Q&A With Buckeye Wellness Innovators
7/10/2019 12:07:05 PM | General
Nathan Quebedeaux
Assistant Athletic Trainer
What are your main job responsibilities?
To foster a culture that provides the opportunity to develop our student-athletes through success in academics and competition to achieve excellence in life and sport. In addition, I coordinate the health care services for all aquatics programs training and competing in the McCorkle Aquatics Pavilion. My passion is centered in the student-athlete experience of health and wellness being positive, proactive and purposeful in the pursuit of sustaining good health during their collegiate career and maintaining a healthy lifestyle beyond sport.
Why did you chose to become a Buckeye Wellness Innovator?
To have an opportunity to be a Buckeye Wellness Innovator is the epitome of what it means to lead like a Buckeye. Wellness does not have a definite, agreed upon route or direction and in many ways personifies a community. As someone who actively participates in the healthcare industry and promotes all domains of wellness, i.e. physical, mental/emotional, social/relational, lifestyle, nutritional and education/learning, I hope to expand the framework of wellness that exists currently and integrate routine activities that our diverse department can relate to and bring wellness into reality.
What are your favorite wellness activities?
Fortunately for me, I have a strength & conditioning coach as a best friend, mother to our child and wife, so spending our Sunday mornings in the weight room with her and our son is my favorite activity. Movement is medicine for us so strength training programs and getting outdoors to experience the elements makes for a happy heart. When we have the chance to visit family we are also usually out on the water in Louisiana or trekking through the snow in Wisconsin.
One (or more) of the best ways you’ve found to incorporate wellness into everyday life?
My wellness blend consists of the following formula:
Early morning family coffee, mid-day training sessions in our world class strength & conditioning facilities, then finally scoping out the Columbus food scene in the evening!
What you would do with a free day with no work responsibilities?
The beautiful thing about being a Buckeye is that the job never feels like work. We would spend the day with family that starts with a coffee and a training session. Have our little guy run around the weight room and get dirty outside. Then catch whatever Buckeyes are competing for a nightcap.
Matt Moser
Front Desk Coordinator, SASSO
What are your main job responsibilities?
I help student-athletes with everything they need to be successful academically.
Why did you choose to be a Buckeye Wellness Innovator?
While working hard at our jobs and working to build our families, it is sometimes easy to forget to work on our wellness. Wellness is an important part of my life, and I think it is great that we can share wellness ideas and opportunities with our colleagues.
Favorite wellness activities?
Reading, planning trips, traveling, trying healthy recipes, playing cards with family (my 88 year old grandma just beat me twice at Christmas) and outdoor activities (like running, cycling and hiking with my friends, family and my dog Taitum).
One (or more) of the best ways you’ve found to incorporate wellness into everyday life?
I ride my bicycle to work every day from Franklinton (hoping for a mild winter). It is not always easy or fun, but I love the benefits. I get my workout in every day, I’m never get stuck in traffic, it’s good for the environment and there are no Ohio State parking problems.
What you would do with a free day with no work responsibilities?
I would go for a hike somewhere, like Hocking Hills, and maybe stop at a local brewery or two.
Paia LaPalombara
Athletic Compliance
What are your main job responsibilities?
Providing NCAA compliance support and guidance to our talented and driven student-athletes, coaches and staff. In addition, I oversee the department’s issue response function, which means I coordinate our investigative response to allegations of NCAA violations. My responsibilities also include collaborating with the Complete Athlete Program on providing relevant and meaningful education to our elite student-athletes who have professional or Olympic aspirations. Overall, my focus is on providing exceptional experiences for our student-athletes by creating a positive culture and setting them up for success on their field of play, in the classroom and in life.
Why did you choose to be a Buckeye Wellness Innovator?
Wellness is an integral part of my own happiness and success and, by becoming a BWI, I hope to help challenge, motivate and encourage others in Ohio State Athletics to prioritize their own health and wellness. Working in an industry that is fast-paced is exciting but can also be stressful and mentally taxing. Often, prioritizing ourselves can fall to the bottom of the list. My hope is that Buckeyes LIFT and the dedicated team of BWIs helps to make it a bit easier for us all to care for ourselves and each other.
