We recently connected with Jessica Roswell and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

My skating coach, Janice, took over a Learn to Skate program back in 1993, one day a week, on half of a sheet of ice. By 1995, the program grew to a few days a week and she decided to incorporate it, creating Skate Great, Inc. I was 14 at the time and at the height of my competitive figure skating career. had no interest in coaching and didn’t really care for other children. However, she needed me to follow a 2 year old around that had signed up for the program. That was the start of my 27 years of coaching.

I went to college to be a Sport’s Broadcaster but continued to coach ice skating and gradually took on more and more responsibility at Skate Great. Janice had expanded the program to 4 rinks and I had now become the Assistant Director. In 2010, she lost her two year battle with pancreatic cancer. I was now Directing the Program that I had helped grow and had to make a decision. Do I quit what I have always known and get a job that had a steady income with set hours or do I take a risk and purchase Skate Great? I had no business background, two infants that I needed to provide for and other challenges in my life.

What I came to realize, was that I loved the people I worked with and I didn’t want to let them down. I finally knew that I loved teaching, not because Janice needed me to, but because I needed to. This wasn’t just Jan’s Legacy that I wanted to continue, it was mine. I didn’t need a Business Degree to talk to people and know what was right and what was wrong. I trusted my gut and asked advice whenever I needed to those around me.

We just celebrated Skate Great’s 25th Birthday and the 10th year since I purchased the company. We are at 5 locations, over 20 programs a week from 2 years old through adults, hockey players to figure skaters, taught Olympians to public skaters. The risk was worth the reward, I am still enjoying what I do everyday, the people I work with and our programs continue to grow across the Western New York area.

Jessica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was a competitive figure skater from a young age. My brothers played hockey so we were always at the rink. I started coaching at 14 years old and have taught thousands of skaters since.

One of the programs that I started that I am most proud of is Baby Blades. When my son was 18 months old, there was nothing for him to do so I rented ice and put out a flier and people signed up. It is one of our most popular programs and I absolutely love when I see our Baby Blade “Alums” still skating, which several still are.

I am also really proud of the Community Outreach Programs that we have initiated at Canalside as well as partnering with the United Way-Girls in Sports this past year. It is important to me that everyone has an opportunity to try ice skating.

I also try to be on the ice for as many of my program as possible. I do work in the office everyday answering emails, phone calls, marketing, etc. but it is also extremely important that I still am working with the skaters and knowing them individually. If I lose that, I lose the personal connection with my clients.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Word of mouth. We do very little marketing and all of our programs continue to sell out. We are constantly training our staff and keeping them to high standards. We maintain low class to coach ratios, with keeping costs as low as possible. I truly believe that we do a good job. I care, and I know that my colleagues care as well, so it makes what we do an easy sell. I also make it a point to respond as quickly as possible to every email and phone call.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

During Covid there was a lot of uncertainty. I still had to submit a payroll, at the same time everyone was asking for refunds. There was a lot of stress and I seriously reconsidered continuing on with Skate Great.

As soon as we were able to start operations again, we had to completely change our format to make ends meet. With only having 25 skaters allowed on the ice instead of our typical 85, and ice costs, payroll, and insurance costs not changing, we shortened all of our sessions and did back to back classes. By doing this, we were able to come out of Covid stronger than we did going in.     

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sk8gr8.com
• Instagram: skate_great_buffalo
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/skategreat
• Linkedin: Jessica Roswell
• Twitter: @SkateGreat
• Youtube: @skategreat9227

Image Credits
Aubri Minerd