CENTERS, LLC

04/10/2026

NIRSA Attendees, this morning, April 10, 9:40 – 10:35 AM, Ga***rd National Harbor, Samantha Glennon, Associate Director of Membership, Marketing, and Programs with CENTERS, LLC at DePaul University, is leading a session, Difficult Conversations: Practice Makes Better, focused on one of the most essential and often avoided leadership skills, navigating tough conversations with clarity and confidence.

Difficult conversations are a constant in any workplace, but how they are handled defines team culture, trust, and performance. This session introduces a structured, practical approach to leading these moments with intention, using the CLEAR framework to bring calmness, empathy, and accountability into every interaction. Grounded in real-world application, this session equips leaders with the tools to move from avoidance to action, turning challenging conversations into opportunities for alignment, growth, and stronger team dynamics.

Key takeaways include:
- A clear framework to confidently initiate and navigate difficult conversations
- Practical strategies to address conflict, feedback, mental health, and development in a constructive way
- Leadership approaches that build trust, accountability, and stronger team cohesion

This is not just about having hard conversations. It is about leading through them in a way that strengthens people, performance, and culture.

04/09/2026

NIRSA Attendees, tomorrow morning, April 10, 10:45 – 11:40 AM, Ga***rd National Harbor, Joanna Prociuk, alongside Nick Froelich, Michele Muth, MBA, and Matthew Schmiedl, is leading a session, Recreation Rewired: A Multi-Campus Perspective on AI in Campus Rec, bringing a forward-looking, multi-institutional perspective on how artificial intelligence is reshaping campus recreation. Campus recreation is evolving, and AI is quickly becoming part of that transformation. This session explores how leaders across multiple institutions are approaching AI with intention, focusing on what it takes to implement it responsibly, equitably, and at scale.

Grounded in real-world application, this conversation will walk through how teams are building cross-campus roadmaps, from readiness assessments and staff training to pilot programs and ethical frameworks, all while maintaining the human connection that defines the campus experience.

Key takeaways include:
- How to navigate ethical, equity, and privacy considerations when integrating AI into campus recreation
- Strategies to prepare teams for adoption through training, change management, and organizational alignment
- Scalable, low-risk use cases that enhance operations while preserving quality and connection

This is about understanding what responsible, strategic AI adoption looks like in practice and what it means for the future of campus recreation.

04/09/2026

NIRSA Attendees, this morning, April 9, 8:00 – 8:55 AM, Ga***rd National Harbor, Maureen McGonagle, Senior Consultant with CENTERS, LLC, is leading a session, It’s About Time, focused on one of the most critical drivers of leadership effectiveness, how Time is prioritized, structured, and executed. In fast-paced campus environments where competing priorities are constant, the ability to operate with clarity and intention is what separates reactive teams from high-performing ones. This session reframes time management as a leadership discipline, showing how leaders can align their Time with outcomes, strengthen decision-making, and build more focused, accountable teams.

Key takeaways include:
- A structured approach to prioritization that aligns daily ex*****on with broader goals
- Proven planning strategies to increase efficiency and reduce reactive work
- A clear, actionable framework to improve time utilization at both the individual and team level

More than a productivity session, this is about leading with intention and ensuring that how Time is spent directly supports impact.

04/08/2026

NIRSA Attendees, tomorrow morning, April 9, 8:00 – 8:55 AM, Ga***rd National Harbor, Scott Vandermoon, Director of Campus Recreation with CENTERS at DePaul University, is leading a session, Beyond the Campus Walls: Building Stronger Camps in University Partnerships brings a real-world, experience-driven perspective to one of the most complex and evolving areas in campus recreation, partnerships between camps and higher education institutions.

Joined by co-speaker Mark Greenburg, this session goes beyond surface-level conversation and into what it actually takes to make these partnerships work. From candid insights on what succeeds and what falls short, to the operational, legal, and reputational realities that shape long-term outcomes, this is a conversation grounded in experience and ex*****on. You will walk away with practical tools and frameworks designed to help you navigate complexity without sacrificing program quality. The session focuses on strengthening staff training, aligning teams, and managing external partnerships effectively, while keeping stakeholders clear and accountable.

