Staff Bios
Candi Tucker, RN, BSN, MA
Bachelor of Science-Nursing, University of Illinois
Master of Arts in Management, University of Phoenix
Candi has lived and worked in Tucson for many years. During her eighteen year tenure at Tucson Medical Center, she gained clinical, educational and management experience in health care. She has taught prevention and wellness in the community. She is the President of the Pantano High School Site Council in Vail and member of the Rincon Valley Fire District Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Pension Board. She is a speaker for humor workshops and says “If you don’t have a sense of humor you don’t have any sense at all!” She joined the Academy Village wellness team in 2005.
Katia Cardenas — Fitness Director
University of Costa Rica – Physical Education & Sociology
Katia Cardenas was born and raised in Costa Rica among a family of athletes. Katia’s love of dance and athletics began in elementary school where she performed with a dance group and did some long distance running. In High School, she continued as a competitive swimmer and gymnastics coach , where she won several awards. While enrolled at the University of Costa Rica, cheerleading and weight lifting became the sports of choice where she was named the best power lifter of the year.
Katia married in 1999 and now is the mother of three beautiful daughters. After moving to the United States in 2000, she accumulated many certifications as a Personal Trainer and Fitness instructor. Her training allows her to teach nearly forty different formats and types of exercise classes. Her career has given her the opportunity to work with people of all ages with differing abilities regardless of age or disabilities. Katia’s most recent achievements including training Peter Jezwk to become a nine time world record holder in power lifting, training several celebrities and an appearance belly dancing on the Oprah show.
Justine Polzin – Operations Manager
Bachelor of Science-Business Administration, Management and Accounting, Bemidji State University
Justine and her husband of 27 years have lived in Vail for the past six years and she has worked for the Academy Village for almost the entire time. Prior to her move to Arizona, she worked for seven years for the Soldotna, Alaska Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Information Center as their Executive Director.
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