AUBURN — Amy Jose grew up in Oakland and lived in Portland the last five years before buying a home in Auburn last year.

“Auburn felt like kind of a good balance,” said Jose, 25, who works as an integrated marketing specialist for Spectrum Healthcare Partners. “We (Spectrum) sponsor the Dempsey Challenge, so I was there for that last year, kind of the community aspect was something that pulled me toward that area.”

That she’d wind up working in health care might have been fated from the start.

“Growing up, my mom was a doctor, my brother’s a nurse, my dad works in hospice,” said Jose.

She said she knew early that she’d rather be in an administrative aspect of the field. She’s pursing her master’s degree now in marketing.

“This job experience kind of confirmed that’s what I wanted to move forward with,” she said.

When she’s not working, Jose said she has fun walking and hiking with her Australian Labradoodle, Lilly, and exploring Lewiston-Auburn by bike. Jose competed in her first two triathlons this summer.

“I’ve been missing that competitive aspect, so getting into racing and the tri’s has kind of brought that back, and then my college soccer coach is coaching me now with triathlons, too,” she said. “It’s been really fun to be back in contact.”

Any goals for conquering a big race someday?

“I hesitate to say, but I guess the ultimate goal is an Ironman,” said Jose.

kskelton@sunjournal.com

Amy Jose (Photo courtesy Emmie Jones Photography)