Spider Spotlight
A Q&A with Doug Goad Manager, Equipment and Facilities Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness
Doug Goad keeps equipment in the Weinstein Center up-to-date and in proper working order.
BY LIA TREMBLAY
Writer/Editor, University Communications
Tell me about your position and the work you do.
I am in charge of the fitness equipment. I make sure we have the equipment we need and that it stays in good working order.
How long have you worked at Richmond?
I started here in February 2002. But I was familiar with the staff and the equipment needs before that. I used to sell fitness equipment, and Tom Roberts, the director of recreation and wellness, was one of my customers.
What was it like to be a part of opening the new Weinstein Center?
It was a lot of work, but it was great. I went to trade shows in Orlando and Chicago, researched new equipment and tried to find the right mix of machines to bring here. Once we got some demos set up, we had students try them and fill out surveys. They gave great feedback—and lots of it. That helped us decide which machines were for us, and we still use those surveys to see if new equipment might be needed.
How did you become involved in this field?
I have always been interested in setting physical goals and reaching them. In 1974, I became a personal trainer. Later, while living in Culpeper, I opened a gym where we hosted bodybuilding contests. I’ve been in this business for 30 years, and I love it. I like to help people challenge themselves and develop.
How have things changed in the industry since you began?
When I first started, people were working out in “spas,” not gyms, and they had separate days for men and women. Also, there really were no machines for cardio; the only machines were for weight training. If you wanted to do some cardio, you went outside and ran.
Where are you from originally?
I’m from Roanoke. My parents still live there, and so do my brother and sister.
What motivates you in your work?
I do not like to see an “Out of Order” sign. I take it as a personal challenge when things are broken, and I do everything in my power to get them running again.
Tell me about your family.
That’s what I’m proudest of. My wife, Bobbie, is a nuclear medicine technologist at St. Mary’s Hospital. We have been married for 28 years and have two daughters. Courtney is 26 and working on her M.B.A. at VCU. Ashley is 21 and studying at J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College.
You’ve spent some time as a student yourself in recent years, haven’t you?
Yes. I graduated in May 2006 from the School of Continuing Studies with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. I’ve also earned a graduate certificate in emergency management, and I will receive a master’s degree in disaster science this spring. I plan to continue by earning a doctorate in emergency management and public administration. Emergency management appeals to me because it’s related to what I know. It’s taking something that’s broken and repairing it, just on a larger scale.