about us
COMFORT CONFIDENCE COMPETENCE
At Charlotte Aquatics, our company culture is centered around the 3 C’s: comfort, confidence and competence.
When a child masters the 3 C’s of swimming it translates into a lifetime of fun and exercise.
Every member of our staff is a dedicated professional, who genuinely cares about the students they instruct.
Leadership Team
Kelly Gaines
Owner and Big Fish
Kelly Gaines, Owner and Big Fish
Kelly is is a licensed Physical Therapist and has a degree in Nutritional Sciences. She is a passionate advocate for children and an avid promoter of water safety and drowning prevention.
Kelly is thrilled and proud of the quality instruction and valuable skills that her team at Charlotte Aquatics provides. Kelly sits on the board of Safe Kids Char-Meck, is a member of Stop Drowning Now, Hope Floats, and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance.
She was named Aquatics International Power Person for 2019, received the Humanitarian Award from the US Swim School Association in 2017, and was named the 2012 member of the year for Safe Kids.
Katie Benton
Lower Level Coordinator
Katie Benton, Lower Level Coordinator
Ms. Katie joined our team in 2014. As the Lower Level Coordinator, Katie is responsible for training all of our staff and teaching assistants.
She adores working with children of all ages and watching them learn to love and respect the water.
Katie has one daughter, four brothers, two cats, and one dog. Katie is a recipient of the United States Swim School Associations 2016 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.
Stephanie Tomalis
Director of Operations
Stephanie Tomalis, Director of Operations
Stephanie is Charlotte Aquatic’s Director of Operations. She has a BA in Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
She has been working with children since 1997 in school settings, camp settings, church programs, and aquatic programs. Stephanie has helped make children Safer, Healthier, and Smarter™ at Charlotte Aquatics since 2001.
As the Program Director, Stephanie is responsible for overseeing the entire program at CA, as well as, hiring and scheduling. Her passion is teaching and working with our students with autism and special needs.
Stephanie is a wife and a mom to two very athletic daughters. Stephanie was named as an Outstanding Manager from the USSSA in 2016.
Kathryn
Upper Level Coordinator
Kathryn, Upper Level Coordinator
Kathryn, was born and raised in North Carolina. She has been working with children for over ten years, swam competitively through her college years, and coached her neighborhood swim team for three years.
Kathryn has her BA in biology from Lenoir Rhyne University. In addition to swimming, Kathryn enjoys working with animals and children; her passions are teaching and caregiving.
“Working with children is a blessing,” she says. In her free time, she loves doing outdoor activities with her family and close friends.
In the future, Kathryn hopes to finish nursing school and travel around the world helping those in need.
Shelly Wickerd
Asst. Director of Operations
Shelly Wickerd, Assistant Director of Operations
Shelly is our Assistant Director of Operations and joined the CA family in 2013. She grew up in California and was a competitive swimmer for nine years. She leads our office team and enrollment specialists.
Shelly enjoys spending time with her friends, family and her dog, Hemet. Shelly was named as an Outstanding Manager from the USSSA in 2018.
Gigi Graham
Infant/Toddler Coordinator
Gigi Graham, Infant/Toddler Coordinator
Ms. Gigi was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she graduated from Sao Paulo University with degrees in General and Physical Education. In Brazil, she was a teacher, as well as, a swim and volleyball coach.
Gigi joined the Charlotte Aquatics team in 2006. As our Infant/Toddler Coordinator, Gigi is responsible for growing the program and training our infant/toddler instructors.
Gigi is an official with USA Swimming and has a daughter that is a competitive swimmer. She is a recipient of the United States Swim School Associations 2012 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.
Customer Experience Team
Jessica
Customer Experience Specialist
Jessica, Customer Experience Specialist
Born in San Diego, California, Jessica grew up around water – both saltwater and chlorine. Jessica grew up on a pool deck observing both her brother and sister swim competitively, as well as, play water polo.
When Jessica was old enough, she joined a swim and water polo team of her own. Jessica has been working with children since the early age of 12, in addition to now raising her own family with her husband.
Jessica hopes to teach her son how to swim at an early age and eventually go on to swim competitively as well.
Megan M.
Customer Experience Manager
Megan M., Customer Experience Manager
Megan, who has been with Charlotte Aquatics since 2017, is an Instructor and our Weekend Manager.
She swam for her neighborhood swim team for 11 years and enjoyed coaching alongside her big sister during her final season.
She first started working with children when she gave private swim lessons at her community pool at the age of 16. As a lifeguard, she understands the importance of safety and thinks that swimming is a skill that all children need to know.
Megan is the recipient of the United States Swim School Associations 2018 Outstanding Upper Level Instructor of the Year Award.
Meghan U.
Customer Experience Specialist
Meghan U., Customer Experience Specialist
Meghan works in the office as our Senior Customer Experience Specialist. She was born in North Carolina, but moved around during her childhood, spending most of her life in Pennsylvania. She attended Penn State University, where she was part of the honors program.
After she graduated, Meghan moved to Charlotte with the rest of her family. She has a twin sister and a younger brother. Meghan enjoys sports, especially soccer; she was part of a soccer team throughout her school years. She loves to laugh and always enjoys helping others.
In her free time, Meghan likes to read, write, and spend time with her sister and her bird, a cockatiel named, Peaches.
Swim Instructors
Christian
Swim Instructor
Christian, Swim Instructor
Bio coming soon!
