Meet our team at the Centre! Our dedicated team is passionate about fostering a healthy, active community and a welcoming, supportive and motivating environment for everyone. Each staff member brings a unique blend of expertise, enthusiasm, and a deep commitment to promoting wellness, education and fitness for all. If you’re looking to join our team, check out job opportunities here.
Darian Blattner, Executive Director
P: 715-243-0851
E: dblattner@nracentre.com
A 27-year professional in the health and wellness industry, Darian Blattner is the 1st Executive Director of the Centre. His career started in 1993 at the Eau Claire YMCA as a part-time youth sports and building supervisor while attending college at UW-Eau Claire. In January 1994 he accepted a full-time position as the Youth, Sports, Fitness and Camp Director with the Chippewa Valley Family YMCA in Chippewa Falls. During his time he started Camp Chip-a-Y-a day camp which is still in operation today.
In January 1997 an opportunity to move to Hudson to join the St. Paul YMCA system came about through the Youth, Teen and Child Care Director position. Over a 12 year career with the St. Paul YMCA, Darian moved up the organization first as a Senior Program Director in 2000 to an Executive Director in 2003. He worked with starting up the River Falls YMCA before coming to New Richmond in 2004. He also had responsibility over the Osceola YMCA branch for a number of years. When the YMCA left New Richmond in December 2003, Darian was hired to stay on as the Executive Director of the Centre. Darian earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from UW-Eau Claire while also playing on the baseball team for four years.
Colleen Davis, Member Development Director
P: 715-243-0852
E: cdavis@nracentre.com
Colleen has been with the Centre since April 2013, beginning as a part time staff member at the Welcome Center. Seven months later, the Communications Coordinator position opened up and she knew that was the job for her. With a BA in Graphic Design from UW-Eau Claire, she would be able to put her degree and passion to work again. Eleven months into the Communications Coordinator position, she jumped at the chance to be a full time Communications Manager and landing currently as the Member Development Director.
She has enjoyed working with program staff to create marketing collateral, developing communications to members, and designing promotions. Flyers, fundraising campaign materials, promotional offers, PSAs, bulk mailings, newsletters, social media, and the website are all tucked in her back pocket. Prior to working at the Centre, Colleen worked for 10 years at KRM, a professional webinar event management company, while in college and after graduation. Those 10 years were broken up by a short period of time working at The Hartford before being asked to work again for KRM. However, between then and now, she was a stay at home mom.
Dave Rummel, Properties Manager
P: 715-243-0855
E: drummel@nracentre.com
Dave looks forward to the challenge of managing the Centre facility because “it’s a vital hub of life in New Richmond”. He says this job gives him “an opportunity to work in my hometown and be a part of the community.” Since New Richmond is Dave’s hometown, he enjoys the chance to connect with new residents that he has not yet had the opportunity to meet and reconnect with those he has. Dave and his wife, Roxanne, have lived in New Richmond most of their lives and worked in and around St Croix County most of his life. Dave brings 40 years carpentry experience and 10 years home inspection experience to the Properties Manager role here at the Centre.
Connie Watters, Aquatics Program Manager
P: 715-243-0850
E: cwatters@nracentre.com
Connie Watters joined the Centre in 2024 as the Aquatics Manager. She is extremely passionate about aquatics and looks forward to bringing her expertise and experience to the Centre. Connie began her career in aquatics in Charleston, SC at the age of 15. She had thrived in roles from lifeguard, to swim lesson instructor, to assistant pool manager, to swim team coach. Connie most recently coached the Powdersville High School swim team (Powdersville, SC) to their only two Regional Championships in school history, and was named Coach of the Year for Region 2-AAA for the last two years.