Blending the people side of leadership with the realities of institutional collaboration, this session equips you to lead with confidence in environments that demand both structure and adaptability. As partnerships continue to expand across campus life, the ability to build, manage, and sustain them effectively is essential. Strong partnerships are not accidental. They are built through intentional leadership, aligned operations, and a commitment to doing the work the right way.

04/07/2026

CENTERS is heading to NIRSA, and we are looking forward to seeing all of you and connecting. Stop by Booth 408 to say hello to our team, learn more about our opportunities, and explore how you can build a career with CENTERS.

04/02/2026

In Outsourcing Campus Centers to Strengthen Retention and Financial Sustainability, Mike Schneider outlines a straightforward reality: institutions can no longer separate the student experience from financial performance. Retention is the model. And how campuses operate directly impacts both. This article highlights how an integrated campus management approach, one that combines operations, staffing, programming, and strategy, creates consistency, unlocks efficiencies, and drives measurable outcomes across campus centers.

What CENTERS provides:
- A fully integrated operating model across recreation and campus centers
- Professional management that improves service quality and consistency
- Scalable systems and staffing structures that reduce inefficiencies
- Revenue-generating programs aligned with institutional goals
- A direct connection between daily operations and student retention outcomes

Institutions do not need to choose between mission and margin. With the right operating partner, both get stronger.

03/31/2026

Greg Ross brings a grounded, ex*****on-focused perspective on how sustainability is actually embedded into campus recreation and wellness center operations. Not as a separate initiative, but as a fully integrated part of how facilities are managed, optimized, and improved over time. At CENTERS, LLC, this work is not conceptual. It is operational. With structured systems, enterprise alignment, and on-site leadership, we make sustainability measurable, repeatable, and scalable across campuses. Key elements that stand out:

- Sustainability is integrated across the full lifecycle, from design and construction through ongoing operations, not introduced after the fact
- Operational decisions are aligned with long-term institutional goals, connecting mission, performance, and resource stewardship
- Standardized systems and processes drive consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement across sites
- Data-informed decision making is used to monitor performance, optimize resources, and identify opportunities for efficiency
- Cross-functional coordination ensures sustainability is embedded in daily operations, not siloed within a single department
- Recreation and wellness centers serve as high-impact environments where operational strategy can directly influence energy use, waste reduction, and user experience

This is what defines the CENTERS model. It is not about isolated sustainability efforts. We build operational systems that naturally produce more efficient, high-performing, future-ready facilities. Greg Ross captures what this looks like in practice and why it matters for institutions thinking long term about performance, cost, and impact. If you are looking at how campus facilities can operate smarter, more efficiently, and with greater purpose, read more:

Discover 5 actionable ways Rec & Wellness Centers can reduce environmental impact and support campus sustainability goals.

03/25/2026

CENTERS is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with DoubleSpot, an innovative platform designed to streamline member management, program registrations, events, and facility operations across a variety of campus centers.

The partnership brings together CENTERS’ operational expertise across recreation and wellness centers and multi-use event facilities with DoubleSpot’s emerging technology and AI capabilities. The collaboration focuses on improving how colleges and universities manage and activate their spaces.

We are excited about the opportunity this partnership creates for our clients and campus communities.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/eAJ-5Tfq

📸 Back row L to R: Scott Vandermoon, Timothy Ward, Ashley Sims, Julie Ray, Ann Cook-Graver, Alex Rich, Erin Aguirre, and Michael Walsh

Front row L to R: Sean Chang, Veronica Tantoco, Samantha Glennon, Jana Terborg, Ryan Chen, and Matt Mendoza

03/24/2026

Back from the Innovations Conference with a clear signal on where campus life is heading and the role it will play in institutional success. Throughout the week in the Solutions Center, our team engaged with community college leaders who are not waiting for change; they are driving it, advancing scalable models, strengthening operational alignment, and elevating both the student experience and institutional performance. These conversations are not incremental; they are actively redefining how student life is structured, delivered, and sustained.

