Every Susan G. Komen 3-Day® event has a core team of three coaches, each of whom plays a different role in helping our walkers and crew members prepare for the Komen 3-Day. For months, these dedicated staffers have been having personal conversations with walkers to help them with their training and fundraising, have hosted dozens of local events to bring participants together and build a community of encouragement, and have organized and inspired the amazing team of crew captains and crew members.

Let’s meet the coaches for the San Diego 3-Day®!

Kim Collings – San Diego Local Events Coach

Describe your job in 10 words or fewer. – “Inspiring people to participate in the 3-Day and helping them believe they CAN! #thisisnotworkitsapassion”

We’re about a week from the San Diego 3-Day. What’s a typical day like for you these days? – “There are so many fun last minute preparations for a great event. I am assigning private cheer stations, finding and confirming entertainment, working with camp angels, acquiring goodies for camp, calling participants to ask them to be part of the ceremonies and making daily trips to the post office to pick up camp mail. I feel a bit like Santa every day at this time of year.”
What are 3 things that we didn’t know about you? – “1) I was one of the kids that got to test the Atari games before they were released to the public. Yes, I got to play Pac Man and Donkey Kong first!; 2) I have to start my day with a cup of coffee and peanut butter on toast or I go a little bonkers; 3) I am actually very introverted and being in front of large groups or attending crowded events makes me nervous.”

Staci Roos – San Diego Participant Coach

Describe your job in 10 words or fewer. – “Empower, motivate, inspire, reassure and troubleshoot; all alongside fantastic participants!”

We’re about a week from the San Diego 3-Day. What’s a typical day like for you these days? – “A typical day is spent doing everything I listed above. In this week leading up to the event my days are heavy on reassure and troubleshoot. 😉 The greatest thing? Knowing, without a doubt, that the promises I’ve made about how incredible the experience is going to be will all be fulfilled. I’ve enjoyed making a lot of virtual friendships this season; we have participants coming from across the United States to walk in San Diego and many of them have promised me a hug or handshake. I intend to take them all up on it!”

What are 3 things that we didn’t know about you? – “1) I grew up in San Diego and have lived here most of my life, but I’ve also lived in New York (Long Island) and San Francisco for extended periods of time; 2) My running playlist includes everything from Led Zeppelin to the Black Eyed Peas, Guns n’ Roses to Eminem, and The Beatles to the Scorpions. (And for those of you coming from Boston – OF COURSE!); 3) My motto: There is nothing wrong with candy corn and coffee for breakfast.”

Nanette Schlarmann – San Diego Crew & Volunteer Coordinator

Describe your job in 10 words or fewer. – “Leading an extraordinary 3-Day Crew to awesomeness.”

We’re about a week from the San Diego 3-Day. What’s a typical day like for you these days? – “My inbox is creating a beautiful song from the notifications it’s receiving on a daily basis. Needless to say, I’m fielding many last minute questions, and am eyeball deep into spreadsheets (have to stay organized, don’t laugh…I’m trying here!), and numerous phone calls to make sure that I share information with my team. Needless to say, it’s VERY busy. ”

What are 3 things that we didn’t know about you? – “1) If I could do anything in the world, I’d sing on Broadway; 2) I was a cheerleader back in my younger days. Eons ago; 3) I’m a Harry Potter fanatic. All 7 of my Harry Potter books sit proudly on my bookshelf. The kids are not allowed to take them without asking. My patronus is a cat. BuzzFeed told me so.”

Going to be at the San Diego 3-Day? Come meet coaches Kim and Staci at two special meet-and-greets, on Friday and Saturday in camp, 5:30-6:30 p.m., in the 3-Day Lounge.