In The Last Word, we sit down with an industry expert to share their wealth of knowledge. In the 2024 March/April issue, the conversation features Carissa Hill, the chief operating officer at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.
1. How did you get started in the community recreation industry?
- CH: I’ve been on the member side of community recreation organizations for many years and have experienced every aspect of being a customer. When I saw the opportunity for the chief operating officer position at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, I jumped at the chance to support others in their health and wellness journeys.
2. What’s been a key to your team’s success? What are you most proud of?
CH: The key to the success of the team that works with me is a deep commitment to serving the community and providing the best service to everyone who comes into the building. The dedication of our staff inspires me every day and helps get us through the good and the challenging times. I’m proud to be part of such a great team of people.
3. What has been one of the biggest accomplishments of your career?
CH: Helping to lead the organization through the pandemic has been one of the biggest accomplishments of my career. From ensuring the safety of staff and pivoting to providing programming online — which we had not done before — to figuring out how to provide essential programs such as childcare in an ever-changing environment was both stressful and fulfilling. It was incredibly challenging as we went through it. Looking back, I’m so proud of the work I accomplished and the work so many people did to continue to support our community.
4. What has been one of the biggest challenges you have faced in you?
CH: I’ve found one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is balancing the work that needs to get done on the ground with taking time to be strategic. Ensuring we have enough staff to get vital work done has been hard. I often get pulled in to assist on programs, projects and tasks that need to get done immediately to provide the best services and programs possible. This has prevented me from being able to spend as much time as I would like on strategy and big picture thinking.
5.What is one lesson you have learned that other community recreation professionals can find useful?
CH: Our staff is our greatest asset. They have the most on-the-ground expertise and often have really good ideas of what to try, change or implement. Empowering staff to try new things and make decisions on their own not only frees up managers to do other work they need to be doing, but also generates amazing results.
6. Tell us one fact about yourself others may not know.
CH: I’ve been powerlifting for several years and I’m aiming to compete at the master level in the next year. I love the thrill of getting a new personal record. The personal trainers at our fitness center are fantastic, and I would not be competition-ready without them.