She has also served as the Head Swim Team Coach at the Powdersville YMCA, where she has developed strokes and fundamentals of novice swimmers and led more experienced swimmers to the YMCA Regional Championships. While serving as Aquatics Director, she expanded the free second grade swim lesson program from serving four to seven schools in the district, which helped teach more children in the community how to be safe around the water. In her role as Aquatics Manager, she plans to expand and improve existing programs, and create new and exciting programs to reach more people in the community, while promoting the mission of the Centre. When Connie is not working, she enjoys attending baseball games (Go Brewers!), traveling, and spending time with her husband, Phil, and three children, Mary (13), Cecilia (11), and Thomas (10).
Sarah Reas, Business Manager
P: 715-243-0848
E: sreas@nracentre.com
The Centre journey began for Sarah Reas when she first joined as a member in 2009 when she introduced her daughter to the pool, sharing her passion for being in the water. In 2012, Sarah joined the Welcome Center team, working part time during a life transition and while going back to college. She absolutely loved greeting and helping folks as they entered the Centre, striving for excellent customer service and finding mutually positive solutions when needed. “People who come to the Centre want to be here to better themselves, have fun, socialize, and find connections. It is always a great day at the Centre!” Sarah has always appreciated the community ties and friendly atmosphere the Centre offers.
She worked at the Welcome Center for 6 years while attending WITC, now Northwood Technical College, to obtain her Associates Degree in Accounting and then obtaining her Bachelors Degree in Accounting in 2018 from UW-River Falls. Sarah was active at the campuses, participating in clubs, Student Senate, and tutoring others for several business courses. She is most proud of how she achieved her degrees while raising her two young daughters. In 2022, Sarah rejoined the Centre as the Business Manager. From her past experience, Sarah has a strong business and banking industry background. Community and connections are important to her and she strives to be involved. In her free time, she likes to read, sketch, help others, spend time with family and friends, and cheer on her kids during their sports. Sarah and her family, including their dog Bailey, enjoy camping, hiking, volleyball, and swimming together.
Sara Rogers, Fitness and Sports Manager
P: 715-243-0854
E: srogers@nracentre.com
Sara Rogers joined the Centre team as an instructor in 2015 and now she will expand her unique, holistic approach to wellness as our Fitness and Sports Manager. Sara blends fitness, habit-building, and nutrition focus to empower members in their overall health. Her background as an ultra runner is evident in her resilience and determination, qualities she imparts in her training. Sara’s qualifications include being a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and holding certifications in TRX, Boot Camp, Yoga Sculpt, and LesMills BodyAttack.
Before joining us full time, Sara dedicated 14 years to the School District of New Richmond, transitioning from payroll to Community Education, where she developed impactful programs and community relationships. Sara’s life outside the Centre is as active as her professional one. You may see her running in town or along the trails at Willow River State Park with her husband. She also values time spent with her children and extended family. Sara exemplifies the balance of professional knowledge and personal health, inspiring both members and teammates alike, making her a valued member of our wellness community.
Jessie Geske, Child Care Manager
P: 715-243-0849
E: jgeske@nracentre.com
Jessie Geske has been with the Centre since August of 2023. She started her journey working in child care in 2016 while attending college at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She graduated in 2019 with a degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Special Education. Since graduating, she has worked as a Special Education teacher, a Summer Camp Lead, an Assistant Child Care Director, and most recently as a Childcare Director in Minnesota. Her and her boyfriend, Jack, moved to New Richmond in early 2023 and fell in love with the community. She is so excited to share her skill set with the community that she now gets to call home and make a positive impact on the children in the community through her work as a 4K teacher and Child Care Manager.
Rachel Neumann, Child Care Manager
P: 715-243-0849
E: rneumann@nracentre.com
Rachel began her time at the Centre as a 4K teacher in 2021. She was born and raised in Stillwater and has lived here most of her life. Rachel graduated from Stillwater Area High School in 2016 and received a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from UW-Stout in 2020. She has taught 2nd grade along with 4K here at the Centre for the past three years. Since July 2023, she has shared the Child Care Manager role with another staff member. Although Rachel loves working with all different ages of kids, 4K is her passion. Rachel lives with her boyfriend and their dog and they are looking forward to expanding their family. She has loved growing with the Centre and can’t wait for what is ahead with us.
