Joel Raether, owner of Authentic Performance in Denver, CO, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about how to get started and then progress as a strength and conditioning professional. Early on, it takes plenty of long hard hours to get to a high level in this profession, but as you find your way, you must find a balance between work and life. Developing relationships is the biggest part of moving forward and being successful with high level athletes. Joel Raether, MAEd, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D, serves as the Director of Sport Performance at Authentic Performance Center in Denver, CO. He is also the Director of Sports Performance for the Colorado Mammoth Lacrosse team of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) since 2007. He served as the Education Programs Coordinator for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) from 2009 – 2011. Raether is also the co-founder of Performance Sandbag Training Systems (PST). His coaching career includes stints as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Denver from 2002 – 2009 and the University of Nebraska at Kearney from 2000 – 2002.