As the Facilities Manager at Holland Aquatic Center, the weight of HAC’s nine pools (not to mention the rest of the 130,000-square-foot facility) rests squarely on Nick Karsten’s shoulders.
Nick leads the team that keeps HAC’s lights glowing, pool water filtering, air circulating, floors and surfaces gleaming, and internal gears turning… literally. It’s no small task to manage the infrastructure associated with one pool, let alone nine, but Nick is well-suited for the job. His steady demeanor, can-do attitude, and warm smile allow him to transition seamlessly between meeting with vendors, strategizing with fellow managers, and problem-solving with his experienced, capable Facilities team. Soon after joining our staff, it became clear that Nick was a stellar choice for Facilities Manager: He jumped in feet-first, eager to learn about the facility, staff, current projects, and what other projects might be coming down the pipeline.
As a Grandville native, Nick is no stranger to the lakeshore community. Prior to joining the team at Holland Aquatic Center this July, Nick owned a West Michigan-based custom home-building business for 15 years. He got an early, hands-on start in the industry: After graduating from high school, Nick left Michigan to join the restoration effort after Hurricane Katrina devastated the South. That experience ignited a passion for homebuilding and led to the first chapter of his career.
Nick was drawn to HAC by his desire to contribute to Holland’s community, something he says we do very well! He values the many challenges that his role presents him on a daily basis, and says that he loves working at HAC because of the varied tasks he gets to handle with his team. It’s clear from speaking with Nick that his strong work ethic, love of problem-solving, and desire to produce quality results will make him an integral part of HAC for years to come.
Learn more about Nick
Favorite food: Tacos
Favorite place to visit: Asheville, North Carolina
Things that bring me joy: My two children, and mountain biking
Favorite sport: “Is mountain biking a sport?”
Bucket list item: Skydiving
Best vacation: Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex in Montana
You would be surprised to know: I was homeschooled!
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At Holland Aquatic Center, our facilities are awesome and so is our staff. In this We Are HAC! series, we will introduce you to the people who love to teach, coach, protect, serve, and inspire here. Our amazing team, more than 100 strong, is passionate about empowering healthy, connected lives through aquatics and wellness programming.