Joel Gaff, Jr.

Experience

• 

  Novi Community Schools

  Mar 2003 - Jun 2003

  Long-term substitute teacher

  Taught Spanish at a large suburban high school for a teacher on leave.

• 

  Freelance

  Sept 2003 - Jun 2004

  English teacher in Madrid, Spain.

  I taught English to business professionals, high school students, and elementary aged students in and around Madrid, Spain. I designed and implemented my own curriculum and daily lesson plans.

• 

  Gaff Photography

  Jul 2004 - now

  Photographer
• 

  The Leelanau School

  Aug 2004 - Jul 2006

  Spanish and E.S.L. teacher and coach

  I was the sole Spanish teacher, teaching all levels of Spanish at a college-prep boarding school in northwestern lower Michigan. I designed and implemented the overall curriculum and daily lessons. I also taught English as a Second Language to several students. Additionally I coached the outdoor club (hiking, running, canoeing/kyaking, etc.), soccer, and alpine skiing. Other duties included, evening supervision of student dorms, mentor, and chaperone for various student activities.

• 

  Michigan State University

  Jun 2007 - May 2008

  I taught several sections of first and second semester college Spanish. The sections that I taught utilized a "blended approach" with several days of in-class instruction and several days of computer based instruction each week. I was one of two assistants to the director of a study abroad program in Santander, Spain. My duties involved creating an emergency plan for student safety, holding daily office hours to assist students with work, organizing and leading field excursions, serving as a liaison between students and their host families, accompanying students to the hospital/doctor, and being on-call for any other student need.

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Aug 2006 - May 2008

  • Graduate Assistant in Santander, Spain

    Jun 2007 - Jul 2007
• 

  Traverse City Area Public Schools

  Aug 2008 - Jul 2011

  Teacher

  Spanish

• 

  Northwestern Michigan College

  Aug 2011 - Dec 2014

  Instructor

  English composition and Spanish.

• 

  Endurance Evolution

  Jan 2012 - now

  Endurance Evolution is an event management and timing services company, based in Michigan and Oregon, specializing in triathlons and running races. The team is led by Joel Gaff, Jr., a passionate endurance athlete with more than 25 years of racing experience.Having been race directors, athletes, spectators and volunteers, at Endurance Evolution we realize there is a better way to manage a race. Instead of cookie-cutter races that move from town to town each weekend, we’re building world-class experiences around scenic, challenging courses and professional customer service. Show less

  • Owner / Operator

    Jan 2009 - now

  • Race Director - Traverse City Trail Running Festival

    Jan 2013 - Feb 2021

  • Race Director - Glen Arbor Solstice Half Marathon & 5k

    Oct 2011 - Feb 2021

  • Race Director - Sleeping Bear Marathon & Half Marathon

    Oct 2011 - Feb 2021

  • Race Director

    Feb 2009 - Feb 2021

  • Race Director - Traverse City Triathlon

    Jan 2009 - Feb 2021

  • Co-Race Director - Runaway Hen Snowshoe Scamper

    Nov 2011 - Jan 2014

  • Co-Race Director - Spartan Sprint Triathlon

    Jan 2012 - Sept 2012
• 

  Endurance Evolution Timing Services

  Dec 2013 - Feb 2021

  Owner / Lead Timer

  As lead timer, I am responsible for all steps of the race timing process, including client communications, prepping bib numbers, setting up and managing races on our various software platforms, setting up and operating timing systems on race day.

• 

  The IRONMAN Group

  Oct 2018 - now

  Race Director of IRONMAN 70.3 Oregon Race Director of IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan Race Director of IRONMAN 70.3 Traverse City

  • Race Director

    Mar 2021 - now

  • Race Director

    Sept 2020 - now

  • Race Director

    Oct 2018 - Dec 2020
• 

  Traverse City Run Co.

  Nov 2020 - now

  Business Owner

  Traverse City Run Co. is a running brand that celebrates the sun, snow, hills, water, community, and all that makes running in Northern Michigan so special. We make most of our products in small batches, and aim to keep the quality high. We are runners of all shapes, sizes, speeds, and abilities. We love to run. We love Traverse City. We love Michigan.