Chris Zeng started his Touchstone career at Dogpatch Boulders in October 2016. We are excited to have him as a leader at one of the fastest growing Touchstone gyms. Keep reading to learn more about him and what he can talk about forever.
Tell us a little about your background!
My parents immigrated here with my brother and I when we were very young. I grew up in San Francisco, went to Galileo High School, and graduated from SJSU with a degree in psychology.
If you ask all my friends outside of the gym, they’ll tell you bouldering is my thing. I was first introduced to it by my good friend Johnny; in fact, he started working in the office here before me!
Besides bouldering, I also love camping and hiking!
How did you get started at Touchstone?
I started working at Dogpatch Boulders in October 2016. I landed an interview with Justin AKA BossDad on the recommendation of my good friend Johnny, who was already working at the office at that time. I remember being a beginner; not experiencing the beta of being a gym staff member, eager to learn, always excited. I thought this job was the perfect balance of work and play!
What are you looking forward to bringing to your gym now that you are its manager?
I can’t wait for the renovations to be completed – new yoga rooms, bathrooms, locker rooms, showers and SAUNAS. I think this is exactly what we needed to finish the gym!
I’m super excited to host our Battle of the Bay competition, it was always a great time to participate and I can’t wait to bring this back to our community in the near future!
Finally, I’m very excited to bring back our Feats of Strength challenges. It makes me happy when I see someone’s smile after filling out their challenge sheet.
What do you like best about the neighborhood?
Some of my favorite things about the Dogpatch neighborhood include the breweries, coffee/boba spots, as well as Spark Social SF, an outdoor food truck “food court.”
What can you talk about forever?
Bouldering, Movies/TV Shows, and Call of Duty Warzone
How would you describe your managerial style?
I take a lot of inspiration from my predecessors – Diane and Justin. They both lead by example, trust their staff to do what is right, and recognize the values each staff member brings to the team. This is the type of management style I aspire to develop myself.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
I love meeting people at the gym. Next time you see me, come say hello!