovated spaces with new fitness equipment, and programming designed to increase participation. Just as important, the focus extends beyond facilities to strengthening student development opportunities and cultivating a workplace culture that supports wellbeing, leadership, and belonging across campus.

Recently featured in Campus Rec Magazine, Jessica shares how an unexpected career evolved into a long-term commitment to higher education. After starting as an exercise physiologist managing a corporate fitness center, a recommendation from a former professor led her into campus recreation. That pivot launched a 15-year career rooted in continuous learning, including earning a second master’s degree in sport management. She is now beginning her fifth year leading Campus Recreation at New Haven with CENTERS, LLC.

Like many leadership journeys, hers required stepping outside of what felt comfortable. Taking on a director role at a new institution meant recognizing she did not have all the answers and leaning into mentorship, collaboration, and trust in her team. That experience shaped her leadership philosophy. “There’s not just one right way to do things,” Jessica shared. “The best outcomes may come from drawing on the experience of others and being open to the perspectives and expertise of your team.”

For Jessica, the most meaningful accomplishments are reflected in student impact. Hearing from former students who still prioritize their health, or from interns who pursued careers in recreation because of her encouragement, reinforces the lasting influence campus recreation can have well beyond graduation. Jessica’s story highlights how strong campus leadership, supported by CENTERS, creates momentum that benefits students, staff, and the broader campus community. Read the full interview:

For our November/December 2025 issue, we spoke with Jessica Scibek, the director of Campus Recreation at the University of New Haven.

01/07/2026

In case you missed it, this update reflects how institutions are increasingly aligning strategy, delivery, and long-term operations to drive better outcomes. Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc., and Project Management Advisors, Inc., have joined forces to create a fully integrated, full-lifecycle program management platform. This alignment brings together front-end planning, real estate advisory, disciplined project delivery, and operational rigor in a way that reduces handoffs, improves decision-making, and strengthens accountability across the entire project lifecycle.

As Paul Brailsford, Co-CEO of B&D, shared in the announcement, “This is not about getting bigger, but about getting better, and in this case, better means providing the most comprehensively relevant capabilities to these industries.” That focus on relevance, depth, and client value is exactly what this partnership unlocks for CENTERS and the clients and communities we serve. For CENTERS, this partnership enhances our ability to deliver integrated, scalable solutions with strategic clarity and continuity, while preserving the trusted service and relationships our clients rely on.

Read the full announcement here:

The B&D PMA merger strengthens CENTERS operations, expanding integrated planning, delivery, and management for institutional projects.

01/06/2026

In early December, at Moraine Valley Community College joined campus leadership and a representative from the Chicago office of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for a check presentation celebrating the most successful Big Pink Volleyball Tournament and Fundraiser to date.

For the fifth consecutive year, FitRec and the Office of Student Life collaborated on this campus tradition, which reached a new milestone in 2025. Through a single-elimination volleyball tournament, t-shirt sales, and month-long donations, the campus raised more than $5,000 this year alone, the highest total since the initiative began. Since 2021, FitRec has helped raise more than $13,500 in support of breast cancer research and awareness.

We are proud to support programs that bring students, staff, and leadership together around causes that matter, strengthening campus connection while extending impact beyond the facility.

📸 Pictured (back row, left to right):
Kamlesh Sanghvi, Vice President of Information Technology
Esmeralda Diaz, Secretary, Code of Conduct & Student Life
Dr. Kiana Battle, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness
Alex Rich, FitRec Facility Director
Marva Bruno, Code of Conduct Coordinator
Isaiah Perez, Student Life Manager

Front row (left to right):
Dr. Normah Salleh-Barone, Vice President of Student Development
Dr. Pamela J. Haney, President
Kent Marshall, Dean of Students & Compliance Officer
Katherine Koyak, Development Director, Susan G. Komen Chicago
Robert Huizenga, FitRec Associate Director of Operations

12/30/2025