A defining moment of the conference was the session “Building Vibrant Student Life Through Strategic Partnerships: Leadership Lessons from Community College Campus Centers,” presented by Dr. Pamela J. Haney and Mike Schneider.

Our leaders, Mike Schneider and Jennifer Matune Smith, represented CENTERS, LLC throughout the conference, and their work continues to shape how institutions approach operations, partnerships, and the future of campus management. Their perspectives reinforce what we are seeing across the industry: intentional strategy and strong operational models turn vision into measurable impact.

Key themes:
- Community colleges are setting the pace for innovation across higher education
- Strategic partnerships are no longer optional; they are critical to expanding capacity and delivering measurable outcomes
- Student life environments are evolving into integrated, multi-functional ecosystems that support belonging, engagement, and long-term success
- The momentum is real. Institutions are thinking differently, acting intentionally, and prioritizing models that align mission with operational excellence.

We are proud to be part of the conversation and to support institutions as an operating partner in building the future of campus life.

03/23/2026

This month, CENTERS, LLC is celebrating 12 years of innovation, partnership, and measurable impact at. Moraine Valley Community College, MVCC FitRec.

For more than a decade, Moraine Valley Community College FitRec has stood as a model for what is possible when strategy, operations, and purpose align. This is not just a facility, it is a fully integrated ecosystem where campus recreation, academics, athletics, and community engagement come together to drive student success and institutional value. Year after year, the team has elevated performance through disciplined ex*****on, forward-thinking innovation, and a deep commitment to creating experiences that matter.

This milestone also aligns with Moraine Valley’s reaffirmation as a League for Innovation institution, reinforcing the strength of a campus culture grounded in progress, collaboration, and continuous improvement. As President Pamela J. Haney, Ph.D., shared: “This achievement is a direct result of your talent, expertise, and teamwork. I truly appreciate the time each of you put into making this happen. Your hard work did not go unnoticed. Thank you for your commitment and collaboration!” Twelve years in, the impact is clear. Stronger operations. Expanded opportunities. A more connected campus community. Congratulations to our team driving this work forward. The foundation is built, and the future continues to rise.

03/18/2026

CENTERS Solutions highlights the work behind the experience, bringing forward the operational excellence, expertise, and strategic alignment that power campus life facilities every day. Campus environments are often experienced as seamless. Events run with precision, spaces stay energized, and programs consistently connect students and the community. What is not always visible is the depth of operational strategy and ex*****on required to make that possible.

In this March edition, we take a closer look at the teams and systems driving performance across campus facilities. From recreation center event conversions to large-scale fundraising initiatives and the day-to-day coordination that keeps operations moving, these stories showcase the leadership, discipline, and innovation behind it all. This is where strategy meets ex*****on. This is how complexity becomes consistency. This is CENTERS in action.

Read the March edition here: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Behind-the-Scenes-of-Campus-Life-Operations.html?soid=1140449747975&aid=n1Y2NyktE1Q

03/13/2026

At the Innovations Conference, taking place March 15–18, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana, leaders from across higher education will gather to explore ideas and strategies that advance student success and institutional excellence. Hosted by the League for Innovation in the Community College, the conference brings together educators and innovators committed to cultivating transformational change within community colleges and across institutions worldwide.

On Sunday at 9:30 a.m. EST, Pamela J. Haney, President of Moraine Valley Community College, and Mike Schneider, Assistant Vice President of Operations at CENTERS, LLC, will present Building Vibrant Student Life Through Strategic Partnerships. Drawing on Moraine Valley’s experience, they will share how strategic partnerships can help institutions expand and energize campus life while supporting broader institutional goals and strengthening the overall student experience.

If you are attending the conference, stop by the CENTERS table in the Solutions Center at Table 4 to connect with our team and continue the conversation around innovation, collaboration, and the future of student life.