Gary Rall Founder

Setting Initials: GR

Gary has been climbing throughout the West Coast for almost 40 years. On a trip to England in 1987, he got the idea of building an indoor climbing gym. While there, Rall heard about a community center that had a climbing wall where people kept in shape during the winter months. He thought of Portland’s rainy weather and decided to build the Portland Rock Gym. It turned out to be the second gym in the country, and the first to use modular holds. His wife, Julie, actually came up with the phrase “rock gym” as they named the business.

Gary is a pioneer of rock climbing in Oregon. He has a multitude of hard FAs and FFAs under his belt, established Rat Cave, been regional coordinator of the Access Fund earning their 5.13 Service Award for securing public access to the Carver Bridge Cliff & Boulders, and helped to create the modern American rock climbing industry.

Brendan Rall Manager

Setting Initials: BR

Brendan's bio coming soon.

Nick Gagliardi Head Route Setter

Setting Initials: NG

Meet our head setter! Nick has been a wonderful addition to our team. He has been working at Portland Rock Gym since April of 2021 and has been crushin’ it since day one! Nick has been climbing since 2014 and setting since 2016. He has set at climbing gyms in Minnesota where he grew up, in Colorado, and now here at PRG! He has also had the opportunity to ‘guest-set’ at a variety of gyms throughout the U.S. Nick describes his setting style as “technical thug”, meaning his routes typically use quite a bit of brute force, while still incorporating technique and finesse. Nick is also known for his comp style setting and trainer flow, along with powerful shoulder moves in his routes. Outside of climbing, Nick can be found playing strategy games like ‘Go’, cooking, or watching Anime. We are thrilled to have him on our team and we hope you enjoy climbing his routes as much as we do!

Ben McMullen Head Coach

Setting Initials: BM

Ben Started climbing six years ago at Edgeworks Climbing in Tacoma, Washington. He quickly fell head-over-heels in love with climbing and spent more time at the gym then he did at home. He loves climbing not only for the physical workout it provides but also how every climb is a different puzzle that you need to figure out. After two years of climbing he got a job coaching at Edgeworks. He has been working with youth for 14 years, everything from day care to youth pastor to coaching, and having the chance to combine his love for climbing with his love for working with youth has been a dream come true.

Holly Mayle Facilities Manager, Shift Lead

Holly is originally from the Appalachian mountains, where she learned how to rock climb in an Adventure Sports Program in college 9 years ago. She learned to top rope first, then learned to trad climb in Seneca Rocks, West Virginia, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. 😉 She moved to Portland after doing a stint of service with AmeriCorps.

One of the things she continues to enjoy about working at PRG is interacting and forming relationships with the community. Climbing is one of many hobbies she enjoys doing and she can often be found sewing, gardening, backpacking or learning the sport of roller derby!

Something she likes to remind herself is: there is rarely only one way to achieve a goal.

Dan Connelly Shift Lead

Setting Initials: Dan

Dan's bio is coming soon.

Mike Ryan Guide Coordinator, Gym Admin

Mike's bio is coming soon.

Anna Mitra Yoga & Fitness Studio Manager

Anna Mitra is one of the newer members of the PRG team, joining us as our new Yoga + Fitness Manager in October of 2021! She has been teaching and practicing yoga for over a decade, and is an avid believer in movement as a form of medicine. She was born in Wyoming, raised on a cattle ranch in Southern Oregon, and has been living and running yoga spaces here in Portland since 2015. Anna weaves her love for yoga philosophy into her strong steady Vinyasa flows, and also holds advanced certifications in Yoga Therapy and restorative yoga. When she’s not in the studio, you can find Anna out in the woods with her husband and Aussie pup, Echo, or at home curled up on the couch with her ragdoll kitten, Aurora. As a movement teacher, Anna believes in the wholeness and the deep intuitive wisdom that we all have, and strives to help students remember this within themselves. She empowers her students to be curious, to remain present with all that arises, and supports them in stepping into their own unique way of being. She encourages her students to take charge of their practice, and to make intentional, compassionate choices about how they interact with themselves and in the world.

