Riekes Center Staff
Founder
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Gary Riekes - Founder and CEO -
Gary has been a professional musician since the age of 9. He was a member of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra and numerous contemporary performance groups. He is a graduate of... read more
Gary has been a professional musician since the age of 9. He was a member of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra and numerous contemporary performance groups. He is a graduate of... read more
Administration
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Lex Ebbink-Alemania - Student Services
Lex was born in Redondo Beach, California, where she lived until her family relocated to San Mateo, California, in 1990. She attended a private school, where she completed an... read more
Lex was born in Redondo Beach, California, where she lived until her family relocated to San Mateo, California, in 1990. She attended a private school, where she completed an... read more
Creative Arts
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Drew Annis - Filmmaking
Drew Annis is from Iowa, he is excited to work at the Riekes Center and he's dedicated to helping students of any pursuit towards their goals, in whatever area they may be... read more
Drew Annis is from Iowa, he is excited to work at the Riekes Center and he's dedicated to helping students of any pursuit towards their goals, in whatever area they may be... read more
Geoff McCann - Guitar Instructor
Geoff grew up in Menlo Park, California, and went to public school until high school when he attended St. Francis in Mountain View. There he played basketball... read more
Geoff grew up in Menlo Park, California, and went to public school until high school when he attended St. Francis in Mountain View. There he played basketball... read more
Aidan Young - Director of Creative Arts
Aidan grew up in the woods and rolling hills of central New Jersey, and began learning nature awareness and creative arts at an early age. He performed in his first concert at the age of 11. As a homeschooler... read more
Aidan grew up in the woods and rolling hills of central New Jersey, and began learning nature awareness and creative arts at an early age. He performed in his first concert at the age of 11. As a homeschooler... read more
Athletic Fitness
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Tim Dempsey - Pinnacle Coordinator
Tim was born and raised in Peoria, IL. In 1980 he graduated from Peoria Central high school where he was an all conference soccer, team captain and MVP. There he was also track team all area honor roll in 4x800 relay ... read more
Tim was born and raised in Peoria, IL. In 1980 he graduated from Peoria Central high school where he was an all conference soccer, team captain and MVP. There he was also track team all area honor roll in 4x800 relay ... read more
Jesse Lindenstein - Strength Coach
Jesse graduated from SJSU with a degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Adapted PE. He has worked with children with learning disabilities at Menlo... read more
Jesse graduated from SJSU with a degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Adapted PE. He has worked with children with learning disabilities at Menlo... read more
David Nava - Strength Coach
David Nava was born on May 19, 1985 in Redwood City, CA. At the tender age of 6, "Nava" (as he is more often called) began playing baseball and soccer... read more
David Nava was born on May 19, 1985 in Redwood City, CA. At the tender age of 6, "Nava" (as he is more often called) began playing baseball and soccer... read more
Justin Shetler - Director of Fernside Programs
Justin is the director of Fernside Mentoring Programs, as well as being a coach himself. His background is in nature awareness and survival training, and was introduced to athletic fitness through physical therapy ... read more
Justin is the director of Fernside Mentoring Programs, as well as being a coach himself. His background is in nature awareness and survival training, and was introduced to athletic fitness through physical therapy ... read more
Kevin Symes - Strength Coach
"Boogie" Kevin is currently a student at San Jose State. He is studying Business Management with a minor in Financial Accounting. Kevin used to help out as a Youth Pastor at his church... read more
"Boogie" Kevin is currently a student at San Jose State. He is studying Business Management with a minor in Financial Accounting. Kevin used to help out as a Youth Pastor at his church... read more
Sione Taufoou - Acceleration and Synergy Coordinator
Sione, a San Carlos native, played football in high school for Saint Francis, and then at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota... read more
Sione, a San Carlos native, played football in high school for Saint Francis, and then at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota... read more
Physical Therapy
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Paula Chan - Director of Physical Therapy
Paula, a native of Los Angeles, earned a B.S. in Kinesiology in 1988 at UCLA and an M.S. in Physical Therapy (M.S.P.T.) in 1991 from the University of the Pacific. She gained athletic... read more
Paula, a native of Los Angeles, earned a B.S. in Kinesiology in 1988 at UCLA and an M.S. in Physical Therapy (M.S.P.T.) in 1991 from the University of the Pacific. She gained athletic... read more
Floyd Vito Cruz - Physical Therapist
After graduating from San Francisco State University with a B.S. in Kinesiology, Floyd completed his M.S. in Physical Therapy at the University of California, San Francisco. Prior to graduate school..read more
After graduating from San Francisco State University with a B.S. in Kinesiology, Floyd completed his M.S. in Physical Therapy at the University of California, San Francisco. Prior to graduate school..read more
Candy Lopez - Patient Coordinator
Candy was born in Redwood City and grew up in East Palo Alto. She attended Menlo Atherton High School. She worked in banking as a teller and worked herself up to operations manager within six years ...read more
Candy was born in Redwood City and grew up in East Palo Alto. She attended Menlo Atherton High School. She worked in banking as a teller and worked herself up to operations manager within six years ...read more
Nature Awareness
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Ken Clarkson - Nature Awareness Director
Ken grew up hiking the Appalachian Trail of the Blue Ridge Mountains and canoeing the rivers of southwest Virginia. This also explains why he often has a banjo in tow... read more
Ken grew up hiking the Appalachian Trail of the Blue Ridge Mountains and canoeing the rivers of southwest Virginia. This also explains why he often has a banjo in tow... read more
Sky Snyder - Nature Awareness and Creative Arts
"Skynote" Sky Snyder was born and raised far out of cell phone reach in Fall River Mills, Northeastern California. He grew up with his hands in the dirt or gripped around... read more
"Skynote" Sky Snyder was born and raised far out of cell phone reach in Fall River Mills, Northeastern California. He grew up with his hands in the dirt or gripped around... read more