What are your favorite wellness activities?
Two things make my heart happy: being outside and System of Strength (a Columbus-based and women-owned fitness studio). I’m fortunate that my husband loves the great outdoors just as much as me, so our vacations are often planned around outdoor adventures. For our honeymoon we hiked for three weeks through the Himalaya in Nepal to Everest Base Camp. This past summer we climbed Middle Teton in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, then flew to Acadia National Park in Maine for rock climbing and more hiking. Next summer, we’re going to traverse the Sierra Nevada in California for eight days, culminating in a climb of Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. I feel most “well” when I’m outside and a bit exhausted, sweaty and dirty.
What is one (or more) of the best ways you’ve found to incorporate wellness into everyday life?
My biggest discovery for my physical wellness is that I need to do it first thing in the morning before I’m awake enough to make excuses. Playing sports I think has conditioned me to work my hardest when I’m with others, so I have found group fitness classes to be the best motivator for me. I also have made a conscious effort to reduce single-use plastics at home and at work – the more accessible reusable items are (like having a separate water bottle for work and home and keeping reusable grocery bags in my trunk), the easier it is to remain committed to reducing my plastic footprint. Also, walking meetings! Not all meetings are conducive to walking but I love a walking brainstorm or touch base meeting. By disconnecting and moving, I find it easier to think creatively, problem solve and connect with colleagues.
What you would do with a free day with no work responsibilities?
My favorite days start early and are a blend of physical exertion, relaxation, and relationships. I’d likely start the day on a strenuous trail run or other outdoor activity with my husband, celebrate our hard work with a tasty lunch, read a good book in the sun, then spend the evening with a spicy margarita in hand playing games with friends and family. In bed by 9:30 pm so that I can be up to greet the sun the following morning.
Derek Ankrum
Food and Beverage Manager, Golf Club
What are your main job responsibilities?
Maintain a level of hospitality that our members and guests have come to enjoy. I also do our beverage inventory and am in control of keeping our cost percentage at our below industry levels.
Why you chose to be a Buckeye Wellness Innovator?
I did it to become more involved in the University and also to help educate myself and those I work with on how to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
Favorite wellness activities?
Biking, golfing, swimming.
One (or more) of the best ways you’ve found to incorporate wellness into everyday life?
Ever since middle school, I have dealt with mental illness. Three years ago, after struggling with quality of sleep for years, I took it upon myself to not use a TV, computer or phone in the bedroom. That move, plus trying to read at least 30 minutes before going to bed, has helped increase quality of sleep and decreased some of the mental issues that I deal with.
What you would do with a free day with no work responsibilities?
I would take my dog out to the woods and just enjoy a day of peace and quiet.
Brittney Kessler
Food and Beverage, Fawcett Center
What are your main job responsibilities?
Assisting with Banquets, catering and the Fawcett Cafe
Why you chose to be a Buckeye Wellness Innovator?
I chose to be a Buckeye Wellness Innovator because of my genuine effort to want to help others. I am a student in nutrition and it is a great opportunity to become closer to the Buckeye culture and community.
Favorite wellness activities?
My favorite wellness activities are running and HIIT workouts!
One (or more) of the best ways you’ve found to incorporate wellness into everyday life?
The best way I have found to incorporate wellness into my everyday life is being cognizant of what I put into my body and being more routine with water intake. Which can be very challenging some days.
What you would do with a free day with no work responsibilities?
A free day? What’s that? I typically find new ways to provide meal plans and meal prep ideas for my clients on my free days or I am at an Ohio State sporting event. Occasionally I will head to the pool … those days are slowly coming to an end!
LaToya Farris
Program Manager, Student-Athlete Career Management
Athletic Academic Advisor, Spirit Program
What are your main job responsibilities?
