Here at Club OS, we’ve put together a team of exceptional individuals. They advance our business through professional excellence, they enrich our company culture through diverse backgrounds, and best of all, they make jokes -- mostly bad, but we love that. Every so often, we’ll be sitting down with team members for what we’re calling “Club OS Five-by-Fives.” The premise is simple: Five questions about the awesome work they do at Club OS and five questions about their lives outside of work, which we assume are just as awesome.

This week, we interviewed Key Account Manager, Rey Tyler Baca.

At Work 

1.) How long have you been with Club OS, and what are your day-to-day duties?

This coming May will mark my two-year anniversary working at Club OS! Serving as a Key Account Manager, I am constantly working to build relationships and engineer the customer experience by creating an avenue to anticipate and advocate on my client’s behalf. My role is fairly dynamic so it is difficult to have a daily routine, but you can usually find me hopping on an engagement call with one of my clients or collaborating with my awesome coworkers on various projects.     

2.) What previous education or work experience do you have that helps you find success as a key account manager?

I went to Colorado State University where I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Business Management. This was such a great program that really taught me the importance of applying critical analysis to every aspect of decision-making processes. Also, understanding what it actually takes to effectively manage a diverse group of customers was an integral part of the program. All of that is fine and dandy, but nothing beats the knowledge and experience that one will gain when they are presented with their very first client assignment. 

3.) If a fitness company is assigned to you when they join Club OS, what can they expect from the onboarding process?

Well, the very first thing a new fitness club can expect is a warm welcome from myself and my team. We understand that transitioning all processes to a single software platform may seem quite daunting, but we make sure to hold the client’s hand every step of the way for the best experience imaginable. 

The most defining aspect that any fitness club can expect from our onboarding process is the wide array of industry knowledge and expertise that we maintain from the very beginning and deliver through our ongoing support and dedicated training. Our clients don’t get into the fitness industry because they are passionate about software, so they look to us for guidance and best practices to improve all aspects of their business. 

4.) What Club OS solutions do you typically see making the biggest impact on your clients' businesses?

Club OS’s robust follow-up solution allows any business to effectively manage and guide their prospects and members through the customer lifecycle with ease and rigor. We create a seamless process that allows staff members to invest more time in other day-to-day activities, without ever worrying about anything slipping through the cracks. In addition, our text marketing campaigns have yielded some amazing results with my clients. Let’s face it, no message is left unread these days when they go straight to the cell phone. 

5.) You work with fitness franchises that have locations spread across the country. What additional support resources do you have to assist the entire enterprise, from the corporate level to the front desk staff?

I am very lucky to have customers that are spread out in such a manner and able to interact with a diverse group of staff members on a daily basis. After defining the internal business structure of any client, the best resource I have to offer is to step away from the “vendor” title and operate within a consultant-type role for my clients. This type of partner relationship will deliver great results and be highly beneficial for everyone from the executives of the organization all the way through the entire network. 

After Work 

1.) Outside of work, what hobbies or activities do you pursue?

I became obsessed with playing the guitar at the age of ten and haven’t put it down since. Writing music, playing live, or just jamming with friends all sound like a great time to me. I am in a cover band and we get booked quite frequently for weddings, corporate events, and festivals so that keeps me busy outside of work. In addition, there is nothing better than going to the beach and surfing the day away.      

(Rey and his dad surfing in Cape Coral, Florida.)

2.) You've lived in several cities and states. For people who have never relocated, what do you think are the most important steps to re-establish your life in a new place?

1. Do your research and plan! Carefully research the new area and uncover exactly where you are going, why you are moving to that specific place, and steps on how you are going to make it work.  
2. Lead with generosity. By doing so, you will automatically develop relationships and add to not only your life but to the lives of people you encounter. 
3. Fully embrace all of what this new opportunity has to offer. What you will find is that reinvention isn’t just a matter of location but rather an opportunity to make the most of yourself and expand your horizons.  

3.) While performing with the cover band, which classic song is requested the most from the dance floor?

Such a good question but a difficult one because there are so many, which is ultimately what makes my job so much fun. It really all depends on the type of gig we are playing and the audience, but if we are talking weddings, Shout by The Isley Brothers is always a crowd pleaser! You can never go wrong with Play That Funky Music either. 

(Rey performing with his cover band, Groove Knight.)

4.) You frequently visit your parents who moved to Cape Coral, Florida. At this point, are you over the sunshine and beaches?

I’m pretty sure it is impossible for me to ever get sick of the sunshine and beaches. My ultimate goal in this life is to turn into a successful beach bum.  

5.) As an accomplished musician, what advice would you give someone picking up the guitar for the first time?

Don’t ever forget why you started playing in the first place! It can get overwhelming and discouraging at times, which makes it easy to lose sight of why you even started playing. It’s definitely easy for players to turn the guitar into a sport and/or competition, but it must always be the music first and foremost.