Amy Hodge, CTRS, CPT, RYT500
Amy Hodge, CTRS, CPT, RYT500, is an accomplished recreation, wellness, and aging professional with more than 20 years of experience across clinical, corporate, and community-based settings. Currently serving as Recreation Supervisor – Operations for the Town of Windsor, she specializes in developing inclusive, person-centered programs that promote holistic well-being across the lifespan. Her expertise spans active aging, wellness program development, operations management, and community engagement, all grounded in a commitment to creating meaningful connections and accessible leisure opportunities.
Amy holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology – Sport Management from University of Central Missouri and a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Recreation & Wellness and Therapeutic Recreation from Northwest Missouri State University, with a minor in Gerontology. She maintains multiple professional credentials, including Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), and Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT500), along with certifications in wellness coaching and group fitness instruction. Her multidisciplinary background allows her to integrate fitness, mental well-being, and social connection into comprehensive programming for diverse populations.
In addition to her professional role, Amy is an active leader within the industry. She serves on the Certification Board of the National Exercise Trainers Association and the Executive Board of Directors for the Colorado Parks & Recreation Association, where she contributes to advancing standards in recreation and wellness services. Recognized as the 2024 AAPS Professional of the Year in Colorado, Amy is known for her collaborative leadership style, dedication to continuous improvement, and passion for empowering individuals and communities to achieve balanced, healthy lifestyles.
• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
• Personal Trainer
• Group Fitness Instructor
• Wellness Coach
• 500-hour Yoga Teacher
• Aquatics Facility Operator Certification (in progress)
• University of Central Missouri – Master of Science (MS), Kinesiology – Sport Management
• Northwest Missouri State University – Bachelor of Science (BS), Corporate Recreation & Wellness; Therapeutic Recreation (Minor in Gerontology)
• 2024 AAPS Professional of the Year – State of Colorado
• 2024 AAPS Marianne Logan Award for Outstanding Aging Professional
• Influential Women 2026
• Member of National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
• Serves on Colorado Park and Rec Association executive board
• Serves on National Exercise Trainers Association certification board
• MS Society volunteer
What do you attribute your success to?
I started working part-time in recreation when I was in high school, and my dad was a Recreation Director before moving into teaching, so I kind of got to see the field and what it was about from early on. That early exposure really shaped my path. When a family member was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease during my later teen years, that made me shift perspective around being able to still work in the health field, but work with people who maybe need adaptations or need strategies for overcoming barriers to maintain independence or create wellness identity where they are at in life, to have a quality of life every day. That's where the therapeutic recreation field really was a match for me. My time working in corporate wellness at an urban level one trauma center added to my knowledge of holistic wellness, but I really missed being in the community and wanted to get back into community recreation, which is what brought me to Colorado in 2018. It's nice to have that background in clinical, corporate, and community because it really adds diversity and boosts what I'm able to do in my current role. In 2024, I was selected as the Aging Professional of the Year for the state of Colorado, and it came at a time when it was probably the hardest year of my career, just with some operational strategy we were trying to implement, trying to get buy-in. My team actually nominated me for that, and having my team nominate me for that, and then winning it, was special. It really was.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Be curious, and focus on the needs and impacts each person on the team can have.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Get involved. Find what organizations pair well, not only with the industry, but what you're passionate about. Getting involved has really helped me build my network and have those resources, but also be able to make an impact, truly, in our field locally, across the state, and on a national level. Getting to be a part of the conversation and be a voice in the room with people who are the best of the best at what we do came from getting involved in those agencies, like CPRA and NRPA, and the National Exercise Trainers Association. Connection is huge, whether that's with yourself or with your community or with your professional cohorts. That network is essential. I try and focus on people and what their needs are, and create those connections to help them feel like they're a part of something and welcome in our facility, and just a part of the community in general.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Connection is the biggest value for me, being as in touch with not only myself, but my family, and then also the community that I work in, and my team. Inclusion in general is a huge foundation for everything I do. I try and focus on each person and what their needs are, and create those connections within the space we work in, in our community here in Windsor, to help them feel like they're a part of something and welcome in our facility, and just a part of the community in general. I think I'm just a naturally curious person. I want to be aware of not only what's going on in the world around me, but in the world directly that I work with people every day. I do a lot of reading, and I'm just that continual learner. I'm checking in with my team, making sure they have everything they need to be able to do their job as best as possible. I spend a lot of time with our 4-year-old, 75-pound tank on wheels of a Rottweiler, CoCo, and practice yoga in my downtime.