CHHS Alumni Spotlight Q+A: Bridger Hershey
Throughout the 2026–2027 academic year, the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) will spotlight alumni who represent the wide range of academic and professional journeys pursued by its graduates. The alumni spotlight series will highlight their experiences, motivations, accomplishments, and interests, while showcasing how their NAU education continues to influence their careers and contributions to the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Todays featured alumni is Bridger Hershey, a Northern Arizona University graduate who earned his degree in 2016.
What is your hometown?
Flagstaff, AZ.
When did you graduate from NAU?
2016.
Please list your major/program, minor(s), and any certificates.
ACSM Exercise Physiologist and Bachelor of Science in Fitness and Wellness.
What is your current job title and employer?
Owner/Strength Coach at Bridge Performance Training.
What are the most challenging and most rewarding parts of your job?
The ability to serve others in a supportive environment! To problem solve, build an outstanding community/culture, and help individuals reach levels that they never thought possible! I am in the people business of helping others and there is so much fulfillment in that!
Owning a gym means I get to build a place where people go to socialize, release stress, and be the healthiest version of themselves daily. Coaches know your name, your goals, and the knee you tweaked last spring. A 6 a.m. class becomes a group of friends who notice when you’re missing. A teenager has a room full of adults cheering for him. The weights are the tool, but the people are the point. Getting to build that every day in Flagstaff is the best part of what I do.
How did your education at NAU prepare you for your career?
The College of Human and Health Sciences gave me the foundation everything else is built on. Before I ever owned a gym, I learned how the body actually works: anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, and the science of how people adapt to training. That knowledge is behind every program I write, from a high school athlete’s off-season plan to a Hyrox block for adult members.
It also taught me to think critically. The fitness industry is full of trends and bold claims, and my education taught me to ask, “What does the evidence say?” That habit keeps my coaching honest and my athletes safe.
Most importantly, the program reminded me that health is about people, not just performance numbers. Learning to look at the whole person, including their goals, limitations, and lives outside the gym, shaped the kind of coach I am today.
What is one piece of advice you wish you had known prior to entering the workforce?
Show up early and reliable. Most entry-level success comes down to being on time, following through, and doing what you said you’d do. Reliability gets noticed faster than talent.
Ask questions, then take notes. Nobody expects you to know everything. They do expect you not to ask the same thing three times. Write things down.
Do the unglamorous work well. Cleaning up, restocking, answering emails, and handling the boring tasks without being asked builds trust. Trust leads to bigger responsibilities.
Learn to communicate early. If you’re running late, stuck, or made a mistake, say so right away. A heads-up is almost always forgiven. A surprise usually isn’t.
Own your mistakes. Say “That was me, here’s how I’ll fix it.” That one habit sets you apart from most people your age.
Be someone people like working with. A good attitude, effort, and kindness matter more than most students realize. Skills can be taught. Character is what people remember.