Mira Winters Social Media

Mira started climbing in January of 2019 here at Portland Rock Gym. She started out bouldering, but quickly became infatuated with sport and trad climbing. Originally from Phoenix Arizona, Mira moved to Portland in 2017 to attend Portland State University. Her goal after graduating is to pursue a masters degree and eventually create a practice in “climbing therapy” in order to work towards healing people through rock climbing. Mira was a member at PRG for about a year and a half before transitioning onto our staff team in March of 2020.

Her favorite spots to climb outside are Smith Rock and Broughton in Oregon, and the Humbug Spires in Montana. Outside of climbing, Mira is an avid (amateur) chess player, an artist, and a mother to four fish (named GusGus, Gertrude, Elspeth and Bleb.) She also enjoys camping, traveling, and connecting with friends, family, and animals. Outside of her main job of marketing for the gym, you can also find Mira working up at the front desk, working summer camps, and teaching some of the classes that PRG has to offer.

Nick Gagliardi Head Route Setter

Setting Initials: NG

Meet our head setter! Nick has been a wonderful addition to our team. He has been working at Portland Rock Gym since April of 2021 and has been crushin’ it since day one! Nick has been climbing since 2014 and setting since 2016. He has set at climbing gyms in Minnesota where he grew up, in Colorado, and now here at PRG! He has also had the opportunity to ‘guest-set’ at a variety of gyms throughout the U.S. Nick describes his setting style as “technical thug”, meaning his routes typically use quite a bit of brute force, while still incorporating technique and finesse. Nick is also known for his comp style setting and trainer flow, along with powerful shoulder moves in his routes. Outside of climbing, Nick can be found playing strategy games like ‘Go’, cooking, or watching Anime. We are thrilled to have him on our team and we hope you enjoy climbing his routes as much as we do!

Ryan Anderson Route Setter

Setting Initials: RA

Ryan's bio is coming soon.

Payton Hansen Route Setter

Setting Initials: PH

Payton started climbing when he moved into his college dorm at Iowa State University. Despite being far away from any crags, he became infatuated with climbing and began going on various climbing trips, along with joining the competitive climbing team. In his 4 years at school, Payton competed at numerous competitions throughout the Midwest and qualified his way into the USA Collegiate National Championships. One of his favorite climbing memories from school is the annual road-trips to Bishop, CA with his friends during winter breaks. In 2019, Payton moved back home to Overland Park, KS to work as a route setter and a coach for a couple of local climbing gyms. Payton moved to Portland in June, 2021 to pursue a career as a full-time route setter at Portland Rock Gym (and to live closer to crags of course). When he's not training at the gym, Payton enjoys bouldering, biking, singing, surfing, and enjoying all the wonderful sushi Portland has to offer!

Abby Wilson Route Setter

Setting Initials: AW

Meet Abby! Truly a one-of-a-kind climber and person. We are so lucky to have her on staff at PRG coaching our youth programs. Abby has been working at PRG since August 2021, and has been climbing since 2010 (11 years!). Originally from Boulder Colorado, Abby moved to Portland in May of 2021 in order to further her climbing career. Outside of climbing, Abby is an avid surfer, runs triathlons, and plays with her hedgehog named Smoosh. Her favorite crag is Joe’s Valley due to her love for sandstone and all of the fun features to climb. Outside of coaching for the gym, Abby can also be found working up at the front desk and setting some killer routes. When asked what advice she would give to climbers of any and all experience levels, she stated that “you’re never too short to do the move.” And we believe it! Abby is 4’10 and can make dynamic reachy moves that most 5’10 climbers can hardly do. She is an asset to our team and we look forward to seeing her grow as a coach and as a climber!

Ben McMullen Head Coach

Ben Started climbing six years ago at Edgeworks Climbing in Tacoma,Washington. He quickly fell head-over-heels in love with climbing and spent more time at the gym then he did at home. He loves climbing not only for the physical workout it provides but also how every climb is a different puzzle that you need to figure out. After two years of climbing he got a job coaching at Edgeworks. He has been working with youth for 14 years, everything from day care to youth pastor to coaching, and having the chance to combine his love for climbing with his love for working with youth has been a dream come true.

Paul Kostenko Coach

Paul's bio is coming soon.