I provide academic support to the spirit program and help develop student-athletes holistically through professional, personal and academic programming.
Why you chose to be a Buckeye Wellness Innovator?
I’ve recently started paying more attention to my own health and have seen many benefits of doing so. I want to help others make small changes to benefit them also. There are so many wellness resources at Ohio State and a lot of people just don’t know about them.
Favorite wellness activities?
Weekly yoga and my kickboxing workouts at 9 Round Fitness.
One (or more) of the best ways you’ve found to incorporate wellness into everyday life?
I’ve had a consistent gym schedule for the past nine months. I use a standing desk 90 percent of the day. I track my points on the Virgin Pulse App every day because I love earning free money and rewards for the things I already do.
What you would do with a free day with no work responsibilities?
During the summer, I would be by a pool with my dog, Gipson, and something to read. Any other time of year, I’d get a facial and a massage.
Jordan Birkemeier
Assistant Athletics Director, Annual Giving & Buckeye Club
What are your main job responsibilities?
Fundraising for student-athlete scholarships.
Why you chose to be a Buckeye Wellness Innovator?
When I was younger, I was extremely overweight and paid no attention to health. Incorporating a healthy diet and exercise into my routine has been life changing. Everyone has the ability to get where they want to be and having these programs in place are great incentives to get active.
Favorite wellness activities?
Working out and socializing at the gym.
One (or more) of the best ways you’ve found to incorporate wellness into everyday life?
I make my food for the week every Sunday and try to be strict with my eating throughout the week.
What you would do with a free day with no work responsibilities?
Explore Columbus and go eat somewhere I’ve never been. Then find a place to get dessert.
Stefanie White
Executive Meeting Planner, The Blackwell Inn
What are your main job responsibilities?
I sell, contract and plan events and meetings that take place at the Blackwell. My primary focus is Fisher College of Business and their Executive MBA Program, along with corporate recruiting events.
Why you chose to be a Buckeye Wellness Innovator?
I saw the opportunity to combine wellness and networking and jumped at the opportunity.
I grew up with a high school basketball coach for a dad. I spent my childhood in the gym watching what it meant to put in the work and that fitness comes in all forms. Total Wellness was instilled at a young age!
Favorite wellness activities?
I love kickboxing, tennis and HIIT workouts
One (or more) of the best ways you’ve found to incorporate wellness into everyday life?
We have a couple sets of free weights and different strength exercise bands in the Sales and Catering office that we use during standing meetings. I make sure to get out at lunch and take a lap around campus and take the stairs whenever possible.
What you would do with a free day with no work responsibilities?
Any outside activity with my husband and two daughters. I enjoy hiking, fishing, swimming, playing corn hole and tennis.
Khadevis Robinson
Head Cross Country Coach
Assistant Track and Field Coach
What are your main job responsibilities?
My main responsibilities are to ensure the student-athletes perform well in the classroom and on the field of competition. Another responsibility is to recruit athletes that will be able to have success at a university like Ohio State and that have the potential to be successful and carry on the OSU tradition.
Why you chose to be a Buckeye Wellness Innovator?
I chose to be a Buckeye wellness innovator because I recognized that our work is a large/major part of our jobs. This being the case, if our jobs are stressful, then by default, our lives are stressful. I felt that there needed to be opportunities in place where colleagues could find a way to ease some of the stress!
Favorite wellness activities?
My favorite wellness activity was the dodgeball game and the volunteer work we did in French.
One (or more) of the best ways you’ve found to incorporate wellness into everyday life?
One of the top ways I incorporate wellness is by working out and by having a healthy lunch with co-workers.
What you would do with a free day with no work responsibilities?
With a free day without work, I would enjoy time with my wife and kids.
Something you don’t know about me?
I love chess and could play all day.
Interesting work note:
Though my title is coach, coaches actually spend more time in recruiting, meetings, compliance, emails and other activities than they spend actually coaching! The actual coaching is the least part but the part we love doing the most.
