In The Last Word, we sit down with an industry expert to share their wealth of knowledge. In the 2025 May/June issue, the conversation features Todd Rockoff, the president and CEO of the Tucson JCC.
1. How did you get started in the community recreation industry?
TR: While in high school and college I worked as a camp counselor at the JCC of Rochester Day Camp. I then made the decision that I wanted to dedicate my life and career to working in the JCC movement. I went off to college at SUNY Cortland to major in Recreation and Leisure Studies and Education. Following college, I began as the youth and camp director at the Scranton JCC and haven’t looked back since.
2. What’s been a key to your team’s success? What are you most proud of?
TR: I believe the secret to our team’s success is we’re a true team. A team is a group of people who celebrate each other’s success and the talented team at the Tucson JCC does just that. I’m incredibly proud of the growth we’ve experienced over the past five years and the focus we’ve had in implementing our strategic plan that led us to be the host of the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games.
3. What has been one of the biggest accomplishments of your career?
TR: That’s a hard question. I’m proud of the impact that I — along with the teams I have worked alongside — have made on the communities that I’ve worked in. I’m incredibly proud to have hosted the JCC Maccabi Games in 2008 in Akron, Ohio — the smallest community to do so — and now again in 2025 in Tucson, Arizona.
4. What has been one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your career?
TR: I wouldn’t characterize it as a challenge as much as an opportunity. When I started this work, I needed strong programming and group work skills. As time has gone on, I’ve had to learn to build my knowledge base in new areas like construction and security. I love the variety of things that fill each of my days.
5. What is one lesson you have learned that other community recreation professionals can learn from?
TR: I would say three things. First, always be learning and growing. Second, focus on relationships with your teams, community and volunteers. Third, have a trusted colleague you can talk to. Also, in a statement of the obvious, have fun.
6. Tell us one fact about yourself others may not know.
TR: Since I began working at a JCC Summer Camp in high school in the summer of 1979, I’ve never worked for an organization other than the JCC.