Abby Wilson Coach

Meet Abby! Truly a one-of-a-kind climber and person. We are so lucky to have her on staff at PRG coaching our youth programs. Abby has been working at PRG since August 2021, and has been climbing since 2010 (11 years!). Originally from Boulder Colorado, Abby moved to Portland in May of 2021 in order to further her climbing career. Outside of climbing, Abby is an avid surfer, runs triathlons, and plays with her hedgehog named Smoosh. Her favorite crag is Joe’s Valley due to her love for sandstone and all of the fun features to climb. Outside of coaching for the gym, Abby can also be found working up at the front desk and setting some killer routes. When asked what advice she would give to climbers of any and all experience levels, she stated that “you’re never too short to do the move.” And we believe it! Abby is 4’10 and can make dynamic reachy moves that most 5’10 climbers can hardly do. She is an asset to our team and we look forward to seeing her grow as a coach and as a climber!

Ryan Anderson Coach

Ryan's bio is coming soon.

Payton Hansen Assistant Coach

Payton started climbing when he moved into his college dorm at Iowa State University. Despite being far away from any crags, he became infatuated with climbing and began going on various climbing trips, along with joining the competitive climbing team. In his 4 years at school, Payton competed at numerous competitions throughout the Midwest and qualified his way into the USA Collegiate National Championships. One of his favorite climbing memories from school is the annual road-trips to Bishop, CA with his friends during winter breaks. In 2019, Payton moved back home to Overland Park, KS to work as a route setter and a coach for a couple of local climbing gyms. Payton moved to Portland in June, 2021 to pursue a career as a full-time route setter at Portland Rock Gym (and to live closer to crags of course). When he's not training at the gym, Payton enjoys bouldering, biking, singing, surfing, and enjoying all the wonderful sushi Portland has to offer!

Anna Mitra Yoga & Fitness Studio Manager

Anna Mitra is one of the newer members of the PRG team, joining us as our new Yoga + Fitness Manager in October of 2021! She has been teaching and practicing yoga for over a decade, and is an avid believer in movement as a form of medicine. She was born in Wyoming, raised on a cattle ranch in Southern Oregon, and has been living and running yoga spaces here in Portland since 2015. Anna weaves her love for yoga philosophy into her strong steady Vinyasa flows, and also holds advanced certifications in Yoga Therapy and restorative yoga.

When she’s not in the studio, you can find Anna out in the woods with her husband and Aussie pup, Echo, or at home curled up on the couch with her ragdoll kitten, Aurora. As a movement teacher, Anna believes in the wholeness and the deep intuitive wisdom that we all have, and strives to help students remember this within themselves. She empowers her students to be curious, to remain present with all that arises, and supports them in stepping into their own unique way of being. She encourages her students to take charge of their practice, and to make intentional, compassionate choices about how they interact with themselves and in the world.

Christina Provencio

Christina’s practice began in college when a dorm mate invited her to yoga at the rec center on campus. She fell in love immediately and surrendered to an eternal life of conscious practice and learning. Never before had she been asked to breathe this way, to listen this way, to move and stretch this way, to be this way. Yoga quickly became more than the balance she needed to get herself through the stressful times; yoga became Christina’s spiritual fire and connection to an evolution of movement.

During her time in Southeast Asia, the asanas were brought to life for her in a traditional experience. Traveling from village to village, Christina sought out guidance and training under Buddhist monks. She learned to quiet the mind and surrender to the power of meditation.

Today, yoga continues to challenge her as she strengthens her relationship with herself. As this connection deepens, she is able to share her heart and passion for this life to the people around her through practicing yoga side by side. This ever growing love has presented Christina with the opportunity to teach and share her spiritual journey with our yoga community.

Lexi Hardin

With a background of 16 years of professional and pre-professional ballet training, Lexi has studied movement intensively. After finding a consistent yoga practice at the age of 16, she discovered the movements of asana to heal the body, as well as the ability to calm the mind through meditation and pranayama. Lexi became certified in 2013 with a goal to share the life changing lessons which yoga had taught her. Studying with her fellow yogis has been incredibly rewarding and continues to show the value of practicing gratitude every day. Through guiding flows, she hopes to open the mind through encouraging playfulness, curiosity, and self acceptance.

