Lakewood: Meet The Team | Sender One Blog

Lakewood: Meet The Team

Mar 20, 2024 | Blog, Outreach

Written by Kadisha Aburub | Edited by Alexandra Erdman

 

The moment you all have been waiting for… the next full service gym is opening very very very very very VERY soon :O & if you couldn’t tell, we are psyched.

The team who will be leading Lakewood has been assembled and we’d like to take the opportunity to introduce them to you! While they are all familiar faces across Sender One, they are now, officially, the first of the Sender One Lakewood staff.

***drum roll please***

Art Garcia Alvear (he/him)

Gym Manager

Melissa Garcia (she/her)

Customer Experience Manager

Mac, (he/they)

Programs Manager

Devan Gutierrez, (he/him)

Head Routesetter

How long have you been climbing + working at Sender One?

I have been climbing for nearly 10 years! I started out climbing and working at a different gym. I became part of the Sender One team in November 2017.

Art

My first time climbing ropes indoors was at Sender One LAX in 2017. I started climbing more often in college as I worked for my school's gym and I had roommates who also climbed. My journey at Sender One first started in 2021 shortly after the gyms reopened. From 2021-2022, I held roles in the Youth Programs, Customer Experience, and Marketing departments until I transferred to SNA as the Customer Experience Manager in the Fall of 2022. I joined the Lakewood team as the Customer Experience Manager in the Summer of 2023!
Melissa

I've been climbing for 7 years + working at Sender One for 3 years.

Mac

I have been climbing since 2011, routesetting since 2012, and working at Sender One since 2016.

Devan

How did you get into climbing? 

My brother took me for my first time and I fell in love with it instantly. On my next visit I bought an annual membership to that gym, and then a month later I started working there. It has evolved from a hobby, to a passion, and now to a lifestyle for me.

Art

My sister and her husband first introduced me! My sister took me to another gym to boulder once but when she started working at Sender One I was able to come in with her and learn to belay and rope climb with them. I would say I really "got into" climbing when I started working at Sender One. Jed, now one of LAX's Routesetters, was my first friend at work and we climbed together at least twice a week 🙂
Melissa

I went bouldering with a few friends in high school, and got hooked as soon as I sent my first climb 🙂

Mac

Pretty classic situation - a friend brought me into the gym and from then on out, climbing and routesetting has been my obsession.

Devan

What are you most excited about with the new gym opening?

Getting to cultivate a community from scratch! I love being a part of people's climbing journeys and helping them discover the same love and excitement that I have for this sport. I also really look forward to getting to climb with this new community and enjoying some great new problems and routes!

Art

Since I've worked at both existing full-service gyms, I know each community pretty well. I'm excited to see new faces mix with our existing community and to share climbing with the Lakewood area!
Melissa

I'm excited to connect with climbers in my home community!

Mac

I'm most excited about the opportunity to help create a brand new culture within the Lakewood community. One of the major ways I, and my team will do this, is by creating fun, thought provoking boulders and routes that spark a sense of adventure, flow, problem solving, and maybe a little bit of head tilting.

Devan

What you like to do outside of work?

I love playing games, whether that be board games, sports, or video games. I have so many favorites and love to talk about all of them! I also like talking about my cat, anime, and hanging out with my friends and family.

Art

I love going to the beach and being in the ocean! Outside of that, I enjoy baking, going to concerts, and trivia nights with friends 🙂
Melissa

Playing with my dogs, climbing outside, watching movies, and activities on the bluff!

Mac

When I'm not working I'm likely spending time with my wife, Andi. We enjoy riding horses, taking our dogs out for adventures, riding mountain bikes, and watching some questionably "good" shows. I also enjoy Skiing, backpacking, and making my own coffee.

Devan

When LAX was under construction, the opening leadership team took a photo together in the open space. To commemorate the opening of our third full-service gym, we've done the same!

 

Here's what LAX looked like back in 2016! ⬆⬆⬆
Sender One Lakewood is expected to open in Summer 2024.

We are currently hiring for more Lakewood positions! If you are interested in joining the team, you can apply online at Sender.One/Careers

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