Member Spotlight - Meet Brandon

This October, we are featuring Brandon Jarvis for our monthly member spotlight!  Brandon is an avid gym-goer, like many of our members, and weightlifting is his primary exercise of choice. To round out his workout, he usually opts for indoor cardio choices like the StairMaster or stationary rowing machines, especially when the outdoor weather conditions aren’t as ideal. You can normally catch him with his headphones on, listening to bands like AC/DC, Metallica, Nirvana, and Green Day, which are all bands he loves to listen to with his son. Brandon is usually accompanied by his wife, Kiersten, and their son, Parker, who attends youth swim lessons at our aquatic center. Brandon says his son loves swimming, and he believes that it’s a great way for him to end his week. 

One of his favorite aspects about the Y are the numerous activities and fitness options for his whole family. After all, his family is what inspires him to stay active. He wholeheartedly believes that by prioritizing his own health, it will in turn allow him to be there for them as they grow. It also gives him the chance to be a good role model for his son. Just by speaking to him, you can really see the love he shows for his family.

Brandon and his family have come back to the Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA from our sister branch in Gulf Breeze while our renovations take place. We asked Brandon how he has been enjoying our downtown Pensacola branch, and he loves it! Brandon has been a Y member for more than a decade, and BLS was his home branch before his family moved to Gulf Breeze in 2021. So when we announced that we were expanding our locations to create a new community gym in Gulf Breeze two years ago, he was very glad to hear the news. The biggest difference that Brandon said he has experienced at the downtown branch has to be the level of community. With how wide our community of members is, Brandon has gotten to chat with all sorts of people at our facility. He describes them all as “super friendly, courteous, and encouraging.” For Brandon, the branch’s environment makes working out all the more enjoyable. We also asked if he was excited for the updates to the Gulf Breeze Community YMCA, and he definitely showed us his enthusiasm. For him, these updates were ones that he was anticipating. As someone who uses a lot of exercise equipment, the new machines we plan to add are what piqued his interest. After hearing that the layout would also be more community-friendly with our new community lounge, he shared that he was excited for the space to be used to its fullest potential. Brandon cannot wait for what is in store, and we appreciate his support for all these years!