Nadav Minkin
About Nadav
Nadav grew up in Southern Maine and spent most of his free time enjoying the great outdoors. He developed a passion for climbing while hiking mountains and adventuring off trail to explore cliff faces. Nadav went on to college at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI where he earned a bachelors degree in Business management and there met Lary Norin, his gym business partner. After over 20 years in business Nadav still loves going to work everyday and is dedicated to growing the climbing industry through the expansion of Rock Spot Climbing throughout New England and beyond. You can email him at N.Minkin@RockSpotClimbing.com.
Lary Norin
About Lary
Born in the Chicago area, Lary’s family soon moved to the Northern, NY suburbs where he grew up in Rockland County. Lary developed his passion for climbing in an area with the word “rock” in the name, but where climbing was largely prohibited. In the early 90’s, Lary’s “home” climbing spot was the Shawangunks, A.K.A. the “Gunks” where he climbed many classic routes. It was around this time that he first tried ice climbing in the Catskills and found a second love. Lary attended Johnson and Wales University where he earned a degree in Food Service Management and met his gym business partner, Nadav. While owning Rock Spot Climbing he’s had the chance to climb in classic spots including Squamish, all over CO, and Red River Gorge. If Lary isn’t working in one of our gyms, you can bet he’s out salt water fishing (he’s been known on occasion to bring in fresh caught sushi to share!) He resides in East Greenwich with wife Stephanie, and their son Fredy. Lary can be contacted at L.Norin@RockSpotClimbing.com.
Kelsey Marotta
About Kelsey
Although Kelsey was born and raised in NY, just across the Hudson River from the Gunks, Kelsey did not discover the world of climbing until she packed up and moved north for college. While receiving a degree in Recreation & Leisure studies and Biology with a concentration in Outdoor Education she was keyed into the world of climbing. Although she had experienced the indoor climbing world a few times in high school, this new and exciting world of outdoor climbing really stuck with her.
After graduation Kelsey’s personal love for the outdoors was with paired with her passion for equipping and empowering youth through many adventurous avenues. In 2011, after leading guided trips for inner-city youth and directing ropes courses throughout the Northeast Kelsey came to work for Rock Spot. In 2012, she joined the corporate team as our Youth Program Director and has been working hard to grow the passion of Outdoor Education in our youth ever since. During her time at Rock Spot Kelsey’s passion for climbing has continued to grow, enjoying not only personal trips, but those where she can support and travel with our youth.
Kelsey can be contacted at K.Marotta@Rockspotclimbing.com.
Brandon Willsie
About Brandon
Brandon has been climbing since high school. He’s had the opportunity to hang out on Cathedral Ledge in New Hampshire, boulder at Horse Pen’s 40 in Alabama and get in touch with some sandstone and basalt in Utah and Alabama. Brandon loves climbing for the vertical movement and spending time off the ground. He also love sharing stories and knowledge of the sport with other climbers new and old. As the Director of Operations for Rock Spot Climbing he works with his team of employees to best serve the climbing community in Southern New England. You can reach Brandon at B.Willsie{at}Rockspotclimbing.com.
Paul Heppner
About Paul
Born and raised in Reno, NV, Paul grew up climbing in the surrounding areas such as Lake Tahoe and Bishop. After working and volunteering in the Reno climbing scene for seven years, Paul started working for Rock Spot Climbing in 2013.
As Retail Buyer for the company, travelling for trade shows, taking sneak peaks at new climbing gear, and stocking the shops is all in a days work. If you have questions about gear or are looking to place an order for something we don’t carry in-store, Paul is your man. Get a hold of him at p.heppner{at}rockspotclimbing.com!
Pete Sancianco
About Pete
Pete worked for over 4 years as the RI Regional Marketing Assistant and as the company’s Media Producer before he became the Director of Marketing in 2017.
When he’s not in the gym, you’ll find him filming and photographing some of the local climbing community at Lincoln Woods or in Rumney, NH. He loves climbing outdoor sport routes, but is trying to get more experience on trad and multi-pitch.
Pete learned how to climb with us back when we were still the Rhode Island Rock Gym. He picked up a summer membership and never looked back.
He loves all the communities across all our locations and is passionate about growing the greater climbing community by helping us make climbing more accessible to more people and introduce the sport to the general public. If you want to contact him directly, please reach out to him at P.Sancianco@RockSpotClimbing.
Danny Howard
About Danny
Danny has been setting for the company for almost as long as he has been a climber. Soon after being introduced to the sport at our Lincoln, RI location back in 2010, he quickly fell in love with the sport and began working as a floor staff. That summer, he began setting and was soon mentored by local climbing legend, Mike Dominguez “MIG.”
Since then, Danny has worked almost every position in the company from instruction, coaching, guiding, portable wall events, and he has made himself out to be an ambassador for the sport and the company as the host of many of our local climbing competitions including the Beach Brawl (B2) and our Boston Boulder Brawl (B3). He has even been the key personality of our YouTube series, “Problems of the SET.”
After taking on the role of Head Setter for our Rhode Island region in the fall of 2018, Danny became integral to gym operations and a leader in the company. A regular of the local outdoor scene at Lincoln Woods, the Lincoln, RI climbing community played a major role in Danny’s continued passion for the sport and his progression in the climbing industry. He has always been drawn to setting because he loves creating novel movement that helps climbers learn technique and the joy that comes with interacting with the community.
As the Director of Setting, Danny hopes to continue the legacy of creating world class climbing routes and problems that continue to inspire the same passion he has always had for the sport within everyone who climbs in our gyms. Looking to the future, he is excited to find even more opportunities to engage with the people that played such an integral part of his development as a climber and fellow community member. If you want to contact him directly, please reach out to him at D.Howard@RockSpotClimbing.