Tasha Wightman

While searching for something to help calm the mind and relieve stress Natasha walked into her first Yoga class in 2013, little did she know that her life had changed from that day forward. She completed her 200YTT through Yoga Maze’ with Rocky Heron where she studied the workings of the body, proper alignment, philosophy and one of her favorites; meditation. Natasha’s teaching stems from her heart, providing a fun and comfortable space to move and strengthen the body while shaping the mind. She hopes to inspire her students to be the best they can be and be happy with showing up as they are the way that her teachers have done for her. Natasha loves to surround herself with kind-hearted people, explore the beauty of nature whether it be with her dog Timber at the park, in the mountains ploughing through snow or getting caught in the rain. Never leaving her house without a book or her journal she believes that writing down dreams and desires turns them into a reality.

Noelle Wallwork

Noelle's bio is coming soon.

Jacob Friedman

Jacob Freidman (he/him) has been practicing yoga since 2010 and, after moving to Portland in 2020, has joined the PRG team! Jacob teaches Katonah Yoga, a Hatha practice infused with Daoist principles, metaphors and maps and Yin yoga, a slow meditative practice designed as a container for insight and self-awareness.

When he's not on the mat, Jacob enjoys going out into nature, hiking, music, cooking, reading, and his dog. Catch him on Tuesdays and Thursdays!

Hannah Olivia

Hannah has been practicing yoga since 2012. In an effort to stay active despite multiple injuries, she began attending yoga classes at her gym. There was something about the rhythm that she loved – the incredible dynamic between breath and movement – and soon enough she was hooked.

In 2017, she completed her YogaWorks 200hr yoga teacher training with Rosie Acosta and continued her education through workshops in Advanced Asana with Todd Jackson and Creative Transitions with Jason Crandell.

Due to her history of sports injuries and rehabilitation, Hannah emphasizes strength training and joint stabilization to counterbalance the flexibility component that draws so many to the practice.

In her classes she encourages curiosity and incorporates teachings on both yogic philosophy and contemporary neuroscience through which her students can learn, grow and experience their deepest presence.

In 2019 she completed her B.S. Health + Psychology and continues to work in rehabilitation in both acute care and outpatient settings.

Amarylis Fernandez

Amarylis' bio is coming soon.

Devon Wright

Devon's bio is coming soon.

Position: General Desk Staff
Hours: 12-34hrs/Week
Pay Rate: Commensurate with experience 

General Description

Since 1988, the mission of the Portland Rock Gym is to teach and train rock climbing indoors, as well as celebrate and preserve our local cliffs and boulders outside. The staff at the Portland Rock Gym strive to meet this goal through helping to foster an inclusive and diverse community of kind and supportive climbers, through providing excellent customer service, professional instruction, and maintaining an exceptional facility.

Having a great business starts with having a great staff. That is where you come in! We are looking for dedicated, knowledgeable and fun people to work with our members and guests.

General Duties/Responsibilities

• Handle cash register sales
• Answer the phone and field calls appropriately
• Sell memberships
• Greet and check members in with a friendly and professional attitude
• Monitor climbers with a keen eye for unsafe behavior and intervene courteously yet effectively
• Belay for various groups and activities
• Help maintain the cleanliness of the facility

Minimum Requirements

• At least 6 months customer service or sales experience
• Minimum 2 years of belay experience
  Desirables
• Lead belay experience
• Previous experience working with youth
• Prior cash register/sales/retail experience

If you fit this description and want to join a fun and dynamic team, please apply by sending your resume and cover letter to jobs@portlandrockgym.com. Please include the general desk staff position in the subject line. Thank you!

Position: Fitness Instructor
Job Type: Independent Contractor
Pay Rate: Based on experience 

Are you inspired to guide others on their wellness journey? Portland Rock Gym is hiring fitness instructors as we prepare to open the PRG Fitness Annex! We are looking for exceptional individuals who are interested in collaborative partnerships, are on the cutting edge of their craft, and are passionate about creating a safe environment for our community.

QUALIFICATIONS:

*Applicants should be ACE, AFAA, ISSA certified or other applicable certification
*AED/CPR certification is required (can be obtained within 3 months of hire date)
*Carry personal liability insurance
*Participate in continuing education

Formats:
Cardio & Core
Sculpt
Bodyweight Strength
Kettlebells
Circuit Training
TRX
Foam Roller/Self Massage

If you are a passionate, qualified and enthusiastic instructor we would love to hear from you!
Please send certifications, resume and a little love note about yourself and why you want to be a part of the PRG crew to yoga@portlandrockgym.com.