Meet The Team

Lincoln and Darby Walden

Owner

Lincoln and Darby Walden are the proud owners of Goldfish Swim School – Franklin, the first Goldfish Swim School in the state of Tennessee! Originally from Middletown, Ohio, Lincoln attended Southern Methodist University in Texas, where he swam competitively. After graduation, Lincoln moved to Chicago to pursue a career in the stock market, where he eventually met his wife Darby, a Hollins University grad from Clarksville! Together, they have three boys, all of whom attended Goldfish Swim School Roscoe Village in Chicago, and of course now at the Franklin school. After seeing firsthand the unique environment and the extraordinary results their children had at Goldfish, the Walden’s knew right away that they wanted to be a part of the Golden Experience. With Lincoln’s competitive swim background, and Darby’s passion for group fitness, the Walden’s were ready to dive in and decided to bring Goldfish Swim School back to Darby’s homestate! With a shiver-free pool, confidence-building curriculum and small class sizes (max of 4 students to every instructor!), the Walden’s are so excited to bring what they firmly believe is the best kept secret in water safety and swim lessons to Tennessee!

Bri Hillahan

General Manager

Ms. Bri has an extensive swimming background starting as an instructor when she was 14, working at the YMCA and coaching their swim teams. She has also worked at the management level for the water parks at Walt Disney World in Florida! Ms. Bri makes an awesome GM because of her vast swimming background and knowing what it takes to give our members a GOLDEN experience. She’s so pumped to bring all her skills to Goldfish Swim School Franklin!

Brandon Broughton

Assistant General Manager

Brandon started his career in aquatics when he was 15, working as a lifeguard for neighborhood pools. In 2021, he joined the Goldfish family as a lifeguard and swim instructor, and quickly found a passion for teaching. After that he joined the team of Deck Supervisors, growing into a leader of the pool deck. He continued to climb the Goldfish ladder by becoming the Pool Operations Manager, then the team’s Swimologist, and eventually earning the title of Assistant General Manager. If you need anything done around the facility from signing up for lessons, fixing a leak in the pump room, or teaching a lesson, he is your guy!

Toni Smithson

Front Desk Manager

Ms. Toni joined the Goldfish Franklin family when we opened in May 2019. She was part of the initial group of employees that went through “fry” training and starting as a Front Desk Associate. From day one, Ms. Toni took on project after project, including becoming our Birthday Party Coordinator, proving her love and commitment to Goldfish. And so, it was an easy decision to promoted her to our Front Desk Supervisor, of which she ROCKS!

Because of her love for children, Toni attended Aquinas College in Nashville studying education while working in the Franklin Special School District. And after raising 3 children of her own, she resigned from the school system to relax. Reading, sewing, walking and cooking were not as fulfilling, so she began seeking the opportunity to work around children again. She also was a swimmer in middle school, and so Goldfish was the perfect fit!

Ms. Toni’s favorite hobby is cooking Italian food for her family and friends. Her family includes her husband, Pete, 3 children, 2 step-children 5 grandchildren, dog (Hercules) and cat (MacNair), and they are the most important thin to this “Nona”.

Shaelyn Jeremiah

Marketing Manager

Shaelyn joined the Goldfish family is 2023 as the Assistant General Manager of the opening team for the Upper East Side location in Manhattan, New York. After moving to Spring Hill, she made her way to Goldfish – Franklin, where she now serves as the Marketing and Social Media Manager.

Ms. Ella B.

Swimologist

Swim Instructor, Front Desk Associate, Deck Supervisor, Lifeguard, Manager on Duty

Ms. Lacey

Swimologist

Swim Instructor, Lifeguard, Deck Supervisor, Front Desk Associate

Ms. Sarah

Swimologist

Swimologist, Deck Supervisor, Swim Instructor, Lifeguard, and Front Desk Associate

Ms. Christie

Lifeguard Instructor

Deck Supervisor, Lifeguard Instructor, Swim Instructor, Lifeguard, and Front Desk Associate