Stephen J. Erickson
Director
Recreational Sports & Fitness

Responsibilities with the Recreational Sports & Fitness Department: Fiscal Management, Aquatics, Disability Services, Club Sport Scheduling, and Emergency Action Plan

Education:
Graduated from MSU - Bozeman; Physical Education/Recreation – 1982
Graduated from The University of Iowa; Master’s of Science in Recreation Education-Administration--1984

Experience:
Steve’s first job out of graduate school was at Emory University in Atlanta as Assistant Facilities Coordinator.  A year later was promoted to Recreation Coordinator/Instructor and ran the Recreation/Intramural programs for 9 years.  Steve then took a job at Dartmouth College as coordinating Intramurals, Clubs, Fitness Center as well as teaching in the Physical Education program.   After 23 years away from MSU, Steve came back to the same gym where he started his career as an Intramural Sports official in 1977.
Certifications:
CPR/AED
Certified Pool Operator
NHF Basketball and Soccer Officiating

Wellness Philosophy: Mind, Body and Spirit working as one. 

Other Interests: Basketball, Racquetball, Softball, Volleyball, Hiking, Skiing, Hunting, Camping, Scheduling/Planning fun activities for groups and Four Wheeling. 

Jeff Hix
Equipment Room Manager/Interim Intramurals Director
Recreational Sports & Fitness

Responsibilities with the Recreational Sports & Fitness Department:
Jeff is responsible for making sure equipment repairs and maintenance in the fitness center are tended to and reported in a timely manner. As interim Intramural Director, Jeff organizes, schedules, hires, and trains officials-in addition to supervising all individual and team Intramural Sports. He sets up equipment for special events in the Rec. Sports area and makes sure everything is cleaned and taken down once the even is over. He is alwas glad to visit with fitness Center users, so stop by and say Hi!
Additional Experience:
Jeff has been the equipment room manager at Montana State University for the past eight years. During that time he has operated the Bozeman City Leauge Basketball program and served as the youth football coomissioner for the Gallatin Empire Lions Club. Jeff spent many past summers in Bozeman umpiring both fast and slow pitch softball, and eventually became the umpire and chief of the Gallatin Valley Softball Association, a position he held for three years before moving to South Dakota. While there, Jeff worked at Rapid City's YMCA as an official and monitor for youth events.
Education:
Graduated from MSU - Bozeman ; Biological Sciences – 1996

Experience:
Field Biologist, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Bozeman and Dillon - 3 Years
Conservation technician, South Dakota Game and Fish Department, Kleghorn State Hatchery - 3 Years
Certifications:
CPR/AED
First Aid

Wellness Philosophy: 
“Our health always seems much more valuable after we lose it.”

Other Interests:
Outdoor activities -- especially fishing, hunting, and golf.

Matthew Bryan Parks
Fitness Director
Recreational Sports & Fitness

Responsibilities with the Recreational Sports & Fitness Department:
    - Hires students to serve as Fitness Consultants and Operation Associates
    - Manages small group sport/fitness and American Red Cross classes
    - Provides internship opportunities for qualified Exercise Science majors

Education:
    - Graduate from Health Works Institute, 2008
    - Bachelor's Degree from MSU in Health and Human Development, 1998

Experience:

Parks has worked at MSU since 1995, beginning as a student worker as a personal trainer and most recently as Fitness Director, working part time.  The other half of his week is spent owning and operating his own business; assisting individuals improve their performance.  His current clientele includes: corrective exercise/pre-habilitation clients, triathlon/endurance athletes, and sport-specific massage clients. 

Certifications and Advanced Specializations
   - National Certified Therapeutic Massage and Body worker since 2008
   - USAT Level 1 Triathlon Coach since 2006
   - NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist since 2004
   - American Red Cross Instructor since 1998

Wellness Philosophy: 

Parks believes that anyone can accomplish anything they want when they put their mind and body into it.  One must commit fully to succeed what they want in life.  One must be stable in the present to be productive in the future.

Other Interests:

Parks has successfully completed over 100 endurance related races in his lifetime.  His current passion is off-road triathlons (the XTERRA race circuit).  Parks qualified for the XTERRA national championship in 2007 and finished in 4th place within his regional age group of the same year.  He gets a thrill out of mountain biking and trail running throughout the Rocky Mountain region immensely.  Parks is also an avid Nordic skier (classic technique is his favorite).  He also enjoys photography, hiking, and nature. 

Favorite Quotes:

Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.
-Henry David Thoreau 

The greatest improvement is made by the man who works most intelligently.
-Bill Bowerman 

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land, there is no other life but this.

Kelly Crosby
Marketing Specialist and Group Fitness Director
Recreational Sports & Fitness

Responsibilities with the Recreational Sports & Fitness Department:
Group Fitness:  Hire and supervise all instructors for Group Fitness Classes.  Schedule all Group Fitness Classes according to user demand, instructor availability, and feasibility.  Train and evaluate instructors in current methods of innovative group fitness techniques.  Provide insight and vision for continued growth of the Group Fitness Program. 
Marketing: Markets all RSF programs/services, i.e. flyers, presentations, newspapers, web site etc.  Prepare and present information seminars for user groups, potential members, and off site orientations.  Make initial contacts to potential users and groups for presentations and marketing. 

Education:
Graduated from University of Oregon; Park and Recreational Management

Experience:
Upon graduation Kelly was commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer for the U.S. Army.  After serving nine years on active duty she resigned to raise her family and pursue her passion for fitness and wellness. In 1992 she started teaching group fitness in Arizona.  From there her fitness career moved from Arizona to Kansas, Heidelberg Germany and back to Bozeman.
Certifications:
CPR/AED
Group Fitness
Personal Fitness Training
Spinning
Aquatics Exercise
Step
Nautilus
Zumba

Wellness Philosophy: To encourage all people to embrace fitness as a way of life and to recognize fitness and wellness as a continuum with no beginning and no end.

Other Interests:

Sharon E. Melniker
Administrative Associate III
Recreational Sports & Fitness

Responsibilities with the Recreational Sports & Fitness Department:
Responsible for operation of the front office and it’s customer services; supervise one full-time position and three-five student positions. Ultimately responsible for all Fitness Center memberships and lockers sold. In charge of all HR and Payroll transactions (hiring procedures and payroll); all financial transactions and reconciliations, Cat Card, Credit Card transactions and Payroll Deductions. Assist in Department’s Budget planning and execution. Lead in Recreational Sports & Fitness Marketing and Publicity for the Fitness Center and it’s Activities.

Education:
Graduated Bozeman Senior High School – 1970
Secondary Education: 
One Year MSU – Billings (Commerce Major)
One Year MSU – Bozeman (Commerce Major)
Graduated from Vo-Tech ; Legal Secretary – 1973
Experience:
Two years as Women’s Racquetball Pro at Universal Sports & Courts (sponsored pro by Head Racquetball Association)
Two years as Assistant Club Manager at Universal Sports & Courts
MSU Experience; five years with the Earth Science Department, three years with College of Business and 23 years with Recreational Sports and Fitness.
Certifications:
CPR/AED
First Aid
AFAA Group Fitness Instructor

Wellness Philosophy: “What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” 

“Eat healthy, stay active and laugh a lot.”

Other Interests:
Raising and training quarter horses.
Attending as many colt starting, horsemanship and cow working clinics as possible.