Jane
Swim Instructor
Jane, Swim Instructor
Jane has been swimming since she was three years old and learned to swim at Charlotte Aquatics. Ever since then, she has been swimming competitively on teams such as the OPRC Summer Swim team, Swim Mac, and Charlotte Catholic Swim and Dive Team.
Jane loves working with kids and babysitting. She is an avid reader and likes to go on runs with her adorable Labrador, Ellie.
Lexie
Swim Instructor
Lexie, Swim Instructor
Lexie has been with CA since 2017. She developed a love for the water ever since she started swim lessons at just 18 months old.
She spends most of her summers poolside with her friends or one of her three siblings.
Olivia
Swim Instructor
Olivia, Swim Instructor
Olivia attends and swims for South Meck high school. She also plays club volleyball. When she realized she wasn’t coordinated enough to play soccer she decided to try year-round swimming. She fell in love with the water the minute she began swimming.
Olivia enjoys hanging out with her little siblings and painting. She also loves playing board games but she’s very competitive. She loves kids and wants to go to Chapel Hill to be an Occupational Therapist.
Deborah
Swim Instructor
Deborah, Swim Instructor
Deborah joined the Charlotte Aquatics team in 2009 as an instructor. She has a degree in business administration from Appalachian State University.
After graduating college, Deborah worked as a flight attendant for fourteen years before making the decision to be a stay at home mother to her two wonderful children. Deborah adores teaching and says working with children is a joy.
Jessica
Swim Instructor
Jessica, Swim Instructor
Born in San Diego, California, Jessica grew up around water – both saltwater and chlorine. Jessica grew up on a pool deck observing both her brother and sister swim competitively, as well as, play water polo.
When Jessica was old enough, she joined a swim and water polo team of her own. Jessica has been working with children since the early age of 12, in addition to now raising her own family with her husband.
Jessica hopes to teach her son how to swim at an early age and eventually go on to swim competitively as well.
Megan N.
Swim Instructor
Megan N., Swim Instructor
Megan, a teaching assistant, joined the Charlotte Aquatics team in 2017.
Megan loves being active and making new friends! She’s been on many different sports teams such as cheerleading, soccer, gymnastics, and lacrosse.
Megan loves spending time with family and friends, and loves to babysit!
Samantha
Swim Instructor
Samantha, Swim Instructor
Samantha was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. She is a teaching assistant at Charlotte Aquatics. She currently attends Charlotte Catholic High and swims for her school team. Samantha has been swimming for over eight years!
She enjoys spending time with her friends and family and loves being around children!
Devyn
Swim Instructor
Devyn, Swim Instructor
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Devyn grew up being curious and competitive.
He has been a competitive swimmer for 18 years. From 2013-2017, he competed with Queen’s University of Charlotte and won 3 NCAA D2 Championships.
Prior to that, he won two high school championships. Devyn works hard to stay focused on his goals and always finds the time to give back to the community.
Kristen
Swim Instructor
Kristen, Swim Instructor
Kristen, who has a degree in elementary education, has been part of the CA Family since 2013.
She has always enjoyed working with children. She has worked as a volunteer and traveled to Guatemala many times over the past eight years to work in orphanages and do mission work with her church.
Kristen is a recipient of the United States Swim School Associations 2016 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.
Mike
Swim Instructor
Mike, Swim Instructor
Mike has been with Charlotte Aquatics since 1999 and is a recipient of the United States Swim School Associations 2011 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.
Mike has always enjoyed swimming. His love of water earned him a swimming scholarship to Appalachian State University where he later became the assistant swim coach.
He has a degree in educational media and is a national board-certified teacher in business education.
Mike is married to a wonderful wife and has two sons (both of whom work at Charlotte Aquatics).
William
Swim Instructor
William, Swim Instructor
William was born in Mexico but moved to North Carolina as a child. William is the son of Mr. Mike and maintains that he taught Mr. Mike everything he knows about swimming!
William is an avid soccer fan. He is also a rugby player and spends his free time staying active through sports.
William is a recipient of the United States Swim School Associations 2018 Outstanding Instructor of the Year Award.
Emily
Swim Instructor
Emily, Swim Instructor
Emily is a senior at South Meck, where she plays field hockey and swims. She took swim lessons at Charlotte Aquatics at a young age, but began competitively swimming for her neighborhood swim team at age 11. Now, she enjoys being a junior coach for the team!
In her free time, she likes to go shopping and volunteer at the hospital. She hopes to attend college as a fashion merchandising major.
Leila
Swim Instructor
Leila, Swim Instructor
Leila was born and raised in Greensboro, but moved to Charlotte in her freshmen year of high school.
She plans to graduate with a major in criminal justice and hopefully become a cop! She’s been around children her whole life as a daycare teacher, a Sunday school teacher, and a Babysitter.
Leila loves to spend her time helping others and putting smiles on people’s faces. She also loves the great outdoors and hopes to see the world one day.
Nora D.
Swim Instructor
Nora, Swim Instructor
Nora was born and raised in Charlotte and grew up swimming on her neighborhood swim team every summer since she was 5. Nora also swam on the swim team at her old school. She now attends South Meck High School.
Growing up with two younger siblings (and two older ones as well), Nora has been around kids almost her whole life. Nora has also been babysitting since she was 11 and has assisted with Sunday school classes at her church.
Besides swimming, Nora also enjoys playing soccer, painting and hanging out with friends.
Teaching Assistants & Deckhands
Zachary
Deckhand
Zachary, Deckhand
Bio coming soon!
OUR PARTNERS
