Anna Bennett — General Manager
Originally from Rhode Island, Anna moved to Rochester after graduating from Hartwick College in 2007. She took a job in Rochester at Eastern Mountain Sports and was immersed in the outdoor industry for 10 years. In that time she expanded her knowledge and experience in a wide range of outdoor sports, of which rock climbing became a favorite, and developed a passion for helping others experience the outdoors. For Anna, rock climbing melds her affinity for balance and precision while requiring mindfulness while on the wall and providing infinite problems to solve. She hopes through her position at Central Rock Gym she can continue to introduce new-comers to the sport she loves and grow the climbing community in Rochester.
Brad Larew — Assistant Manager / Head Coach
Brad officially began his climbing career at the age of 11, but according to his parents (and some mildly embarrassing family photos) his passion for climbing started long before then. After pursuing degrees in Massage Therapy and Kinesiology and a long career in the outdoor industry, Brad is extremely excited to combine all of his experiences to help build a strong and inclusive climbing community in his hometown. For Brad, climbing is moving meditation, problem solving for both mind and body, and simply put, the most fun way to stay physically fit for life. As the Head Coach at Central Rock Rochester, he finds just as much satisfaction in helping other climbers send their projects as he does in sending his own, so if you ever need any tips on technique or training never hesitate to ask!
Jordan Forney — Head Setter
Hailing from Pennsylvania originally, Jordan started working in climbing gyms back in 2008. He’s held positions ranging from birthday belay staff to Gym Director, but his passion was always for route setting. The combination of artistic expression with physical challenge is something he truly loves, and he looks forward to providing Rochester with the highest quality routes and boulders and helping the climbing community continue to grow.
Jason Kraybill — Youth Programs Coordinator / Media Manager
Despite being a passionate climber of trees and outdoor enthusiast, Jason has only been rock climbing consistently since about 2013, when he became helplessly addicted to the sport. He believes that the climbing gym can help lead people towards a more robust lifestyle by offering a fun, communal sport that goes beyond just a workout and extends into connection with one’s community. In a world so flush with the opinions of others that often shape our perceptions of each other, Jason believes that the climbing gym should be a place where you can take a step back, get creative, and decide to value your accomplishments for their own sake.
Robyn Paige — Yoga & Fitness Coordinator
Robyn first found yoga in 2014 while living in Manhattan, yet it wasn’t until she moved back home to Rochester to work for Lululemon that she fell in love with mental and physical benefits of the practice. For Robyn, yoga is all about passion, connection, community and self-discovery along with feeling better physically. In 2017, Robyn experienced rock climbing for the first time and began to conquer her fear of heights with her first ascent. She instantly noticed the meditative qualities of climbing, how her breath could calm her while on the wall, and how the body movements directly correlated to her yoga practice. Robyn is excited to share all the benefits of yoga with the climbing community and watch them reach new heights.
