Stay a while and listen. I am Ben Clewien, Wellness & Personal Training Director at our fantastic YMCA. I have a Bachelor of Science in Biology from UW-Stevens Point and in Kinesiology from UW-Oshkosh. I am a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. I have mentored and competed in the United States of America Powerlifting federation.

I began my career at the Oshkosh Community YMCA in 2019 as a Wellness Attendant and Personal Trainer. I expanded into Group Exercise, Equipment Maintenance and as a Building Supervisor. In March of 2021 I was promoted to my current position. I oversee our 20^th Ave Wellness Center, Personal Training at our organization and our Beyond Limits program. Our Wellness Center provides a space for our members to practice principles of healthy living. Personal Training helps enrich our members’ lives through personalized guidance allowing them to embody the lifestyle of Healthy Living. My work with Beyond Limits gives local Veterans the opportunity to connect and grow physically, mentally, and spiritually.

When looking at starting my career, I was drawn to the YMCA because of the variety of populations it provided support to. The first time I stepped into our 20^th Avenue YMCA was when I was an age group swimmer in the mid 2000’s. There was a camaraderie I felt between teams. I see the impact our staff members have on members’ lives every day I am here. I see members who have found social bonds with others in similar situations and points in their lives. I see the impact on physical and mental health that our personal trainers have on our members. These in return impact my life knowing that we can be the guide on the wellness journeys of so many members. 

Part of being a certified personal trainer is continuing education and that stems outside of work as well. I like to spend my time working on house projects, woodworking, scale models, painting and lifting weights. I love learning new skills and applying them to my home and work life.