Skating School a Coach's Dream Come True

Growing up in the Boston area, Carey Tinkelenberg treasured her skating days. However, when she moved to Northfield, Minn. to pursue a college degree, she found a hockey arena, dozens of hockey teams, but no figure skating program.

"This was disappointing to me during college as I attempted to keep up coaching and skating activities," Tinkelenberg said. "So as soon as I graduated I decided to change the situation."

Tinkelenberg established the Northfield Skating School as an independent organization in 2005. Without a business background, Tinkelenberg found it a little intimidating but was ready for a challenge. With the help of Susi Wehrli-McLaughlin and the Membership Department at U.S. Figure Skating and support of family and friends, she was on her way.

"Northfield was a growing city with many young families and a very engaged community. I knew there was an opening in the market and I wanted to create a quality skating program similar to the one I grew up with that shaped my life and character," Tinkelenberg said.

Tinkelenberg established the Northfield Skating School with the motto "Building Skills and Confidence for Skating and for Life". From the first staff meeting, she set the values of quality, commitment, leadership, enthusiasm and community.

"As a new program I knew it would be vital that we use creative marketing, excellent customer service and communication with our families, and most importantly, that we provide an excellent experience to back up our words," Tinkelenberg said. "We needed to stand out to parents and skaters from day one, if they were going to sign up again and spread the word to their friends, especially as the economy began to worsen."

From her first meeting with staff, Tinkelenberg made it clear that staff was the backbone of the program and that she was just one member of the team needed to function smoothly if they were going to survive and thrive as a new organization.

Tinkelenberg loves the school's positive and professional environment.

"The voice of the staff has always been key at NSS," Tinkelenberg said. "Their commitment and connection to the school has been one of our main ingredients for success."

NSS staff takes time each session to set personal goals and both staff and skating families have an important voice in evaluating and improving the program.

" The staff team is exceptional. They are committed. They work together, and they regularly go above and beyond and impress me with their dedication," Tinkelenberg said.

"Coaching allows me to share my knowledge and love for skating while empowering the skaters to be leaders," said Michaela McLaughlin, a Northfield coach since 2006. "Every Sunday afternoon is a new opportunity for the skaters' energy to renew and rejuvenate me. NSS connects me with kids of all ages, parents and families, other college students, businesses and resources and combines all into a unique and vibrant community."

Tinkelenberg is proud of the school's involvement in the community. Last January the Northfield Skating School collaborated with the Northfield Public Schools Community Services Division.

"I knew they had a well-established infrastructure for running recreation programs and would be able to help us reach a larger audience than we could as an independent organization," Tinkelenberg said. "They had no skating program in their large catalog of youth opportunities, and they were willing to help administer the successful model that we had been using. There have already been positive outcomes in the short time we have worked together."

Since collaborating, NSS has increased enrollment as well as increased the number of skating scholarships awarded.

Tinkelenberg works closely with Erin Mayberry, Recreation Program Coordinator for Northfield Public Schools Community Services Division.

"Erin and I partner on working with the arena manager. Hiring and interviewing staff, working with parents and day to day program operations," Tinkelenberg said. "The willingness of her office in allowing us to retain the things that were working well, things like our program structure, website and core values while benefiting from their vast resources have made this collaboration possible. It truly is a win-win."

Tinkelenberg is also the proud recipient of the Making a Difference Award from the Northfield Health Community for having a positive impact on Northfield youth, and she is the author of the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program Director's Handbook.

"I love my work with U.S. Figure Skating on the Basic Skills Subcommittee and presenting Instructor/Director Workshops and conferences," Tinkelenberg said. "The experience of establishing and growing NSS has been hugely rewarding and I love helping equip others with some of the knowledge I've gained along the way and helping them find solutions."

Northfield Skating Students strike a pose on ice.