Have you met Dinah? Well, you’re about to! We’re excited to introduce our new Director of Fitness & Wellness.

Dinah grew up in Denver, Colorado and has her B.S. from the University of Northern Colorado. Prior to the J, Dinah served the Non-Profit Wellness Organization for 18 years in Dallas, Texas. She’s a fantastic addition to our team, and we can’t wait to see what she brings to our community.

Have you always been involved in fitness?

Dinah Burgess: I would veer on the side of yes, I have always been involved in fitness – with the key counterpart being Wellness. Fitness and Wellness often times are paired together, yet, we can be physically fit without being well. And by that, I am speaking of the full circle of wellness with healthy mind, body, and spirit.

Were you active as a child?

DB: Yes, very much so. I enjoyed playing soccer, snow-skiing in the winter, and water-skiing in the summer. As a teenager, I enjoyed long distance running and gymnastics. As a young adult, I enjoyed long-distance running, boot camps, and playing in adult soft ball leagues.

What’s your fitness motto?

DB: “It can be done, we just have to train our minds and our bodies to do so.”

Meet Dinah Burgess

What are you looking forward to most as the new Director of F&W at the J?

DB: Being a part of a community wellness center and making a difference in people’s lives. This starts through ensuring our team/staff are living healthy, well-rounded lives to our members getting their wellness needs and goals met to growing and coaching our staff to be able to grow within the JCC culture. If you think about it, many times we spend more time with the people we work with than our families and I am looking forward to cultivating relationships with the members, team, and Board.

What’s your biggest personal accomplishment?

DB: Hands down, my children. I have three wonderful children, one son-in-law, three children I joyfully gained in my second marriage, and four grandchildren. They bring me more joy and pride in my life than anything else. Of course, my husband is tied with all of them.

What’s your greatest fitness accomplishment?

DB: Qualifying for the Boston Marathon would rank number 1. I qualified for the Boston Marathon by 90 seconds and missed re-qualifying for the following year by 90 seconds. Time is precious!

What’s your favorite method of exercise?

DB: Running outside, listening to all genres of music––my favorite music to run to is Josh Groban. His music allows my lungs to open up, my legs to lengthen their stride, and my mind to clear.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

DB: I had 40,000 people at my wedding. Yes! It’s true––our first three dates were running. When my husband and I decided to get married, we wanted to get married at a race and finish our first race as husband and wife. We both worked for the YMCA of Dallas where the YMCA sponsored our wedding at the start line of the Turkey Trot. This Thanksgiving, we will celebrate our eighth anniversary.


We love Dinah’s warm, generous spirit and we are thrilled to have her join our J team.

Be sure to stop by our Fitness & Wellness Open House on August 2 to meet Dinah!